Atletico Madrid 2013/14 VS 2014/15

2013/14

2014/15

Still looks like quite a powerful team. Mandz for Costa with 40 million to spare is a great trade, but Siqueira and Oblak for Courtois and Filipe Luis not so much. And while Griezmann gives them more of a pure winger, something they were lacking, they were already pretty strong on wide options. Angel Correa is an exciting player but probably too raw right now for the high level Atleti achieved last season.

I honestly don't see them hitting the heights of last season.

They'll still finished top 3 easily though.

Griezmann could also play up front with Koke on the left. Also yeh, they'll still finish in the top 3 at least.

imo, their depth improved.

so long as they have turan, koke, godin and most importantly simoene they'll be fine.

Not the biggest fan of Griezmann, dont think he offers much when he isnt finding the back of the net. Which would be okay if he was a striker but he's apparently a winger.

Anyway, this team was never about individuals and alot of the core remain still. I think keeping the same team as last year or changing up as they have been forced to, it would be difficult either way to do aswell as last year. Its just not realistic for any team to expect to win their league and get to a CL final.

the most important thing for me is that their midfield is untouched. It's the hardest working unit of the team and they didnt lose anyone.

the line of defense is alright because i rate Siqueira, i know he is good.

after, Griezmann and Mandzukic, plus Raul Garcia, are good players that will find the next quite a lot so i am not worried. Still a good team, as long as they are in the top 3 in la liga and make a run everywhere, then the team will have retained the same quality to me.

IMO. I actually think they have a better team this year than last year, but we'll see. I don't think they will win the league because even last year I think Real or Barca should have won but stumbled at inopportune moments. I still think Atletico will put up a huge fight with this squad though.

A problem I have theoriesed is that these teams that base their game on running/covering distances have their 2-3 year spells and after that cant summon the force of will any more.

Most teams who play at a high level cant sustain it for many many years so thats normal, but teams like Atletico lose alot without that effort because they are so much more reliant on hard work than quality.

Maybe not this season, maybe not at all, but we will see. If they drop off in intensity, they lose alot of what they are good at.

They wouldn't be able to defend their title no matter what they do IMO. The amount of jammy late goals that gave them the 1-0 victory was unreal last season. Don't see that working again. And even if it did I don't see Mehdrid and Barca finishing with less than 90 points again.

They can still go far in the Cup competitions though. In 1 off games the lineup posted above can beat anyone.

The Franchise wrote:A problem I have theoriesed is that these teams that base their game on running/covering distances have their 2-3 year spells and after that cant summon the force of will any more.

Most teams who play at a high level cant sustain it for many many years so thats normal, but teams like Atletico lose alot without that effort because they are so much more reliant on hard work than quality.

Maybe not this season, maybe not at all, but we will see. If they drop off in intensity, they lose alot of what they are good at.

Doesn't matter, in 2 years when Martino flops at both the Copa America and Centenary Cup Simeone will get his chance with Argentina.

Too soon for him to be forced into coaching NT's. Still so young, why coach once every 3 months when you can do it all the time?

Because this will be his only chance to coach prime Messi. And Argentines are patriots and don't say no to the NT.