Topic: Atletico Madrid

[Milkay Gundog]

I think they deserve recognition for what they have achieved under Simeone, they have been amazing this season winning all their games in the League and Champions league so far. For me they could be potential Champions League winners this season given the right draw, if they carry on their form in the league who knows even La-Liga winners. Listen to the video below from 2.04 till about 1.15 it's a very good watch, discussing the potential of Atletcio winning the Champions League. 

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/arsene-wenger/atletico-one-10-potential-champions-league-winners-180535946--sow.html

[pipebender]

Agreed, perfect record so far and an extremely tough team to beat, they just don't concede scoring chances. Simeone is a top manager and Diego Costa could very well be their next big striker after Torres, Forlán, Agüero and Falcao. Not CL winner material but a great team, imo.

[golgolgol]

They are a top team no doubt and a very strong squad. I think they are capable of beating anyone bar Bayern Munich.

[RedSince86]

definate dark horses in this years champions league,strong all over the pitch from goalkeeper to the forwards,simeone has worked wonders there.

[IndianRed]

A sad irony in the whole story of Atletico in recent years is that their prodigal son Fernando Torres left them as he felt he couldn't fulfill his ambitions staying true to his hometown club, only for them to become a European powerhouse again after he left them. Great work by Simeone there. Definitely under-rated amongst Europe's best young coaches.

[BazC]

Hope they can challenge for the league. With the resources of Madrid and Barca, probably won't be able to, but would be nice if they won it. The whole Real/Barca thing is so fucking boring nowadays to be honest.

[KERRYKOP]

As remarkable as any job in football what Simeone has done in the last few years, he has taken a club on the brink of financial ruin, even having to sell his best player and they are ahead of their city rivals again and beat them twice at the Bernabeu in a matter of months, a place they had failed to win this decade. All done with pragmatism and cutting his cloth according to what fits.

[Bird Bird Bird The Bird Is The Word]

Similiar to Klopp, Simeone has worked wonders with a team that has been losing it's "best player" every summer and somehow been better the next.

His greatest achievement of all has been shaking the losers mentality at Atletico, they always seemed to crumble against Real even with brilliant players but now they are fierce, competitive and fearless against the best teams.

Don't think they can win the european cup but they are my dark horses for the league.

[Kovai Red]

So he is the next Chelsea manager?

[Drinks Sangria]

Oh Diego Costa. I stand on the banks of the Mersey, staring forlornly into the middle distance, hoping I'm pointed vaguely in the directions of Madrid and Dortmund. Mkhitaryan and Costa, what could have been.

The guy's a beast, and Simeone is bringing out the best in him. He just bullies CBs. He'll be at Chelsea or PSG in the next year.

[J_Kopite]

A sad irony in the whole story of Atletico in recent years is that their prodigal son Fernando Torres left them as he felt he couldn't fulfill his ambitions staying true to his hometown club, only for them to become a European powerhouse again after he left them. Great work by Simeone there. Definitely under-rated amongst Europe's best young coaches.

I don't find that sad at all, its fucking hilarious.

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

So he is the next Chelsea manager?

Pragmatic football....They already have a great proponent of that in Mourinho.

That said, Chelsea don't exactly have a proper strategy when it comes to managers, it wouldn't surprise me if John Terry gets the gig next.

[jfc]

A sad irony in the whole story of Atletico in recent years is that their prodigal son Fernando Torres left them as he felt he couldn't fulfill his ambitions staying true to his hometown club, only for them to become a European powerhouse again after he left them. Great work by Simeone there. Definitely under-rated amongst Europe's best young coaches.

abit different though isn't it. Atletico are only really challenging now

[jfc]

Oh Diego Costa. I stand on the banks of the Mersey, staring forlornly into the middle distance, hoping I'm pointed vaguely in the directions of Madrid and Dortmund. Mkhitaryan and Costa, what could have been.

The guy's a beast, and Simeone is bringing out the best in him. He just bullies CBs. He'll be at Chelsea or PSG in the next year.

I know    We would've been pretty damn strong if we got both of them

[Milkay Gundog]

Pragmatic football....They already have a great proponent of that in Mourinho.

That said, Chelsea don't exactly have a proper strategy when it comes to managers, it wouldn't surprise me if John Terry gets the gig next.

Mourinho is finished compared to Simeone one's career is going backwards, the other is going on the up and up Simeone is the manger Mourinho used to be. Chelsea got the wrong man in the summer imo, it should of been Simeone who got the job and not Mourinho thankfully they went for the later.   

[KERRYKOP]

Oh Diego Costa. I stand on the banks of the Mersey, staring forlornly into the middle distance, hoping I'm pointed vaguely in the directions of Madrid and Dortmund. Mkhitaryan and Costa, what could have been.

The guy's a beast, and Simeone is bringing out the best in him. He just bullies CBs. He'll be at Chelsea or PSG in the next year.

Would be nice to have Costa as well, but I'm happy with Sturridge.

[G1 Jockey 4(betfair)]

they did get recognition....well from me anyway.

one half of football into simeone's reign you could tell instantly the impact he had made....it was astounding imo

[Stubbins]

I've got a lot of time for them and their fans. Spent a week in Madrid during last years Euros and watched a couple of the Spain matches in a district close to their ground. Bars were full of Athleti fans and we were made extremely welcome (free tapas! - least I think they were free). They've always struck me as the Spanish equivalent of LFC, so it was natural to gravitate to them rather than the other lot in the north of Madrid.

[didi]

were abit of a bogey team for us in Europe

[Agger]

I think they deserve recognition for what they have achieved under Simeone, they have been amazing this season winning all their games in the League and Champions league so far. For me they could be potential Champions League winners this season given the right draw, if they carry on their form in the league who knows even La-Liga winners. Listen to the video below from 2.04 till about 1.15 it's a very good watch, discussing the potential of Atletcio winning the Champions League. 

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/blogs/arsene-wenger/atletico-one-10-potential-champions-league-winners-180535946--sow.html

Great team and a fantastic start to the season but that's a bit extreme, no?

[Crosby Nick]

were abit of a bogey team for us in Europe

Nothing to do with Atletico really but I wonder how different things would have been had we gone through against them in 2010 and Rafa's Liverpool had beaten Hodgson's Fulham in the final.

[Draex]

Koke + Torres in the middle is going to be one of the strongest midfield 2 around in the next few years.

[Durlmints]

were abit of a bogey team for us in Europe

I read that in Didi's voice! :O

[Milkay Gundog]

Great team and a fantastic start to the season but that's a bit extreme, no?

Anything could happen if you have a good route through to the semis, once you are there in the semis you just need good fortune to go all the way. Chelsea last year and Inter in 2010 played a similar brand of football that Ateltcio play, with a good amount of luck they both went on to win the trophy so who knows maybe Atletico could do the same. Take into account they won two Europa Leagues in three years, which is a extremely difficult trophy to win.   

[Pinky_Bieber]

Hope they can challenge for the league. With the resources of Madrid and Barca, probably won't be able to, but would be nice if they won it. The whole Real/Barca thing is so fucking boring nowadays to be honest.

yup

[Drinks Sangria]

Would be nice to have Costa as well, but I'm happy with Sturridge.

I'm mad up with Sturridge, I think he's a top player with a scarily high amount of potential, enough that people on here are actually scared to talk about it due to the fear of it not being fulfilled.

I love a CF who physically intimidates a CB though. Costa now, Luca Toni in his pomp, Didier Drogba for several years. Even Fernando Torres, a time ago.

Simeone has impressed me, and his style is certainly the type of game that won Chelsea numerous trophies in Mourinho's first spell.

[007.lankyguy]

Have watched a couple of their games this season and they've been brilliant. Such great control of space, compact and organised. Simeone has done a phenomenal job.

[Drinks Sangria]

Arda and Koke have stood out for me, along with Miranda and Costa. Those two wide players run themselves into the ground pressing in virtually every game. I thought Arda might find his way into the Premier League this summer, but he's stayed and he's playing well.

[GlenJohnson2]

Filipe Luis is a very good player as well.

[Vork+The Knights of Good]

So he is the next Chelsea manager?

Next Bond villain. Are you telling me you can't picture this guy out for world domination or slowly running an 8 gigaton laser towards Daniel Craig's Marouane Fellaini?

[AM76]

Great team and a fantastic start to the season but that's a bit extreme, no?

Not really when you think we won it in 2005 with smicer, kewell and traore. If they get a decent draw who knows what might happen.

[Yiannis]

Great team and a fantastic start to the season but that's a bit extreme, no?

Of course. Nothing to take away from them but this is starting to become like 'Arry and Tottenham in the CL when some thought they could go all the way. Yes, you can't rule it out but I personally can't see it happening. Either from what history has showed us, Atletico's stature in the CL and especially in the knockout phase when shit get real and finally you just don't know in what shape teams will be in February.

[RideTheWalrus]

United should have gone for Koke instead of Harrera. Much cheaper, much better.

[elsewhere]

Cheeky bid for Arda&Costa this January then

[Hoenheim]

Koke + Torres in the middle is going to be one of the strongest midfield 2 around in the next few years.

Can they keep the players at the club though?

[tonysleft]

United should have gone for Koke instead of Harrera. Much cheaper, much better.

I thought the same but no way would Koke have gone for anything less than £30m. Doubtful that he even would have went as well.

[Draex]

Can they keep the players at the club though?

If they continue this form and challenge for the title I don't see why not, this team is good enough to get into the quarter finals of the champions league and maybe beyond so they might sort out their financial issues - otherwise they may sell players to balance the books as per the past, which is a shame as they have the makings of a top top team and an exciting one to watch.

[Milkay Gundog]

Of course. Nothing to take away from them but this is starting to become like 'Arry and Tottenham in the CL when some thought they could go all the way. Yes, you can't rule it out but I personally can't see it happening. Either from what history has showed us, Atletico's stature in the CL and especially in the knockout phase when shit get real and finally you just don't know in what shape teams will be in February.

Under Simeone they have won two knockout trophies which contained 2 legged ties , so you have to look at that it does not sound anything like Harry and Tottenham. I think you are being disrespectful towards Atletico comparing them with Tottenham, they have a great recent history in Europe and have won 3 trophies under Simeone. What did Harry achieve with Spurs nothing, he did not win a single thing with them you are basically comparing a loser to a winner.       

[Pinky_Bieber]

United should have gone for Koke instead of Harrera. Much cheaper, much better.

United should have gone for Simeone instead of Moyes

[Yiannis]

Under Simeone they have won two knockout trophies which contained 2 legged ties , so you have to look at that it does not sound anything like Harry and Tottenham. I think you are being disrespectful towards Atletico comparing them with Tottenham, they have a great recent history in Europe and have won 3 trophies under Simeone. What did Harry achieve with Spurs nothing, he did not win a single thing with them you are basically comparing a loser to a winner.       

Europa League is not the same with the CL. Just in case you need reminding. I didn't compare the two teams per se btw. Was more comparing that both teams were huge underdogs and some believed they can reach the CL final and win it.

I also think you should limit the Atletico wanking a bit. You're so high on their performances and results (which admittedly have been superb) but somehow you have translated that to a very possible CL success.

Finally how many teams of Atletico's stature have won the CL all these years? Yeah I know history doesn't play football but a look at the CL winners is telling.