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

[Allez Lyonnais]

Just take a look at neighboring Germany. Klinsi made his decision to drop Kahn and publicly appointed Lehmann the No.1 keeper in WC. Lehmann is playing better football at this moment, so he gets the spot.

I just can't understand why Ray is still fancying Barthez. Coupet has been exceptional all season long and he really deserves to play in Germany. Don't you think? The best player plays, how simple is that??? Why is this so hard for Mr. Domenech to get it???

[Nanbawan]

If he made this choice, in his mind there likely are two reasons : experience with the team and experience in the competition. I also think that in the french squad, there's no definite #1 or #2 at the moment, so whatever is the situation today, it can quickly change on the pitch IMO.

[sl7vk]

Raymundo is a dumbass.

How about giving Escude a look at left back?

[guignol]

i gave him a look last night, and even against a boro squad that runs like molasses he was... left back! :p

[navid90]

you guys would all be saying the same about barthez if barthez was playing for lyon... barthez is better than coupet and has MORE experience which is a necesity for goalkeeper in such tournament.

[danny_mac3]

you guys would all be saying the same about barthez if barthez was playing for lyon... barthez is better than coupet and has MORE experience which is a necesity for goalkeeper in such tournament.

I would expect nothing less from a Marseille fan. :) But hey, I'm just glad Ribery was chosen.

[guignol]

you guys would all be saying the same about barthez if barthez was playing for lyon... barthez is better than coupet and has MORE experience which is a necesity for goalkeeper in such tournament.for the first part, you're hasty; i accept that govou or rvr weren't selected... they just haven't been sharp recently.

but greg's case is different. he's been voted best keeper in L1 four straight seasons, and just this weekend he showed why. he was GREAT! meanwhile barthez just plods through with OM, to the point they've decided to go with carrasso next year. of course barthez has experience. he even one a world cup... last century! of course he also got eliminated from a WC in the qualifying rounds...

and his recent club experience in "big" matches isn't exactly reassuring... like the UEFA cup final where he mortgaged OM's chances with a useless RC, or turning into a passoire against bolton... the last couple of years he's been a pale imitation of himself, but of course in june it's his experience that's going to help us...

barthez is better than coupet in ONE area: his kicking game. for all the rest there's simply no comparison. but barthez has one other big advantage: his old pals that twisted domenech's arm. i'm just disgusted! :mad:

[ilv2]

one thing some people in the french press have said to defend barthez is his element of "genius." Frankly, that's utter shit. Coupet is as brilliant Barthez and has shown it on the highest levels with consistency and class. W/ respect to attitude, barthez spends his games sulking whereas Coupet is always involved, directing his defenders etc. (although that may be more a result of their winning)

[guignol]

genius? like getting a red card against loco in the UEFA cup final? like coming out for balls he can't hope to reach and getting trapped like a poussin? like spitting on a ref and missing half a season? if that's genius, hooray for idiocy! :rolleyes:

[guignol]

here's the result of a sport.fr poll...

what thoughts do you have about the list of 23?

Ribéry fully deserves his spot. 16%

N°2 goalkeeper, Coupet is victim of an injustice 61%

Anelka is still blackballed from the NT. 2%

Barthez benefits from his experience in this competition. 9%

Giuly once again misses out on something big. 8%

Pascal Chimbonda, who's he? 4%

294807 votes

[ZiZouTrini]

When I heard that Barthez got the spot instead of Coupet I was literally shocked. Sure Coupet plays with a better squad but I have watched OM all season and Barthez has just not shown the class that Coupet has shown in net. Barthez has his days but Coupet has just been solid all season. How has the French press been taking this?? Are they as shocked as must of the people that I know and people here in this forum? To me, this is the same thing as why raul still starts for Real Madrid. Politics. Been there and done that with the squad so it doesnt matter about your actions or horrible displays or someone much better than you. They still will get the spot. Hopefully it doesnt cause a rift in the locker room and France have a great run, but I am still just dissapointed in the appointment of Barthez as number one.

[Nanbawan]

Are people talking about the same Barthez who was one of the few irreprochable players in Euro 2004 ? Had he shown recently the same form as when he came out of suspension, I'd understand some of the reactions here. I can also understand why people are disappointed for Coupet but the rest is a lil bit exagerated...And I was a Lama fan in 98...

Don't worry, Coupet is not the #2, he's the #1 bis. :p ;)

[Pierre-Henri]

Always the same issue : Barthez is a star, media talk about him, "Voici" publish pictures of his girlfriends, people buy marchandising with his name on it, he does some commercials...

And the other hand, Coupet is just a better goalkeeper. But then, who cares ?

[navid90]

by the looks of this forum i dont even know how barthez scrapped up 31 percent of the votes. everyone but domenech and me hate this guy or what(cant beleieve i said that)? if he hadnt spit on that referee this forum wouldnt even be here

[ilv2]

no, if he merited being tituliare then this forum wouldn't here.

[triplesevn]

Again, I ask why everyone seems to hate Barthez? And this isn't something that just started.

In 98, the country was against him. In 2000, the country was against him. In 2004, the country was against him, and now, in 2006, the same.

Yet, he brought home glory to us, France. He has been considered for years as one of the world's top keepers!

I know Coupet is good but many of you who "recently" switched to Lyon since they began winning, need to stop being so biased.

Barthez has played on a crappy team in which he has been their best player, besides Ribery this season. And he only played half!
I like the fact he had a fire burning deep down inside. Coming off his line in the UEFA Cup was a hard decision to make but he did so. If he hadn't done so, he would still be criticized for not coming out. As for the infamous spitting incident, I don't believe he spat at the ref. I think he spat downwards and the ref took it in a different light. But will never know the actual truth. Barthez just sucked it up and said, I"m gonna take a break and then get back to work. I would have done the same thing.

Coupet needs to leave Lyon and join a new team. A team outside of France. I think that has held him up too. At least Barthez left France for 3 years and played elsewhere. Coupet should have done so.

Anyhow, I think France needs to worry about the future of it's keepers. We shall be so lucky again to have the likes of two great keepers!

Hopefully, Frey will be able to fill in come Euro 2008, unless Coupet is still around....

JMO

[Allez Lyonnais]

Landreau will be the successor, not Frey. That's the logic.

[Nanbawan]

Landreau will be the successor, not Frey. That's the logic.

Depends on who's gonna be Ray's successor also. Itandje might be among the candidates at some point too.

[sl7vk]

Depends on who's gonna be Ray's successor also. Itandje might be among the candidates at some point too.

I really do like Itandje. Wouldn't eve mind seeing a guy like Janot get into the mix.

[navid90]

lets not forget penneteau either