Tweet
================================================== ================================================== =================
*****Buendi signs********
Following the arrival of shit German forward D_Arize, the club have been forced to dip into the market to sign a player with actual ability. This man comes with
the sort of skills the club wished for. A soon to be 4-18-15 player with some game time. It is likely Buendia will see more match action to the one they call smelly german sausage man.
Marsh commented "Its £8m we hoped we wouldnt have to pay out but the free player coming in just is not good enough to grace the pitch at Atletico Madrid . Buendia offers a lot more and we do not fear should he need to play. If we can get his skills up we will do ok out of the deal and shouldnt lose money long-term but this eats into our auction money right now. He has been playing football at Juventus so he is happy to play fringe football at a club in the higher area of EFL1 and we are pleased with the signing".
================================================== ================================================== =================
******Mancini departs in fast deal *****
Just a few hours after the club announced Mancini would be staying, he has signed a deal to move to West Ham United. The deal with a big cash amount heading to London sees D_Upamecano join Atletico Madrid.
Manager Simon Marsh added "We are always here to do a deal if it is right for the club. The money is more than we anticipated paying. We tried to sign him from his previous club but were knocked back for a £20m cash offer. We have had to go to £27.5m to get our man. Upamecano is close to 22-tackling and 2 years younger. Ideally we want more passing but that is proving difficult to gain, but if we can add skills wherever it is a positive move forwards. Mancini has been great for us but he fell a little behind last season when his tackle count was low. The main thing here was again around age reduction. Our squad is now mainly 23-27 year olds with a 30 year old goalkeeper and a 29-year old defender, The elder statesman will be fringe players and offer advice around the dressing room and on the coaching field ".
Upamecano commented "I am delighted to sign for Atletico. I know the manager was disappointed with how many goals we leaked last season. I am hoping to be a big part of making the club tighter at the back. I cant wait to get stuck into training with the lads like Frimpong and Skriniar who are two of the best defenders out there. We can make a great unit and a solid base from which to get some big results next season".
================================================== ================================================== ==================
****Frimpong subjected to bid from leading club****
Atletico defender Frimpong has attracted the interest from a top club. The near 23-17-13 player is one that the club have built a team around and it would be difficult to see him leave but every player has a price.
Manager Simon Marsh spoke "Frimpong is clearly one of the best defenders in the world right now and so any bids would need to respect his talents. He has always been right up there in the seasonal tackle count and we are looking forwards to him hitting 23-rated tackling in the first few games of next season if he is still with us. Nothing is likely to happen imminently as it looks like we need to get through an auction carnage first to determine where the club is".
Frimpong spoke "I am more than happy to stay at the club and try and achieve the dream of winning some silverware. Until told otherwise I will give my best and strive to help the club to concede fewer goals than we did last season.
================================================== ================================================== ==================
Manager Simon Marsh was asked if his club was ageist given the sale of 30-year old Mbabu and news that 28-year old Mancini will stay at the club.
Marsh commented "The move to seasonal ageing is a major factor in our decision. 30-year olds and above will see their value depreciate the more the market gets used to the ageing change. 33 year olds this season were free of depreciating skills but they will start to get hit from the end of this season so that they basically fail to gain any abs or skills from that age. 30 isnt old clearly but the longer-term plan has to be to keep the age levels in the team down otherwise the squad value becomes very limited. We would still consider players above 30 and indeed our goalkeeper is 30 but we will keep trying to maintain skill levels whilst reducing our age over time".
================================================== ================================================== ==================
****Work set to start on added seating****
Atletico will definitely be adding more seats to increase their current 55,000 capacity stadium. At present it will cost £10,000 to add another 5,000 seats or £22,000,000 to add 10,000 seats.
Marsh commented "We want to be able to increase capacity to get more bums on seats. There are fans struggling to get a ticket at present and we need to expand. Whether that is 5,000 or 10,000 is yet to be decided but it will depend on what cash is left after transfer dealings. We want to try and create a bigger and better atmosphere for home games which could help us pick up a point or two extra".
================================================== ================================================== =================
****Mbabu joins Liverpool****
Atletico Madrid can confirm that 30-year old Mbabu has left the club to join Liverpool today in a £65m cash deal....Mbabu has been a regular in the Atletico team for a while now but Atletico have decided he could leave the club.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We thank him for his services but we decided to take a bit of a gamble. Cash prices at present are very hard to predict so it wasnt easy to accept but there is not a lot of cash about and we now have over £200m banked. Clearly we need to replace Mbabu as we are down to 11 starting players and 4 decent substitutes. We will be interested in what the auction brings but we will bide our time. The usual frenzy of transfers has begun and some teams will gain, some will make 20 and stand still and some will lose. Its a very variable market at present so we will take our time".
================================================== ================================================== ================
Seasonal prize money has always been a huge factor in FFO and getting top prize money often ends in the same hands allowing those clubs an easy route to maintaining dominance over the rest.
This season Atleticos poor season has led to financial mismatch in comparison to the clubs they would consider rivals or aspire to be next.
PSG led the way with 62m. They complain all the time about their wage bill but they get it all back in prize money so it is hard to see why they worry so much.
Real Madrid 59m
Manchester United 51m
Manchester City 43m
Juventus 41m
Arsenal 39m
Newcastle 37m
In comparison Atletico Madrid earned a measly £23m.
Marsh commented "With cash king, £20-£40m lost to competitors is massive. It really impacts our pre-season options and we are likely to fall further behind others as a result. We need to do better next season its that simple"
================================================== ================================================== ===============
Pre-season business is slow at Atletico Madrid although the club can confirm that R_Sassa has left the club in a £2m deal with Birmingham City.
The club has made several offers which have failed.
There is mounting speculation that Mbabu could be set to leave the club in the near future.
There is also confirmation that an unnamed attacking midfielder has been signed and that L_Paqueta will be parting ways in an exchange deal.
================================================== ================================================== ================
****Atletico dumped out of champions league****
With the whole football world seemingly agreed that Atletico Madrid would be in next seasons Champions League, shock news was to come from HQ that Sporting Lisbon would be chosen instead due to their success in the DPT Cup. 8th placed Atletico would be sent to play in the DPT next season. The news has cast a huge cloud over a club who simply have had an horrendous 2024. Since Simon Marsh came to the club they have qualified for the Champions League 4 seasons on the bounce, initially against the tide and more recently an expected place given the clubs progress. This season was a real struggle and so finally finishing 8th place was a real achievement in the end coming in with a late run.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "Well what a shitter. Shite academy players, shite academy skills gained over the season, shite drafted German striker who smells like a rotten frankfurter, and now a shite new rule has seen us lose our proud champions league run. This all on top of the football gods killing us last season over and over again. Im beginning to sound and feel like Dan Sellers".
The draw for the DPT was announced with representatives of Atletico Madrid sent to watch the live Champions League draw. What a farce!
Group C
Atletico_Madrid
Tottenham_Hotspur
Barnsley
Bayern_Munich
Marsh added "Well at least its a bit bloody tamer than Roma, Man United and Southampton last season! However, despite arguably being a favourite for the cup we respect this is not an easy group. Bayern will be tougher than last season after their youth boost. Spurs were in the champions league also the year before. Barnsley have their talisman manager back at the club who has a habit of getting more out of the players then the skills that they have. That said, we are hopeful or a deep run in this cup".
================================================== ================================================== ==============
This close season each club received a free player to help with squad numbers. Atletico Madrid were drafted this German striker
D_Arize 19 Ger 1 4 12 17 22 1 931 760 289
Manager Simon Marsh commented "Who the hell sent this kid to the club? For starters I asked for an attacking midfielder, this kid cannot pass for toffee. In fact he cant tackle, pass or shoot, he's totally shite"
It would seem the draft went very poorly for Atletico Madrid who simply cannot catch a break with luck in 2024.
Marsh added "Its galling to hear other managers suggesting they have players worth playing! Arize will sit on our bench and come on if one of our forwards goes down injured, and that will only happen if we do not sign an attacking midfielder option that we wanted".
================================================== ================================================== =============
We caught up with Atletico Madrid manager Simon Marsh for his early thoughts on next season and what plans he has for the close season.
Marsh commented "I think its fair to say that despite only 1 point from pinching 05th place we were disappointed with last season. Out early in the EFL cup, quarter-finals of the champions league and 8th in the league was not really as good as what we wanted. I think we have a good side here which is relatively young so we do not need any wholesale changes. I have faith in these players but if the chance arises to tweak things positively then we are happy to do some business. We have a squad of 24 players at present and we are going to opt-in to the league draft to take it to 25. We have 4 players retiring at the end of next season so we may look into the leagues BHN list depending on the price and quality on offer".
Marsh added "We obviously would like to improve the team but deals at the top end are never easy because we are trying to sign the top10% players that everybody either wants to keep or wants to buy. We have made one deal so far that adds a small improvement to the side and we will keep looking. We will naturally interested in the forthcoming auction also".
Asked whether there are any plans for building work on the stadium Marsh added "Its highly likely money will be spend on the stadium. To compete at the top we need a big stadium to increase matchday revenue to offset our high wage bill. We have the diggers ready to move in when the green light is given".
Asked whether Atletico will spend on their academy the manager seemed less certain with Marsh commenting "I am really not sure. We were not blessed with the better end of the academy players, received less than average skills for the season and had a negative event but that would link in with last seasons poor fortunes. Its difficult to project an academy player against natural skill creep so I think for now we may well keep investing money into the open senior transfer market".
Marsh finished "I think minutes wise next season we have had some fortune. Those players with 13-secondaries have really come down in the minutes they require so Pieters, Glik and Stepanenko are all likely to remain at the club to provide us with decent substitute depth. We could do with a veteran with shooting skills as we have nothing to come on if an attacking midfielder or forward goes down injured in-game".
= 2251
plus see "EFL1 end of season statistics" - 275 words + statistical work
*****Buendi signs********
Following the arrival of shit German forward D_Arize, the club have been forced to dip into the market to sign a player with actual ability. This man comes with
the sort of skills the club wished for. A soon to be 4-18-15 player with some game time. It is likely Buendia will see more match action to the one they call smelly german sausage man.
Marsh commented "Its £8m we hoped we wouldnt have to pay out but the free player coming in just is not good enough to grace the pitch at Atletico Madrid . Buendia offers a lot more and we do not fear should he need to play. If we can get his skills up we will do ok out of the deal and shouldnt lose money long-term but this eats into our auction money right now. He has been playing football at Juventus so he is happy to play fringe football at a club in the higher area of EFL1 and we are pleased with the signing".
================================================== ================================================== =================
******Mancini departs in fast deal *****
Just a few hours after the club announced Mancini would be staying, he has signed a deal to move to West Ham United. The deal with a big cash amount heading to London sees D_Upamecano join Atletico Madrid.
Manager Simon Marsh added "We are always here to do a deal if it is right for the club. The money is more than we anticipated paying. We tried to sign him from his previous club but were knocked back for a £20m cash offer. We have had to go to £27.5m to get our man. Upamecano is close to 22-tackling and 2 years younger. Ideally we want more passing but that is proving difficult to gain, but if we can add skills wherever it is a positive move forwards. Mancini has been great for us but he fell a little behind last season when his tackle count was low. The main thing here was again around age reduction. Our squad is now mainly 23-27 year olds with a 30 year old goalkeeper and a 29-year old defender, The elder statesman will be fringe players and offer advice around the dressing room and on the coaching field ".
Upamecano commented "I am delighted to sign for Atletico. I know the manager was disappointed with how many goals we leaked last season. I am hoping to be a big part of making the club tighter at the back. I cant wait to get stuck into training with the lads like Frimpong and Skriniar who are two of the best defenders out there. We can make a great unit and a solid base from which to get some big results next season".
================================================== ================================================== ==================
****Frimpong subjected to bid from leading club****
Atletico defender Frimpong has attracted the interest from a top club. The near 23-17-13 player is one that the club have built a team around and it would be difficult to see him leave but every player has a price.
Manager Simon Marsh spoke "Frimpong is clearly one of the best defenders in the world right now and so any bids would need to respect his talents. He has always been right up there in the seasonal tackle count and we are looking forwards to him hitting 23-rated tackling in the first few games of next season if he is still with us. Nothing is likely to happen imminently as it looks like we need to get through an auction carnage first to determine where the club is".
Frimpong spoke "I am more than happy to stay at the club and try and achieve the dream of winning some silverware. Until told otherwise I will give my best and strive to help the club to concede fewer goals than we did last season.
================================================== ================================================== ==================
Manager Simon Marsh was asked if his club was ageist given the sale of 30-year old Mbabu and news that 28-year old Mancini will stay at the club.
Marsh commented "The move to seasonal ageing is a major factor in our decision. 30-year olds and above will see their value depreciate the more the market gets used to the ageing change. 33 year olds this season were free of depreciating skills but they will start to get hit from the end of this season so that they basically fail to gain any abs or skills from that age. 30 isnt old clearly but the longer-term plan has to be to keep the age levels in the team down otherwise the squad value becomes very limited. We would still consider players above 30 and indeed our goalkeeper is 30 but we will keep trying to maintain skill levels whilst reducing our age over time".
================================================== ================================================== ==================
****Work set to start on added seating****
Atletico will definitely be adding more seats to increase their current 55,000 capacity stadium. At present it will cost £10,000 to add another 5,000 seats or £22,000,000 to add 10,000 seats.
Marsh commented "We want to be able to increase capacity to get more bums on seats. There are fans struggling to get a ticket at present and we need to expand. Whether that is 5,000 or 10,000 is yet to be decided but it will depend on what cash is left after transfer dealings. We want to try and create a bigger and better atmosphere for home games which could help us pick up a point or two extra".
================================================== ================================================== =================
****Mbabu joins Liverpool****
Atletico Madrid can confirm that 30-year old Mbabu has left the club to join Liverpool today in a £65m cash deal....Mbabu has been a regular in the Atletico team for a while now but Atletico have decided he could leave the club.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "We thank him for his services but we decided to take a bit of a gamble. Cash prices at present are very hard to predict so it wasnt easy to accept but there is not a lot of cash about and we now have over £200m banked. Clearly we need to replace Mbabu as we are down to 11 starting players and 4 decent substitutes. We will be interested in what the auction brings but we will bide our time. The usual frenzy of transfers has begun and some teams will gain, some will make 20 and stand still and some will lose. Its a very variable market at present so we will take our time".
================================================== ================================================== ================
Seasonal prize money has always been a huge factor in FFO and getting top prize money often ends in the same hands allowing those clubs an easy route to maintaining dominance over the rest.
This season Atleticos poor season has led to financial mismatch in comparison to the clubs they would consider rivals or aspire to be next.
PSG led the way with 62m. They complain all the time about their wage bill but they get it all back in prize money so it is hard to see why they worry so much.
Real Madrid 59m
Manchester United 51m
Manchester City 43m
Juventus 41m
Arsenal 39m
Newcastle 37m
In comparison Atletico Madrid earned a measly £23m.
Marsh commented "With cash king, £20-£40m lost to competitors is massive. It really impacts our pre-season options and we are likely to fall further behind others as a result. We need to do better next season its that simple"
================================================== ================================================== ===============
Pre-season business is slow at Atletico Madrid although the club can confirm that R_Sassa has left the club in a £2m deal with Birmingham City.
The club has made several offers which have failed.
There is mounting speculation that Mbabu could be set to leave the club in the near future.
There is also confirmation that an unnamed attacking midfielder has been signed and that L_Paqueta will be parting ways in an exchange deal.
================================================== ================================================== ================
****Atletico dumped out of champions league****
With the whole football world seemingly agreed that Atletico Madrid would be in next seasons Champions League, shock news was to come from HQ that Sporting Lisbon would be chosen instead due to their success in the DPT Cup. 8th placed Atletico would be sent to play in the DPT next season. The news has cast a huge cloud over a club who simply have had an horrendous 2024. Since Simon Marsh came to the club they have qualified for the Champions League 4 seasons on the bounce, initially against the tide and more recently an expected place given the clubs progress. This season was a real struggle and so finally finishing 8th place was a real achievement in the end coming in with a late run.
Manager Simon Marsh commented "Well what a shitter. Shite academy players, shite academy skills gained over the season, shite drafted German striker who smells like a rotten frankfurter, and now a shite new rule has seen us lose our proud champions league run. This all on top of the football gods killing us last season over and over again. Im beginning to sound and feel like Dan Sellers".
The draw for the DPT was announced with representatives of Atletico Madrid sent to watch the live Champions League draw. What a farce!
Group C
Atletico_Madrid
Tottenham_Hotspur
Barnsley
Bayern_Munich
Marsh added "Well at least its a bit bloody tamer than Roma, Man United and Southampton last season! However, despite arguably being a favourite for the cup we respect this is not an easy group. Bayern will be tougher than last season after their youth boost. Spurs were in the champions league also the year before. Barnsley have their talisman manager back at the club who has a habit of getting more out of the players then the skills that they have. That said, we are hopeful or a deep run in this cup".
================================================== ================================================== ==============
This close season each club received a free player to help with squad numbers. Atletico Madrid were drafted this German striker
D_Arize 19 Ger 1 4 12 17 22 1 931 760 289
Manager Simon Marsh commented "Who the hell sent this kid to the club? For starters I asked for an attacking midfielder, this kid cannot pass for toffee. In fact he cant tackle, pass or shoot, he's totally shite"
It would seem the draft went very poorly for Atletico Madrid who simply cannot catch a break with luck in 2024.
Marsh added "Its galling to hear other managers suggesting they have players worth playing! Arize will sit on our bench and come on if one of our forwards goes down injured, and that will only happen if we do not sign an attacking midfielder option that we wanted".
================================================== ================================================== =============
We caught up with Atletico Madrid manager Simon Marsh for his early thoughts on next season and what plans he has for the close season.
Marsh commented "I think its fair to say that despite only 1 point from pinching 05th place we were disappointed with last season. Out early in the EFL cup, quarter-finals of the champions league and 8th in the league was not really as good as what we wanted. I think we have a good side here which is relatively young so we do not need any wholesale changes. I have faith in these players but if the chance arises to tweak things positively then we are happy to do some business. We have a squad of 24 players at present and we are going to opt-in to the league draft to take it to 25. We have 4 players retiring at the end of next season so we may look into the leagues BHN list depending on the price and quality on offer".
Marsh added "We obviously would like to improve the team but deals at the top end are never easy because we are trying to sign the top10% players that everybody either wants to keep or wants to buy. We have made one deal so far that adds a small improvement to the side and we will keep looking. We will naturally interested in the forthcoming auction also".
Asked whether there are any plans for building work on the stadium Marsh added "Its highly likely money will be spend on the stadium. To compete at the top we need a big stadium to increase matchday revenue to offset our high wage bill. We have the diggers ready to move in when the green light is given".
Asked whether Atletico will spend on their academy the manager seemed less certain with Marsh commenting "I am really not sure. We were not blessed with the better end of the academy players, received less than average skills for the season and had a negative event but that would link in with last seasons poor fortunes. Its difficult to project an academy player against natural skill creep so I think for now we may well keep investing money into the open senior transfer market".
Marsh finished "I think minutes wise next season we have had some fortune. Those players with 13-secondaries have really come down in the minutes they require so Pieters, Glik and Stepanenko are all likely to remain at the club to provide us with decent substitute depth. We could do with a veteran with shooting skills as we have nothing to come on if an attacking midfielder or forward goes down injured in-game".
= 2251
plus see "EFL1 end of season statistics" - 275 words + statistical work
Comment