Why won't Ray just stick with Coupet??????

[guignol]

Coupet was awesome against Nantes, yes. He did several excellent games, especially in the beginning to middle of the season. He did a very average end of season. If the WC was to be played in december 2005, Coupet should have been the n°1. But the WC is played in june and I sincerely think that Barthez is the best choice.i agree with your appreciation of coupet's finish to the season, he clearly lost a huge lead in the race for germany. i still don't see that barthez proved himself better.

I remenber Ireland-France... it was a really slow paced Ireland-France. Coupet didn't have a lot to do on this game, no saves, several easy to normal aerial interventions (but very well done). Nothing extraordinary. Barthez is IMHO way better when it comes to aerial and "in the feet" interventions. it's clearly a matter of personal recollection, but i felt that coupet's control of the airspace around his goal was crucial against a team like ireland. some of those grabs were anything but easy. barthez is more of a reflex keeper, but his aerial game to me looks like howler upon howler.

since you mention feet, barthez is a much better kicker, both under pressure and with time,


Oh yeah, I'm sure that Coupet is a very good leader with Lyon. And I'm sure that Barthez is a very good leader with the french defenders. i'm not talking about leading but communication, and i've remarked some errors on barthez' part in the last couple of matches. coupet's importance as team leader will never work with les bleus, the spirit isn't there, he'd just be laughed at.

Let's get real : the press is clearly anti-Barthez and pro-Coupet since several months.he makes their job easy. one is odious, the other is "a good customer" as they say.

Players who voted for the best goalkeeper award of this season clearly choose the most press-pebliscited : of the 4 Bracigliano did the best season IMHO. Coupet was the most well-known, but he didn't do a better season than Pelé for example. Or Ramé...BTW they weren't allowed to vote Barthez because he did only a half season this year (and the first matches were average at best).in head-to-head polls among players, and there was more than one, coupet beat barthez every time, by scores around 80%>20%. the players may not be any more impartial than the fans, but when you say things like pelé being as good as coupet, you lose all hope of looking impartial. i work with lots of folks from le mans and go there regularly, and i can assure you that not even the wildest eyed MUC fan would say such a thing. i only saw pelé three times this year, but he looked more like a liability than a UNLP trophywinner.

[gabisu no ken]

I'm not talking about Pelé being as good as Coupet ! He's a very talented young player, not an experimented international goalkeeper. I'm talking about the whole "who did the best L1 season thing"

Do you think that Pelé is better than Barthez? I mean he's in the 4 UNFP goalkeepers list and not Fabien. IMHO he's not better, but did a very good season, especially for such a young player.

[guignol]

yes, your pointy is well taken, the UNFP list is political, pelé over itandje, rivault, janot... nonsensical.

but that doesn't lead to saying coupet didn't, once again, put them all in the shade.

[Psychosis hsv]

i read on the bbc where the reporter was saying its stupid and idiocy to play barthez ahead of coupet. he also saw no need of france still having players like Thuram, Zidane on the squad

[sl7vk]

i read on the bbc where the reporter was saying its stupid and idiocy to play barthez ahead of coupet. he also saw no need of france still having players like Thuram, Zidane on the squad

No need for Thuram and Zidane?

In that case we would be watching Ireland at the World Cup this summer instead of France.

[Psychosis hsv]

No need for Thuram and Zidane?

In that case we would be watching Ireland at the World Cup this summer instead of France.
then they must have really helped you in the qualifiers. so, who don't you like in the french team?

[sl7vk]

then they must have really helped you in the qualifiers. so, who don't you like in the french team?

Where do I start? First I'd love to see Coupet over Barthez. Then there are the disasters known as Boumsong and Silvestre on the backline. Uggg... Boumsong being the most bizarre call up I've ever seen? The guy is aweful. Silvestre has improved, but he's still Silvestre.... Always willing to hack down an opposing player in his own box.

Then there is Dhorasoo, nice player, but not to the level we need. I would have preferred any number of amid's over him.

Hopefully all these stiffs will be on the bench the majority of the world cup.... With the exception to this being Barthez.

[Psychosis hsv]

i agree about boumsong and silvestre, silvestre worst moment came in c.league final some years back when he was moved in side out by Raul.
Mexes was a good defender when he was in france. how is he now? is he in the squad?

[sl7vk]

i agree about boumsong and silvestre, silvestre worst moment came in c.league final some years back when he was moved in side out by Raul.
Mexes was a good defender when he was in france. how is he now? is he in the squad?

No. Many argue that he should have been called up and I certainly would have preferred him to Boumson. Mexes had a very good year for Roma last year.

[guignol]

i read on the bbc where the reporter was saying its stupid and idiocy to play barthez ahead of coupet. he also saw no need of france still having players like Thuram, Zidane on the squadclearly the zizou and tutu of the last couple of matches weren't much use. but we may see different ones in germany. at least i hope so :o

[gabisu no ken]

Well they really give balance and confidence to the team. And without Zidane's come back, no Makelele.