Le Championnat [Archive] - Page 7

kabbott

02-05-2009, 10:29 AM

Niang: 'Gerets departure changes nothing'

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_l1_marseille_Gerets_niang_mono.jpg

Marseille striker Mamadou Niang has insisted that the fact coach Erik Gerets is leaving the club at the end of the season will not be an excuse should OM fail to win the Ligue 1 title.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

21:00 - Olympique de Marseille / Toulouse FC

The south-coast club head into their Week 34 encounter with Toulouse two points clear of the chasing pack and on course for a first league title in 17 years. However, preparations for Saturday's match at the Stade Vélodrome were thrown into turmoil earlier this week as news broke that Gerets would not be extending his current contract, which expires in June.

Niang, however, believes that it is performances on the pitch – and not wranglings off it – which will determine the fate of the club.

"We've got to put all that to one side and focus on the championship," said the OM vice-captain. "We have to go all the way, and we'll do everything we can to do that. We have to do it for [Gerets] too, but also for ourselves, the supporters and the city.

"Everyone knows he's a very good coach. I'm proud and fortunate to have spent a year-and-a-half with him in charge. I'm saddened – like everyone – that he's leaving, but you have to respect his choice. Everyone's taken it well, and if we don't win the title, we won't use his departure as an excuse."

'Sacrifices'

After struggling to refind his best form after sustaining a broken foot in the Week 17 win over Nice, an injury which sidelined him for seven games, Niang has recently produced some scintillating displays, despite being played out of position on the left side of the attack to accommodate Brandao.

"We've all made sacrifices recently for the good of the team. We have been moved around the pitch, me too, and it's worked," said Niang, who has struck three times in his last three league matches, including the matchwinner in the 2-1 defeat of Lille last weekend.

"Brandao has really changed the attitude of the attacking players since he arrived. He's always harrying opposition central defenders. He pushes us to battle like he does on the pitch. We all have to continue in that spirit."

kabbott

02-05-2009, 10:31 AM

Puel retains faith for title run-in

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/moyenFormat/0607_puel_lille_art.jpg

Lyon coach Claude Puel has admitted his side are not “ideally placed” to retain their crown, but has warned OL’s title rivals that “there is always a twist in the tail” of the championship.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

19:00 - Valenciennes FC / Olympique Lyonnais

Puel takes his faltering side into Saturday's must-win encounter at Valenciennes four points behind second-placed Bordeaux and a further two adrift of Marseille with five games left. However, the ex-Lille boss has not given up hope just yet.

"It wouldn't be a miracle if we finished as champions, but we're not ideally placed. There's always a twist in the tail of the championship. It's still possible," said Puel, whose team sit just a point ahead of fourth-placed Paris Saint-Germain.

"It's very tight behind us. We're in contention to qualify for the Champions League. We have to try and keep out in front and gain one or two places."

Puel added that Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas had reassured everyone at the club that finishing the season in fourth, synonymous with qualification for the Europa League, "would not be a catastrophe" in financial terms.

Job security

With captain Juninho absent through injury and reportedly in negotiations to move to Qatar this summer, and Jean II Makoun suspended, Puel will be without two of his most influential midfielders this weekend.

However, with his team still to face Marseille this season – at the Stade Vélodrome in Week 36 – the ex-Monaco coach has called on his players to give their all during the run-in.

"We've got five matches to play, and we'll draw conclusions at the end of them," said Puel, who signed a four-year contract at the Stade Municipal de Gerland last summer and is not thought to be in danger of losing his job regardless of the season's outcome.

"Valenciennes are capable of getting results. At home, they have a lot of support, and they're playing to avoid relegation. But each game will be important. No team will be taking it easy. Small details will decide each match. We have to be at 100 per cent. We have to go beyond the technical and tactical aspects – the run-in is played with the heart."

kabbott

03-05-2009, 08:40 AM

Oh dear! Lyon go into meltdown. They're not even sure of a Uefa Cup place at this rate. Abominable performance yesterday. Claude Puel is on a 4-year contract; it would cost Lyon 10m Euro to sack him, and Président Aulas doesn't want to anyway.

Saturday, May 02, 2009

19:00 SM Caen 3 - 1 Le Mans UC 72
19:00 Grenoble Foot 38 0 - 0 OGC Nice
19:00 FC Lorient 3 - 1 LOSC
19:00 AS Monaco FC 0 - 1 AJ Auxerre
19:00 AS Saint-Etienne 0 - 0 AS Nancy Lorraine
19:00 Valenciennes FC 2 - 0 Olympique Lyonnais
21:00 Olympique de Marseille 2 - 2 Toulouse FC

Week 34 - Sunday, May 03, 2009

17:00 FC Nantes Havre AC
17:00 Paris Saint-Germain Stade Rennais FC
21:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

kabbott

03-05-2009, 08:41 AM

1f55

P W D L GD Pts
1 Olympique de Marseille 34 19 11 4 +27 68
2 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 33 19 8 6 +23 65
3 Olympique Lyonnais 34 17 10 7 +16 61
4 Paris Saint-Germain 33 18 6 9 +13 60
5 Toulouse FC 34 15 13 6 +16 58
6 LOSC 34 15 11 8 +10 56
7 Stade Rennais FC 33 12 15 6 +8 51
8 OGC Nice 34 13 9 12 +3 48
9 AJ Auxerre 34 13 7 14 -3 46
10 AS Monaco FC 34 11 10 13 0 43
11 FC Lorient 34 10 12 12 +2 42
12 Grenoble Foot 38 34 10 12 12 -10 42
13 Valenciennes FC 34 9 13 12 -3 40
14 AS Nancy Lorraine 34 10 10 14 -7 40
15 Le Mans UC 72 34 10 8 16 -9 38
16 SM Caen 34 7 13 14 -5 34
17 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 33 7 12 14 -8 33
18 FC Nantes 33 8 9 16 -17 33
19 AS Saint-Etienne 34 9 6 19 -21 33
20 Havre AC 33 6 3 24 -35 21

kabbott

03-05-2009, 08:43 AM

Lyon loss leaves title hopes hanging by a thread

Mathematically, it is not over yet for Lyon, but a 2-0 defeat at Valenciennes on Saturday means OL have all but surrendered their Ligue 1 title. Lille's hopes of a top-four finish took a blow at Lorient, while Caen beat Le Mans to inch closer to safety.

Saturday 2 May 2009

Valenciennes FC / Olympique Lyonnais : 2 - 0

Starting the game in the north four points behind second-placed Bordeaux and a further two adrift of leaders Marseille, Claude Puel's side knew they had to leave the Stade Nungesser with a victory to maintain realistic hopes of catching the front pair.

However, without captain Juninho, who looks set to leave the club this summer, Lyon looked short of inspiration and resigned to not winning the championship for the first time in eight seasons.

The hosts seized the initiative with a two-goal burst in the space of six first-half minutes.

Deputising for the injured Jean-Claude Darcheville, Johan Audel stole the show, first outpacing Jean-Alain Boumsong to opening the scoring on 23 minutes before squeezing between François Clerc and Cris to add number two soon after.

It must have been particularly galling - if not surprising - for Puel, who had nutured Audel's fledgling talents at Lille.

The 25-year-old's double strike means Valenciennes are all but assured of top-flight football next season.

Lyon, who were reassured by club president Jean-Michel Aulas this week that a fourth-place finish would not be a financial catastrophe, will be watching Paris Saint-Germain's match with Rennes on Sunday with a vested interest.

SM Caen / Le Mans UC 72 : 3 - 1

Caen ended a run of back-to-back defeats to lift themselves out of the relegation zone and leave Le Mans' top-flight future still in the balance.

When Pablo Barzola's early strike for the hosts was cancelled out by Grégory Cerdan, Caen appeared set for another disappointing night.

However, Franck Dumas' men scored twice early in the second-half throug Nicolas Seube and Anthony Deroin to move a point clear of the drop zone.

Grenoble Foot 38 / OGC Nice : 0 - 0

An uninspiring game at the Stade des Alpes saw very few goalscoring opportunities, though Laurent Courtois' early strike could have changed the complexion of the match had it found the net rather than the woodwork.

Nice captain Olivier Echouafni thought he had given his side a first-half lead, only for the assistant referee's flag to go up as he headed home David Hellebuyck's free-kick.

The hosts had striker Larsen Touré sent off on 66 minutes, but held out comfortably to extend their unbeaten run to three league matches.

FC Lorient / LOSC : 3 - 1

Lille saw their ambitions of a top-four finish take a massive blow as they were beaten for the third consecutive league outing.

Rudi Garcia's men started brightly and were rewarded with Yohan Cabaye giving them a 36th-minute lead.

However, Michael Ciani equalised 19 minutes into the second half before Rafik Saïfi and Fabrice Abril struck in the last three minutes to lift Christian Gourcuff's men onto 42 points, and all but assure Les Merlus of top-flight football next season.

AS Monaco FC / AJ Auxerre : 0 - 1

Thomas Kahlenberg struck the only goal of the game as Auxerre registered a third successive victory.

The Dane headed home a Benoît Pedretti cross after 26 minutes for Jean Fernandez's side, who could have added a second after the break only for Dennis Oliech to see his effort strike the woodwork.

AS Saint-Etienne / AS Nancy Lorraine : 0 - 0

Saint-Etienne slipped to second-from-bottom after failing to break down a stubborn Nancy side at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Dimitri Payet looked to have broken the deadlock early in the second-half only for his strike to be ruled out for offside to leave Alain Perrin's men with just four points from their last seven league games.

kabbott

03-05-2009, 08:45 AM

Aulas: 'We won't sack Puel'

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has confirmed Claude Puel's job is safe, despite the OL coach seeing his team's ambitions of an eighth successive Ligue 1 title all but ended at Valenciennes on Saturday.

Two goals from Johan Audel left the champions without a win in four league matches, and they now trail leaders Marseille by seven points with four games remaining.

Alain Perrin was sacked last season despite completing a first-ever double at the club, but Aulas has confirmed Puel, who signed a four-year contract only last summer, will not suffer the same fate.

"We won't change coach just because we haven't won the league or qualified for the Champions League," said Aulas, who was instrumental in luring Puel to OL from Lille. "We know what has worked and what hasn't worked. We'll calmly discuss all that in-house.

"This was a season of transition - that's why we brought in Claude Puel. He's shown just how strong he is by standing up to everything that has been said."

While Aulas' statement will have no doubt heartened Puel, the OL coach conceded that the title is all but out of reach after defeat at the Stade Nungesser.

"We have to find the right blend to move forward and do it quickly," he said. "As for the title, it seems unlikely, but the important thing is to refind a team for the upcoming games."

BB Bob

03-05-2009, 06:45 PM

Oh dear kabbott, what a disaster. Unfortunately, I still have no internet at home - I'm having to do this on my phone!!!

So no listening to today's games on the radio! I'll keep my fingers crossed for 0L though.

kabbott

03-05-2009, 06:53 PM

Well at least PSG didn't do the business either this afternoon. I can't see Bordeaux slipping up this evening. It'll probably be the Gourcuff show again.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

17:00 FC Nantes 1 - 2 Havre AC
17:00 Paris Saint-Germain 0 - 1 Stade Rennais FC

21:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux FC Sochaux-Montbéliard

Abjekt

03-05-2009, 08:22 PM

My Girondins are 2-0 up with half an hour to go, get another one and I'll feel comfortable.

kabbott

04-05-2009, 04:52 PM

My Girondins are 2-0 up with half an hour to go, get another one and I'll feel comfortable.

You got it, albeit at the end.

Bordeaux deserve to win the Ligue this season. They play some neat football, have got some good players, especially Gourcuff who, at times, plays in a very Zidane-esque way. He can only get better. But they've also got a forward called Chamakh (?) who's made a hell of a lot of progress this season, Wendel, a Brazilian, and a great right-back called Chalmé who can't be far off international recognition.
Ironically Lyon could do them a favour by beating Marseille and putting a dent in Marseille's title hopes. Having said that, Lyon couldn't beat anyone the way they are playing at the moment.

the kooch

04-05-2009, 05:10 PM

Cavenaghi too

kabbott

04-05-2009, 06:08 PM

Cavenaghi too

True, although he's been out injured for a fair few weeks now.

Abjekt

04-05-2009, 06:23 PM

You got it, albeit at the end.

Bordeaux deserve to win the Ligue this season. They play some neat football, have got some good players, especially Gourcuff who, at times, plays in a very Zidane-esque way. He can only get better. But they've also got a forward called Chamakh (?) who's made a hell of a lot of progress this season, Wendel, a Brazilian, and a great right-back called Chalmé who can't be far off international recognition. Yep, some of the players have come on a long way in the last year or so, I'm really hoping they can go the extra yard and win the league.

I read Ancelotti now wants to have Gourcuff back, despite not being a fan of his at all, but hopefully Yoann will sign permanently for Bordeaux and have another year or two with the Girondins before heading off to bigger things.

BB Bob

06-05-2009, 07:47 AM

Still no internet at home - grrrrr - so I've had to wait until I am back in the office!

Bordeaux's problem will, I expect, be holding the team together, or at least as much of it as possible. And that include Blanc, who is an ambitious manager.

Elsewhere, though , big news on the coast.

Deschamps: 'Proud to be back'
Incoming Marseille coach Didier Deschamps has spoken of his "great pride" at his return to the club where he lifted the European Cup as a player in 1993. Deschamps promises to make OM "as competitive as possible".
With Erik Gerets stepping down from his position as coach of the Ligue 1 leaders at the end of the season, Marseille moved quickly to announce his successor.

Ex-Monaco and Juventus coach Deschamps said: "It is with great pride that I return to Marseille and accept the mission put in front of me by Robert Louis-Dreyfus [club owner] and Pape Diouf [club president].

'The right moment'

"I didn't hesitate. This was the right moment for me. Two years ago all the conditions weren't quite in place for me to come. This time I wanted to go."

Deschamps, 40, enjoyed a stupendously successful playing career, becoming the first Frenchman to lift the European Cup with Marseille in 1993 and then five years later he captained France to a first World Cup crown on home soil.

His midas touch continued as a coach. He took over at Monaco in 2001 and in his four years at the club there were three top three finishes in Ligue 1, he won the League Cup in 2003, and took the principality club to the Champions League final in 2004, the most recent appearance of a French club in the final.

Playing and coaching glory

After leaving Monaco in September 2005 he spent almost a year without a club before joining Juventus, a club he'd represented with distinction as a player winning the Champions League in 1996, and immediately took the Old Lady of Italian football back into Serie A.

At the end of the 06/07 season he was on his way again and it's only now, after being linked to a number of clubs over the last two years, that he's chosen to return to the coaching fray.

"If I'm going to Marseille, it's because Marseille have an interesting sporting project, which is very exciting. I won't be alone, there are directors and people who'll be there helping on a daily basis. [Robert] Louis-Dreyfus, whom I spoke to, is also very ambitious. We have a common objective; to make OM as competitive as possible."

Ben Arfa: 'Deschamps is a good choice'

His appointment has been widely hailed by supporters, former team-mates and current players alike.

Attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa said: "After Gerets, who did a great job here, we needed a very experienced coach, who know the place well, and who likes discipline. Deschamps is a good choice."

His fellow midfielder Mathieu Valbuena added: "He's charismatic and he's proved in the past that he's a competent coach. We shouldn't forget that he's the only French coach to have taken a team to the Champions League final. That's not nothing! But first of all we have to focus on winning the title."

Blanc: 'I'm happy for him'

Marseille are level on 68 points with Bordeaux, where Deschamps spent a season on loan from Marseille, who are coached by Laurent Blanc, a France '98 team-mate of Deschamps.

Blanc welcomed the news of his former skipper's return to the game. "I'm happy for him. I had the chance to speak to him not that long ago and he told me he wanted the stress of being on the touchline again. It's good that it's happened in France, at Marseille. He knows the club well, he'll know how to master the special context of Marseille."

While in the capital......

Le Guen shown the door
Paris Saint-Germain have officially confirmed that they are not renewing Paul Le Guen's contract. The former Lyon coach will leave at the end of the season after two and a half years in the capital.
A club statement issued on Tuesday afternoon reads: “Paris Saint-Germain would like to officially announce that it will not be renewing the contract of coach Paul Le Guen, which expires on June 30, 2009.

“The name of the Club’s next coach will be made public in the coming weeks. Paul Le Guen will continue to fulfil his current duties until the end of his contract.

“The decision has been made now as Paris Saint-Germain begins its preparations for next season.

“Paris Saint-Germain would like to thank Paul Le Guen for his hard work as coach and all he has achieved in nearly three years with the Club. Thanks to Le Guen, PSG’s new coach will inherit a healthy club, financially sound and a playing squad which has lived up to its sporting potential this season. Paul Le Guen has guided the Club through recent hardships to a point, today, where Paris Saint-Germain again stands at the forefront of the French game. The Club’s ambition to stay there remains intact for the end of the current campaign as well as the seasons to come.”

Career in brief

Le Guen took over Paris Saint-Germain in January 2007, replacing Guy Lacombe.

The Breton won three French titles with Lyon in 2003, 2004 and 2005. He then left to spend a year out of the game before resurfacing at Glasgow Rangers in Scotland for an unhappy six-month spell.

A return to France with PSG offered new hope. The club were flirting with relegation when he took over going on to finish 15th. The following season PSG again struggled in Ligue 1, finishing 16th. The cup competitions proved more fruitful with PSG winning the League Cup and losing the French Cup final to Lyon.

This season Paris Saint-Germain were as high as second in the league in February and March this year and currently lie fourth, a point behind champions Lyon, Le Guen’s former club who occupy the third and final Champions League place.

kabbott

06-05-2009, 10:39 AM

Their best season for ages at OM and PSG and both trainers/coaches are off. The worst season for ages at Lyon and the coach is kept in place.

BB Bob

06-05-2009, 11:28 AM

Never mind, you can have Antonetti in the off season......

BB Bob

06-05-2009, 11:30 AM

This weeks write up from Ben at the Guardian

Bordeaux hit the top as Gerets heads for the sun

It was a bad week for Marseille as manager Eric Gerets announced he will leave in the summer and Bordeaux drew level at the top of the table

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Clubs/Club%20Home/2009/5/5/1241511805545/Marseilles-coach-Eric-Ger-001.jpg
Is Marseille's coach Eric Gerets just following the money? Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

A crazy week in France began with the announcement that Eric Gerets would be leaving Marseille at the end of the season, continued with 10-man Bordeaux's "completely mad" 3-2 win at Rennes and ended with both clubs joint-top of Ligue 1 and going head-to-head for the title for the first time since 1998-99. Back then, Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc was playing for Marseille, and Bordeaux edged it by winning 3-2 at Paris Saint-Germain after scoring in the last minute of the last day of the season.

The odds are on a similar outcome this year, given that Bordeaux have the momentum, the easier run-in and, crucially, the stability that their rivals so clearly lack. The tide started to turn against OM when Gerets went public on his decision to leave, blaming owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus for the January interview in which he slagged off the management team and their signings and claimed he had recommended they buy Yoann Gourcuff, another key figure this week. "I don't mind what he said, but he didn't say it to my face, or pick up the phone and talk," said Gerets. "That showed a lack of gratitude and a lack of trust."

Gerets looks set to replace his compatriot George Leekens on a lucrative contract at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, and that is what seems to have most upset the French press. L'Equipe suggested he had lost money in the economic collapse while the front page of Aujourd'hui Sport mocked up a picture of Gerets sitting in a deckchair, puffing on a cigar with stacks of dollars piled around him. The headline was, "Lacheur", best translated "Taking the easy option".

In truth, Gerets has done nothing wrong: he is seeing out his two-year contract and will be leaving OM in a far better position than when he arrived. He believes that short-term coaching spells achieve the best results, and has never spent more than three years at any club before. "I don't blame him for leaving," one high-profile French coach told me. "He understands how tough it is to work at Marseille, and it will be even harder for him next season as the pressure will be enormous."

The players immediately rallied round and promised that they would win the title so he could leave on a high. The problem was, they struggled against Toulouse, and were behind twice before Mamadou Niang's double made it 2-2. Once again, a slow start punished them: OM have now scored 17 goals since their last first-half strike in the league, back in Week 28. After the game, Gerets, quite reasonably, was asked on Jour de Foot if he felt his announcement had affected the result: "That's a ridiculous question and one not worthy of being on your programme," he responded. "Is there any way your decision can be changed?" "Not unless you know something I don't, or maybe you've spoken the owner," was Gerets's tetchy answer.

OM president Pape Diouf excused Gerets on the Canal Football Club show by saying his coach was just bored of the same questions, then pointedly refused to spell out the name of the next coach on a silver Scrabble board presented to him. Perhaps he didn't have enough Ds: on Tuesday, Marseille confirmed Didier Deschamps as the boss next season, a decision likely to be met with enthusiasm even though one source close to the club said, "At the moment, French coaches are not good enough, or crazy enough, for this job."

One day after Gerets's announcement, Bordeaux played their game in hand at Rennes, where anything less than a win would have left Marseille in pole position. It started badly for them: a goal down and a man down within half an hour, yet they went 2-1 up until Moussa Sow made it 2-2 with a minute to play. The next minute might turn out to be the most important of the season: referee Laurent Duhamel ignored Bordeaux goalkeeper Ulrich Ramé's clear foul on Mikaël Pagis in the area, after which Bordeaux went upfield and took the lead, thanks to Gourcuff's brilliant second goal of the game. The clock read 94 minutes.

Two goals in the opening 15 minutes in Bordeaux's 3-0 home win over Sochaux, in which teenager Grégory Sertic marked his second appearance with a goal, then moved them level on points with Marseille, and extended their unbeaten home run to 31 games. Gourcuff scored again, this time with a rare header, for his fourth goal of the week. "We showed against Rennes that we will fight to the end for this title," said Marouane Chamakh, who also scored for a best-ever season tally of 11 goals.

Lyon are seven points back and their grip on Ligue 1 is well and truly over after they were beaten 2-0, and thoroughly out-played, at relegation-threatened Valenciennes. "We were all rubbish and we got what we deserved," said Cris, whose only decisive moment of influence was diving in to prevent coach Claude Puel coming to blows with Fabio Santos at half-time. Lyon's president Jean-Michel Aulas once again backed Puel, and this time turned his ire on the players. "We can look for all the reasons we want, but when it comes down to it, there are 11 men out there on the pitch and they played really badly."

Lyon's grip on third place is now shaky: they are only one point ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, who missed a massive opportunity to overtake them by losing 1-0 at home to Rennes. Two former PSG boys did for them: coach Guy Lacombe, who marked his return to the capital by walking into the wrong dressing-room, and Jérôme Leroy, whose second-half volley was going wide until it struck Mamadou Sakho and beat Mikaël Landreau. "The way PSG played, it looked like it was a friendly out there," said RMC pundit Jean-Michel Larqué. PSG coach Paul le Guen is also now closer to an exit this summer.

Elsewhere, Caen jumped out of the bottom three with a 3-1 win over Le Mans, while the situation still looks grim for Saint-Etienne, who drew 0-0 with Nancy, and Nantes, who were beaten 2-1 at home by bottom club Le Havre. Vikash Dhorasoo wants to return to Havre, France's oldest club, as club president. He has got Indian investors prepared to back him and buy out current president Jean-Pierre Louvel. "He is not taking us seriously but what's his grand project for the club: to take them into Ligue 2 and sell all the players?" mused Dhorasoo.

Given that it's all change at the top and the bottom in France, maybe it is just well that Ligue 1 has a 10-day hiatus to accommodate next weekend's all-Britanny French Cup final between Rennes and Guingamp. By the time we get under way again, maybe Marseille will have recovered from Gerets's rejection, Lyon remembered how to win and Le Havre, not yet mathematically doomed, will be ready to add to Alain Perrin's Sainte-Etienne stress. Bordeaux, meanwhile, under the cool leadership of Le Président, march serenely, ominously, onwards.

Results, Week 34: Valenciennes 2-0 Lyon, Lorient 3-1 Lille, Grenoble 0-0 Nice, Monaco 0-1 Auxerre, Saint-Etienne 0-0 Nancy, Caen 3-1 Le Mans, Marseille 2-2 Toulouse, PSG 0-1 Rennes, Nantes 1-2 Le Havre, Bordeaux 3-0 Sochaux

kabbott

08-05-2009, 09:36 PM

Good news for Philsick after Clermont's defeat last week.

Friday, May 08, 2009

20:00 AC Ajaccio 1 - 1 SC Bastia
20:00 Clermont Foot 3 - 0 CS Sedan
20:00 Nîmes Olympique 1 - 0 LB Châteauroux
20:00 ESTAC 2 - 1 Dijon FCO
20:00 Vannes OC 0 - 3 Stade Brestois
20:30 Angers SCO 1 - 1 FC Metz
20:30 RC Strasbourg 2 - 1 Amiens SC
20:30 Tours FC 3 - 1 US Boulogne CO

Monday, May 11, 2009

20:30 RC Lens - Stade de Reims

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

20:00 EA Guingamp - Montpellier HSC

kabbott

08-05-2009, 09:38 PM

That should be enough for Clermont to stay up.

Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1 RC Lens 34 19 8 7 45 30 +15 65
2 RC Strasbourg 35 17 11 7 53 40 +13 62
3 FC Metz 35 16 11 8 45 33 +12 59
4 Tours FC 35 17 8 10 50 39 +11 59
5 US Boulogne CO 35 17 6 12 45 36 +9 57
6 Montpellier HSC 34 16 8 10 56 34 +22 56
7 Angers SCO 35 12 12 11 43 41 +2 48
8 Dijon FCO 35 13 9 13 41 43 -2 48
9 Vannes OC 35 13 8 14 30 41 -11 47
10 CS Sedan 35 11 12 12 39 44 -5 45
11 SC Bastia 35 12 8 15 36 44 -8 44
12 Clermont Foot 35 11 10 14 43 48 -5 43
13 EA Guingamp 34 9 15 10 32 29 +3 42
14 Amiens SC 35 9 14 12 31 32 -1 41
15 AC Ajaccio 35 10 11 14 41 52 -11 41
16 Stade Brestois 35 11 6 18 42 48 -6 39
17 Stade de Reims 34 8 13 13 41 48 -7 37
18 ESTAC 35 9 10 16 35 42 -7 37
19 LB Châteauroux 35 9 10 16 36 44 -8 37
20 Nîmes Olympique 35 9 10 16 29 45 -16 37

philsick

08-05-2009, 09:48 PM

Almost midtable mediocraty:p

kabbott

09-05-2009, 09:22 AM

Almost midtable mediocraty:p

Sounds a little familiar!

kabbott

09-05-2009, 09:26 AM

Tonight is the final of the French Cup. It's an all-Britanny affair and I don't think many people outside Britanny care. For once the Championship is going down to the wire.

Leroy wants to feel Cup magique

Rennes midfielder Jérôme Leroy is hoping to experience the "magic" of the French Cup by helping his side lift the trophy at the expense of Guingamp in Saturday's all-Breton final.

Leroy is an old hand having already won the trophy twice with former clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Sochaux, and is looking forward to another taste of the unique atmosphere inside the Stade de France on Cup final night.

"Everyone says that this competition is magic, and I can confirm that," said the 34-year-old, who has also been on the end of a Cup final defeat while with PSG. "If you haven't experienced a win in a final, you can't comprehend this magic. When you win the trophy, it's something truly beautiful."

Rennes have yet to concede a goal after seeing off fellow Ligue 1 sides Sochaux, Saint-Etienne, Lorient and Grenoble as well as amateurs Rodez on their way to the final.

Leroy is hoping that run will continue to give Rennes the third French Cup of their history, and ensure the club will again enjoy European football next season.

"Our objective at the start of the season was to qualify for Europe. If we win in the final, we would be assured of that," said Leroy, whose side have slipped down to seventh in the Ligue 1 table after being in contention for a top-three finish earlier in the season.

"We can always have regrets, because with our potential, we had the means to expect better."

Zvunka: 'We'll pose problems'

After a mediocre Ligue 2 season, a place in the new Europa League would be an unexpected bonus for Guingamp.

The club have already accounted for top-flight sides Le Mans and Toulouse en route to Paris, and coach Victor Zvunka does not expect his men to be overwhelmed as fellow Breton outsiders Vannes were by Bordeaux in the recent League Cup final.

"We haven't shamed ourselves against Ligue 1 sides, but it's still 55-45 against us," said the well-travelled tactician. "Rennes are a Ligue 1 side that don't lose many games, and are very athletic.

"We'll have to be at 110 per cent of our abilities, while hoping they'll be below-par. Whatever happens, we'll do everything to pose them problems."

Squads

Rennes

Goalkeepers: Cheick Ndiaye, Nicolas Douchez,

Defenders: Lucien Aubey, Bira Dembélé, Petter Hansson, Elderson Echiejile, Rod Fanni, Carlos Bocanegra,

Midfielders: Prince Oniangue, Stéphane Mbia, Romain Danzé, Bruno Cheyrou, Fabien Lemoine, Jérôme Leroy,

Forwards: Moussa Sow, Mickaël Pagis, Olivier Thomert, Jires Kembo-Ekoko, Asamoah Gyan.

Guingamp

Gauclin, Trévisan, Deroff, Koné, Bassila, Felipe, Vergerolle, Colleau, Sène, Mathis, Bellugou, Soumah, Liabeuf, Ogunbiyi, Gilson, Oruma, Rivière, Eduardo

kabbott

10-05-2009, 09:20 AM

Rennes 1:2 Guingamp

And a good little match it was too, even though I only watched the 2nd half.

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_rennes_guingamp_cdf_eduardo_mono.jpg

Guingamp stun Rennes to take Cup

Two goals from Brazilian striker Eduardo saw Guingamp come from behind to beat Rennes 2-1 on Saturday and lift the French Cup for the first time.

The Stade de France was awash with the red-and-black of both sets of supporters who had made the long trek from Brittany, but it was two men from places somewhat more exotic than western France that made the biggest impact in Paris.

Californian Carlos Bocanegra had headed Rennes in front midway through the second-half, but it was Guingamp's South American star who produced two clinical finishes to give the Ligue 2 club a famous victory.

With two French Cup winners in their ranks - Lionel Mathis and Yves Deroff - at kick-off, as well as two-time runner-up Wilson Oruma, it was no surprise Guingamp fared better than fellow Ligue 2 side Vannes did in the League Cup final against Bordeaux.

While Vannes' hopes were dashed as they slipped three goals behind within 12 minutes, Victor Zvunka's side showed the sort of determination that had seen off both Le Mans and Toulouse en route to the Stade de France as they more than held their own.

Douchez tested

Eduardo tested Nicolas Douchez in the Rennes goal while captain Christian Bassila should have done much better than head an Oruma free-kick over the bar from close range.

Richard Soumah then lunged to connect spectacularly with Oruma's delightfully-weighted through ball only to see Douchez to prove equally adroit as he turned aside the Guingamp striker's full-blooded volley.

Without injured striker Jimmy Briand, who was in the stands, Rennes lacked spark in the final third, though the unpredictable Jérôme Leroy did produce one memorable moment as he rattled the bar with a snap-shot five minutes before the break.
The midfielder, who won the Cup with former clubs Paris Saint-Germain and Sochaux, then set Moussa Sow racing clear with an instinctive flick early in the second-half. Sow struck his shot cleanly, but saw the ball skip off the top of the bar as it zipped over.

Eduardo double

Lacombe's men finally made the breakthrough they had been threatening 21 minutes from time by a more prosaic route. Bruno Cheyrou's free-kick finding Bocanegra, who rose to head home from close range.

Having got their noses in front, however, Rennes were swiftly pegged back.

Swedish international defender Petter Hansson had been an injury doubt before the match, and his lack of match sharpness was evident as he miscontrolled a high ball into the box. Eduardo needed no second invitation to drill a low shot beyond Douchez and into the left-hand corner of the net.

Ten minutes later the Brazilian repeated the trick, firing into the opposite side of the Rennes goal after Mathis had spied him lurking unmarked on the right side of the area to give Guingamp a maiden French Cup.

BB Bob

10-05-2009, 10:04 AM

It's a shame for Guy Lacombe in what is likely to be one of his last games at Rennes.

kabbott

10-05-2009, 11:26 AM

It's a shame for Guy Lacombe in what is likely to be one of his last games at Rennes.

A funny character is Guy Lacombe. He came out with some strange reasons for Rennes' defeat last night. I'll have to re-read the article 'cos I still haven't grasped what he meant, nor really have the Equipe journalists!?

kabbott

10-05-2009, 06:23 PM

Gourcuff going or staying?

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/moyenFormat/0809_l1_hac_bdx_gourcuff_art.jpg

Yoann Gourcuff is keeping his cards close to his chest, refusing to commit his future to Bordeaux beyond the end of this season - for now.
The France playmaker is on loan from Italian club AC Milan and Bordeaux have an option to buy the gifted attacking midfielder this summer.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has been making noises about wanting the 22-year-old back at the San Siro.

Gourcuff is remaining noncommittal, but admits his father Christian Gourcuff, the Lorient coach, will want to have his say.

"I'm talking things over calmly with my father," said Gourcuff. "There will be meetings which will allow me to see more clearly where my future lies. I haven't spoken to [Bordeaux coach] Laurent Blanc about the subject.

"I don't know when I'll announce my decision. We'll see. The possibility of playing in the World Cup with France won't be major factor in my decision.

"For now I'm focused on my job, on what goes on on the pitch, on football. From now until the end of the season there are some massive games to play."

kabbott

11-05-2009, 08:42 AM

L'histoire d'eau (geddit?)

Lyon in Evian to find bottle

Speaking at a training camp in Evian, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris responded to accusations that Lyon have bottled their title defence.
France's number two goalkeeper, signed for big money from Nice last summer, has been one of the few Lyon players to live up to his reputation this season.

"It has been a disappointing season," admitted Lloris. "We cannot afford to let it become catastrophic by letting third place slip through our grasp. We'll see if we can finish second.

"Of course I knew that one day Lyon would no longer be champions but I came here to progress and win titles. We've dropped too many points at home and suffered from injuries as well."

Motivated opponents

Lyon stand third in the table, seven points behind Bordeaux and leaders Marseille, heading into Tuesday night's home game with relegation-threatened Nantes. The seven-time champions have already dropped 19 points at home and can ill-afford another slip-up.

"When you play for Lyon you really get the sense that all your opponents want to beat you. You can really feel the desire they have to win against you. It's the same in every game. I didn't believe it before coming here but it's true."

Lloris was rested for last Friday's 1-0 friendly win over fellow Ligue 1 outfit Grenoble in which France forward Sidney Govou made his comeback after Achilles tendon surgery. Lloris said: "It was decided well in advance. It gave me a rest and Rémy [Vercoutre, Lyon's number two goalkeeper] a game. The squad was delighted to welcome back Sidney. He's a key player."

BB Bob

11-05-2009, 09:49 AM

Still, some good news (!?!?!?!) for Saint Etienne

Perrin to stay even if Saint-Etienne go down

http://images.football365.com/08/11/240/Alain-Perrin-2008-woe_1483423.jpg
Saint-Etienne coach Alain Perrin has committed himself to the club - even if Les Verts fail to hold on to their Ligue 1 status.
Saint-Etienne issued a club statement in response to an article in the French press which suggested that the former Marseille and Lyon coach would leave no matter what happens between now and the end of the season.

The statement reads: "The relationship between the club's owners, directors and the coach is excellent and everybody is united in the objective of getting the club out of this situation."

Saint-Etienne are 19th in Ligue 1 with 33 points but are only in the relegation zone because both Nantes and Sochaux have a better goal difference.

Perrin said: "I'm surprised that such misinformation has come out. Once again I would like to underline my interest in the sporting project at Saint-Etienne, no matter the outcome of the season.

"The professional environment here allows me to work in a climate of confidence, independence and autonomy with the entirety of my staff."

kabbott

12-05-2009, 05:12 PM

No bets this time, but it's do or die time for Lyon. Ca passe ou ça casse!

Week 35 - Tuesday, May 12, 2009

21:00 Olympique Lyonnais FC Nantes

Week 35 - Wednesday, May 13, 2009

19:00 AJ Auxerre Grenoble Foot 38
19:00 Havre AC AS Saint-Etienne
19:00 Le Mans UC 72 Paris Saint-Germain
19:00 AS Nancy Lorraine FC Lorient
19:00 OGC Nice Olympique de Marseille
19:00 Stade Rennais FC SM Caen
19:00 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard AS Monaco FC
19:00 Toulouse FC LOSC
21:00 Valenciennes FC FC Girondins de Bordeaux

kabbott

12-05-2009, 05:14 PM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_juninho_lyon_mono_2.jpg

Juninho: Back but future still uncertain

Juninho is determined to play a prominent role in Lyon’s four remaining matches of the season but confesses he does not yet know whether he’ll still be at the Stade Gerland next season.

21:00 - Olympique Lyonnais / FC Nantes

Lyon's captain returned to first-team colours last Friday night, playing in a 1-0 friendly win over fellow Ligue 1 club Grenoble at a training camp in Evian. The Brazilian midfielder got through the game without suffering any setbacks with the groin injury that kept him out of the Week 34 2-0 defeat at Valenciennes. He should return to Ligue 1 action in Tuesday's home game against relegation-threatened Nantes.

Next season is another matter. The 34-year-old, along with Sidney Govou the only member of the Lyon squad to have won seven championship medals, has one season left on his contract and has not yet decided whether he will see it out to its conclusion.

Juninho: 'I'm hesitating'

"I'm hesitating. Sometimes when I get back to my house, I say to myself I'm going to leave," he admitted. "At other times I want to stay. It's not a physical thing. I've got one year left on my contract and the president [Jean-Michel Aulas] told me to do what I want to.

"We're going to talk about it again and I'll also talk it over with the coaching staff. We'll see. Will I announce my decision before the end of the season? I don't know."

Before deciding on his future Juninho is focusing on helping Lyon secure a top three finish which would secure Champions League football next season. If he has one regret from his glorious spell with the champions it is that the club have been unable to translate domestic glory to success on the European stage.

Champions League: 'Most disappointing'

"The most disappointing aspect of my Lyon career is the Champions League. I was in three quarter-finals but I will never win it.

"We have to play well until the end of the season to keep hold of third place in Ligue 1. Bordeaux and Marseille are in front of us and they deserve to be. We've dropped too many points at home this season and I don't know why."

Lyon have dropped 19 points at the Stade Gerland this season. Should Juninho decide to leave the club this summer Nantes will be his penultimate home game in front of his adoring public.

limited_edition

12-05-2009, 05:25 PM

Juninho shares my birthday. But he's a fair bit younger than me, I hasten to add. And richer. And more talented. :(

However, at 34, it might the last chance for him to play in a 'bigger' league (eg, England, Spain or Italy). No disrespect to Ligue 1. Not to mention realise his Champs League ambitions. If there are any takers that is.

An exciting finish to the league, mind you. Allez Marseille.

BB Bob

12-05-2009, 06:43 PM

I read somewhere he was off to the Middle East. I hope not, but I guess he deserves a payday. I think Lyon have seen the best of him, mind you...

philsick

12-05-2009, 06:50 PM

Glad reggie is staying at les verts.If lyon do them a favour tonight,i can see them winning at lowly havre tommorrow and sochaux have a toughy with monaco.I think it will go to the wire.

kabbott

12-05-2009, 06:56 PM

The Lyon team has been announced as this:

Titulaires
1.H.Lloris
20.A.Réveillère
4.J.Boumsong
3.Cris
28.J.Toulalan
6.K.Kallstrom
17.J.Makoun
7.H.Ederson
8.Juninho (c.)
19.C.Delgado
10.K.Benzema

This is more or less a full-strength team, except Govou who is making his comeback on the bench after months out.

kabbott

12-05-2009, 06:59 PM

Glad reggie is staying at les verts.If lyon do them a favour tonight,i can see them winning at lowly havre tommorrow and sochaux have a toughy with monaco.I think it will go to the wire.

Thats shows loyalty or is it madness? I don't think Lyon will be thinking of anyone other than themselves tonight. But I hope ASSE stay up 'cos the local derbies are always a bit special, Piqiuonne can vouch for that. :o

kabbott

12-05-2009, 07:01 PM

I read somewhere he was off to the Middle East. I hope not, but I guess he deserves a payday. I think Lyon have seen the best of him, mind you...

I think you're right or Japan. He hasn't made up his mind yet. Their end-of-season position will make his mind up for him. Match has just started. Not much atmosphere though. :(

kabbott

12-05-2009, 07:53 PM

2:0 to Lyon at HT 2 goas from Makoun. Really easy. Nantes look awful. St Etienne can"t be as bad as this team who don't look interested and can't be bothered.

kabbott

12-05-2009, 09:20 PM

3:0 to Lyon witha third from sub Mounier. That'll do. Bonne nuit.

GodstoneEagle

12-05-2009, 11:42 PM

09/05/2009 Sevilla v Mallorca
(Full Time Result) Sevilla 1.53 None Won
2 10/05/2009 Atletico Madrid v Espanyol
(Full Time Result) Atletico Madrid 1.72 None Won
3 09/05/2009 Hertha Berlin v Bochum
(Full Time Result) Hertha Berlin 1.55 None Won
4 09/05/2009 Cottbus v Bayern Munich
(Full Time Result) Bayern Munich 1.44 None Won
5 12/05/2009 Lyon v Nantes
(Full Time Result) Lyon 1.30 None Won
6 13/05/2009 Le Mans v PSG
(Full Time Result) PSG 2.20 None To Run
7 13/05/2009 Valenciennes v Bordeaux
(Full Time Result) Bordeaux 1.72 None To Run
8 13/05/2009 Nice v Marseille
(Full Time Result) Marseille 1.80 None To Run

If PSG, Bordeaux and Marseille win, then I will be some £800 richer.

If one of the three wins I will make a profit. If two of them win I should get a hundred or so. But my god, I hope all three win.

BB Bob

13-05-2009, 08:55 AM

3:0 to Lyon witha third from sub Mounier. That'll do. Bonne nuit.

Job jobbed. But it has to be said that Nantes look like shite. Their last three games are:-

Week 36 5/17/2009 - 17:00 FC Nantes Stade Rennais FC
Week 37 5/23/2009 - 21:00 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard FC Nantes
Week 38 5/30/2009 - 21:00 FC Nantes AJ Auxerre

They aren't going to get a lot of change out of Rennes - there is no love lost there, which leaves a real 6 pointer against Sochaux.

http://www.footmercato.net/local/cache-vignettes/L313xH260/arton23957-3b0e8.jpg

It's a tough job sometimes.....

BB Bob

13-05-2009, 08:56 AM

BB Bob

13-05-2009, 10:32 AM

Merde alors!

Trouver un successeur à Frédéric Antonetti. Voilà la priorité des dirigeants niçois car le technicien corse serait tout proche d’un accord avec le Stade Rennais. Du coup, plusieurs pistes sont à l’étude selon RMC pour lui succéder, notamment en Ligue 2 : Jean-Marc Furlan (entraîneur de Strasbourg) et Daniel Sanchez (coach de Tours) seraient sur les tablettes du Gym.

En Ligue 1, plusieurs profils intéresseraient aussi le club azuréen : Frédéric Hantz, l’entraîneur du Havre qui a porté le maillot niçois en tant que capitaine dans les années 1990 ; et Paul Le Guen, en fin de contrat avec le PSG. Selon RMC, le coach breton, dont le nom circulerait aussi du côté de Guingamp, aurait rencontré hier le président de l’OGC Nice, Maurice Cohen. Le président niçois, joint hier soir, a toutefois démenti cette information tout comme Paul Leguen lui-même.

For those who don't read french, it looks like Antonetti is off to Rennes. It's a shame, but he has done a good job at Nice with one of the smaller budgets in L1. Mind you, they did spend a euro or two on Remy last year. I guess the problem will come with how many players decide to leave too. Doesn't bode too well for next season though....

My hero.

http://i.eurosport.fr/2008/04/12/431959-2889206-317-238.jpg
http://www.lefigaro.fr/medias/2008/04/01/2322618.jpg

BB Bob

13-05-2009, 10:33 AM

Hey, you don't suppose that Steve Coppell would like to spend some time in the sunshine by the coast, do you?

You heard it here first.....

kabbott

13-05-2009, 04:07 PM

Hey, you don't suppose that Steve Coppell would like to spend some time in the sunshine by the coast, do you?

You heard it here first.....

On the way down he's stopping off in a hotel in Lyon. :p

kabbott

13-05-2009, 04:09 PM

BB Bob

13-05-2009, 06:58 PM

It's twitchy bottom time, Godstone

Ligue 1 - 35e journée
Terminé Nice (8) 0 - 2 Marseille (1)
Niang (27e)
Brandao (60e)

- Terminé Le Mans (15) 0 - 1 Paris-SG (4)
Kezman (17e)

- Terminé Toulouse (5) 0 - 0 Lille (6)
- Terminé Rennes (7) 1 - 0 Caen (16)
Hansson (61e)

- Terminé Auxerre (9) 2 - 0 Grenoble (12)
Jelen (37e, 73e)

- Terminé Sochaux (17) 3 - 0 Monaco (10)
Martin (19e)
Modesto (47e csc)
Sverkos (70e)

- Terminé Nancy (14) 2 - 2 Lorient (11)
Saïfi (27e csc)
Sami (48e)
Gameiro (53e, 82e)

- Terminé Le Havre (20) 2 - 4 Saint-Etienne (19)
Diallo (11e)
Sambou (17e)
Ilan (4e)
Bayal Sall (47e)
Mirallas (70e)
Rivière (90e+3)

21h00 à venir Valenciennes (13) - Bordeaux (2)

One to play......

(Did I mention that Valenciennes are quite good at home?)

kabbott

13-05-2009, 07:12 PM

Stuff all this I'll buy you a pint mallarkey, Godders, if Bordeaux win, it's champers and caviar all round!

kabbott

13-05-2009, 09:04 PM

Blimey! Well done mate.

21:00 Olympique Lyonnais 3 - 0 FC Nantes

Week 35 - Wednesday, May 13, 2009

19:00 AJ Auxerre 2 - 0 Grenoble Foot 38
19:00 Havre AC 2 - 4 AS Saint-Etienne
19:00 Le Mans UC 72 0 - 1 Paris Saint-Germain
19:00 AS Nancy Lorraine 2 - 2 FC Lorient
19:00 OGC Nice 0 - 2 Olympique de Marseille
19:00 Stade Rennais FC 1 - 0 SM Caen
19:00 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 3 - 0 AS Monaco FC
19:00 Toulouse FC 0 - 0 LOSC

21:00 Valenciennes FC 1 - 2 FC Girondins de Bordeaux

GodstoneEagle

13-05-2009, 09:55 PM

:lux:

When I checked the results, Bordeaux had 10 mins to go at 1-1. When gourcuff scored I went crazy!

£900 pays for my trip to Thailand this summer :):):):):):)

And I will buy both of you some champagne to celebrate :lux::lux::lux:

BB Bob

14-05-2009, 07:22 AM

kabbott

14-05-2009, 03:07 PM

GodstoneEagle

14-05-2009, 03:50 PM

:lux::lux::lux::lux::lux::lux:

kabbott

16-05-2009, 09:09 AM

This weekend's matches:

Week 36 - Saturday, May 16, 2009

19:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux Le Mans UC 72
19:00 SM Caen FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
19:00 Grenoble Foot 38 AS Nancy Lorraine
19:00 FC Lorient Havre AC
19:00 AS Monaco FC Valenciennes FC
19:00 AS Saint-Etienne Toulouse FC

21:00 Paris Saint-Germain AJ Auxerre

Week 36 - Sunday, May 17, 2009

17:00 LOSC OGC Nice
17:00 FC Nantes Stade Rennais FC

21:00 Olympique de Marseille Olympique Lyonnais

Tomorrow's game could almost see Lyon handing over the crown to Marseille. I hope not. Lyon need to win to hold on to the 3rd place slot ahead of PSG.
Personally I think Bordeaux deserve to be Champions this year as they've played the most attractive football, and in Gourcuff they've get the best player in the Ligue this season.

kabbott

16-05-2009, 09:10 AM

Last tango in Paris

Paris Saint-Germain host Auxerre to the Parc des Princes on Saturday in what maybe their last chance to move ahead of Lyon into third place and a shot at next season’s Champions League...
Wednesday's Week 35, 1-0 victory over Le Mans saw PSG remain just a point behind Lyon and left-back Sylvain Armand knows that time is running out for Paul Le Guen's side is they want to leap-frog the champions into France's final Champions League qualifying place:

No place to hide

"The important thing is that we're not trailing Lyon by four points and we can continue to press them for that third preliminary round Champions League spot. There's no point trying to hide. We have every chance, we're in the hunt along with Lyon. If we qualify for the Europa League, then all well and good, but we're aiming a little higher."

But Armand rubbished claims that the Parisians have the easier finish to the season.

Extra pressure

"Lyon have to play Marseille and Toulouse - two very tough away trips. But playing against teams that have nothing left to play for isn't easy either. We'll have extra pressure compared to the opposition. Take a team like Auxerre, who have nothing but pride to play for, but have won their last four in a row. For opponents, it's always a pleasure to play at the Parc. We'll only know at the end of the season if the calendar favoured us or not."

kabbott

16-05-2009, 09:12 AM

Defeat for Phil's Clermont shouldn't matter this week as they are all but safe. Despite losing, Lens are promoted.

Friday, May 15, 2009

20:00 Amiens SC 3 - 3 EA Guingamp
20:00 SC Bastia 0 - 0 Nîmes Olympique
20:00 LB Châteauroux 1 - 0 Clermont Foot
20:00 Dijon FCO 0 - 2 Angers SCO
20:00 Montpellier HSC 2 - 1 AC Ajaccio
20:00 CS Sedan 2 - 3 Vannes OC
20:30 Stade Brestois 3 - 1 RC Lens
20:30 FC Metz 1 - 1 ESTAC
20:30 Stade de Reims 0 - 0 Tours FC

Monday, May 18, 2009

20:30 US Boulogne CO - RC Strasbourg

kabbott

16-05-2009, 09:13 AM

Ligue 2 table:

Pl W D L F A GD Pts
1 RC Lens 36 20 8 8 47 33 +14 68
2 Montpellier HSC 36 18 8 10 59 35 +24 62
3 RC Strasbourg 35 17 11 7 53 40 +13 62
4 FC Metz 36 16 12 8 46 34 +12 60
5 Tours FC 36 17 9 10 50 39 +11 60
6 US Boulogne CO 35 17 6 12 45 36 +9 57
7 Angers SCO 36 13 12 11 45 41 +4 51
8 Vannes OC 36 14 8 14 33 43 -10 50
9 Dijon FCO 36 13 9 14 41 45 -4 48
10 CS Sedan 36 11 12 13 41 47 -6 45
11 SC Bastia 36 12 9 15 36 44 -8 45
12 EA Guingamp 36 9 16 11 35 33 +2 43
13 Clermont Foot 36 11 10 15 43 49 -6 43
14 Amiens SC 36 9 15 12 34 35 -1 42
15 Stade Brestois 36 12 6 18 45 49 -4 42
16 AC Ajaccio 36 10 11 15 42 54 -12 41
17 LB Châteauroux 36 10 10 16 37 44 -7 40
18 ESTAC 36 9 11 16 36 43 -7 38
19 Stade de Reims 36 8 14 14 41 49 -8 38
20 Nîmes Olympique 36 9 11 16 29 45 -16 38

BB Bob

16-05-2009, 03:17 PM

BB Bob

16-05-2009, 04:21 PM

Some very late predictions

Accumulator (10)16 May 2009 - Caen v Sochaux - 90 Minutes

Caen @ 13/10

Will les Caennais be able to get a grip on their season? Sochaux are in form, but I fancy the Normans in this one

16 May 2009 - Grenoble v Nancy - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 9/5

The game that the phrase bore draw was created for

16 May 2009 - Lorient v Le Havre - 90 Minutes

Lorient @ 8/13

Le Havre down and out

16 May 2009 - Bordeaux v Le Mans - 90 Minutes

Bordeaux @ 3/10

Bordeaux to continue their march to the title

16 May 2009 - Monaco v Valenciennes - 90 Minutes

Monaco @ 6/5

A decent farewell for a decent manager. Empty stadium, though, I'm guessing...

16 May 2009 - St Etienne v Toulouse - 90 Minutes

St Etienne @ 6/5

Can ASSE save themselves? Probably a draw, in fairness, and the odds are wrong, but maybe tonights the night for Gomes and crew

16 May 2009 - Paris S.G. v Auxerre - 90 Minutes

Paris S.G. @ 1/2

Auxerre aren't a bad team, but I think PSG can smell blood (and not just in their own boardroom)

17 May 2009 - Lille v Nice - 90 Minutes

Lille @ 4/7

Nice already on holiday. Only one result here...

17 May 2009 - Nantes v Rennes - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 21/10

Rennes would love to put a nail in Nantes coffin in the Breton derby. I think Nantes will be more up for it than last week - could they be any worse? - and so a draw

17 May 2009 - Marseille v Lyon - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 11/5

Lyon to salvage some self respect after a dreadful half season since the break.

Stake : £1.00
Estimated Returns : £1530.55

Enjoy the games!

BB Bob

16-05-2009, 08:11 PM

Just as I thought.......not

Week 36 - Saturday, May 16, 2009

19:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3 - 2 Le Mans UC 72
19:00 SM Caen 2 - 0 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
19:00 Grenoble Foot 38 0 - 0 AS Nancy Lorraine
19:00 FC Lorient 1 - 1 Havre AC
19:00 AS Monaco FC 1 - 1 Valenciennes FC
19:00 AS Saint-Etienne 2 - 2 Toulouse FC

Current score at the Parc is PSG 0 - 2 Auxerre after 55 minutes.

So all the pressure us on M Gerets & co, and Lyon can play like a team liberated!

kabbott

17-05-2009, 08:53 AM

Results in full:

Week 36 - Saturday, May 16, 2009

19:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 3 - 2 Le Mans UC 72
19:00 SM Caen 2 - 0 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
19:00 Grenoble Foot 38 0 - 0 AS Nancy Lorraine
19:00 FC Lorient 1 - 1 Havre AC
19:00 AS Monaco FC 1 - 1 Valenciennes FC
19:00 AS Saint-Etienne 2 - 2 Toulouse FC

21:00 Paris Saint-Germain 1 - 2 AJ Auxerre

Week 36 - Sunday, May 17, 2009

17:00 LOSC OGC Nice
17:00 FC Nantes Stade Rennais FC

21:00 Olympique de Marseille Olympique Lyonnais

The Bordeaux match was fun to watch. They looked great going forward but a little dodgy in defence to say the least. Gourcuff was excellent again - the way he plays reminds me so much of Zidane, Chamakh has had a fine season and is looking for pastures new, and Chalmé, the right back, must have put in about 12-15 crosses in the match.

kabbott

17-05-2009, 08:55 AM

Ligue tables:

P W D L GD Pts
1 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 36 22 8 6 +28 74
2 Olympique de Marseille 35 20 11 4 +29 71
3 Olympique Lyonnais 35 18 10 7 +19 64
4 Paris Saint-Germain 36 19 6 11 +12 63
5 Toulouse FC 36 15 15 6 +16 60
6 LOSC 35 15 12 8 +10 57
7 Stade Rennais FC 35 14 15 6 +10 57
8 AJ Auxerre 36 15 7 14 0 52
9 OGC Nice 35 13 9 13 +1 48
10 FC Lorient 36 10 14 12 +2 44
11 AS Monaco FC 36 11 11 14 -3 44
12 Grenoble Foot 38 36 10 13 13 -12 43
13 AS Nancy Lorraine 36 10 12 14 -7 42
14 Valenciennes FC 36 9 14 13 -4 41
15 Le Mans UC 72 36 10 8 18 -11 38
16 SM Caen 36 8 13 15 -4 37
17 AS Saint-Etienne 36 10 7 19 -19 37
18 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 36 8 12 16 -10 36
19 FC Nantes 35 8 9 18 -21 33
20 Havre AC 36 7 4 25 -36 25

philsick

17-05-2009, 09:00 AM

St etienne let in a last minute equaliser,when a win would of seen them go 15th.Le mans are in the mix now.

kabbott

17-05-2009, 10:30 AM

St etienne let in a last minute equaliser,when a win would of seen them go 15th.Le mans are in the mix now.

They had enough chances to win it easily.

BB Bob

17-05-2009, 01:51 PM

Marseille-Lyon: make or break

Marseille face a litmus test of their title credentials when they welcome reigning champions Lyon to the Stade Vélodrome in the match of the weekend.

Sunday, May 17, 2009
21:00 - Olympique de Marseille / Olympique Lyonnais

Erik Gerets' side registered a comfortable 2-0 win over Mediterranean rivals Nice on Wednesday to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches and take their points tally to a league-leading 39 from a possible 48 since the turn of the year.

''We played really well, one of our best displays away from home this season,'' explained Gerets, which is saying something given OM boast Ligue 1's best away record having lost just once on their travels this season.

''We had 85 of the 90 minutes totally under control. Winning at Nice in this manner is significant. If I have a little criticism of my players, it's that the final ball wasn't good enough. Otherwise we would have scored three or four times.''

More goals would have seen Marseille go into Week 36 with a bigger advantage over fellow title pretenders Bordeaux than the +2 goal difference margin they currently enjoy, but strikes from Mamadou Niang and Brandao at the Stade Municipal du Ray did help boost their league-leading tally of 60 league goals this season.

OM's attack on target

The pair are currently the league's hottest marksmen with Niang averaging a goal-a-game over his last five matches, while Brandao has struck five times in seven games, and the duo will be key in unlocking the Lyon defence, which boasts the division's second-best record having conceded just 27 times this season.

Though forward Bakari Koné remains sidelined with a calf problem, Gerets will have both first-choice full-backs, Laurent Bonnart and Taye Taiwo, available after they came through the Nantes game having recovered from groin injuries.

While Marseille will know which result they need to stay top of the table following Bordeaux's match with Le Mans on Saturday, Lyon will already have seen their faint hopes of retaining the title extinguished if Laurent Blanc's men pick up three points.

Claude Puel's men reignited the flickering embers of the defence of their crown with a 3-0 win over Nantes on Tuesday - their first league success in five matches.

Champions League spot in their sights

Though the top two won 24 hours later to ease seven points clear again, victory did see OL remain in front of Paris Saint-Germain in the race for the third and final Champions League qualifying place, and Jean II Makoun believes there could be better still to come.

''We easily have the ability to go and win at Marseille,'' said the Cameroonian international, who took his season's tally to six with a first-half double against Nantes. ''If we are more clinical in front of goal, we have the means to be able to get something positive at the Vélodrome. We don't need any extra motivation for this kind of game.''

Govou return

Perhaps Lyon's biggest source of hope comes in Marseille's relatively poor home record, which is only the seventh-best in the division. By contrast, Lyon are the third-best performers away from home in Ligue 1, and the sooner-than-expected return of Sidney Govou gives them added experience and attacking poise in what will be an intimidating atmosphere.

Lyon also have an excellent recent record on the south coast, winning four times and losing just once in their last ten visits, though they will need top scorer Karim Benzema, who has scored just four times since the turn of the year, to rediscover his touch in front of goal

BB Bob

17-05-2009, 05:15 PM

A little apéro before this evenings plat:-

- Terminé Lille (6) 1 - 1 Nice (9)
Cabaye (70e)
Modeste (34e)

- Terminé Nantes (19) 1 - 1 Rennes (7)
Bagayoko (40e)
Sow (84e)

When will I learn not to bet on Nice....:rolleyes:

I don't think either of these results help anyone. Nantes game away at Sochaux next weekend becomes absolutely vital for them.

BB Bob

17-05-2009, 09:03 PM

Hey, hey, kabbott...

OM 1 Lyons 3

Sois fier!

kabbott

17-05-2009, 09:59 PM

Hey, hey, kabbott...

OM 1 Lyons 3

Sois fier!

Je le suis, je le suis mais avec beaucoup de regrets.

We'll be back. :p

Abjekt

17-05-2009, 11:30 PM

Well done mon ami, a great result for my boys that was!

BB Bob

18-05-2009, 10:10 AM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_l1_om_ol_benzema_mono.jpg

Marseille miss the boat

Marseille’s title hopes took a beating on Sunday night as Erik Gerets’ men went down 3-1 at home to a rejuvenated – and clinical – Lyon side in a titanic battle in Marseille.
Sunday, May 17, 2009

Olympique de Marseille / Olympique Lyonnais : 1 - 3

With Bordeaux taking all three points against Le Mans on Saturday, the pressure was on Marseille to get a result against Lyon and stay just in front of Les Girondins on goal difference.

But the Lyon that arrived at the Stade Vélodrome was a far cry from the side whose indifferent form in 2009 let the title slip after seven years.

Perhaps growing in confidence after their 3-0 win over Nantes in Week 35, or perhaps simply rising to the occasion, as is their custom, of a crunch match against their traditional rivals, Claude Puel's men produced a top-notch performance.

Marseille brought their trademark graft and passing game to bear but Lyon matched them with a tightly organised and effective formation, pushing their hosts to the limit and taking the lead on the half-hour mark.

Benzema to the double

Brazilian giant Brandao was adjudged to have brought down Ederson in the area and Karim Benzema made no mistake from the spot, sending Steve Mandanda the wrong way to score his 15th of the season, but just his fifth in a relatively barren 2009.

Despite OM's almost clawing one back just a minute later through Argentine defender Renato Civelli, it was Benzema once again, three minutes before half time, who found the net at the end of a full-field move begun by César Delgado.

The Argentine intercepted Mathieu Valbuena's corner, working a neat one-two with Benzema on the left before finding Jérémy Toulalan, who slid a through-ball to Benzema, alone on the edge of the area, who turned and slotted past Mandanda to send shockwaves through the stadium full of title-hungry Marseille supporters.

Marseille came into the second half knowing a huge effort was needed, and took the game to Lyon, with Hatem Ben Arfa and Civelli particularly threatening, but the reigning champions held firm until the 81st minute.

Wiltord strikes back

Former Lyon attacker and France international Sylvain Wiltord, brought on for Valbuena in the 69th minute, created and finished a move that ended with his calmly side-footing last Hugo Lloris for his first Ligue 1 goal since joining Marseille from Rennes in January.

Try as they might however, the equaliser wouldn't come and three minutes into injury time, Lyon talismanic Brazilian captain Juninho stepped and made sure of the points, picking himself up from Vitorino Hilton's foul to drive a swerving free kick past Mandanda from an astonishing 35 metres out.

The glimpse of Lyon's glorious past gives Claude Puel's men a four-point advantage in the race against Paris for the third place and a berth in the Champions League qualifying round.

Marseille however will be ruing a host of missed chances as the loss sees Bordeaux take a three-point lead in top spot with just two matches left to play.

BB Bob

18-05-2009, 10:14 AM

Next season is already shaping up to be an interesting one.

I suspect Bordeaux are going to lose a lot of players in the summer and replacing players like Gourcuff and Chamakh (to name just 2) will not be easy. That is assuming that Laurent Blanc doesn't get poached by someone, of course.

Lyon will face a struggle to hold on to Benzema again and this time he may move on. As we all know, too many new players in at once is never ideal and the lack of depth up front for OL is a problem. Maybe Loic Remy comes home?

A new coach at OM, but I can't see too many core players leaving. The key here will be what kind of budget Deschamps gets to work with.

PSG may lose one or two but here, too, a solid team with a couple of decent signings may continue to progress.

palacemaniac

18-05-2009, 10:41 AM

Come on Bordeaux :lux:

libran

18-05-2009, 04:39 PM

BB Bob

18-05-2009, 04:56 PM

My equipe today says that all games kick off at 21 00 on saturday for the next two weeks, but it might be best to wait for kabbot. He is le patron when it comes to these things!!!

kabbott

18-05-2009, 05:27 PM

Just wondering if anyone can help. What happens for the last game of the season - do all the games kick off at the same time as per the English league? We have tickets for PSG, hopefully to see them clinch a place in the eufa league as they seem to have blown their chances of the champions league with their last 2 home results. On their website it says Saturday 30th May at 21.00 but that this is subject to change. We need to book the eurotunnel now but want to make sure that we will be in Paris in time for KO.
Allez Paris!

Yep, all the games kick off at the same time on Saturday 30th May at 21.00 to avoid any result fixing/rigging. I don't think there's a great chance of any changes here 'cos this is the Canal + (French Sky equivalent) football slot. Whatever, get over as early as possible, take a walk around Paris, have a few beers/glasses of Pastis/wine/kir/Champagne etc. and enjoy the game.

BB Bob

19-05-2009, 11:58 AM

Lyon's Karim Benzema tips the title Bordeaux's way

With two games to go, Marseille's defeat leaves Yoann Gourcuff and company in the box seat

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2009/5/19/1242723444654/Yoann-Gourcuff-of-Bordeau-001.jpg
Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff acknowledges the applause of the fans who are desperate to keep him at the club. Photograph: Bob Edme/AP

It looks like the Lyon striker Karim Benzema did decide the French title after all. The 21-year-old, with only two goals in his last 12 matches, scored twice as Marseille lost their first home league game of the year 3–1 to leave Bordeaux, 3–2 winners over Le Mans, now three points clear at the top with two games to go.

This being Ligue 1, there was controversy on and off the pitch on Sunday night, with Marseille having some complaints about the result: they hit a post twice and had two penalty appeals turned down. "There were two fouls on me that were 100% penalties, I am sure of it," said Mamadou Niang, brought down both times by Anthony Réveillère when Lyon were already 2–0 up. "We would have grown in confidence and had more time to equalise if they had been given."

Benzema came out on top of the battle with his former nemesis Hatem Ben Arfa, who did not last an hour, despite coach Eric Gerets' observation that, "Hatem has become a new man and a different player, and now understands his responsibilities". Benzema's stock, on the other hand, had fallen so low that So Foot suggested that "last week he even played like Frédéric Piquionne". He opening the scoring from the spot after Brandao, perhaps disturbed at reports linking him with an €18m (£16m) move to Manchester City, brought down Ederson; and doubled the lead with a cool finish after springing the offside trap. Juninho's monster free-kick, his 99th Lyon goal, ended brief hopes of a comeback after Sylvain Wiltord had pulled one back.

"We deserved better," said Gerets, who is set to leave the club in a fortnight with less of a fanfare than he might have hoped. Any suggestion that his decision to quit has affected this title run-in is unfair: Marseille were on top for the first half-hour, and could have gone ahead after Niang's shot struck the post, while Brandao headed straight at Hugo Lloris with the goal gaping. L'OM go to Nancy next weekend, where anything less than a win could end the title race.

The Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas showed himself as gracious a winner as he is a loser, claiming that somehow referee Stéphane Lannoy was "a homer", and hitting back at Pape Diouf's claim that Marseille was the capital of French football. "His comments upset me but I understand that when you don't win you are bitter," he said. "And tonight I am especially sad for the OM fans who once again lost the opportunity to win a title. When you see how hard it is to win one, imagine how hard it is to win seven…" The result as good as secures Lyon's place in next season's Champions League.

Bordeaux are now in pole position, though they did not have things their own way against Le Mans, who went ahead through Anthony Le Tallec before Marouane Chamakh and Yoann Gourcuff, with his sixth goal in five games, put them ahead. Le Tallec levelled again before Gourcuff's shot hit the post and bounced back to Marc Planus to prod in the winner. This team have now won nine in a row, coming from behind in three of their last four games.

Gourcuff is a certainty for France's Player of the Year award next Sunday, and there is no doubt that Bordeaux would not be in this position without him: but the better he plays, the greater the fears that he will be following Chamakh out of the door this summer. Bordeaux have first-option to sign him for €15m from Milan (they have already paid €1.6m) but that deal is contingent on the player agreeing terms with the club, which is proving tougher than expected. Negotiations began last week and Bordeaux were surprised at Gourcuff's huge salary demands. With the crowd now singing "Gourcuff, à Bordeaux!" at every home match and the player single-handedly guiding the team to the title, it's going to be tough for them to explain to their fans if they cannot afford him.

"If the president says he is too expensive, I will put my hand in my own pocket, and they can take the money out of my salary," said his team-mate Souleymane Diawara. "I haven't made any decision yet," said Gourcuff. "I love it here, there's a great atmosphere in the squad, but right now I can't tell you what the odds are on me staying. We just need to concentrate on the next few important games."

PSG missed the injured Guillaume Hoarau in their 2–1 home defeat to Auxerre, even though last week's match-winner, Mateja Kezman, was given another start, his first at home since throwing his shirt to the ground after he was subbed off in February. "The coach still hasn't understood what I can do for the club," said Kezman before the game. "I will accept any criticism if I'm allowed to play, but right now even Kaka or Messi wouldn't have done better. I've asked the coach to let me play three in a row, and after that I will take the criticism."

The PSG president Sébastien Bazin is determined to keep Hoarau and Stéphane Sessegnon at the club, but reports that the summer recruitment kitty will only be €15m have not gone down well with Claude Makelele, who is alleged to have put out feelers to Patrick Vieira and William Gallas about coming to the capital. Makelele will be in Paris next season, but not necessarily as a player: there have been discussions that he might take on an assistant coaching position, although with no head coach yet confirmed, it is early days. It's a sign of the lack of organisation currently at PSG that, despite the coaching uncertainty, they have also been linked with taking Joël Bats from Lyon as goalkeeping coach.

Antoine Kombouaré is still favourite for the job after admitting that he has indeed spoken to Bazin about it. We may know more next week, as Kombouaré takes his team to PSG. "I have no agreement with PSG and I hope we stuff them next week to ensure our top-flight place," he said after VA's 1–1 draw with Monaco.

They should be safe, but the same cannot be said for Nantes. Les Canaris remain three points from safety after conceding a late equaliser in the 1–1 draw with Rennes, who are about to appoint Nice's Frédéric Antonetti to replace Guy Lacombe as coach. Nantes's next match is against relegation rivals Sochaux, who lost 2–0 at Caen thanks to two good goals from Steve Savidan. "We knew we had to win this game," said relieved coach Franck Dumas, whose side face Lyon and Bordeaux next.

Amid all this excitement, one man stands aloof, looking as cool as anyone possibly could do with a toothpick almost permanently in his mouth. The Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc, Le Président, is on his way to the title in his second season as a coach. "He has such a strong personality, he is always in control," says Sir Alex Ferguson of his former player. Just before every game, after he has given his team-talk, Blanc retires to a corner of the dressing room to work quietly on a crossword. Thanks to an out-of-form young Lyon striker, seven letters, first letter "B", Bordeaux could clinch Ligue 1 next weekend.

Results, Week 36

Bordeaux 3–2 Le Mans, Saint-Etienne 2–2 Toulouse, Lorient 1–1 Le Havre, Monaco 1–1 Valenciennes, Grenoble 0–0 Nancy, Caen 2–0 Sochaux, PSG 1–2 Auxerre, Lille 1–1 Nice, Nantes 1–1 Rennes, Marseille 1–3 Lyon

BB Bob

22-05-2009, 08:51 PM

BB Bob

23-05-2009, 07:41 AM

Here are some great shots

To start, PSG managers, old & new (le Guen and Kombouaré):-

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/kombouare-et-le-guen-alors-coequipiers-au-psg.jpg

Eric Gerets has announced he's off to the Middle East (Al-Hilal)

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/eric-gerets-ira-bien-a-al-hilal.jpg

Landreau could be off at PSG - he has had a better season than the last, buit still patchy at times

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/mickael-landreau-va-t-il-rester-au-psg.jpg

And he big news. Clermont's manager - Ollé-Nicolle - will be the new Nice manager

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/270x197/olle-nicolle-succedera-a-antonetti.jpg

It must be the phenomenal success he has had at Clermont......

BB Bob

23-05-2009, 03:52 PM

My guide tonight of how not to bet!!!

Accumulator (10)23 May 2009 - Bordeaux v Monaco - 90 Minutes
Bordeaux @ 1/4

23 May 2009 - Le Havre v Lille - 90 Minutes
Lille @ 4/7

23 May 2009 - Le Mans v Grenoble - 90 Minutes
Draw @ 5/2

23 May 2009 - Auxerre v St Etienne - 90 Minutes
St Etienne @ 17/10

23 May 2009 - Lyon v Caen - 90 Minutes
Lyon @ 1/3

23 May 2009 - Valenciennes v Paris S.G. - 90 Minutes
Valenciennes @ 5/2

23 May 2009 - Nancy v Marseille - 90 Minutes
Marseille @ 8/13

23 May 2009 - Nice v Toulouse - 90 Minutes
Nice @ 2/1

23 May 2009 - Rennes v Lorient - 90 Minutes
Draw @ 13/5

23 May 2009 - Sochaux v Nantes - 90 Minutes
Draw @ 12/5

Stake : £1.00
Estimated Returns : £5138.33

philsick

23-05-2009, 04:34 PM

And he big news. Clermont's manager - Ollé-Nicolle - will be the new Nice manager

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/270x197/olle-nicolle-succedera-a-antonetti.jpg

It must be the phenomenal success he has had at Clermont......

Thats a step backwards;) .

GodstoneEagle

23-05-2009, 04:35 PM

Why hasn't the Boulogne manager/star players been pilphered yet?

philsick

23-05-2009, 04:39 PM

Why hasn't the Boulogne manager/star players been pilphered yet?

They could still go up.

GodstoneEagle

23-05-2009, 04:57 PM

kind of my point

kabbott

23-05-2009, 05:26 PM

Finishing with style, Phil....

vendredi 22 mai 2009
20h30 Lens (1) 0-1 Boulogne-sur-Mer (6)
Tours FC (5) 0-0 Montpellier (2)
Strasbourg (3) 3-2 Reims (20)
AC Ajaccio (16) 1-0 Metz (4)
Angers (7) 1-1 Châteauroux (17)
Nîmes (19) 1-0 Vannes OC (8)
Amiens (15) 1-1 Dijon (9)
Guingamp (13) 2-0 Brest (10)
Troyes (18) 2-3 Sedan (11)
Clermont Foot (14) 2-0 Bastia (12)

Giving a table like this.

Rang Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lens 68 37 20 8 9 47 34 13
2 Strasbourg 65 37 18 11 8 56 43 13
3 Montpellier 63 37 18 9 10 59 35 24

4 Boulogne-sur-Mer 63 37 19 6 12 47 36 11
5 Tours FC 61 37 17 10 10 50 39 11
6 Metz 60 37 16 12 9 46 35 11
7 Angers 52 37 13 13 11 46 42 4
8 Vannes OC 50 37 14 8 15 33 44 -11
9 Dijon 49 37 13 10 14 42 46 -4
10 Sedan 48 37 12 12 13 44 49 -5
11 Guingamp 46 37 10 16 11 37 33 4
12 Clermont Foot 46 37 12 10 15 45 49 -4
13 Brest 45 37 13 6 18 44 48 -4
14 Bastia 45 37 12 9 16 36 46 -10
15 AC Ajaccio 44 37 11 11 15 43 54 -11
16 Amiens 43 37 9 16 12 35 36 -1
17 Châteauroux 41 37 10 11 16 38 45 -7

18 Nîmes 41 37 10 11 16 30 45 -15
19 Troyes 38 37 9 11 17 38 46 -8
20 Reims 35 37 7 14 16 40 51 -11

It's very tight going into the last week. Reims down, though and ESTAC needing a miracle. They were a L1 team just two seasons ago...

Clermont needed that win yesterday otherwise they could still have gone down on the final day.
Luis Fernandez couldn't prevent Reims from going down. In spite of all his charisma etc he's still a pr*ck juding by the article in L'Equipe yesteday morning before he'd even saved Reims (which he didn't). Anyway he's laughing all the way to the bank even if he didn't get his 'Reims saved from relegation' bonus.
If Nîmes and Troyes go down, those are 2 big clubs in the National (Div 3).
There's going to be a cracking final day's matches next week. Although Lens are mathematicaly up, they're looking as if they don't want to go up as champions losing their last 2 games. Yesterday's local derby game against Boulogne was amusing. A full house saw Lens lose and therefore keep the incredible Boulogne's hopes alive. Rivals but friends for the evening, Lens and Boulogne fans celebrated together at the end of the game. could you imagine Palace and Millwall or Charlton celebrating together?
If Boulogne do win, they're automaticaly up, which means that one of Strasbourg or Montpelier will stay down. Strasbourg could still go up as champions but still lose out on promotion altogether, it's that tight!

Now it's time for dinner and then time to settle down and watch Bordeaux win the title and Marseille lose again.
A plus!

BB Bob

23-05-2009, 09:00 PM

Et voici the results from tonight:-

21:00 AJ Auxerre 1 - 0 AS Saint-Etienne
21:00 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 1 - 0 AS Monaco FC
21:00 Havre AC 0 - 1 LOSC
21:00 Le Mans UC 72 1 - 1 Grenoble Foot 38
21:00 Olympique Lyonnais 3 - 1 SM Caen
21:00 AS Nancy Lorraine 1 - 2 Olympique de Marseille
21:00 OGC Nice 0 - 2 Toulouse FC
21:00 Stade Rennais FC 3 - 1 FC Lorient
21:00 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 2 - 1 FC Nantes
21:00 Valenciennes FC 2 - 1 Paris Saint-Germain

6/10 - about par for the course form me.

Ah, but what about the league positions?

Ligue 1 P W D L GD Pts
1 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 37 23 8 6 +29 77
2 Olympique de Marseille 37 21 11 5 +28 74

3 Olympique Lyonnais 37 20 10 7 +23 70

4 Toulouse FC 37 16 15 6 +18 63

5 Paris Saint-Germain 37 19 6 12 +11 63
6 Stade Rennais FC 37 15 16 6 +12 61
7 LOSC 37 16 13 8 +11 61
8 AJ Auxerre 37 16 7 14 +1 55
9 OGC Nice 37 13 10 14 -1 49
10 FC Lorient 37 10 14 13 0 44
11 Valenciennes FC 37 10 14 13 -3 44
12 AS Monaco FC 37 11 11 15 -4 44
13 Grenoble Foot 38 37 10 14 13 -12 44
14 AS Nancy Lorraine 37 10 12 15 -8 42
15 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 37 9 12 16 -9 39
16 Le Mans UC 72 37 10 9 18 -11 39
17 SM Caen 37 8 13 16 -6 37

18 AS Saint-Etienne 37 10 7 20 -20 37
19 FC Nantes 37 8 10 19 -22 34
20 Havre AC 37 7 4 26 -37 25

Anyone who watches le Championnat knows that the quality can be <cough> variable at times, but what more do you want from a league? There is so much to play for on the final day. Compare that to the sterile world of the premiership....

kabbott

23-05-2009, 09:18 PM

Nantes are 99% down. they'd need a 17 goal swing in their favour. It looks like a toss-up between ASSE and Caen. Caen's final game is against Bordeaux so that should be a tense 90 minutes.
Let's not forget Juninho who probably played his last game for Lyon. He scored too (his 100th goal for the club in some 330 games!). he got a standing ovation when he came off before the end. A real lump in the throat there. He's a real gentleman on and off the pitch. One snag with him though - he could (should) have sent his kids to the school I work in!

BB Bob

23-05-2009, 09:22 PM

kabbott

23-05-2009, 09:28 PM

I meant to post about Juni this week. I am really pleased that he scored his 100th goal for les Gones. He has been such an excellent player for you guys,I think he will be hard to replace, in the dressing room as well as on the field.

Where did he send his kids if not to you, kabbot?

They (or at least the eldest one) went a private bilingual school by the name of West Point (I used to work there back in the 80s) and then they went to the Lyon Lycée International to join the Portuguese Section. I believe they're still there now, for the time being. :( :sob:

BB Bob

24-05-2009, 08:29 AM

Nerves show as Bordeaux close in on title

Bordeaux coach Laurent Blanc and star midfielder Yoann Gourcuff both acknowledged that nerves had taken hold during their side's 1-0 win over Monaco on Saturday.

Marouane Chamakh's first-half header proved enough to give Les Girondins a record-equalling tenth successive league win, but with the title also within reach, Blanc's men almost allowed the visitors to poop the party at the Stade Chaban-Delmas with a shaky second-half display.

"The players are aware of what's at stake, and there is nervous tension, but it must be the same at Marseille," said Blanc, whose team now need just a draw at Caen next weekend to pip OM to the title.

"There was nervousness, but my players are getting it under control."

Gourcuff's expertly delivered free-kick had given Chamakh the opportunity to claim his 12th goal of the season, but the French international admitted going in front had not settled the side.

"We were a bit nervous as we knew what was at stake," said the 22-year-old. "We would have liked Nancy to hold Marseille but at least we got the victory we wanted. It means that anything is still possible, and it's going to be tight right until the end."

Blanc, though, was also quick to highlight the achievement of his squad in matching the exploits of Reims in 1948/49, the Bordeaux vintage of 1953/54, and Saint-Etienne in 1969/70 by making it a perfect ten out of ten.

"The guys are in the middle of doing something exceptional," said the ex-French international defender. "We've earned ourselves a place in history with ten consecutive wins. They must be satisfied. You can't do any better than they've done. The deserve their place in history."

BB Bob

24-05-2009, 08:35 AM

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/kombouare-et-le-guen-l-estime.jpg

Juninho marque le 100e

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/juninho-marque-le-100e.jpg
http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/juninho-buteur-contre-caen.jpg

Nantes heading down, and taking that lovely grey kit with them...

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/alonzo-et-nantes-ont-peur.jpg

Bordeaux hold their nerve...

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/gourcuff-et-bordeaux-dans-le-rythme.jpg

and l'OM keep up the pressure..

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/650x475/la-joie-marseillaise.jpg

kabbott

27-05-2009, 06:03 PM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_L1_juninho_art.jpg

Juninho: It’s official

An exceptionally emotional Juninho has officially announced his departure from Lyon. The catalyst behind seven title wins, the Brazilian will be “very difficult to replace” according to club president Jean-Michel Aulas.
Juninho, 34, was due to speak on the club's in-house TV channel on Tuesday night but overcome by emotion began to feel unwell and was only able to speak, and then but briefly, several minutes after the show had reached its conclusion.

"I'm very sorry," he said. "I didn't feel well. Without a doubt the emotion that I was holding back last Saturday came out. I'm too tired to say any more. I want to thank all Lyon supporters and I hope to be able to speak a bit more next week."

Others were gushing in their praise for arguably Lyon's greatest ever player. Bernard Lacombe, who recommended Juninho to the club in 2001, returning from a trip to Brazil and saying to Lacombe he'd found the free kick taker the club needed, described the midfield maestro as "a giant."

Aulas said: "Replacing him will obviously be very difficult both from a sporting and a human point of view. But that's life..."

'Exceptional... magic..."

Lacombe added: "When a player like him leaves you think he's irreplaceable. We'll do everything we can to make up for his departure but we'll never forget him. Juni is exceptional, he has that little bit of magic."

Lyon have released Juninho from the last year of his contract at the player's behest and so officially he will cease to be a Lyon man come June 30. Aulas, however, hopes this will not mark the end of the Brazilian's association with the club.

"Since January we knew he was thinking over his future. Last Sunday he called me and asked to see me the next day. It was normal for us to give him his liberty. In the future he'll be able to come back to Lyon in a capacity still to be determined."

Emotional end

Juninho signed off in style with his 100th goal in Lyon colours in the 3-1 home win over Caen last Saturday, guaranteeing Champions League football for the club. Suspension means he'll miss Week 38's game at Toulouse.

Coach Claude Puel said: "He's a great player and I had the great pleasure of working with him. He's a real competitor who's always asking questions of himself. Saturday against Caen went magnificently and it was very emotional."

BB Bob

27-05-2009, 07:03 PM

Un vrai lyonnais......

BB Bob

28-05-2009, 05:34 PM

Gourcuff staying at Bordeaux!

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_l1_hac_bdx_gourcuff_mono.jpg

Bordeaux’s title push received a huge boost on Thursday when the Ligue 1 leaders announced that France international playmaker Yoann Gourcuff had turned his back on AC Milan and signed a four-year contract with the French club.

Voted Ligue 1 player of the Year by his fellow professionals last weekend, Gourcuff ended speculation over his future by agreeing terms with Bordeaux who triggered the 15-million euro buy-out clause in his 12-month loan deal from Italian giants AC Milan.

In a statement on Bordeaux's official website, the France international who has scored 12 Ligue 1 goals this season announced:

'A great sporting team'

"I'm very happy to be continuing this sporting adventure with Les Girondins. This decision was made over the course of the season. Together, we've created a great sporting team by creating great human bonds within the squad," he said.

"I learnt a lot during my time at AC Milan and I'd also like to thank the players and staff of that club where I really did my apprenticeship at the highest level," he continued.

'Ambitions for next season'

"The confidence shown in me by coach Laurent Blanc and my teammates since the start of this season and the club's ambitions for the coming season, as well as the unfaltering support of the fans all convinced me to accept this new challenge."

GodstoneEagle

28-05-2009, 07:41 PM

Bloody good news for les girondins.

BB Bob

28-05-2009, 07:57 PM

Bloody bad news for everyone else! ;)

BB Bob

28-05-2009, 09:24 PM

Ben Lyttleton's latest piece

Bordeaux put the champagne on ice as Marseille refuse to quit title race
The league leaders require at least a point against Caen on the final weekend to become French champions

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/5/25/1243253872036/bordeaux-002.jpg

Marouane Chamakh heads in Bordeaux's winning goal against Monaco on Saturday. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AP
The giant screens were set up, the champagne was on ice, and the fans, ready to toast a first French title for 10 years, had packed out the Place de la Victoire in Bordeaux. They saw their team nervily edge past Monaco 1-0 but celebrations are on hold for another week as Marseille beat Nancy 2-1 to remain three points back with one match left (and with a superior goal difference).

"We are feeling a little tired and nervous and Marseille are pushing us all the way," said Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff, who won the player of the season and goal of the season award on Sunday night. One point against relegation-threatened Caen next week will be enough for Bordeaux, who equalled their own 56-year Ligue 1 record of 10 successive wins. "This team doesn't know how to play defensively but I hope going into the game knowing we only need a draw won't work against us," he added.

It was a nail-biting finish for the leaders, who saw Monaco's Park Chu-Young have one shot blocked on the line by his team-mate Kevin Diaz, and another late header ruled out for offside. The Bordeaux match-winner was Marouane Chamakh, who headed home a Gourcuff free-kick on his last home appearance after seven years at the club. "I'm from this area and want to leave the club at the top, I just hope they understand that," he said.

The Moroccan may not be the only departure. Gourcuff's future is still up in the air, midfielder Fernando is on his way to Serie A, while centre-back Souleymane Diawara is on the wish-list of Marseille's new coach, Didier Deschamps. "I'm flattered by their interest but this club can't let all its players leave," he said.

Marseille are now praying for a favour from a player they almost signed in January: Caen's top scorer Steve Savidan, who has promised to score at home to Bordeaux and help Marseille to the title. (Incidentally, the last time Bordeaux played at Caen, last season, they lost 5-0.) "I wanted to bring Steve in but it wasn't possible," said coach Eric Gerets, who instead signed Brandao, scorer of Marseille's second goal at Nancy, after he had an early effort wrongly ruled out for offside. "We deserve the title just as much as Bordeaux, but we haven't had much luck or any refereeing decisions in our favour," moaned president Pape Diouf.

The difference between the sides in the run-in has been their results over the champions Lyon: Bordeaux beat them 1-0 in Week 32 while Marseille lost 3-1 to them last week. "L'OM was virtually champions, then Gerets says he's off, Didier Deschamps is coming in, and it has totally disrupted the group," said the former Marseille hero Robert Pires. "The timing was all wrong and could cost the club the title." Gerets would have stayed at Marseille had he been offered a new deal – "maybe I quit too soon, but I was waiting for a gesture of support," he said – although he wanted the same salary as the squad's best-paid player.

He is getting that, €250,000 per month, at Al-Hilal, with the irony that the best-paid player in question, Bolo Zenden, is being released by Marseille this summer. "I'm not a liar, the financial package helped my decision," said Gerets, "But I would never rule out a return to this club. I always thought I would end my career at Standard Liège, but you never know what might happen." Mamadou Niang may follow him from Marseille, while Deschamps's first decision will be what to do with Djibril Cissé, or the €10m they can expect if they sell him.

Lyon secured third place and Juninho bagged goal No100, from the penalty spot, on what might be his final appearance for the club in their 3-1 win over Caen, while Toulouse leap-frogged Paris Saint-Germain with a 2-0 victory over Nice.

PSG have now lost three in four since Paul Le Guen's departure was announced, and the dressing-room seems split between those who backed the coach (Landreau, Camara, Clement, Armand) and those who wanted him out (Giuly, Sessègnon and Makelele). Valenciennes came from behind to beat PSG 2-1, and their coach Antoine Kombouaré is now set to replace his former Nantes and PSG team-mate as boss in the capital. Claude Makelele confirmed that he will spend next season as a PSG player, and after that as possible general manager. "I want to commit myself long-term to PSG," he said. "I'm interested in the recruitment, and my network abroad, my charisma and my CV can help the club, and can open doors in Europe."

Kombouaré will have his work cut out if Makelele's assessment is anything to go by. "The club needs cleaning out, we have to kick out the parasites," he said in his new book Tout Simplement. "There are people here who don't always want the team to do well." (The tome also includes the enlightening tale, set in the shower, of how his former Nantes coach Jean-Claude Suaudeau discovered that Makelele was seeing his daughter.)

Down at the bottom, Sochaux gave themselves a great chance of survival with a 2-1 win against Nantes, who are as good as down. "Things were irreversible when I got here," said the coach Elie Baup in his best Alan Shearer voice. Auxerre won 1-0 to leave Saint-Etienne in the bottom three and needing to better Caen's result against Bordeaux to survive. "We have to beat Valenciennes at home next week, so this result is no drama for us," said the coach Alain Perrin. "It's in our hands," he added, wrongly in fact, as if other results go against them Les Verts could yet win and still go down.

This weekend also saw the aforementioned end-of-season awards, with Gourcuff the main, wholly deserved, winner. There can be few complaints about the team of the year: Lloris, Fanni, Hilton, Diawara, Taiwo, Benoît Cheyrou, Bastos, Gourcuff, Sessègnon, Hoarau, Gignac. But it was slightly odd to see Gerets win the coach of the year award. Last year that title went to Laurent Blanc after his side finished in second place. At this rate, no one will want to win it next season.

Results, Week 37: Auxerre 1-0 Saint-Etienne, Bordeaux 1-0 Monaco, Le Havre 0-1 Lille, Le Mans 1-1 Grenoble, Lyon 3-1 Caen, Nancy 1-2 Marseille, Nice 0-2 Toulouse, Rennes 3-1 Lorient, Sochaux 2-1 Nantes, Valenciennes 2-1 PSG.

GodstoneEagle

28-05-2009, 09:55 PM

good article. i want his job.

Abjekt

29-05-2009, 12:40 PM

Belting news about Yoann for my lot!

kabbott

29-05-2009, 04:01 PM

Belting news about Yoann for my lot!

just finish the job off tomorrow. Bonne chance! :p :hi:

Abjekt

29-05-2009, 06:58 PM

Merci! Like we've agreed earlier in this thread, Bordeaux do deserve it this season, but being that I follow them, they're bound to do a Palace and balls it up in the last 5 minutes :D

kabbott

30-05-2009, 09:03 AM

Merci! Like we've agreed earlier in this thread, Bordeaux do deserve it this season, but being that I follow them, they're bound to do a Palace and balls it up in the last 5 minutes :D

This is also possible! Let's not forget that Caen are playing for Ligue 1 survival so they will also be up for it. Having said that, if other scores go their way, i.e Marseille lose to Rennes and St. Etienne lose their game, a draw would suit both Bordeaux and Caen a bit like that infamous World Cup game of 1990 and another one more recently (this could have been a French Ligue game when one team passed the ball to each other in defence for the last 15 minutes and the opposition didn't even bother to try and get it back.)
Now that would make Marseille sick. :D

kabbott

30-05-2009, 09:39 AM

So tonight:

Week 38 - Saturday, May 30, 2009

21:00 SM Caen FC Girondins de Bordeaux
21:00 Grenoble Foot 38 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
21:00 LOSC AS Nancy Lorraine
21:00 FC Lorient Le Mans UC 72
21:00 Olympique de Marseille Stade Rennais FC
21:00 FC Nantes AJ Auxerre
21:00 OGC Nice Havre AC
21:00 Paris Saint-Germain AS Monaco FC
21:00 AS Saint-Etienne Valenciennes FC
21:00 Toulouse FC Olympique Lyonnais

kabbott

30-05-2009, 09:40 AM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_marseille_bordeaux_L1_chamakh_mono.jpg

Caen-Bordeaux: Season in the balance

Bordeaux have never beaten Caen at the Stade Michel d’Ornano in Ligue 1, but they need just one point this Saturday if they are to be crowned Ligue 1 champions for the sixth time in the club’s history.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

21:00 - SM Caen / FC Girondins de Bordeaux

Laurent Blanc's side currently enjoy a three-point lead over Marseille, who host Rennes at the Stade Vélodrome. However, should Bordeaux lose to Caen and OM beat Rennes, then Marseille will win the title on goal difference with both sides finishing level on 74 points.

But in a thrilling finish to the season, both Caen and Rennes also have plenty at stake for the final 90 minutes of the campaign. Caen need a victory to be assured of their Ligue 1 survival while Rennes need all three points against Marseille to qualify for next season's Europa League.

Troubled past

"It's exciting and we're motivated. We're trying to get through it as best we can, avoiding asking ourselves too many questions and staying focused. That's the order of the day," said Blanc, whose club has picked up just two points in their previous nine visits to Caen.

"There's a lot hanging on the result, as much as for Caen as for Bordeaux. We work hard to get ourselves in these positions, but there's pressure on us, but also on Caen, Marseille and Rennes, and others. It's the side that copes with it best that will win through. It's up to me and the staff to make sure that the players aren't weighed down by the pressure, but rather inspired by it."

Bordeaux will be looking for a record 11th consecutive Ligue 1 victory, a first ever away to Caen after seven defeats and two draws, and their first win on the final day of a league campaign in five years.

Gourcuff boost

To do so they will be counting France playmaker Yoann Gourcuff who signed a permanent four-year contract with Bordeaux on Thursday, ending speculation about his future. The 22-year-old has spent this season on loan from Italian giants AC Milan, a loan deal which cost Bordeaux 1.6 million euros. Bordeaux have triggered the buy-out option of an additional 13.4 million euros, taking the global transfer price to 15 million euros. Gourcuff has scored five goals in Bordeaux last five league games.

Coach Blanc is without suspended full-back Mathieu Chalmé for Saturday's clash with Caen, however Geraldo Wendel (knee) and Abdou Traoré (groin) who have both been sidelined since the League Cup final on April 25, are training again and may be considered.

Survival bid

Caen are currently in 17th place, one spot above the relegation zone, but ahead of 18th-placed Saint-Etienne on goal difference only. Thanks to their superior goal difference (-6 for Caen compared to -20 for Saint-Etienne), Caen will almost certainly avoid relegation if they beat Bordeaux. Caen can also survive the drop if they match or better Saint-Etienne's result against Valenciennes.

Franck Dumas' side have been training behind closed doors at their Stade Vélodrome de Venoix this week. Rémi Gomis, Vincent Planté, Steve Savidan and Reynald Lemaître all trained lightly early in the week but resumed normal training on Wednesday and are available.

Dumas is still without the services of midfielders Benjamin Nivet (shoulder) and Grégory Proment (hamstring). Teenage Dutchman Rajiv La Parra is unavailable after receiving a knock on the knee in training on Wednesday.

Last season Caen equalled their biggest ever Ligue 1 victory when they dismantled a nine-man Bordeaux 5-0. Current Bordeaux forward Yoan Gouffran was on the scoresheet that day for Caen.

BB Bob

30-05-2009, 02:12 PM

And here are my last shouts for the season:-

Accumulator (10)30 May 2009 - Grenoble v Sochaux - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 6/4
30 May 2009 - Lille v Nancy - 90 Minutes

Lille @ 4/9
30 May 2009 - Lorient v Le Mans - 90 Minutes

Lorient @ 2/1
30 May 2009 - Caen v Bordeaux - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 5/2
30 May 2009 - Marseille v Rennes - 90 Minutes

Marseille @ 1/2
30 May 2009 - Toulouse v Lyon - 90 Minutes

Lyon @ 21/10
30 May 2009 - Nantes v Auxerre - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 9/4
30 May 2009 - Nice v Le Havre - 90 Minutes

Draw @ 13/5
30 May 2009 - Paris S.G. v Monaco - 90 Minutes

Paris S.G. @ 2/5
30 May 2009 - St Etienne v Valenciennes - 90 Minutes

St Etienne @ 2/5
Stake : £1.00
Estimated Returns : £4043.20

philsick

30-05-2009, 05:21 PM

1f6d

Good luck les verts.Gonna need it i reckon.Bit of luck that caen have got to play bordeaux,who i hope dont choke.

BB Bob

30-05-2009, 10:19 PM

21:00 SM Caen 0 - 1 FC Girondins de Bordeaux
21:00 Grenoble Foot 38 0 - 1 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
21:00 LOSC 3 - 2 AS Nancy Lorraine
21:00 FC Lorient 1 - 1 Le Mans UC 72
21:00 Olympique de Marseille 4 - 0 Stade Rennais FC
21:00 FC Nantes 2 - 1 AJ Auxerre
21:00 OGC Nice 0 - 0 Havre AC
21:00 Paris Saint-Germain 0 - 0 AS Monaco FC
21:00 AS Saint-Etienne 4 - 0 Valenciennes FC
21:00 Toulouse FC 0 - 0 Olympique Lyonnais

Philsick, your wish is granted....

BB Bob

30-05-2009, 10:20 PM

And PSG get choke of the season award (not helped by an injury to Hoarau, of course)...

P W D L GD Pts
1 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 38 24 8 6 +30 80

2 Olympique de Marseille 38 22 11 5 +32 77
3 Olympique Lyonnais 38 20 11 7 +23 71

4 Toulouse FC 38 16 16 6 +18 64

5 LOSC 38 17 13 8 +12 64
6 Paris Saint-Germain 38 19 7 12 +11 64
7 Stade Rennais FC 38 15 16 7 +8 61
8 AJ Auxerre 38 16 7 15 0 55
9 OGC Nice 38 13 11 14 -1 50
10 FC Lorient 38 10 15 13 0 45
11 AS Monaco FC 38 11 12 15 -4 45
12 Valenciennes FC 38 10 14 14 -7 44
13 Grenoble Foot 38 38 10 14 14 -13 44
14 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 38 10 12 16 -8 42
15 AS Nancy Lorraine 38 10 12 16 -9 42
16 Le Mans UC 72 38 10 10 18 -11 40
17 AS Saint-Etienne 38 11 7 20 -16 40

18 SM Caen 38 8 13 17 -7 37
19 FC Nantes 38 9 10 19 -21 37
20 Havre AC 38 7 5 26 -37 26

BB Bob

30-05-2009, 10:22 PM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_l1_caen_bdx_chamakh1_mono.jpg

Bordeaux take the title
Bordeaux have been crowned Ligue 1 champions thanks to their 1-0 win at Caen on Saturday, a result which saw them register a record 11th successive league victory and condemn the hosts to relegation to Ligue 2.

Saturday 30 May 2009

SM Caen / FC Girondins de Bordeaux : 0 - 1

Laurent Blanc's men arrived in Normandy conscious of the fact that just a single point would give them a first title in a decade, but a goal from Yoan Gouffran, a product of the Caen youth academy, ensured Bordeaux finished three points ahead of Marseille at the top of the table.

At kick-off, the tension was palpable, but Gouffran could have eased the visitors' nerves when he muscled his way through just seven minutes in. However, the youngster, who was making his return to the club where he made his name, saw former team-mate Vincent Planté turn his shot aside.

With the home side also in desperate need of points but for very different reasons, they made a determined start, and only a lightning reflex stop by Ulrich Ramé prevented Steve Savidan putting the hosts in front. The veteran Bordeaux keeper was equally alert as he pawed the loose ball away from the onrushing Fahid Ben Khallafah.

Gourcuff influence

The week had been marked by the announcement of Yoann Gourcuff signing a four-year deal with the club, and the 22-year-old showed just why Les Girondins were so keen to secure the services of one of Europe's hottest properties as he created chances for both Fernando and Marouane Chamakh with insightful passes.

It was another piece of Gourcuff quick-thinking that brought the goal Bordeaux had been begging four just after the break.

Rather than deliver a well-placed free-kick into the box, Gourcuff slipped a simple pass wide for full-back Benoît Trémoulinas to centre, and Gouffran's near-post header was too good for Planté.

Chamakh could have added a second goal for the visitors in added time, but the Moroccan international snatched at the opportunity - not that it mattered, the title was already within the reach of his side.

BB Bob

30-05-2009, 10:33 PM

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/350x255/la-place-des-quinconces-folle-de-joie.jpg

Au revoir, Eric

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/300x219/les-adieux-de-gerets-au-velodrome.jpg

ASSE saved - Reggie magic!

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/300x219/ilan-premier-but-des-verts.jpg

Gouffran shows no mercy to his former teammates

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200905/300x219/gouffran-ne-se-trompe-pas-de-maillot.jpg

and Gignac's goals shoot TFC into Europe

http://www.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200902/270x197/penal_200.jpg

Abjekt

30-05-2009, 11:44 PM

:lux:

palacemaniac

30-05-2009, 11:44 PM

Bravo les girondins :lux:

kabbott

31-05-2009, 09:17 AM

A good evening's football which was just lacking in some last-minute suspense like Caen equalising with a few minutes to go and St Etienne and Bordeaux getting squeaky bottom syndrome for a couple of minutes.

Bordeaux - Gourcuff has signed, Chamakh is probably off.
Marseille - Niang said he was off but he might finally be staying. Cissé isn't wanted by Sunderland, is going back to Marseille, but I don't know if Deschamps wants to keep such a big earner on their books.
Lyon - I hope Benzema stays for one more season at least. Mensah finally got to play at centre back only to be sent off having been given a run-around by Gignac. His 2nd season at Lyon can only get better. The same can be said for Ederson and Pjanic. There could be a major clear-out at Lyon but somehow I don't think so.
Toulouse - Top goalscorer in the Ligue, Gignac, says he will stay at Toulouse next season.
Caen - Relegated so Savidan will surely be up for grabs.
PSG - As usual, what a waste. The club was up for a minimum Europa League slot and they've got nothing! You can blame the injuries to Hoarau and Sessegnon (?) but it's once again the running of the club which is a disaster. Paul le Guen managed to turn things around this season without having total backing from Bazin, the club's president (an understatement!). Makelele, who has't had a brilliant season to say the least, has his autobiography published, in which he slags just about everyone and everything at the club. Makelele just happens to be Bazin's 'confidant'. Bazin announces Le Guen's departure before the season is up, so Le Guen, quite rightly in my mind, then slags off certain members of the staff and some of the 'President's Men'. Bazin then says in the press that Le Guen's behaviour is totally unprofessional! Oh well.

Players to look out for on the transfer market:

Benzema (I hope not!), Savidan, Sessegnon, Chamakh, Bastos, Gomis

kabbott

31-05-2009, 09:30 AM

According to Eurosport site, Lyon are interested in Hleb and Gudjohnsen.

Latvian Eagle

31-05-2009, 09:30 AM

Marseille have already said they'll be loaning Cisse again.

Shame L'OM didn't win it but at least it wasn't Lyon this year! :)

kabbott

31-05-2009, 09:48 AM

Marseille have already said they'll be loaning Cisse again.

Shame L'OM didn't win it but at least it wasn't Lyon this year! :)

I'm not sure if they'll be queuing up to take him.

Marseille blew it when they lost at home to Lyon. If they had beaten Lyon, then it would have gone down to goal difference.
Let's not forget that Bordeaux won their last 11 Ligue games which is actually a record.

philsick

01-06-2009, 08:07 AM

Thanks Kabbott and BB bob for keeping us informed.No doubt you will keep us informed of the clermont manager situation,which must be hogging the headlines ATM:p

BB Bob

01-06-2009, 12:19 PM

BB Bob

01-06-2009, 12:22 PM

Which reminds me that we never did a final rundown of L2. So here goes:-

Friday, May 29, 2009
20:45 SC Bastia 2 - 1 ESTAC
20:45 US Boulogne CO 4 - 0 Amiens SC
20:45 Stade Brestois 1 - 2 Nîmes Olympique
20:45 LB Châteauroux 2 - 1 AC Ajaccio
20:45 Dijon FCO 1 - 0 RC Lens
20:45 FC Metz 2 - 0 EA Guingamp
20:45 Montpellier HSC 2 - 1 RC Strasbourg
20:45 Stade de Reims 0 - 0 Angers SCO
20:45 CS Sedan 2 - 0 Tours FC
20:45 Vannes OC 1 - 1 Clermont Foot

Giving a final table of :-

Ligue 2 P W D L GD Pts
1 RC Lens 38 20 8 10 +12 68
2 Montpellier HSC 38 19 9 10 +25 66
3 US Boulogne CO 38 20 6 12 +15 66

4 RC Strasbourg 38 18 11 9 +12 65
5 FC Metz 38 17 12 9 +13 63
6 Tours FC 38 17 10 11 +9 61
7 Angers SCO 38 13 14 11 +4 53
8 Dijon FCO 38 14 10 14 -3 52
9 CS Sedan 38 13 12 13 -3 51
10 Vannes OC 38 14 9 15 -11 51
11 SC Bastia 38 13 9 16 -9 48
12 Clermont Foot 38 12 11 15 -4 47
13 EA Guingamp 38 10 16 12 +2 46
14 Stade Brestois 38 13 6 19 -5 45
15 LB Châteauroux 38 11 11 16 -6 44
16 AC Ajaccio 38 11 11 16 -12 44
17 Nîmes Olympique 38 11 11 16 -14 44

18 Amiens SC 38 9 16 13 -5 43
19 ESTAC 38 9 11 18 -9 38
20 Stade de Reims 38 7 15 16 -11 36

Nimes escape by the skin of their teeth and Strasbourg and Metz both miss out. Luis Fernandez, fresh from his "success" at Reims is touted as a successor to Kombouaré at Valenciennes.

BB Bob

01-06-2009, 12:26 PM

I know what you are thinking........what about the National?

Here you go:-

vendredi 29 mai 2009
20h00 Cherbourg (19) 0-3 Istres (1)
Laval (2) 2-2 Paris FC (7)
Louhans-Cuiseaux (14) 3-3 Arles (3)
Libourne-Saint-Seurin (15) 3-0 Cannes (4)
Croix-de-Savoie (6) 2-1 Sète (5)
Pacy-sur-Eure (8) 0-0 Niort (18)
Bayonne (16) 1-0 Beauvais (9)
Calais (17) 0-3 Créteil (10)
Rodez (13) 0-0 Gueugnon (11)
Cassis-Carnoux (12) 2-3 Entente SSG (20)

And the final table:-

Rang Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Istres 75 38 21 12 5 55 24 31
2 Laval 71 38 19 14 5 52 31 21
3 Arles 66 38 19 9 10 52 37 15

4 Cannes 61 38 16 13 9 46 33 13
5 Croix-de-Savoie 57 38 16 9 13 51 43 8
6 Paris FC 55 38 16 7 15 46 43 3
7 Sète 54 38 15 12 11 41 35 6
8 Pacy-sur-Eure 52 38 13 13 12 41 42 -1
9 Créteil 49 38 9 22 7 38 28 10
10 Beauvais 47 38 12 11 15 47 50 -3
11 Gueugnon 47 38 11 14 13 38 36 2
12 Libourne-Saint-Seurin 46 38 13 7 18 40 55 -15
13 Bayonne 46 38 12 10 16 21 31 -10
14 Cassis-Carnoux 46 38 11 13 14 37 47 -10
15 Rodez 46 38 13 7 18 40 39 1
16 Louhans-Cuiseaux 46 38 12 13 13 38 48 -10

17 Niort 41 38 9 14 15 31 37 -6
18 Calais 40 38 10 10 18 34 50 -16
19 Entente SSG 36 38 9 9 20 29 48 -19
20 Cherbourg 36 38 7 15 16 30 50 -20

Au revoir Calais, then.....

GodstoneEagle

01-06-2009, 12:57 PM

Bolougne :lux:

l'ESTAC, quelle disastre!

kabbott

01-06-2009, 03:54 PM

Bolougne :lux:

l'ESTAC, quelle disastre!

Boulogne used to be coached by an Englishman by the name of Bobby Brown a couple of years ago. Not a lot of people know that!
Although Boulogne have been promoted on the pitch, their promotion has yet to be officialised off it. They had one of the smallest budgets in Ligue 2 this year, and, what is more worrying, is that their ground holds only 7,000 spectators, and, for security reasons, they might not be allowed to play in Ligue 1 which would be a great shame. The alternative would be that they play their ''home'' game at another bigger ground.

kabbott

01-06-2009, 03:58 PM

Well, funnily enough there was a piece about it in l'Equipe today! Denis Renaud, the trainer of Carquefou - famous for their legendary cup exploits last year - was touted, but couldn't come to an agreement with the management.

The lastest name in the frame is Michel der Zakarian, ex-Nantes manager.

Just got back from a BBQ at friends' in the Beaujolais region. 'Forgot' to buy l'Equipe this morning, and when we got home the local paper shop was shut what with it being lundi de Pentecôte. I'll have to follow up this story tomorrow.

kabbott

01-06-2009, 04:02 PM

Michel Der Zakarian has just been named as new coach at Clermont. He was the coach at Nantes who was fired and replaced by Elie Baup. He should do quite well there.

Der Zakarian entraînera Clermont

Ancien entraîneur du FC Nantes, Michel Der Zakarian a été nommé lundi à la tête du Clermont Foot où il va succéder à Didier Ollé-Nicolle, qui s'est engagé avec Nice. Limogé par le FCN le 26 août dernier au profit d'Elie Baup, Der Zakarian croisera la saison prochaine son ancienne équipe, reléguée en L2.

This comes from lequipe.fr

BB Bob

02-06-2009, 08:01 AM

Boulogne used to be coached by an Englishman by the name of Bobby Brown a couple of years ago. Not a lot of people know that!
Although Boulogne have been promoted on the pitch, their promotion has yet to be officialised off it. They had one of the smallest budgets in Ligue 2 this year, and, what is more worrying, is that their ground holds only 7,000 spectators, and, for security reasons, they might not be allowed to play in Ligue 1 which would be a great shame. The alternative would be that they play their ''home'' game at another bigger ground.

kabbott, what you don't know about french football don't want knowing!!!!

:D

Matt_Hep

02-06-2009, 09:50 AM

Made it over to PSG for the Monaco match...I'd recommend to anyone to visit le Parc...unreal atmosphere and you can easily incorporate it into a short weekend break..

http://s.psg.fr/psg/image/phototheque/g/99/19753.jpg

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/9738/3582528107f6b45c74b1.jpg

Oli28

02-06-2009, 10:16 AM

ffs, is england the only league devoid of any atmosphere?

BB Bob

02-06-2009, 10:18 AM

I think the Holmesdale with flares like that would look v. cool!

BB Bob

02-06-2009, 03:15 PM

It's all go in France already

Lille have sacked Rudi Garcia and are looking to replace him with Le Guen

Landreau is off from PSG. Not sure how many tears there will be there...

Barcelona are looking at Benzema

Rothen is off from PSG after criticising the management

Ellie Baup has left Nantes

Guy Lacombe (ex Rennes and before that PSG) will coach Monaco next year

Matt_Hep

02-06-2009, 03:21 PM

ffs, is england the only league devoid of any atmosphere?

Yes, actually!

Mate, you wouldn't believe the Paris atmosphere, the ends behind each goal are such a spectacle..I find myself watching the fans more than the players sometimes!

Matt_Hep

02-06-2009, 03:21 PM

Rothen is off from PSG after criticising the management

This is a real shame! He stood with the Ultras as a boy and now he's leaving in disgrace...they were giving him a hard time against Monaco

Can you explain the Landreua situation though? I missed that one (although saw him being heckled..)

GodstoneEagle

02-06-2009, 03:46 PM

Landreau is more hit and miss than David James. Not good enough for a top six club.

BB Bob

02-06-2009, 03:52 PM

When he was good, he was very good but, my word, when he was bad he was chuffing awful. He's got a year left on his contract and PSG want 2m for him. he is being linked with espanyol or monaco, but having gone public in France Foot, there probably isn't a road back for him.

It sure doesn't sound like a happy camp at the Parc.......

Matt_Hep

02-06-2009, 04:06 PM

BB Bob

02-06-2009, 04:14 PM

He was absolutely outstanding against Monaco, really, really impressive..

Yeah, it's slightly turbalent at Le Parc, a real shame because it was going so well..the 3-1 Marseilles trouncing ruined the season

Who do you follow BB?

By all accounts, he gifted the game to valenciennes the other week. As godstone said, he has a real problem with crunch games, it seems.

I follow les aiglons or Olympique Gymnastique Club de Nice cote d'azur or Nice if you prefer. Good start, ok middle and shocking end. Our coach hbasd gone to Rennes, one of best defenders (Kante) is off to Greece and someone is bound to be in for Loic Remy who has been named in the france squad for the friendlies this week. It looks like being a long season next year......

BB Bob

03-06-2009, 06:13 PM

Ben's last piece of the season - hopefully, he will do the same again next year!:-

Bordeaux claim Ligue 1 title to justify faith in Laurent Blanc
The manager guided his side to 11 consecutive victories to end the season and claim the French title

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/6/1/1243858703119/BORDEAUX-001.jpg

Bordeaux's captain Ulrich Rame lifts the trophy at a public celebration of the club's Ligue 1 title. Photograph: Pierre Andrieu/AFP/Getty Images

Marseille missed their chance when they had it. So did Auxerre, and Monaco too. All three clubs turned down the opportunity to give Laurent Blanc his first job as a coach, and all three will regret it now, after Blanc led Bordeaux to a wholly deserved Ligue 1 title, their first for 10 years, in only his second season as a coach. Bordeaux beat Caen 1–0 to stay three points clear of Marseille, whose 4–0 hammering of Rennes carried a note of defiance but ultimately was in vain.

"Indisputable!" was the L'Equipe headline while Sud-Ouest announced: "They were magnificent, the true kings of the season." "We've had a revolution here," said the defender Mathieu Chalmé. Bordeaux were down in fifth after Week 27, but they won their last 11 matches, a French record, with their final victory sending Caen into Ligue 2. "We worked so hard on our fitness back in January to be fit for this part of the season," said Blanc, "and that's what made the difference in the end."

It was not the only difference: this season, Bordeaux were unbeaten at home (their last defeat at Stade Chaban-Delmas was in October 2007), and earned 12 more points at home than the runners-up, Marseille; they showed huge mental strength, not least in the nine-man 1–0 win over Grenoble in Week 6, the comeback from 3–0 down to beat Monaco away 4–3 in Week 19 and, in Week 33, the 3–2 win at Rennes after having a player dismissed in the first half-hour. Their youth policy is working, as evidenced by the emergence of young local talents such as Benoît Trémoulinas and Grégory Sertic and their recruitment has been spot on, as the yo-yo pairing of two Yoanns – Gourcuff and Gouffran – proved on Saturday night.

It was Gourcuff's free-kick that set up the only goal of the game at Caen: Trémoulinas crossed and Gouffran headed home. "It was appropriate that he scored the winner: a rookie who began the season slowly, before ending it, like his team, unstoppable," wrote Sud-Ouest. For the player, who signed from Caen last summer, emotions were mixed: "These are all my friends lying on the pitch and crying, I'm just so sorry for them," he said.

That the winning goal was a header was not surprising. Among the many stats France Football recently published to explain Bordeaux's success were the following: no team has scored more goals from headers (22), from set pieces (25, nine from corners), from substitutes (10), or by coming from behind (23 points). The physical and mental strength of this team is why So Foot's comparisons to Aimé Jacquet's bruising 1987 title winners seem more appropriate than the 1999 comparison. The 1999 side did beat Marseille to the title on the last day of the season but, with a front four of Johan Micoud, Ali Benarbia, Lilian Laslandes and Sylvain Wiltord, it was a lot more attacking.

Blanc's side is somewhere between the two: amid the brawn of Souleymane Diawara, Alou Diarra and Marouane Chamakh, the genius of Gourcuff has shone through. One of the season's longest soap operas ended on Thursday when France's player of the year completed his move from Milan and signed a four-year deal at Bordeaux . "My decision had nothing to do with money," Gourcuff said, although a delay in signing the deal might have. Bordeaux's original offer of a monthly €300,000 (£260,000) with a €25m buyout clause was a long way from what he wanted, but tying the contract up before the final day gave the club a huge boost.

Blanc, typically, has already started playing down expectations for next season. "No French team will be able to repeat the dominance of Lyon," he warned. But with Gourcuff staying and Chamakh changing his tune and claiming he now wants to stay, Blanc's next ambition, to match Lyon's quarter-final place in the Champions League, might just be achievable.

It seems incredible to think that had Bordeaux's president, Jean-Louis Triaud, not appointed Blanc two years ago, a coach now tipped as a possible successor to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United might never have returned to the game. "If Bordeaux had the same attitude as some, I might never have made it to the bench," he said. "Just when I thought I might never get a job, Bordeaux came along and I'm very grateful to them." This week, the feeling is most definitely mutual.

Round 38 talking points

• Although Marseille reached their pre-season target of a top-two finish, there was huge disappointment at the Vélodrome. "That's inevitable, really, but this season has not been a failure," said their president, Pape Diouf, after second-half goals from Bakary Koné, Mamadou Niang (two) and a Nicolas Douchez own goal blitzed Rennes. Diouf must take some responsibility for the breakdown in the relationship between the owner, Robert Louis-Dreyfus, and coach, Eric Gerets, who was on the verge of tears after his final game. "The club got what they wanted, but I wanted more," he said, adding as his voice broke: "Tonight was very special, but all a bit much for me, thank you."

• A few weeks ago, Paris St Germain were challenging Lyon for a Champions League place, but they ended the campaign with a 0–0 draw at Monaco and so missed out, on goal difference, on even a Europa League spot. The coach, Paul le Guen, is now leaving, and others, such as the goalkeeper Mickaël Landreau and winger Jérôme Rothen, are set to follow.

Rothen was among many of the PSG players whistled and jeered at the Parc des Princes during Sunday's testimonial for Pedro Pauleta. "Alain Roche [PSG head of recruitment] has broken me, he criticised me to the coach, to the board, and even to my fellow players, while [president Sébastien] Bazin barely acknowledges me now," said Rothen. "I turned down Lyon to stay here, I wanted to finish my career here, but with these guys in charge, I have to leave."

"For a season that should have been about consolidation, the club was rocked by crisis," lamented Le Parisien. "Three years after Colony Capital took over, there has been no progress. In Paris, nothing changes, least of all this phenomenal ability to create a mess."

• The other big winners on the final day of the season were Lille and Toulouse, who both qualified for Europe after beating Nancy 3–2 and drawing 0–0 with Lyon, respectively. Both clubs expect to lose their best players, Michel Bastos and André-Pierre Gignac, before next season.

Mention must also go to Alain Perrin, whose St Etienne side smashed Valenciennes 4–0 to leapfrog Caen to safety. Their hero was Ilan, who responded to getting the captaincy by scoring five goals in their last seven games to keep Les Verts in Ligue 1. "We were relieved to survive, but we could have clinched it before now," said Perrin, who may yet get the chop from the sports director, Damien Comolli, before the summer is out.

Results, Week 38: Caen 0–1 Bordeaux, Grenoble 0–1 Sochaux, Lille 3–2 Nancy, Lorient 1–1 Le Mans, Marseille 4–0 Rennes, Nantes 2–1 Auxerre, Nice 0–0 Le Havre, PSG 0–0 Monaco, Saint-Etienne 4–0 Valenciennes, Toulouse 0–0 Lyon

BB Bob

03-06-2009, 06:18 PM

kabbott

03-06-2009, 06:40 PM

A nice touch from the Saint-Etienne fans in the french international at their ground last night. L'Equipe reported they booed Benzema every time he touched the ball in France's 1-0 defeat to Nigeria.....:rolleyes:

Not just Benzema but all the Lyon players present: Toulalan and Govou were also booed every time they touched the ball. Let's not forget that Raymond Domenech is also a Lyonnais and he got booed too. Mind you it's not just in St Etienne that he gets booed.
Well at least it's better than playing in Paris where the whole team gets booed plus the national anthem, plus Domenech.
They were also calling for Domenech to resign last night. Well it was France's fifth defeat in 2009, which on a ratio with the number of matches played would put them in a mid-to-low position in a league table.
The funniest part, though, was that the St Etienne fans were singing ''Allez les Verts'' (Nigeria were playing in green) ;) :)
One journalist on Equipe TV said it was the best match the fans had seen Les Verts play all season!

kabbott

06-06-2009, 09:39 AM

BB Bob

06-06-2009, 12:21 PM

According to L'Equipe this morning, Lyon are interested in:

Porto left-back Aly Cissokho (21, Franco-Senegalese, 12/13m Euros.
Porto forward Lisandro Lopez (26, 24 goals last season, 20m Euros)
Alexander Hleb
Loïc Rémy (why did we sell him in the first place?)
Patrick Viera (free crutches or wheelchair will be part of the deal)
Mossa Sissoko (19, Toulouse, good player IMO)
Mevlut Erding (22, Sochaux, Turkish delight, played in the monsoon at Gerland last night, 10m Euros)

Hmmm

Porto left-back Aly Cissokho (21, Franco-Senegalese, 12/13m Euros. - seems like a lot of money for a Left Back..

Porto forward Lisandro Lopez (26, 24 goals last season, 20m Euros) Don't know him

Alexander Hleb - Could be a good signing

Loïc Rémy (why did we sell him in the first place?) - Far too good for Nice, but not the finished article by any means

Patrick Viera (free crutches or wheelchair will be part of the deal) - Oh god, no.....

Mossa Sissoko (19, Toulouse, good player IMO) - Quite agree about him, he looks good

Mevlut Erding (22, Sochaux, Turkish delight, played in the monsoon at Gerland last night, 10m Euros) Good record, knows the league. Could be a very good signing

I thought the interview with Benzema on friday was good, too. Nice to know that you aren't going to get a transfer request from him, anyway. That's not to say that Barça or Arsenal won't bid €20m for him, but he seemed happy enough. He needs some support though and obviously wasn't happy about Fred going...

kabbott

06-06-2009, 02:13 PM

Hmmm

Porto left-back Aly Cissokho (21, Franco-Senegalese, 12/13m Euros. - seems like a lot of money for a Left Back..

Porto forward Lisandro Lopez (26, 24 goals last season, 20m Euros) Don't know him

Alexander Hleb - Could be a good signing

Loïc Rémy (why did we sell him in the first place?) - Far too good for Nice, but not the finished article by any means

Patrick Viera (free crutches or wheelchair will be part of the deal) - Oh god, no.....

Mossa Sissoko (19, Toulouse, good player IMO) - Quite agree about him, he looks good

Mevlut Erding (22, Sochaux, Turkish delight, played in the monsoon at Gerland last night, 10m Euros) Good record, knows the league. Could be a very good signing

I thought the interview with Benzema on friday was good, too. Nice to know that you aren't going to get a transfer request from him, anyway. That's not to say that Barça or Arsenal won't bid €20m for him, but he seemed happy enough. He needs some support though and obviously wasn't happy about Fred going...

They say this Lopez chap could fit in well with Benzema, so maybe Lyon will be going 4-4-2 with Juni now gone. They then need another defensive midfielder alongside Toulalan. Houiller should never have got rid of Diarra a couple of years ago.

BB Bob

15-06-2009, 02:05 PM

I wish I had €1 for every time Benzema is mentioned in the press about a move!

BB Bob

16-06-2009, 08:33 PM

I don't know. €95m here, €75m there. Pretty soon, people start to lose sight of the important transfer news and gossip.....

Savidan set to stay in Ligue 1

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_Caen_l1_Savidan.mono.JPG

Despite club side Caen being relegated to Ligue 2, France international striker Steve Savidan has attracted the attention of a host of Ligue 1 sides hoping to secure the services of the 30-year-old for the 2009-2010 season.
A surprise signing from Valenciennes at the end of season 2007-2008, Steve Savidan settled quickly at Norman side Caen, having a personal best season with 14 goals and five assists for the season, form that earned him his first cap for France in a 0-0 draw against Uruguay in January 2009.
Savidan was involved in almost half of Caen's goals for the season, and it is this consistency and versatility at the highest level of French football that has garnered much interest from Ligue 1 clubs seeking to avail themselves of his services for the coming season.

Caen president Jean-François Fortin is well aware of the interest the talented forward is attracting and, despite Savidan being under contract at the Stade Malherbe until 2011, is prepared to cash in.

"I had a call from the president of Toulouse (Olivier Sadran) who declared his interest in the player. Nice and Rennes have done the same. (Saint-Etienne co-president) Caïazzo hasn't called yet, but that doesn't mean he's not interested."

So with almost a quarter of France's elite clubs looking to sign him on, it seems that Steve Savidan is almost certain of a place in Ligue 1 for season 2009-2010.

Of course, the other big story in France is what is going to happen to Pape Diouf, President of OM? It looks as though he is on his way out of the Vélodrome after falling foul of RLD (Robert Louis Dreyfus, the owner). Far too political to make it onto the French League website, but big news on the other side of la Manche.....

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200906/650x475/diouf-rld-va-trancher.jpg

GodstoneEagle

16-06-2009, 09:22 PM

Latvian Eagle

17-06-2009, 07:48 AM

I only found out yesterday that our president Pape Diouf is the father of Papa Bouba Diop! :eek: How mental is that!?

Latvian Eagle

17-06-2009, 07:50 AM

Latvian Eagle

17-06-2009, 11:41 AM

Seen most of the kits for next season... Loving both Marseille kits again! :lux: And St. Ettiene, especially the away are also super cool! :p

Marseille Away:
http://photos.madeinsport.com/H09/OM_REP2_F_AH60_1_440.jpg

Marseille Home:
http://photos.madeinsport.com/H09/OM_REP1_F_AH137_1_440.jpg

ASSE Home:
http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/7464/saintetiennehome2.jpg

ASSE Away:
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/4772/saintetienneaway.jpg

BB Bob

17-06-2009, 11:58 AM

I only found out yesterday that our president Pape Diouf is the father of Papa Bouba Diop! :eek: How mental is that!?

I didn't know that!

BB Bob

17-06-2009, 11:59 AM

I remember when Landreau was meant to be the next big thing... Nantes captain at 18 etc etc!

Speaking of Nantes, a club that size should really have managed to stay up shouldn't they? Are they badly run or something?

I think they have got a serbian/croatian owner straight from the Mandaric charm school. Too much change and no continuity usually equals chaos on the pitch. My mate who is married to a Nantaise despairs of them at the moment. The town deserves so much better....

BB Bob

17-06-2009, 12:06 PM

Liking the kits, too. ASSE always have some funky colours going on. Their home kit is quite plain for a change! They also win my prize for best footie gadget ever. Messieurs et mesdames, je vous presente......

http://photos.madeinsport.com/E07/photo_toaster_PE4_1_440.jpg

BB Bob

17-06-2009, 06:38 PM

Fixture list out. Details here:-

http://www.ligue1.com/calendrier_2009_2010/Ligue_1_2009_2010_EN.pdf

BB Bob

17-06-2009, 06:58 PM

Mon dieu. If we are talking new kits, Lyons home kit for next season is fairly conventional:-

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/9889/lyonnaishome.jpg

The away kit, however, is way, way out there......

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7361/olympiquelyonaway.jpg

Latvian Eagle

18-06-2009, 02:05 PM

Starting and ending with Grenoble! :p Is that how the fixtures usually work?

Latvian Eagle

18-06-2009, 02:13 PM

AS Monaco shirts:
http://www.asmfc.net/darras/maillot2010/2010_fichiers/image002.jpg

BB Bob

18-06-2009, 09:31 PM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_L1_marseille_diouf_mono.jpg

Marseille chief shown door
Just two weeks after the departure of coach Eric Gerets, Marseille have announced that president Pape Diouf is leaving the club.
Diouf was the sixth president of OM since majority shareholder Robert Louis-Dreyfus took over the club in 1996.

'A great president'

"After five years as president, Pape Diouf is leaving his functions," read a statement by Louis-Dreyfus on Marseille's official website. "I would like to congratulate him for the work he undertook with the club. He was a great president that worked hard, and always in Marseille's best interests.

"Sportingly speaking, he raised the club to the top in France, finishing second and fighting for the title until the final day of the season. He has also left the club in a healthy state off the pitch.

'New challenges'

"Unfortunately, certain differences which have become apparent prevent us from continue to work together.

"It is time for new challenges, symbolically represented by new coach Didier Deschamps. A new president will be named in the coming days."

BB Bob

18-06-2009, 09:34 PM

Loads of other stuff going on

Bordeaux are interested in ex-Marseille keeper Carroso from Toulouse. Well Rame isn't getting any younger....

Toulouse are therefore interested in Columbian international from Nice, Ospina.

Loic Remy looks like he is heading back to Lyons from Nice. On the plus side, Nice get an extra €7m or so. On the downside, with no GK, losing Kante to Greece on a free, no Striker, a new manager, a new assistant and a new director of football, les aiglons could have a tricky year ahead...

Latvian Eagle

19-06-2009, 08:52 AM

BB Bob

22-06-2009, 07:36 AM

More news/rumours:-

Benzema to Man ure?

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200906/650x475/benzema-futur-mancunien.jpg

Aulas has apparently bid €10m for Hoarau (good idea, IMHO)

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200906/650x475/aulas-offre-dix-millions-pour-hoarau.jpg

Would the last one to leave OM please turn out the lights....

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200906/650x475/anigo-deschamps.jpg

Meanwhile, life is tough for Eric Gerets...

http://img.lequipe.fr/Medias/Football/200906/650x475/gerets-recu-comme-un-prince.jpg

Latvian Eagle

22-06-2009, 08:18 AM

My Marseille kit turned up today! :lux: I only ordered it Thursday. So so stylish. Got this seasons new home kit, and I bought last seasons away kit! :p YUM!!!

BB Bob

22-06-2009, 11:58 AM

If the away kit was this one,

http://www.premiershirtsdirect.co.uk/products/1219690022OM-REP2-SPONSOR-AH12-1-440.jpg

I always found it a bit......burberry? paisley? OK for golf, maybe, but not football!

http://www.offthepost.info/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/marseille-away.jpg

I like the old one:-

http://www.uksoccershop.com/images/6091.jpg

Or the 3rd kit from 06/7, which was this one:-

http://www.subsidesports.com/uk/images/product/large/OlyMars3rdSS0607.gif

BB Bob

22-06-2009, 11:59 AM

Really, we want the OM toaster!

Latvian Eagle

22-06-2009, 01:05 PM

All Marseille kits are class... Home and Away! Actually that's a lie! I hated the Gold European away shirt from last season! :hmph:

But yes I mean the top one, the Golf looking one! :p

Latvian Eagle

22-06-2009, 01:16 PM

Thought I'd waste some more work time by posting up a few more favourite L'OM shirts! :p

http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_small/Marseille-96-Blue.gif
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_small/Marseille-97-Blue.gif
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_medium/Marseille-98-Home-USE.gif
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_medium/Marseille-99-CLD.jpg
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_medium/Marseille-00-Away.jpg
http://www.classicfootballshirts.co.uk/images/thumb_medium/Marseille-01-Away-Khalifa.gif
http://www.subsidesports.com/uk/images/product/xlarge/OlyMarsHSS0708.jpg
http://www.tribunefeber.no/lag/arsenal/samir-nasri-til-arsenal/image
https://www.evangelistasports.com/images/T/jersey_adidas_marseille_home_06_07.jpg

Latvian Eagle

22-06-2009, 01:17 PM

And this Goalkeeper shirt which I had which I can't believe I sold! :sob:

http://www.fcfootballblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/olympique-marseille-2007-2008-goalkeeper-kit.jpg

BB Bob

22-06-2009, 01:35 PM

Liking the keepers shirt!

You missed this one, too:-

http://www.uksoccershop.com/images/7703.jpg

Latvian Eagle

22-06-2009, 02:20 PM

I like that one but no as much as the home and third ones which I'd already posted up!

I'm guessing as Louis-Dreyfus is a part owner in Adidas that's why Marseille have such exclusive designs!?

Latvian Eagle

24-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Two Ligue 2 teams in the UEFA Europa League next season... That must be a rarity?

Guingamp and Vannes.

BB Bob

25-06-2009, 07:09 AM

Are they both in Europe or have the places gone to L1 teams?

Latvian Eagle

25-06-2009, 11:16 AM

According to Wikipedia they are in Europe.

BB Bob

26-06-2009, 09:53 AM

Isn't there a UEFA co-efficient which works out how succesful a country's teams are in European competitions and awards the number of places based on that?

If that is the case, that is bloody awful for french football!

Speaking of which, with the demise of Setanta, there is now nowhere in the UK showing highlights or games from le Championnat. Triffic.

Latvian Eagle

26-06-2009, 11:01 AM

BB Bob

27-06-2009, 03:13 PM

Latvian Eagle

27-06-2009, 06:17 PM

Caen new kits... Same templates as on off for Palace!

http://www.newsoccerjerseys.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/caenjerseys.jpg

Le Havre kits...

http://hac.infoceane.com/uploads/article/400/6f42a205a75481342f9f50ac4d331d6e.jpg

kabbott

27-06-2009, 07:45 PM

:( Forgot that Setanta had French football!

Well I don't think you can not allow a team based on them being s**t! :o I remember when Calais were in the UEFA Cup for finishing runners up and they were amateur then. At least Guingamp and Vannes are in the Professional Ligue 2.

I'm pretty sure Calais didn't play in the UEFA Cup after losing to Nantes in the final after their heroic cup run. Nantes won the French league the following year, so unless Nantes finished in the top 2 or 3 places Calais couldn't have been qualified for the UEFA Cup.
Nîmes, however, lost a French Cup final, I think, around the same time and qualified for the UEFA Cup because the team that beat them had already qualified by finishing in the top 2 or 3. IIRC Nîmes even got through 1 or 2 rounds that year.

Latvian Eagle

27-06-2009, 07:52 PM

I thought Calais had but I could be wrong.

About to attempt to start re learning French... Quite embarrassed how I was fluent at 11-12 years old but gave up in Secondary school. :confused:

kabbott

27-06-2009, 07:54 PM

It looks as though Calais have just gone bust and are about to drop down to a very minor level of football. Shame, as it was a hell of a fairy story when they made it to the cup final and they were often held up as a role model for smaller clubs

Didn't know about this. Not sure if this was mentioned in l'Equipe recently. Calais were, so to speak, victim of their own success. I think the year after their Cup run they got promoted to the National (= our old Div 3), wages got (relatively) silly, they blew all their profits, got relegated straight away after winning only 2 games all season. Because of their financial difficulties they went from National to CFA2 ( = Div 5) in one go. They had another good Cup run a few years later, falling again to Nantes, this time in the quarter-finals, but have never found economic on footballing stability.
All they got out of this was a new stadium, but at what cost?
Sad all the same. :(

kabbott

27-06-2009, 07:57 PM

philsick

27-06-2009, 07:59 PM

Kabbott,do you think les verts first game v nice on the 8th aug would be all ticket,or is it poss to pay on the day?I'm over there and would like to take my son.

kabbott

27-06-2009, 08:03 PM

Hi, Philsick!
Bad news for you I'm afraid. After losing your highly talented coach, you've also lost your forward, Poté, who's signed up with Nice. Have a word with BB Bob about this.

kabbott

27-06-2009, 08:07 PM

Kabbott,do you think les verts first game v nice on the 8th aug would be all ticket,or is it poss to pay on the day?I'm over there and would like to take my son.

What with August being the month (nearly) every Frenchman goes on holiday, I would say the chances of getting tickets are pretty high. I'll check up for you if that's any help.

philsick

27-06-2009, 08:09 PM

I'll check up for you if that's any help.

would be much appreciated:p

philsick

27-06-2009, 08:10 PM

Hi, Philsick!
Bad news for you I'm afraid. After losing your highly talented coach, you've also lost your forward, Poté, who's signed up with Nice. Have a word with BB Bob about this.

:( Lets hope its not another flirt with relegation next season.

kabbott

27-06-2009, 08:11 PM

Week 1 - Saturday, August 08, 2009

AJ Auxerre FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
FC Girondins de Bordeaux RC Lens
Grenoble Foot 38 Olympique de Marseille
Le Mans UC 72 Olympique Lyonnais
AS Monaco FC Toulouse FC
Montpellier HSC Paris Saint-Germain
Stade Rennais FC US Boulogne CO
AS Saint-Etienne OGC Nice
Valenciennes FC AS Nancy Lorraine

Week 1 - Sunday, August 09, 2009

LOSC FC Lorient

Blimey, first match: kabbott v madame kabbott
and Philsick v BB Bob

kabbott

27-06-2009, 08:23 PM

I've just been on the ASSE site, you can actually buy e-tickets on line, although nothing is available for the time being. I'll keep in touch.

philsick

27-06-2009, 08:35 PM

I've just been on the ASSE site, you can actually buy e-tickets on line, although nothing is available for the time being. I'll keep in touch.

Thanx:p

Latvian Eagle

27-06-2009, 09:00 PM

BB Bob

29-06-2009, 08:40 AM

[QUOTE=Latvian Eagle]I thought Calais had but I could be wrong. QUOTE]

I'm going to check on French wiki which is pretty helpful.
Only way to learn French properly is to get over to the country.
I wouldn't bother going as far as Marseille, Stade Gerland is fine. :rolleyes: :p :D

You can learn to speak french with a funny accent if you head down to Nissa la bella and the stade du Ray.......:p :love:

BB Bob

29-06-2009, 08:42 AM

:( Lets hope its not another flirt with relegation next season.

I think Nice felt they needed a coach who had experience of a relegation dogfight........:rolleyes:

BB Bob

29-06-2009, 08:48 AM

Any Grenoble fans?

Looks like someone is likely to take Djibril off our hands. Is it true that pretty much any club in France has pretty good standard facilities or was my A Level PE teacher chatting complete s**t 7 years ago!?

I think OM have done a great deal getting Cissé off the payroll. It looks as though he has gone to Panathinaikos wheerre he can miss goal scoring opportunities in a new league for him. It's a shame, really, as when he is good, he is fantastic. I think 2 nasty leg injuries have just taken their toll...

Elsewhere, PSG have signed Erding from Sochaux (and his goals kept them up last year) while Landreau is off to Lille. Savidan looks to be heading to Monaco and Diawara wants to move from Bordeaux to Marseille. Another good bit of business for OM if they pull it off.

BB Bob

29-06-2009, 08:54 AM

I thought Calais had but I could be wrong.

About to attempt to start re learning French... Quite embarrassed how I was fluent at 11-12 years old but gave up in Secondary school. :confused:

Kabbott is right that the only way to really learn the language is to live in France. However, for those of us not fortunate enough to have the opportunity, I can heartily recommend the Open Universaity french courses. I've been doing them for three years now and they are excellent, particularly for people who are working as well. You also have the opportunity to spend a week each year in Caen - and I am off there in a couple of weeks - which gives you something of a flavour for la vie française.

This year, a large part of the course is based around Grenoble and Caen, although football has not been mentioned once! Far too common, I guess....

If you care about it or need it, you can get a degree at the same time, although that takes a while studying part time!

kabbott

29-06-2009, 03:55 PM

I think OM have done a great deal getting Cissé off the payroll. It looks as though he has gone to Panathinaikos wheerre he can miss goal scoring opportunities in a new league for him. It's a shame, really, as when he is good, he is fantastic. I think 2 nasty leg injuries have just taken their toll...

Elsewhere, PSG have signed Erding from Sochaux (and his goals kept them up last year) while Landreau is off to Lille. Savidan looks to be heading to Monaco and Diawara wants to move from Bordeaux to Marseille. Another good bit of business for OM if they pull it off.

Carrasso has signed up for Bordeaux.
Toulouse have gone for the underrated Yohan Pélé, from Le Mans to replace him.
Lyon seem pretty quiet so far. I hope Benzema stays for one more season. But they need another forward. This Lopez guy from Porto seems useful, but Porto might not need to sell him 'cos they're selling another player to Marseille apparently.
Good business from Président Aulas for a change :rolleyes: trying to get back Rémy from Nice for 10m Euros more than we sold him for last year. I can't understand why he wasn't just loaned out for the season. Oh well!

BB Bob

29-06-2009, 04:00 PM

I think there is a certain amount of spoofery from Real Madrid - who have apparently offered €30m for Karim - as they are more interested in Villa, I suspect. However, with Man Utd and Arsenal both sniffing around, I am afraid to say it looks like you are going to need two forwards rather than one. I think that he will leave reluctantly, though, and personally I think he would be better advised to play one more season in Lyon.

Latvian Eagle

01-07-2009, 09:25 AM

Marseille have wrapped up Lucho Gonzalez from Porto... Very good signing.

BB Bob

01-07-2009, 12:52 PM

Lyon confirm Benzema bid
Ligue 1 club insist no deal has been struck for star striker
By Richard Bailey Last updated: 1st July 2009

Benzema: No agreement in place

Lyon have confirmed that they have received a bid for Karim Benzema from an unnamed club, but insist that any agreement over the France international's transfer is yet to be reached.

The side in question is thought to be Real Madrid with strong reports in both Spain and France linking them with a £35million move for the 21-year-old.

The striker is also been rumoured to have interested Manchester United with manager Sir Alex Ferguson said to be a big admirer of the gifted youngster.

The Premier League champions have £80million burning a hole in their pocket after the confirmed sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real and know that they must find someone to take on the scoring burden left by the Portugal winger.

Benzema would fit the bill perfectly, with 66 goals in 149 appearances for Lyon, but it now seems Real have stolen a march on the Red Devils despite the Ligue 1 side's defiance.

"We certainly did receive an offer of a sum appreciably superior to the sum that has been mentioned, but nothing says that it comes from Real," Lyon director Olivier Blanc told L'Equipe.

"There is no agreement with anyone

BB Bob

01-07-2009, 06:14 PM

Confirmed. Benzema to Real Madrid.

Looks like you are playing 4-5-1 next season, kabbott!

kabbott

01-07-2009, 08:53 PM

Confirmed. Benzema to Real Madrid.

Looks like you are playing 4-5-1 next season, kabbott!

Oh dear. I've been recently hearing a lot of negative stuff about Puel and his methods from people who know people who know people in the club. With Benzema last season we didn't play. I'd like to know who the "1" is in the 4 - 5 - 1 we'll be playing. Is Lee still up for grabs? Or Kuqi?

BB Bob

02-07-2009, 07:18 AM

Could they do worse than Piquionne......

Latvian Eagle

02-07-2009, 01:51 PM

Does anyone know much about young Bordeaux goalkeeper Kevin Olimpa who's just gone out on loan? I've heard he's meant to be pretty good.

BB Bob

02-07-2009, 03:39 PM

Does anyone know much about young Bordeaux goalkeeper Kevin Olimpa who's just gone out on loan? I've heard he's meant to be pretty good.

From the National Academy at Clairfontine, Olimpa is now 21 and has represented France in his age group. According to wikipedia.fr, he is considered one of the bright young things of french football. He has been loaned to Angers in L2 for the coming season.

http://www.citizenside.com/en/photos/football-soccer/2008-07-26/8871/soccer-bordeaux-winner-of-the-training-centers-trophy/package/44232-kevin-olimpa.jpg

http://loft1.weltfussball.de/bilder/spieler/gross/90196.jpg

BB Bob

03-07-2009, 10:30 AM

Some short pieces for you:-

___________________

Giuly eyes top three for PSG

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/moyenFormat/0809_psg_giuly_3_art.jpg

Ludovic Giuly believes Paris Saint-Germain should harbour ambitions of finishing in the top three in the upcoming Ligue 1 season.

The former French international's maiden campaign at the Parc des Princes saw the team finish sixth, and Giuly is convinced that with the arrival of Grégory Coupet and Mevlut Erding, as well as new coach Antoine Kombouaré, the club from the capital can improve on that.

"I came here to help take the club forward and win trophies," said Giuly, who arrived at PSG last summer along with Claude Makelele. "Last year we wanted to finish in the top eight. This season, we have to go for the podium."

He added: "I ended last season frustrated, because we gave up as certain players started thinking about their own future too soon
______________________________

Puel upbeat despite Benzema loss

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/moyenFormat/uk0809_Puel_Lyon_art.jpg

Lyon coach Claude Puel is optimistic the club can replace Karim Benzema after OL agreed to allow their star forward to join Real Madrid in a massive deal.
Benzema will sign a six-year contract with Real after Lyon accepted a bid of €35m for the French international on Wednesday, with performance-related clauses potentially making the deal worth €41m to OL.

Despite seeing last season's leading scorer head for pastures new, Puel is confident the seven-time Ligue 1 champions will fill the void, and insisted the decision to sell Benzema had not been taken lightly.

"Things moved quickly in the last 24 hours. It was an opportunity for him, and the club decided to respond favourably to his expectations. All the aspects – both sporting and economic – were taken into account. We took the time to weigh up the consequences of losing Karim," said Puel just minutes after news of the deal had broken.

"We knew that – in Karim – we had a player who would be courted by clubs. We have to replace him both numerically and in terms of quality and we're working on it.

"The situation should be sorted out in the coming hours. With Karim's departure, it's even more important that we bring players in, and we're trying to do that."

Fans' worries

Porto forward Lisandro Lopez has been touted as Lyon's top target this summer, though Puel revealed that the Argentine international is not the only solution to the club's perennial search for a top-class striker.

"We have other targets if he doesn't join us," said the ex-Lille coach. "The important thing is for us to reinforce the squad, add something extra to a group which already has a lot of quality.

"I understand the supporters' concerns, because we have yet to bring players in and we have lost our best element, but Karim's departure must not make us lose sight of the club's ambitions."
____________________________________

Top two do Diawara deal

http://www.ligue1.com/photo/moyenFormat/0809_l1_bdx_losc_diawara_art.jpg

Ligue 1 title rivals Bordeaux and Marseille have reached an agreement which should see Souleymane Diawara get his wish of moving to the Stade Vélodrome.

The Senegal international was an integral part of Les Girondins' title triumph last season, but has made no secret of his desire to move to the south coast this summer, and now simply has to undergo a medical before completing a move worth around €6m.

"I've spent two years at Bordeaux where I have made a lot of progress thanks to Laurent Blanc and Jean-Louis Gasset, but when a club like OM wants you, you can't help but be interested," said the 30-year-old, who has been offered a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.

"I'll go there without any pressure on me. I've built up a lot of experience with Laurent Blanc, and taken on a different dimension. Personally, I think I'm well-armed for the challenge that awaits at Marseille."

Diawara will be joined on the south coast by former Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Edouard Cissé, who has signed a two-year contract at the Vélodrome.
_______________________

Bangoura goes Breton, but Mbia wants out

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0910_l1_rennes_Bangoura_mono.jpg

Rennes have continued to reinforce their squad ahead of the coming season by luring Ismaël Bangoura to Brittany, though sought-after midfielder Stephane Mbia has declared his intention of joining Marseille.

Bangoura, who featured in the Champions League and UEFA Cup for Dynamo Kiev last season, has signed a four-year deal at the Stade de la Route de Lorient, returning to Ligue 1 after two campaigns in Ukraine.

"I'm happy to be back," said the Guinea international, who scored 18 goals in 56 games for Le Mans before joining Dynamo. "For the family, for the football – because it's a good standard of football in France – and the climate can't be compared to that in Ukraine."

He added: "I would like to thank the club, as they've put in a lot of effort to bring me here. Now it's up to me to prove that it was worth the while."

Mbia: 'I've chosen OM'

http://www.ligue1.com/photo/moyenFormat/0809_l1_rennes_mbia_art.jpg

While Bangoura joins fellow newboy Junichi Inamoto in Frédéric Antonetti's squad, Mbia (pictured above) appears likely to leave before the start of the season with Marseille the €12m-rated Cameroon international's destination of choice.

"I've chosen OM, and would like to join them as soon as possible. The financial aspect of the deal is holding things up, but I'm confident it'll be sorted out," said the athletic 23-year-old, who admitted he has spoken to Marseille coach Didier Deschamps. "I dream of playing for him," he said.

Latvian Eagle

03-07-2009, 11:30 AM

I find it interesting given Marseille haven't won the French title since the early 90s and spend much of that decade in the 2nd division that so many players still hold the club in such high regards. Players like this Diawara chap this year, and Ben Arfa last year leaving title winning teams to play for Marseille. :p

BB Bob

03-07-2009, 11:33 AM

I think by support they are still the biggest club in France. And I guess that equates to the best payers in salary terms?

Latvian Eagle

03-07-2009, 11:37 AM

I'm guessing as Louis-Dreyfus is a Multi Billionaire that helps. I've always envisaged Marseille to be a big club. But having not won the title in I think 16 years a lot of "new" fans probably don't realise the size of the club as such.

I'm still astounded ASSE are the all time record holders for most league titles. Having grown up through the 90s I'd have said PSG if someone had asked me.

BB Bob

03-07-2009, 12:09 PM

Here are the attendence averages for last season

1 Olympique de Marseille 52276
2 Paris Saint-Germain 40902
3 Olympique Lyonnais 37394
4 AS Saint-Etienne 28170
5 FC Girondins de Bordeaux 26953
6 FC Nantes 24137
7 Stade Rennais FC 24063
8 Toulouse FC 20090
9 SM Caen 18913
10 AS Nancy Lorraine 18000
11 LOSC 17911
12 Grenoble Foot 38 17217
13 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard 14659
14 Havre AC 13568
15 AJ Auxerre 12914
16 Valenciennes FC 12869
17 FC Lorient 11400
18 OGC Nice 10623
19 Le Mans UC 72 10411
20 AS Monaco FC 8511

I think one of the bones of contention between Dreyfus and Gerets last season was that Dreyfus wanted to reduce the salary budget. His health is getting a bit so so, and he has been looking to sell the club. They neary went to some French Canadian, I think, a couple of years ago.

Saint Etienne were a massive club in the 70s. Maybe kabbott can tell us more, as it is his manor now. I think at the time Lyon were a rather sleepy little club, but I think we know who wears the pantalons now!

Latvian Eagle

03-07-2009, 02:30 PM

I know Monaco is only a little place but I'm quite surprised at how poor their average attendence is. I'd have put them around the 8/9/10 kind of region at least. Saying that Auxerre are a lot lower than I would have thought too.

BB Bob

03-07-2009, 05:26 PM

I'm guessing that football might be a little......lowbrow?.....for the residents of Monte Carlo! Either that or the tickets are priced like the restos!

kabbott

04-07-2009, 09:29 AM

Makelele extends deal, Rothen suspended

Claude Makelele will lead Paris Saint-Germain on the pitch again next season after signing a one-year contract extension, though team-mate Jérôme Rothen’s future is in doubt after he was suspended by the club.
Makelele signed a one-year deal with an option for a further season when he joined PSG last summer, and the two parties have now reached an agreement to prolong the former French international's illustrious playing career by a further year.
"Extending my contract at PSG was my objective at the end of last season," said the 36-year-old, who will likely join the club's staff when he finally hangs up his boots.

"I left to go on holiday as if I had already signed it. I'm happy to have made this decision, and I hope that we'll enjoy a season full of emotion for the players, the club and the supporters."

Rothen suspended

Rothen may not be part of the coming campaign, though, after the midfielder was suspended by PSG on Friday following a meeting with the club's hierarchy, who had been the subject of scathing public criticism by Rothen at the end of last season.

"The objective of the meeting was to remind Jérôme Rothen that each player has rights and duties, and to hear his version of the facts," said a club press release, which added that the French international will learn his fate early next week.

"He has to respect the institution that Paris Saint-Germain represents, otherwise he is liable to be punished."

Rothen is a good player. He is in the Beckham mould. Not enough pace to get past full-backs, but he can whip in telling crosses and play defence-splitting passes. He can also score a goal or two.
I mentioned him a month or two ago for Lyon and I reckon he'd be a good buy.

kabbott

04-07-2009, 09:31 AM

It looks like Keita is on the way out too, thank God. Probably one of the worst buys in French football history. I think he's off to a Turkish or Greek club.

kabbott

04-07-2009, 10:21 AM

So whoare Lyon interested in? According to L'Equipe today:

André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse) - Lyon offered 11m€ (+ Piquionne valued at 4.5m€)
Michel Bastos (Lille) valued by Lille at 18m€
Lisandro Lopez (FC Porto) - Porto want 25m€
Loïc Rémy (Nice) - Lyon offered 15m€ + Anthony Mounier (a good young player we should be keeping, like we should have done with Rémy last season!)
Mamadou Niang (Marseille) is also mentioned. He is hoping for an improved contract which doesn't seem to be coming, so he could be on his way out.

the kooch

04-07-2009, 10:36 AM

It looks like Keita is on the way out too, thank God. Probably one of the worst buys in French football history. I think he's off to a Turkish or Greek club.

Is he really that bad?

kabbott

04-07-2009, 11:30 AM

Is he really that bad?

When he played for Lille, he showed flashes of brilliance. He came to Lyon with a lot of pressure on his shoulders due to the transfer fee, something like 18m€, but never settled, even when Puel arrived last season. (He was the one who brought Keita to Lille.) He almost always made the wrong choices - keeping the ball when should have passed it and passing when he should have kept it or made a pop for goal. Very annoying to say the least.

Abjekt

04-07-2009, 04:14 PM

Haven't grabbed a copy of L'Equipe or France Football in about a month, Kabbott - who are my Girondins being linked with?

kabbott

04-07-2009, 04:43 PM

2164

Haven't grabbed a copy of L'Equipe or France Football in about a month, Kabbott - who are my Girondins being linked with?

It's pretty quiet down there to be honest. There was a press conference given by Laurent Blanc yesterday, I think, in which he said, although he didn't want Diawara to leave, there was no way he could rival with what Marseille were offering. Looks like there's not much cash around down there.
Oh, I've just picked up L'Equipe again to check up something about Chamakh and there's another article about Bordeaux.
So L.Blanc is after one or even two central defenders. Players mentioned are Adil Rami (Lille, 23). Bordeaux have offered 10m€ for him that Lille have turned down. L.Blanc is also interested in Kader Mangane (Rennes, 26) and Marko Baso (Lokomotiv Moscow, 26). The Russian club are asking 8m€ for him.

As for Chamakh, he's hoping for a move to Arsenal, but if , by the 22nd July, he's still with the club when they head off for Montreal, it's likely he'll stay with the club for the season. By this time, L.Blanc will have brought his squad down to 20 pros plus 5 or 6 youngsters.

HTH

kabbott

04-07-2009, 08:36 PM

BB Bob

04-07-2009, 10:45 PM

2 terrible pieces of news this evening:

1) Steve Savidan's medical at Monaco before signing a two-year contract didn't quite go as planned. They found some heart problem. So improvised press conference by a tearful Steve Savidan announcing a probable immediate retirement from professional football. Sad. This guy was a great character who got into pro football quite late after having been rejected by loads of clubs.
2) Mickaël Landreau, who was transferred from PSG to Lille earlier on in the week, has only gone and done his knee ligaments and will be out for 6 months minimum.

1. That is absolutely awful. He won his first french cap this year and looked the part too. I don't know what the Caennais will have to say about him, but for all lovers of the french game, that is awful

2. That's awful too. He's just got a move away from the cesspit of french football and a chance to rebuild his career at a progressive (well, progresive-ish) club too.

(PS Sorry to you PSG fans out there, but you really aren't that popular you know. How you can let anyone of the class of Rothen go is beyond me)

the kooch

05-07-2009, 02:41 AM

Louis-Dreyfus has died, almost days after firing Diouf. Difficult times ahead for Marseilles ahead.

kabbott

05-07-2009, 09:00 AM

Louis-Dreyfus has died, almost days after firing Diouf. Difficult times ahead for Marseilles ahead.

Shock to read this in the paper this morning. I was up quite late last night, there was no mention of it.
RLD was a great businessman but failed at OM. He ploughed in something like 200m€ for one Intertoto trophy. He was a very reserved character who probably wasn't present or firm enough at the club to stop all the other sharks who were/are vying for power.
RIP RLD

Abjekt

05-07-2009, 10:59 AM

Bloody hell, 3 bits of bad news - gutted for Savidan, that's unbelievable.

R.I.P RLD

the kooch

05-07-2009, 07:57 PM

BB Bob

05-07-2009, 10:04 PM

Nice are after him,but money talks, BS walks as they say! I'd be delighted to see him in rouge et noir

Latvian Eagle

06-07-2009, 12:02 AM

RIP! :( Not sure where this really leaves us as a club now!

Shame to hear about Savidan and Landreau too!

Latvian Eagle

06-07-2009, 12:08 AM

According to L'OM official site we've signed Diawara and Edouard Cisse (is he the ex West Ham player?)

Latvian Eagle

06-07-2009, 12:26 AM

Loving the much more traditional Nantes home kit... Finally they return to stripes.

http://photos.madeinsport.com/H09/FCN_REP1_F_AH452_1_440.jpg

Their new sash away kit is also quite pleasing on the eye... :p
http://photos.madeinsport.com/H09/FCN_REP2_F_AH453_1_440.jpg

the kooch

06-07-2009, 03:57 PM

Obertan joining Moan U? I hope not, for the lad's sake. He could be a starter for Bordeaux and play in CL, he shouldn't even think of joining the scum.

kabbott

06-07-2009, 08:18 PM

I've read somewhere that Bryan Bergougnoux is out of contract and about to sign for a Turkish club soon. From what I remember he was a cracking player at Lyon, if he was as good at Toulouse, I wonder why he hasn't been snapped up by now.

He was a very good (young) player when at Lyon. AC Milan nearly bought him at that time IIRC. The following season he didn't progress as people hoped or he just didn't play enough. So he went to toulouse where he showed only very rare glimpses of his talent. Not sure if there's an attitude problem there or if he puts in the effort in training. Another wasted talent.

kabbott

06-07-2009, 08:21 PM

According to L'OM official site we've signed Diawara and Edouard Cisse (is he the ex West Ham player?)

Yes, he is. He's been about a bit. An honest Ligue player, but no more, a little along the lines of Cana and M'Bami, other players who have also played at PSG and OM.

kabbott

06-07-2009, 08:25 PM

Obertan joining Moan U? I hope not, for the lad's sake. He could be a starter for Bordeaux and play in CL, he shouldn't even think of joining the scum.

He wasn't even a starter for Bordeaux last season, that's why he was loaned out to Lorient. He hardly set that club on fire either. He is, of course a highly talented player, Sir Alex wouldn-t be buying him otherwise.
Sometimes this type of player doesn't make it in France and becomes a hero/legend elsewhere.
I reckon Ben Arfa is the type of player who would do very well at Arsenal, for example.

kabbott

07-07-2009, 05:55 PM

About time too. Hope this guy will be able to deliver the goods.

Lyon land Lisandro Lopez

Just days after Marseille splashed out a club record €18m for Lucho Gonzalez, Lyon announced they had agreed terms with FC Porto for the €24m transfer of another Argentine international, Lisandro Lopez.
An official statement on OL's official website read:

"During the night of Monday to Tuesday, Olympique Lyonnais and FC Porto agreed the terms of €24m transfer - plus a maximum €4m in performance based bonuses - for Argentine international striker Lisandro Lopez.

Two conditions

"The finalisation of the transfer is conditional on, firstly, the successful negotiation of personal terms between Olympique Lyonnais and the player, and secondly, the player's successful completion of the mandatory medical visit.

"Both conditions should be completed and the transfer completed by July 24.

"Olympique Lyonnais is delighted to have opened its summer mercato by welcoming one of the most talented strikers currently operating in European football."

kabbott

07-07-2009, 08:47 PM

Haven't grabbed a copy of L'Equipe or France Football in about a month, Kabbott - who are my Girondins being linked with?

This evening Bordeaux have been linked with Philip(pe?) Senderos, the Swiss ex-Arsenal player. He is valued at around 6m€.

kabbott

07-07-2009, 08:49 PM

Good news for Lyon fans. After Lopez it seems that Lyon will be getting Rémy and maybe even Bastos from Lille, and valued at 18m€. He's a very good player.

BB Bob

07-07-2009, 09:53 PM

I read €16m plus whats his name for Remy. I don't want to see him go, but he deserves better and we can't complain about the profit!

kabbott

11-07-2009, 09:58 AM

Bordeaux bring Plasil back

Bordeaux continue to build the side they hope can defend the Ligue 1 title by adding Czech international midfielder Jaroslav Plasil to their squad.

The 27-year-old made his name during six years at Monaco, and has now penned a four-year deal at the Stade Chaban-Delmas to mark a return to Ligue 1 after two unsuccessful but nonetheless fruitful seasons with Spanish side Osasuna.

"I think I learned a lot of things in La Liga, and think that I now have more experience than before in every sense, even if my two seasons with Osasuna didn't give me the chance to play in Europe," said Plasil, who has 47 caps for his country.

"Even though it's not easy to battle against relegation all the time, games against the likes of Real Madrid or Barcelona have allowed me to play at the very highest level, and I have benefitted from that."

Blanc persuasion

A youngster at Monaco when the side from the principality reached the Champions League final under Didier Deschamps in 2004, Plasil now hopes he can prosper with one of Deschamps' former international team-mates, Laurent Blanc.

"I chose Bordeaux because of a conversation I had two weeks' ago with Laurent Blanc, who explained what he wanted from me and said that he would give me the chance to play in a side that plays football the right way, which is exactly what I wanted," said the left-footed midfielder.

"There is now a challenge ahead with Ligue 1, the two cups, and the Champions League, because I'm now at a stage in my career where I want to win trophies and show what I'm capable of."

Latvian Eagle

11-07-2009, 12:39 PM

I read yesterday that Marseille are favourites to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Real Madrid. Infact both KJH and his agent have already had contact with the club apparently.

Great signing if true.

kabbott

12-07-2009, 01:52 PM

I read yesterday that Marseille are favourites to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar from Real Madrid. Infact both KJH and his agent have already had contact with the club apparently.

Great signing if true.

In L'Equipe yesterday, they said Stuttgart were going to get him for 20m€.

BB Bob

15-07-2009, 10:31 PM

C'est vrai? Sex and drugs and Cyril Rool to Marseilles? Oh merde. Quoi faire avec les aiglons?

BB Bob

20-07-2009, 07:47 AM

Lyon complete Cissokho signing
Seven-time French champions Lyon completed the signing of left-back Ali Cissokho from Portuguese champions Porto on Saturday, for €15m.
The club announced the deal via a statement on its official website:

"Olympique Lyonnais and FC Porto agreed terms for the transfer of French defender Ali Cissokho, for €15m (FC Porto will also receive 20 per cent of any profit made by OL on any future transfer concerning the player).

"After succesfully passing his medical examination in Porto with doctor Emmanuel Orhant, the 21-year-old left-back signed a five-year deal with Olympique lyonnais.

"The revelation of Porto's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United becomes the third recruit for Olympique Lyonnais this summer after Lisandro Lopez and Michel Bastos.

"Ali Cissokho will take part in his first training session with the squad on Monday before fronting up to the media along with Michel Bastos, for their official presentation."

Cissokho becomes the club's third summer signing after Agentine Lisandro Lopez, also from Porto, and Brazilian Michel Bastos, from Lille.

_______________________________

El Commandante takes control
Marseille’s most expensive transfer signing of all time, Lucho Gonzalez, impressed on his debut for the southern club against Corsican Ligue 2 outfit Ajaccio on Friday.
Playing in the centre of midfield, the Argentina international midfielder was at the heart of everything for Marseille that ran out 1-0 winners thanks to Taye Taiwo's first-half free-kick. Didier Deschamps was clearly pleased by his new recruits performance, revealing: 'Everything comes easier when you've got talent,' in reference to his new playmaker.

It was Deschamps' second friendly win in charge after the 2-1 victory over Dinamo Bucharest and the former Marseille skipper was delighted with his side's progress:

Nothing replaces matches

"There are plenty of changes in these friendly games, but even so, the players are starting to develop some good understanding," he said. "It's good. Training is good, but nothing replaces matches.

"Certain players are behind other in terms of their physical preparation, but they didn't show it during the game they all stepped up to the plate. The main thing is that everyone be ready for the start of the season on August 8."

BB Bob

20-07-2009, 07:56 AM

p. :Loan r.p. :Return from loan t.d. :Definitive transfer f.c. :Contract expired

Update : 7/19/2009

AJ AUXERRE

In

Licata (AS Monaco)
Birsa (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, t.d.)
Martin (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
Contout (Amiens SC)

Out

Genest (Stade Lavallois)
Langil (SM Caen, p.)
Tamas (Dinamo Bucarest, ROU, t.d.)

FC GIRONDINS DE BORDEAUX

In

Carrasso (Toulouse FC)
Plasil (Osasuna, ESP)
Diabaté (AC Ajaccio, r.p.)
Marange (HAC, r.p.)
Ayité (Angers SCO, r.p.)
Moimbe (Stade de Reims, r.p.)

Out

Diawara (OM)
Obertan (Manchester United)
Olimpa (Angers SCO, p.)
Lavie (f.c.)

US BOULOGNE CO

In

Agouazi (FC Metz)
Da Rocha (FC Nantes)
Borne (Stade Rennais FC)
Das Neves (FC Nantes)
Adefemi (SC Rheindorf Altach, AUT)
Robert (FC Lorient, p.)
Dembélé (Stade Rennais FC, p.)
Guyot (entr., FC Nantes)

Out

Devaux (Toulouse FC)
Mouyokolo (Hull City, ANG)
Andriatsima (FC Nantes, r.p.)
N'Kong (f.c.)
Brignoni (f.c.)
Labbé (f.c.)
Kinkela (f.c.)
Angoula (f.c.)

GRENOBLE FOOT 38

In

Matsui (AS Saint-Etienne)
Tadic (Dinamo Zagreb, CRO)
Viviani (AS Saint-Etienne)
Paillot (Olympique Lyonnais, t.d.)
Juan (LB Châteauroux, r.p.)

Out

Moreira (Stade Rennais FC, r.p.)
Wimbée (f.c.)
Baning (PSG, r.p.)
Flachez (f.c.)
N'Ganga (Tours FC)
Touré (LOSC, r.p.)
Grandin (OM, r.p.)
Cattier (f.c.)
Dimitrijevic (f.c.)
El Moubarki (f.c.)
Yanev (f.c.)
Regragui (f.c.)

LE MANS UC 72

In

Ekeng (Canon de Yaoundé, CAM)
Ovono (Dinamo Tbilissi, GEO)
Keita (Nîmes Olympique, r.p.)
Loriot (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
El-Bahri (FC Istres, r.p.)
Duarte (entr.)

Out

Pelé (Toulouse FC)
Zito (Stade Lavallois, r.p.)
Adenon (SC Bastia, p.)
Ferrand (Stade de Reims, Nat, p.)

RC LENS

Eduardo (EA Guingamp)
Kasraoui (Espérance Tunis, TUN)
El Adoua (Wydad Casablanca, MAR)
Pollet (Stade de Reims, r.p.)
Yahia (OGC Nice)

Out

Roux (Stade Brestois)

LOSC

In

Landreau (LOSC)
Aubameyang (AC Milan,, ITA)
Butelle (FC Valence, ESP, t.d.)
Franquart (HAC, r.p.)
Touré (Grenoble Foot 38, r.p.)
Yanes (Barranquilla, COL, r.p.)

Out

Bastos (OL)
Youla (Eskise, TUR, t.d.)
Tafforeau (f.c.)
Malicki (f.c.)

FC LORIENT

In

Diarra (FC Lorient)
Koscielny (Tours FC)
Monterrubio (FC Sion, SUI)
Mvuemba (Portsmouth, ANG)
Baca (HAC)
Marin (SC Bastia, r.p.)
Barthelme (Racing CF)
Bruon (Amiens SC, r.p.)

Out

Jallet (Paris SG)
Obertan (FCG Bordeaux, r.p.)
Namouchi (Sivasspor, TUR)
Ayew (OM, r.p.)
Cantareil (f.c.)
Le Pen (f.c.)
Ewolo (Stade Brestois)
Calvé (AS Nancy Lorraine, r.p.)
Boutruche (f.c.)
Robert (US Boulogne CO, p.)

OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS

In

Lisandro Lopez (FC Porto)
Bastos (LOSC)
Cissokho (FC Porto)
Cléber Anderson (Cruzeiro, BRE, r.p.)

Out

Benzema (Real Madrid, ESP)
Juninho (El Gharrafa, QAT)
Keita (Galatasaray, TUR)
Paillot (Grenoble Foot 38, t.d.)
Pied (FC Metz, p.)

OLYMPIQUE DE MARSEILLE

In

M'Bia (Stade Rennais)
Lucho Gonzalez (FC Porto, POR)
Diawara (FCG Bordeaux)
E.Cissé (Besiktas, TUR)
Rool (OGC Nice)
E.Andrade (Rapid Bucarest, ROU)
Fomen (Panthère du Ndé, CAM)
Ayew (FC Lorient, r.p.)
Grandin (Grenoble Foot 38, r.p.)
Bocaly (Montpellier HSC, r.p.)
Arrache (Stade de Reims, r.p.)
N'Diaye (AC Ajaccio, r.p.)
M'Bow (AS Cannes, Nat, r.p.)
Begeorgi (Werder Brême, ALL, r.p.)
Krstic (AC Ajaccio, r.p.)
Deschamps (entr.)

Out

Cissé (Panathinaïkos, GRE)
Ziani (Wolfsburg, ALL)
Zubar (Wolverhampton, ANG)
Givet (Blackburn, ANG, t.d.)
Wiltord (Stade Rennais, r.p.)
Civelli (f.c.)
Zenden (f.c.)
M'Bami (f.c.)
Mears (Derby County, ANG, r.p.)
Deruda (f.c.)
Negopodov (f.c.)
Sabo (AC Ajaccio, p.)
N'Diaye (AC Ajaccio, p.)
Gerets (entr.)

AS MONACO FC

In

Puygrenier (Zénith St-Pétersbourg, RUS, p.)
D.Traoré (Birmingham City, ANG)
Nenê (Espanyol, ESP, r.p.)
Sambou (HAC, r.p.)
Martin (Nîmes Olympique, r.p.)
Lacombe (entr. Stade Rennais)

Out

Licata (AJ Auxerre)
Bolivar (Internacional Porto Alegre, BRE)
Vargas (f.c.)
Adu (f.c.)
Ricardo (entr.)

MONTPELLIER HSC

In

Girard (entr.)
Dernis (AS Saint-Etienne)
Pitau (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard)
Jeunechamp (OGC Nice)
Spahic (Lokomotiv Moscou, RUS)

Out

Bocaly (OM, r.p.)
Sabo (OM, r.p.)
Carotti (arrêt)
Ouadah (f.c.)
Deruda (f.c.)
Armand (Clermont Foot, p.)
Lippini (f.c.)

AS NANCY LORRAINE

In

Alo'o Efoulou (Angers SCO)
Ca (Tours FC)
Lemaître (SM Caen)
B.Traoré (Amiens SC)
Lotiès (Dijon FCO)
Camerling (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
Calvé (FC Lorient, r.p.)

Out

N'Guémo (Celtic, ECO, p.)
Fortuné (Celtic, ECO)
Adjet (Tours FC)

OGC NICE

In

Poté (Clermont Foot)
Quartey (Kaizer Chiefs, AFS)
Mabiala (PSG)
Gaze (FC Rodez, r.p.)
Ollé-Nicolle (entr.)

Out

Rool (OM)
Kanté (Panathinaïkos, GRE)
Jeunechamp (Montpellier HSC)
Yahia (RC Lens)
Modeste (Angers SCO, p.)
Antonetti (entr.)

PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN

In

Erding (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard)
Coupet (Atlético Madrid, ESP)
Jallet (FC Lorient)
Sankharé (Stade de Reims, r.p.)
Ngoyi (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
Boli (Havre AC, r.p.)
Baning (Grenoble Foot 38, r.p.)
Grondin (Valenciennes FC)
Kombouaré (entr., Valenciennes FC)

Out

Landreau (LOSC)
Souza (Gremio, BRE, t.d.)
Mulumbu (West Bromwich, ANG)
Charbonnier (Angers SCO)
Mabiala (OGC Nice)
Le Guen (entr.)

RENNES

In

Bangoura (Dynamo Kiev, UKR)
Inamoto (Eintracht Francfort, ALL)
Katongo (LB Châteauroux, r.p.)
Doumbia (LB Châteauroux)
Moreira (Grenoble Foot 38, r.p.)
Badiane (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
Bru (Clermont Foot, r.p.)
Antonetti (entr.)

Out

M'Bia (OM)
Wiltord (f.c.)
Sorlin (PAOK Salonique, GRE, t.d.)
Borne (US Boulogne CO)
Lasimant (CS Sedan, p.)
Esteban (Servette, SUI, p.)
Brahimi (Clermont Foot, p.)
Dembélé (US Boulogne CO, p.)
Lacombe (entr.)

AS SAINT-ETIENNE

In

Fernandes (Manchester City, ANG)
Planté (SM Caen)
Sako (LB Châteauroux)
Faye (Tours FC, r.p.)
Moulin (AC Arles, r.p.)
Houri (AC Arles, r.p.)

Out

Matsui (Grenoble Foot 38)
Machado (FC Porto, r.p.)
Dernis (Montpellier HSC)
Viviani (Grenoble Foot 38)
Nilsson (Vitesse Arnhem, P-B, t.d.)

FC SOCHAUX

In

Davies (Hammarby IF, SUE)
Stefanovic (Partizan Belgrade, SER)
Bréchet (PSV, P-B)
Yenza Yamissi (Nîmes Olympique)
K.Traoré (RC Strasbourg, r.p.)
Mathis (EA Guingamp, r.p.)
Sène (EA Guingamp, r.p.)
Perisic (Roulers, BEL, r.p.)

Out

Erding (PSG)
Birsa (AJ Auxerre, t.d.)
Santos (f.c.)
Pitau (Montpellier HSC)
Mézague (Vannes OC)
Daf (f.c.)
Afolabi (f.c.)
Gavanon (f.c.)
Isabey (Dijon FCO)
Prévitali (FC Gueugnon)
Pichot (RC Strasbourg)
El Bounadi (f.c.)
O.Thomas (f.c.)
K.Traoré (SM Caen, p.)

TOULOUSE FC

In

Pelé (Le Mans UC 72)
Luan (Sao Caetano, BRE)
Machado (FC Porto, POR)
Nounkeu (FC Pau, CFA)
Devaux (US Boulogne CO)
Dupuis (Rodez, r.p.)

Out

Carrasso (FCG Bordeaux)
Mathieu (Valence FC, ESP)
Fort (Arminia Bielefeld, ALL)
Bergougnoux (f.c.)
Ouasfane (Angers SCO)

VALENCIENNES FC

In

R.Gomis (SM Caen)
Ben Khalfallah (SM Caen)
Cohade (RC Strasbourg)
Martinez (Stade de Reims, r.p.)
Khiter (Vannes OC, r.p.)
Montanier (entr. US Boulogne CO)

Out

Belmadi (f.c.)
Darcheville (f.c.)
Grondin (f.c.)
Jeovanio (f.c.)
Grondin (PSG)
Kombouaré (entr.)

BB Bob

28-07-2009, 10:26 AM

Champions triumph in Canada
Bordeaux have made the ideal start to the fledgling season as the Ligue 1 champions beat Guingamp 2-0 in Montreal's Olympic Stadium on Saturday to retain the Champions Trophy.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

FC Girondins de Bordeaux / EA Guingamp : 2 - 0

Fernando Cavenaghi's strike shortly before half-time and Fernando's close-range effort in second-half stoppage time saw Laurent Blanc's men match last year's triumph over Lyon in the traditional curtain-raiser to the Ligue 1 season, which was being played outside of France for the first time.

Undoubtedly wary of succumbing to a similar fate as fellow Ligue 2 side Vannes in last April's League Cup final, where the Breton club found themselves three goals down after just 12 minutes, French Cup winners Guingamp began briskly.

Victor Zvunka's men dictated play without threatening significantly even if Cédric Carrasso was called upon to cut out a menacing cross with Sébastien Grax lurking with intent.

Incisive

With Bordeaux newboy Jaroslav Plasil, who was placed on the right of midfield for his Girondins' debut, not yet on the same wavelength as his team-mates, the champions' most promising openings came on the opposite flank where Benoît Tremoulinas and Wendel showed the summer break had done little to diminish the understanding they had developed so fruitfully last season.

It was the former who was at the heart of the incisive move that saw Blanc's men go ahead seven minutes before the break in Quebec.

Released by a measured ball from Marc Planus, Tremoulinas found the unmarked Cavenaghi just inside the box, and the Argentine striker whipped a low shot past Stéphane Trevisan.

Trevisan was then forced to race off his line to smother a ball destined for Marouane Chamakh as Bordeaux upped the pace, and the Ligue 1 side would have found themselves with a two-goal half-time cushion had Yoann Gourcuff not snatched impetuously at a chance created by a lofted pass from Wendel that had left the Guingamp back four flat-footed.

Sizeable crowd

The sizeable crowd packed inside the Olympic Stadium, many of whom were decked in the blue shirts of the French national side, were to see much less goalmouth action in a second-half punctuated by several changes in personnel on both sides.

Chamakh, who has declared his desire to quit the Stade Chaban-Delmas and pursue his career in England, thought he had doubled his side's advantage with ten minutes remaining, but the Moroccan international's effort was ruled out by an assistant referee's flag.

However, with the game creeping into stoppage time, Fernando ensured Les Girondins would leave Quebec with the prize, touching home after the ball had ricocheted kindly when a Gourcuff free-kick struck a post.

BB Bob

28-07-2009, 10:29 AM

Some other shorts:-

Govou commits to Lyon

Lyon’s French international winger Sidney Govou has ended speculation about his future by pledging to extend his contract at the club.
The 30-year-old forward, whose current contract expires in June 2010, featured in each of Lyon's seven title-winning seasons between 2002 and 2007, but had hinted that he was ready to move on.

"The problem is that I stand to lose too much if I leave," Govou told L'Equipe. "I love Lyon and I am loved here."

Mother knows best

Govou, who missed much of the second half of last season with an Achilles problem, admitted that he had contemplated life at a different club.

"I'm at Lyon and I'm looking for something better," he said. "But I'm not going to go to Real Madrid or Barcelona. After, I looked at the list of big European clubs and I compared them [to Lyon]. Doing better is difficult, but doing worse would be easy! As my mother said: 'You're happy there, stay happy there'."

'I'll fight for my place'

Govou also said that he was not concerned by Lyon's reported interest in their former striker Loïc Rémy, who left the Stade Gerland for Nice in the summer of 2008.

"If he wants to take my place it won't be easy, because I'm going to fight to play," he said.

____________________________

Lens draws perturb Demont

Lens defender Yohan Demont says he is concerned by the number of draws his side have notched up in pre-season.
Last season's Ligue 2 champions drew 1-1 at home to Nice on Saturday, having previously been held by Lyon (2-2) and fellow top-flight new boys Boulogne-sur-Mer (0-0).

"We're missing something in our play," said the 31-year-old wing-back. "We have to change our approach and our mentality, and quickly."

'Almost laughable'

Lens, French champions in 1998, begin the new season at Bordeaux on August 8 and Demont says his teammates must step up their preparations ahead of their clash with the title-holders.

"The championship will soon be upon us and tiredness isn't an excuse," he said.

"It's not good enough. We've been almost laughable. In one-on-one battles, we're not there at all. We have to sort things out quickly."

_________________________________

OM pounce for Morientes, Abriel

Marseille have reached agreements over the signings of former Spain international striker Fernando Morientes and Lorient midfielder Fabrice Abriel.
Both players agreed personal terms at the club on Monday and are scheduled to be presented to the media on Tuesday.

Experienced goalscorer Morientes, 33, will be reunited with Didier Deschamps, having played a key role in Monaco's surprise run to the Champions League final under the Frenchman in 2004.

'Great for Ligue 1'

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Valencia frontman, who scored 27 goals in 47 games for Spain, is expected to sign for two years on a free transfer and Deschamps was quick to dismiss concerns about his age.

"He's still in good physical shape and has the desire to play at the highest level," said the OM boss. "I have no concerns."

Deschamps added: "[Alessandro] Del Piero [of Juventus] and [Filippo] Inzaghi [of Milan] have scored crucial goals at the age of 35. I know that he won't play 40 matches for 90 minutes. We'll have to prepare him.

"He won't be ready straight away but it's another option and a great addition to Ligue 1."

Mr Versatility

Abriel, who played for Paris Saint-Germain, Amiens and Guingamp before joining Lorient in 2006, is reported to have cost €2.5 million and has signed a three-year contract.

"In midfield he can play deep, higher up, on the flanks and he can adapt to many systems," said Deschamps of the 30-year-old.

"He has even played as a secondary striker. Technically he has few weaknesses, which enables him to play in a number of positions."
____________________________________

BB Bob

29-07-2009, 07:23 PM

A lovely quote in l'equipe today from Francis Gillot, the coach at Sochaux and formerly coach at Lens.

<<Chaque année, c'est pareil: un mois de vacances, un mois de préparation et, après, tout le monde est dans la merde.>>

which loosely translates as

"Every year it's the same thing: one month of holidays, one month of preparation and then everyone is in the shit"

Sentiments that are shared, I am sure, by a Monsieur Warnock of SE25.....

kabbott

29-07-2009, 08:46 PM

While I was back in GB there wasn't much news of French transfers, so I was glad, when I got back, to read that Lyon had signed both Bastos and Cisshoko (?). However all is not well pre-season at Lyon. They haven't been scoring much in their games etc etc. And, according to L'Equipe, Cris is upset about not getting the captain's armband rather than Govou, and is talking about going elsewhere, maybe at the end of next season.
Lyon need to get off to a good start, otherwise Puel, and by the same token Président Aulas, who defends Puel wholeheartedly, will be under serious pressure.

kabbott

30-07-2009, 08:56 AM

Today's news:

Lyon have now signed Batéfimbi Gomis from St Etienne. There was a time not so long ago that those two sides wouldn't do business together. How times have changed! Hard to believe that Gomis will be taking a cut in wages to come to Lyon. He left 'cos his big-wage presence was causing unrest in the changing rooms at ASSE.
Now it would appear that Lyon are going for another forward, Güiza, who was at Fenerbahce last season and who scored 27 goals in the Liga two years ago.
Bodmer has decided, once and for all, to drop back into the centre of the defence and make that spot permanent.

Bordeaux have signed Ciani, a pretty good central defender, so I think they've solved their defensive problems.

Marseille's new star signing, Lucho Gonzalez, has broken his collarbone and will be out for at least six weeks. This happened in their friendly against ASSE which they won 1:0.

PSG are on form. They beat Fiorentina 0:3 in a friendly with new signing Erding getting his first goal for the club.

BB Bob

30-07-2009, 09:02 AM

A good interview in L'equipe yesterday with Laurent Blanc looking at the strength in depth of Bordeaux, OM & OL. Looks like it could be a close season if these teams and PSG fulfil their potential. In the end, it may come down to management. If that is the case, the jury is out over Puel, Deschamps is back from a long-ish layoff and Kombouaré is making a big step up from Valenciennes. Bordeaux have managed to keep the core of their squad pretty much together, but if Chamakh goes before the end of the window, it could hurt them.

Haven't read today's yet! Vive les vacances, hein?

kabbott

30-07-2009, 09:12 AM

Haven't read today's yet! Vive les vacances, hein?

Come end of July L'Equipe is a little on the thin side, just like it is around Christmas time. OK, there's pre-season footy stuff with good low-downs on the football squads, ins and outs etc, but that's about it. No cycling for example and the swimming championships have become a parody of sport. With a little polyurethane I could probably win the 50m doggy paddle and break the world record to boot.

kabbott

30-07-2009, 10:27 PM

Blimey, now Marseille have bought Heinze. OK a bit of a thug on the park, but I'd rather have him with me than against.

BB Bob

01-08-2009, 08:42 PM

Coupe de la Ligue

Round 1 and already Philsick has got something to smile about...

Not a lot of smiling in Strasbourg and Nantes though!

Saturday, August 01, 2009 1st Round

Dijon FCO 2 - 0 Stade Brestois
Tours FC 2 - 1 Havre AC
Angers SCO 0 - 1 Nîmes Olympique
FC Metz 1 - 0 SC Bastia
FC Istres 6 - 1 RC Strasbourg
Châteauroux 0 - 1 Clermont Foot
ESTAC 4 - 0 FC Nantes
AC Ajaccio 2 - 1 Stade Lavallois
Amiens SC 1 - 1 Vannes (Vannes on pens)

BB Bob

02-08-2009, 07:00 PM

Pre-season: OM, Nice on song, PSG falter

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0809_nice_bordeaux_kante_remy_l1_mono.jpg

Some of Ligue 1’s biggest names signed off their pre-season campaigns on Saturday, and while there were impressive wins for Marseille and Nice, Paris Saint-Germain lost their unbeaten pre-season record against Rangers.

Lens 0-2 Marseille

Marseille consigned Lens to their first pre-season defeat with a 2-0 victory in front of nearly 36,000 fans at the Stade Félix Bollaert.

Having been second-best for much of the first half, Didier Deschamps's men struck early in the second period when new signing Fabrice Abriel set up Brandão for the opener.

Another new boy, Cameroon international midfielder Stéphane Mbia, made the game safe in the 74th minute after being introduced as a half-time substitute.

After the match, Marseille sporting director José Anigo distanced himself from reports linking Brazilian forward Brandão with a move away from the club to make way for Spanish striker Dani Guïza.

"There are agents who spread rumours," he said. "Didier and I were surprised when we read that and also by the suggestion that Brandão could leave."

Lens: Runje – Ramos, Yahda, Chelle, Demont (Laurenti, 56) – Kovačević, Hermach, Jemâa (Milovanović, 76), Boukari – Dindane (Monnet-Paquet, 70), Eduardo

Marseille: Mandana – Kaboré, Rodriguez (Mbia, 46), Diawara, Taiwo – Cissé, Cheyrou, Abriel – Brandão (Valbuena, 82), Niang, Koné (Ben Arfa, 70)

Nice 3-0 Genoa

Nice produced a superb performance to prevail against last season's surprise package in Serie A, who finished fifth in Italian football's top flight.

Les Aiglons weathered early pressure from the visitors before Tunisian midfielder Chaouki Ben Saada lobbed them into the lead shortly before the hour mark.

Within five minutes it was all over, with Loïc Rémy (pictured) demonstrating that his aborted return to former club Lyon has not affected his focus by quickly snaring a well-taken double (60 and 62) to wrap up an eye-catching victory.

Nice: Ospina (Letizi, 71) - Diakité (Coulibaly, 71), Mabiala, Cid (Cantareil, 71), Paisley - Echouafni (Bagayoko, 71), Sablé, Traoré (Ben Saada, 31), Hellebuyck - Bamogo (Poté, 71), Rémy (Mouloungui, 65)

Rangers 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain

A second-half header from Rangers defender Majid Bougherra was enough to consign PSG to their first defeat of pre-season at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in London.

New striker Mevlut Erding, a €10 million signing from Sochaux, spurned a host of first-half chances for the Parisians, who found themselves on the back foot for much of the first period.

Kyle Lafferty sounded a warning of Rangers' set-piece threat when he thudded a header against the post early in the second half and with 14 minutes to play Bougherra lost his marker before beating Grégory Coupet with a header that bounced into the net off the crossbar.

Jérôme Rothen produced a lively showing for the Ligue 1 side, but PSG coach Antoine Kombouaré said the France international winger had yet to decide on his future.

"He has the cards in his hand," said Kombouaré. "It's only for him that the situation is complicated, because he has to decide whether he wants to stay or go."

PSG: Coupet – Jallet, Sahko, Bourillon, Sankhare – Arnaud, Makelele, Chantôme, Rothen – Erding (Boli, 73), Maurice

Valenciennes 0-0 Rennes

Rennes coach Frédéric Antonetti was frustrated after seeing his side extend their winless pre-season run to four matches with a goalless draw at Valenciennes.

Les Rouges et Noirs, who finished seventh in Ligue 1 last term, dominated for long periods without being able to transform their territorial advantage into goals.

"We should have been 2-0 up at half-time," said Antonetti, whose team begin their Ligue 1 campaign at home to new boys Boulogne-sur-Mer next weekend.

Valenciennes: Penneteau – Tiéné (Bong, 46), Abardonado (Traoré, 85), Gomis, Mater – Sánchez – Ben Khalfallha, Cohade, Saez (Bangoura, 46), Danic – Pieroni (Pujol, 60)

Rennes: Douchez – Danzé, Mangane, Hansson, Bocanegra (Fanni, 60) – Lemoine (Inamoto, 60), Cheyrou – Bangoura (Sow, 60), Leroy, Marveaux (Pagis, 75) – Gyan (Kembo-Ekoko, 60)

Davies debut

American striker Charlie Davies made his bow for Sochaux in a 1-0 victory over Saint-Etienne. The 23-year-old failed to score on his debut but showed glimpses of his pace and power, before his Czech strike partner Václav Svěrkoš netted the winner 10 minutes from time.

Mathieu Coutadeur put transfer speculation linking him with a move to either Monaco or Lens behind him to inspire Le Mans to a 3-1 win against Greek outfit Panthrakikos. The midfielder had a hand in two goals as his side recorded their fourth win in six friendly matches.

Elsewhere, Auxerre overcame Nancy by two goals to one, while Boulogne recorded a 3-1 victory over a Union of Professional Football Players (UNFP) representative side.