L1: vs. Monaco (R)

[MetroChile]

Hopefully, the boys bounce back stronger than ever after 2 straight losses (@ V'ciennes and @ R. Madrid). The defense needs to tighten up and Lucho needs to pick up his game.
The game will be shown live for those of us in the 'States, via Setanta Sports. :cool:

[SportBoy333]

I always look forward to this match. I really think Ben Arfa or Valbuena should start to try to shake things up a bit.

[MetroChile]

What team do you like from France, SportBoy? :)

[zizouForlife]

we lost again losing momentum at this stage isn't good. its what killed us last season. either Om needs more time to get used to their new formation or ligue 1 is looking more competative

[guignol]

once again lucho gonzalez very very pale (although he definitely had company this time).

the take didi deschamps has had on him all the while though is puzzling. here's what he said yesterday (my translation):

"I don't think he's out of shape. he's been alternately good and less good. but with the talent he has, he's going to inevitably get better. he needs to be in a team that plays well to be good. He's a player who depends on the movement of his teammates and the relationship he has with them. you have to give him time."

so now it's his teammates fault that he's stunk... errr, excuse me, that he's alternately been "less good" so far this season... i'm sure niang, cheyrou and m'bia appreciate that!

what is deschamps, his agent or something? anybody want to postulate on what eric gerets would be saying in the same situation?

[SportBoy333]

I'm a Monaco fan but a L1 fan first and foremost and I enjoy talking about all the teams.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

He's defending his record signing so he doesn't seem like a fool for spending so much money on him. I would tend to agree with Didi on top of it. I'm not gonna really judge this guy this after the winter break. If he still sucks then, big waste of money.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

I just watched the extended highlights of this match and it looked like Ben Arfa was involved in every dangerous oppertunity OM had in the second half. Can someone who watched it rate his performance?

[guignol]

he sent in niang for the goal iirc. he had one of his HBA™ incursions along the endline: three defenders in the dust and no solution at the end. other than that i don't really remember anything.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Haha love the trademark symbol. He seemed to put some very dangerous balls into the box from the right side. I don't remember if they were from corners or freekicks.

[SportBoy333]

He shouldnt have to defend the Lucho signing. Everyone agrees it was a great signing. The French media are just looking to cause trouble. He needs more time to adapt to a new country, language, culture and style of play.