Ok, so we didn’t win…big deal! Who would have thought a month ago we’d have collected 11 out of 15 hard to get points and that we would have collected five straight clean sheets?
With Gary down with the flu (get well soon) Derek and Ricky talk about the goalless draw versus Valencia which left a few disappointed expecting more. A useful point and a warning to not get carried away. Step by step to the top spots is the only way to go, one game at a time as Simeone always points out.
Another One with a clean sheet
0-1 
You know what’s about to come now…
My weekly rant about “This is Atleti”.
At first I’d like to send all my best wishes to Gary. Get well soon!
Now on the topics:
I agree with Derek about the Valencia match. I also believe it was the expectations and the possibility that we could’ve gotten up to 4th place that made people feel disappointed. Personally I was not. The match was not the best one under Simeone, that’s true. But the one thing you can see is that the character of the team is all right. They are fighting and really trying to do their best. Its once again outstanding that our defense presents itself more than solid. Just think about how this match would’ve been with Manzano. I really do see some progress and that is what makes me hopeful and not disappointed. There is still lots of work to do and its quite naïve to think that the team will always work perfect against every kind of opponent with Simeone just saying to them the famous “Hombre” thing (which I btw tried for Cologne last weekend and what made us win in Kaiserslautern after 22 years!) Simeone seems to have changed the whole mentality of the team, but they all need to work hard.
On Salvio. I agree with Ricky here. On my opinion we should consider selling him in summer if there is a profer offer as we have to remember that he occupies one of our rare Non EU spots.
On Diego’s injuries in Germany: Last year he only missed 4 Bundesliga matches of Wolfsburg. But as one was because he wasn’t there at the time (1st Matchday), one was because of this 5th yellow card and one because of the Magath incident on the last matchday he only missed one match. Most of the matches he played whole 90 minutes.
It will be interesting to see if Simeone is able to motivate the teams for the matches against the “smaller” teams. It might be nice if we’d win against all our “direct” opponents and maybe even to two teams up above but in the end you can’t buy yourself anything for it if you just win against those and mess up against the smaller teams. I’d rather win against 10 weaker teams, lose against a “direct opponent” and end up forth than losing against the smaller teams, winning against the direct opponent and end up seventh in the table. It’s the “smaller” matches which are important!
I don’t understand why you all are talking its all right to lose in Rome. It is NOT! I want to see at least a draw when I freeze for Atleti! I’d love to see Ricky’s 5 midfielders creation for Rome because that would hopefully mean that Mario might play. I still want him back in the team!
I’m also impressed with Juanfran’s performance. He seems to have taken a step forward but we have to be serious? La roja for Juanfran? No way. Sorry
I already mentioned the loaning topic last week. Its good to see that our players started well in Rayo.
Now to the stadium. Maybe I’m also a bit emotional about that. I do see all the arguments of the people who want the new stadium. Yes it would be a new arena, with more spectators, modern infrastructure etc. but for me that thing lacks the soul of Atleti that Ricky talked about. I’d really prefer the redoing of the stadium.
It is possible to redo a Stadium while still playing at it. It was done in Germany before World Cup 2006. We in Cologne also rebuilt our stadium while playing in it. There was always a stand of the stadium in renovation and the fans were moved into the other three stands. That meant there were less places in the stadium but we did not have to close it. Stuttgart finished the redoing of their stadium this season. It is possible but I see the problem of how to pay for that. Redoing is sometimes even more expensive than tearing down the stadium and build a new one. I think this is the most serious problem. We don’t have money to redo our stadium we can just move to a stadium which is given to us. Sad thing.
I’m asking myself if the appealing of Señales de Humo might also be a trick to win time. Isn’t there still a decision of the Supreme Court about some club capital rising due? Its definitely not so good for the club that they now have to rewrite the deal with the city. But this whole tunnel thing will cost the club millions of euros. Maybe we should really invest into the Calderón instead of a tunnel and buildings which due to the crisis in Spain no one will buy. Will be an interesting thing to see how this will continue. Maybe it will even be cancelled as some investors will take back their money. For us this will surely mean that the movement to the Peineta will at least be delayed. Wasn’t the clock Cerezo started with enough numbers to count for 70 years or something like that? I still believe that the most serious question will be if it will be an aged Torres in the really last years of its career or if it will be Torres son who plays the opening match of La Peineta.
As the last thing I want to give you some advice from a winter-experienced stadium visitor: Go and buy yourself some skiing underwear in the next sports shop. It’s not really cheap but it really helps keeping you warm in the stadium.
Great job once again. Get well soon Gary
Greetings from Germany
PS: Due to the fact that I’ll be in Rome from Monday there will be no rant about ThisisAtleti next week, but I don’t think you’ll be too sad about that
PPS: Remember the M that is still too much
Thanks Susanne for the loooooooong comments…they’re a bit of a spoiler if people decide to read them before listening anyway but it’s great to have such a detailed feedback. Please keep it coming.
I really hope we have a great win of course at Rome and an easy match but I can’t see that happening to be honest.
I think you can always find some time between sightseeing, pizza and capuccinos to write a nice comment just so we don’t miss you.
Have a great trip. You guys from Centuria Germana are the true pride of all foreign Atleti fans. keep up that loyalty and perseverance! And have fun during your stay in Italy!
Ok…we’ll change the triple m…
Maybe I’ll be able to listen to it Friday on the flight back home if you still want a comment then