Atlante vs Aston Villa Pre/Post/Match Thread

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Posted: Mon 27 Jul, 2009 10:36 pm

Wednesday July 29th

Quote:

Late call-ups to the Peace Cup to replace Celtic, the Mexican side of Atlante represent the winners of the North American Champions League, a crown they claimed just a few months ago.

With participation secured at the World Club Cup later in the year, Atlante’s appearance at the Peace Cup in 2009 will represent an excellent chance to acquaint the side with the rigours of playing on a different continent.

History

Atlante have been playing in the Mexican league since the mid-thirties, and whilst not the most successful club by any means, were at one stage one of the most popular, drawing support from working class neighbourhoods in Mexico City. Their most successful era to date was during the 1940s and early 1950s when they claimed the 1946/47 Mexican league title, as well as finishing runners-up and winning the Mexican Cup on several other occasions.

A succession of ill-conceived take-overs led to the club losing a good deal of support during the 1970s and 1980s, and relocation to the Azteca Stadium turned fans off in their droves. Relegation at the end of the 1980s finally condemned Atlante to lower-flight football.

Whilst Atlante’s recovery has hardly happened overnight (they had to buy their place back in the Mexican top-flight after they finished in a relegation spot in 2001, earning a play-off to secure their status in an expanded top-flight), victory in the Apertura 2007 was due reward for a lot of hard-work and a relocation to the costal city of Cancun. Whilst relocating may stick in the craw of die-hard football fans, few can argue that the move away from the over-populated (in football terms) capital of Mexico City hasn’t worked out well for Atlante.

Currently

The Apertura crown of 2007 gave access to the revised CONCACAF Champions League, which Atlante took by storm, claiming victory in the final against fellow Mexican side Cruz Azul after a 2-0 aggregate win. The prize in the Champions League came at the expense of their domestic form where they finished a disappointing 14th, failing to make the play-offs by recording just three wins and going winless on the road.

Whilst Atlante will no doubt be relishing their appearance in the World Cup Championship thanks to their victory in the Champions League, they will have to be careful not to let their league form slip any further. Last season Necaxa, a participant in the inaugural World Club Championship of 2000 and one of Mexico’s biggest clubs, were relegated out of the Mexican Premier League.

Squad

Atlante’s recent success has been based on a solid defence, as they aren’t prolific goal-scorers. The most notable contributor to their solidity is Argentine goalkeeper Federico Vilar. The captain of the team is noted for his shot-stopping and dead-ball ability, like many of his South American counter-parts, and although he has not played at any great level in Argentina has been recognised as one of the best keepers in the Mexican League.

The main goal threat comes from all-time leading Venezuelan scorer Giancarlo Maldonado, one of a number of players from that region beginning to make a name for themselves outside their homeland. Maldonado struggled for goals last season, but is a potent striker on his day.

Former Internazionale and Real Madrid man Santiago Solari has also been recently acquired, no doubt tempted by the pleasant surroundings of the tourist resort of Cancun and the prospect of participation at the World Club Cup. The former Argentine international was last under contract at San Lorenzo, and could be making his debut at the Peace Cup for Atlante.

Peace Cup 2009

The Peace Cup offers Atlante - not one of the better known names outside of Mexico - the chance not only to become more widely recognised, but also to familiarise themselves with playing outside of their homeland, before they play in the World Club Cup.

Furthermore, with the Mexican Apertura 2009 due to start shortly, it will be a good opportunity for the team to get in some pre-season practice as they look to improve on last season’s 14th position

Goal.com

Posted: Mon 27 Jul, 2009 11:11 pm

3-1 Villa, late third from Super Stevie Sidwell sending us through.

Posted: Mon 27 Jul, 2009 11:29 pm

if it is done on goal difference we need to win by 2 goals; so 2-1

Youth Team Joined: 14 Nov 2006 Posts: 70

Watched a bit of their game with Malaga on the internet tonight and unless there's an unbelievable improvement on Saturday's performance we will be turned over by a couple of goals.

Hopefully the big guns will be able to play the full 90 minutes on Wednesday. If Martin decides to play our Under 12's again, expect the worst.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 1:30 am

I reckon the competitive streak in MON will mean we play as strong a team as possible now that we've been given the chance to progress in the competition again.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 2:44 am

eamonn wrote:

I reckon the competitive streak in MON will mean we play as strong a team as possible now that we've been given the chance to progress in the competition again.

Like we did in Moscow?

player manager Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Posts: 11234

3-2 win Carew x 2, Brainer

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 8:13 am

We need to win by two goals and we will.

3-1.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 10:31 am

Is this game being shown anywhere like the Royal etc

first team Joined: 14 Oct 2005 Posts: 835

myp2p is showing there will be streams here

It should be on here, top stream quality and it's showing today's games too. Real Madrid need to win to avoid being knocked out in their own ground - 9:30 tonight.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 10:42 am

Ooh! My first post! Which means I can't post URLs yet...

Never mind. I just wanted to say, I always find this site pretty good...

livetv.ru/en/

international Joined: 06 Aug 2007 Posts: 1905

1-1, but unless Tucay becomes the most supriseing last minute signing/last minute starter in the history of MSLMSLMS then i don't think he'll be gettting one for us like i said before, so i'll go for Knight, oh shit he's left #-o How about Barry 8-[ oh i give up :-

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 11:55 am

Mazrim wrote:

We need to win by two goals and we will.

3-1.

One shot on goal against Malaga reserves and you think we'll score 3 against the team that beat Malaga's first team?

Here's hoping.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 12:24 pm

To try and prevent a whole new thread being created, stuck this in the Davies / squad thread and now mentioning it here:

SSN and official Villa site reporting that Luke Young has flown home from Peace Cup due to a thigh injury.

Posted: Tue 28 Jul, 2009 12:41 pm

Guy M wrote:

To try and prevent a whole new thread being created, stuck this in the Davies / squad thread and now mentioning it here:

SSN and official Villa site reporting that Luke Young has flown home from Peace Cup due to a thigh injury.

He does seem to miss quite a few games with injury does he not?