The unified Everybody Hates Raymond thread

Well, let me say that I've never thought I would feel this way. France have qualified for the WC and I'm not the least bit happy. France were pathetic in every way today, right down to the way that they eventually scored the goal that would "hand" them the ticket to south africa.

If Domench isnt replaced before the WC I will be forced to root for a different team, because quite simply France dont deserve to be there.

Had the FFF rightly replaced him after the disasterous euro, France and Henry wouldn't be in this position. I'm ashamed of Henry, but at the same time I think desperation had taken hold of all the players today in Paris. The team was being booed and the players didnt know what to do. They dont know how to play as a team and had no game strategy today.

For the players and Henry, it must have been an unbearable situation. Im not trying to defend his actions because I think what he did was wrong. he cheated. But I can kind of understand WHY he did it. I think a lot of players in his position would have done the same thing. To qualify or not to qualify - that is the question.

I would support Ireland's decision for an appeal to FIFA if they decide to go that route. They were done wrong today.

At the end of the day, I think any other coach would have gotten France qualified LEGITIMATELY. So for me, I cannot stand to have him stay on as coach and continue to support the team during the campaign.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

This is exactly how I feel right now .

Remember , we lost this game 0-1 in normal time . Everything about this qualification is horrible . The performance was the worst I've seen in a long time , Ireland deserved their gol and was unlucky on different occassions not to increase it .

Then the gol we score is bad , very bad .

Domenech has his ass saved again , as long as he's coach we'll lose our 3 games next year for sure .

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

you could even argue that with a different coach and in the exact same situation that Henry wouldnt have handled the ball the way he did.

Domenech is a cynical coach. He told his team to play cynical football today, to park the bus and defend at home. And when Keane scored it put the players in a terrible position. And the cynical attitude of the coach led to a cynical play by Henry.

The tragedy here is that the cynicism will probably spiral out of control because the WC is already marred. If the players continue to cheat noone will say they were surprised because thats just what the French do.

I fear that there has been a seismic shift in perception about Les Bleus now. France was always perceived as a "classy" and "attacking" side. We used to be the good guys.

Now Domenech has ruined that, just like how George W ruined the USA's image abroad. Now we just try to win ugly. Domenech's words after the game about how this was a victory for everyone that loves good football was sickening.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

now that russia has been eliminated, france should hire hiddink asap. domenech must go.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

As much as it pains me to say, I believe you're right. I agree with the what you say in the above quote, I liked the way you phrased it, and I think the comparison with Bush is pertinent.

However, I can't disagree more with your decision of not supporting Les Bleus anymore because of Domenech. See below.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

I'll try to make my story as short as I can.

In 1996, I said about the same thing to a friend as we were planning our trip to England to go follow Les Bleus for the Euro in England. Only instead of Domenech, it was Jacquet. I couldn't stand the guy--he reeked of mediocrity; his tactical choices were highly questionable; and worse, he had decided to leave both Cantona and Ginola at home--Canto and Gino, the most brilliant players France had at the time...

My friend and I still went to England, but we went as the leaders of a small group of anti-Jacquet supporters. We had banners ("Jacquet must go - We need Canto and Gino"), we were interviewed by the British media and even made it into the pages of L'Equipe Magazine. We were still rooting for Les Bleus, but barely--I didn't take much joy in their victories and I knew I wouldn't be too upset when they'd finally lose.

I went back home empty after the semifinal against the Czechs--empty, not because we had lost, but because in a way, I had wanted that loss to happen... I just felt sad: for the first time in my life, I wasn't behind Les Bleus 100%, and that had taken away so much of my enjoyment of the tournament.

And here, I should probably stop to explain that I don't have a favorite club team. As a "banlieue" kid, I had a rooting interest in PSG--I went to quite a few games at the Parc des Princes, but I never really got into them. My team was Les Bleus. I waited for their games with so much more anticipation than PSG's, the posters I had in my room as a kid were always of players wearing the France jersey... L'Equipe de France was my life and passion. It started in 1976 with the infamous Bulgaria-France ("Monsieur Foote, vous êtes un salaud") that I watched at my grandparents' apartment in Paris; it continued in the early to mid-eighties (not too hard to be a France fan then), and to my own surprise strayed strong throughout the lean years (1986-1996).

So now, it's 1998 and we're ready to host the World Cup. I still hold a major grudge against Jacquet, but it's time to let go. I decide to throw myself unconditionally behind Les Bleus again, I feel good about it, Jacquet means nothing... You know what happened next.

Domenech isn't Jacquet, I understand. We probably have more legitimate reasons to dislike him than I did Jacquet 12-13 years ago. This time though, I will not let my feelings for one individual (even if that individual is the manager of the team) ruin it for me. I am a France fan, a die-hard fan, I stand by them, I take the good the bad and the ugly and will do so forever--and if the ugly has grey hear and a unibrow, so be it.

ALLEZ LES BLEUS EN AFRIQUE DU SUD!!!

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Yea exactly. I'm in for the long haul with this team. I don't care care If they appoint Satan as head manager tomorrow, I am a les bleus man. Manager or handball be damned. That being said, I really wish Titi hadn't done this, I was already set to miss out on the cup. My favorite player, it is a shame.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Not like this. Not like this.

Of course I will support them, no matter what, but it won't be easy.

What a terrible day.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

I wont go as far as rooting against them. I couldnt. I tried in 2008. I tried to convince myself that I was rooting for Spain. But it didnt work. But Im not setting my expectations as high. I, however highly doubt Domenech is going to go. Definetly not now.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Terrible day? France is going to the World Cup. They did what it took to get there. Bad/missed calls happen every game. Leaders Henry and Gallas were there to capitalize. Ireland had their opportunity to overcome the missed call.

Domenech must go though.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Exactly. I waited for this day for months, to celebrate.

And I just could not do it.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Fuck Domenech ! Go France !

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Not everything that happened yesterday was Domenech fault. But yet again, the very negative attitude of the team, the inhibition that was so spectacularly displayed are matters in which Ray's management is very much concerned.

So no, he's not completely dumb, he's not completely nul but he's still quite not simply up to the task and his management, his personality or whatever emanates from him seems to impair Les Bleus big time...

I could copy and paste what I said for the last WC. If it clicks it can work but God knows -and certainly not Raymond- what will trigger that...

BTW some players mostly the younger ones really crumbled under the pressure and that's pretty concerning when heading towards the WC final phase...

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Guess you're against us


Raymond Domenech Will Lead France In South Africa – French FA Vice President
A poor qualifying campaign has not been enough to oust Domenech, who will take charge of les Bleus in the summer...

Nov 19, 2009 3:31:05 PM

France may have qualified for the World Cup in controversial and wholly unconvincing style, but that will not stop Raymond Domenech leading them to South Africa in the summer.

Vice-president for the French FA (FFF) Noel Le Graet has confirmed the association’s intention to see out their promise of giving the unpopular trainer the opportunity to guide les Bleus to glory on the world stage.

Speaking to radio station RTL, he indicated, “There is no problem with Domenech. He will be maintained and I have great respect for him.

“He is courageous to lead this team in a difficult atmosphere, which he may be responsible for in terms of his communication. But he has put in place a strong staff and he loves his players.

“Obviously he will head the team of France in the World Cup, firstly because he has a contract and then because a coach who qualifies his team will obviously be on the bench in South Africa.”

This decision, though somewhat inevitable from the pro-Domenech FFF, will not have gone down well amongst supporters of the 1998 World Cup winners.

Les Bleus only limped to South Africa, courtesy of a 1-1 draw after extra-time against Ireland in midweek.

Interestingly, had France recorded a victory on Wednesday night, Domenech would have become the joint most successful coach of his nation in terms of matches won. Only Michel Hidalgo, who won 41 of his 75 games in charge, has claimed more triumphs than Domenech, who has succeeded in 40 of 72 games to date.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Which is down to the coach , our team just looks like they have no ideas , there's no direction + Yoann looked extremely nervous out there !! We also have no real leaders on the field .

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

I've never seen Henry as captain material either , I believe at Arsenal when he was captain things went wrong , he gave team-mates cold looks whenever a bad pass was made .

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

there is no other choice. the team needs someone who is experienced and consistent. viera hadly in the team anymore because of injuries. govou, we all know how he is. gallas maybe. idk about ribery

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Gallas is really the only boss we have on the pitch nowadays. That's probably why he's the defacto vicecaptain. Ribery might be a voice in the locker room, but on the pitch I'm not so sure. If only Pat was still fit, how different this team would look. I'm not going to blame Giganc's and Gourcuff's failings on the manager. They failed, looks bewildered and out of their depths, when we needed them the most. They gonna have to bring much more to South Africa.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Apart from Lloris who else had a good game ? None in my opinion . If you're expecting a young Gourcuff to drive the whole team forward then you're going to be disappointed . Gignac was bad because he wasn't getting any support , just like the 1st game in Ireland .

When a team is not sure what roles they're suppose to be playing there's no hope . We don't play as a team . Again , you have two of our defenders getting into eachothers way heading the ball ( which resulted in Escudé breaking his nose ) . Seriously how many times have this happend ? Why hasn't anything been done about that ?

The defence is a nightmare .

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

I thought Anelka had a good game, and Gallas was pretty strong aside from a missed tackle in the first that almost led to a goal. But come on, unsure of their roles? Gourcuff and Giganc are playing the same exact roles for their clubs as they were yesterday. What do they need Ray to say to them. 'Yoyo don't pass the ball around like an idiot'. 'Giganc your the pointman, come back with the ball and link up with your wideman'. They knew what they had to do, and they came up short.

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

I'm talking about the whole team , they're not sure what they're suppose to be doing ( that's what it looks like anyway ) for example I see Henry and Anelka as deep as Lassana . Most of the time Gignac had no support to link up with ..

BTW , does your sig suppose to mean 'epic fail' no ?

Re: If Domenech stays, I will root against France

Getting back to the original topic, i hear that the Irish FA is going to ask FIFA for a replay of the game. This will probably be rejected, UNLESS, the FFF also says that they would support that.

I will give Domenech another chance to win back my support - if he publicly comes out in support of a replay, or a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the game, then I will say that he deserves to keep his job.