AS Monaco thread [R]

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Dang, Ménez got an opportunity to win it at the end, Gakpé hit the post at around the 75th minute, though in the end, it's a sad result, as despite their being down to 10 men, we couldn't beat them.

It does put an end to our losing streak, but really tbh you can't avoid having a bad taste in your mouth after this one. I mean, we could have even lost this game if Compan's header in the 87th curves inside the post. Our defense isn't reassuring, and if the Ménez-Meriem tandem hadn't showed up today, I don't know what offense we would have had.

Koller, despite being quite good this season, had a bad match. Koller-Piquionne doesn't appear to work as neither appears to want to work with the other. I am starting to think Piquionne could be bench material as Gakpé did well. Pino did well when coming on for Bernardi as well, and why both of them weren't in the starting lineup is a question Ricardo should have to answer.

Full credit to Caen, though, who kept battling and whose defense didn't give in despite being down to 10 men, so one can say that they deserved a point given their resolute defending, along with decent opportunities on the counter (which again, our defense doesn't appear to want to stop).

[SportBoy333]

Well if this was a truely a good team then they would be beating teams like Caen. So you said that Koller and Piquionne didnt work but at least he tried it just to find out. Meriem is a problem and not a solution.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

I have to disagree with that. Meriem's been one of the best players on the roster this season, and he deserves to start as much as anyone not named Ménez. I think something you said before the season began is making sense now, though. That is, Meriem could be effective in Touré's role, that is deeper in midfield, as this way he can get more balls over the top for Ménez/Pino/Gakpé to run after. It worked very well in the Coupe de la Ligue match against Nantes, and it likely would work more often than not if our defense was more solid. Meriem tends to be further up the field at the beginning of games, since Bernardi and Pérez are behind him to do the cleanup work. He's decent then, though he provides better balls when he's deeper in midfield.

Speaking of Coupe de la Ligue, we happen to play Lens on Wednesday, which is Halloween. If I can, I'll try to catch a bit of Lens-Rennes tomorrow because after the Coupe de la Ligue match, we travel to Rennes to go against les Rouges et Noirs. Rennes keeper Simon Pouplin isn't expected to be back from injury by then, so that's a break for us.

[SportBoy333]

We should beat Lens because they probably dont care about the league cup because they are too concerned and focused on getting off the bottom of the league table.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

If anyone's interested, there are highlights of our CFA match against Toulouse available.

Click here (http://www.korner.fr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=330&Itemid=75)

Despite Toulouse being down to 10, we managed to lose the game because the coach doesn't know what he's doing. Well, that is one of the reasons, not that it matters. Another is that Schwechlen (international duty, then injured), Bakar (international duty, had an assist in the first game) and Mollo (international duty but on the bench) weren't available and our strikers can't put the ball into the net. I don't think winning in the CFA is that important for our guys, though it is important for them to develop, and the good is that they get along well (Schwechlen, Zola, Mongongu and Bakar are best friends).

Anyway, we should beat Lens in the Coupe de la Ligue, given how, according to France Football, they were doing against Rennes. Even though they led the game at one point due to a defensive error, they were dominated throughout. Here's hoping that Ménez and the other speedsters can trouble their defense as Wiltord/Briand did.

[SportBoy333]

Hey Seb, I know this is old news but I dont remember seeing you comment about Dado Prso's retirement.

Is that why they didnt offer him a contract and just let him go free to Rangers was because they knew there was a problem with his knees ?

Now what I read was the reason why was that they didnt want to give a long term contract to a 30 year old. I dont remember seeing anything about potential health problems.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

As far as I know, I always thought the reason they let him go was that he was part of the old guard, as in, when DD left and the team disassembled, they wanted to start everything fresh. The <<carré magique>> of the year before the Champions League run that consisted of Giuly, Rothen, Nonda and Prso were to be sold away.

However, I mean, Prso always had injury issues, even in his best days with us, and typically the injuries were always heavy, as in, he'd be out 6 months or more. It was sad to see him go and retire, though, in the sense that, while not always a first-teamer, he was according to his teammates one of the best guys around the clubhouse who really loved being on the team.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Oh, I should add that I didn't realize that Prso had retired yet. It's a good thing that you're around, and that he has enough fans that his wiki profile was updated to reflect that.

[SportBoy333]

Yes Ive been trying to follow his career since he left France because he created so many memorable, golden moments that you'll never forget. The only problem I had was that it was announced that he was going to Rangers before the Champions League final was to be played. That was definately not a good thing. Made me angry.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Lens have announced their squad.

Le Crom, Runje - Aubey, Bisevac, A.Coulibaly, Demont, Laurenti, Ramos - Akalé, Carrière, Si.Keita, Kovacevic, Lacourt, Monterrubio, Sablé - Boukari, Dindane, Pieroni

I have no idea what their starting lineup will look like, though their lineup against Rennes was:

Akalé - Dindane
Monterrubio - - - - - Carrière
Mangane - Kovacevic
Aubey - Coulibaly - Bisevac - Demont
Runje


We haven't announced our squad yet. It'll be interesting to see if Ricardo decides to go with veterans or if he'll be mixing in a couple of jeunes.

[SportBoy333]

You can see the match here. The same site is showing 6 other cup matches.

http://video-direct.france2.fr/player.php?id=74

[SportBoy333]

Lens have announced their squad.

Le Crom, Runje - Aubey, Bisevac, A.Coulibaly, Demont, Laurenti, Ramos - Akalé, Carrière, Si.Keita, Kovacevic, Lacourt, Monterrubio, Sablé - Boukari, Dindane, Pieroni

I have no idea what their starting lineup will look like, though their lineup against Rennes was:

Akalé - Dindane
Monterrubio - - - - - Carrière
Mangane - Kovacevic
Aubey - Coulibaly - Bisevac - Demont
Runje




That lineup is not bad enough to be relegated. They shouldnt be doing as bad as they are.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Hope it's not EU restricted as the Nantes match was.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Apparently the Coupe matches are EU restricted. Oh well. In more positive developments, Wiltord is injured. Well, it is positive for us, anyway.

Also, our squad tomorrow hasn't been announced yet, but Ricardo has confirmed that Roma will start in net, which means Ruffier will likely get the Coupe de France games.

[SportBoy333]

Why would they be EU restricted ? I dont understand what that means.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Meaning the online stream has been restricted only to those with IPs in Europe, or as it turns out, to anyone who would be part of France. According to the standard terms and conditions on the page, it's only available to those who are in France, DOM, TOM, Andorra or Monaco.

It's kinda like they're saying, "we're only allowing you to view it online if you're in an area where you could also get it on the tube."

[SportBoy333]

Ok I get it. Seems kinda dumb to me to do it that way.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Yeah, I know, they likely have an agreement with satellite/cable networks here. Anyway, our squad has been announced, and it appears we'll be going with the veterans, though there is one alteration.

Ruffier, Roma - Veigneau, Bolivar, Monsoreau, Adriano, Modesto, Muratori - Leko, Bernardi, Meriem, D.Perez, Menez, Nenê - Koller, Gakpé, Pino, Piquionne

Before getting into it, Bakar isn't available as he's on international duty, and Cufré is suspended. Veigneau though now is included, which could suggest he'll get to play at left back instead of Muratori, but who knows. Actually, given circumstances, Monsoreau may play left back with Bolívar-Modesto in the middle.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

According to a source I have that knows ASM assistant manager Jean Petit, the lineup tomorrow will look like this:

10 Ménez
11 Nenê - 21 Meriem - 17 Gakpé
5 Pérez - 23 Leko
13 Muratori - 2 Monsoreau - 4 Modesto - 12 Adriano
30 Roma


Except if we count Ménez as an aerial threat, it appears we're going to attempt to outrun Lens. I wouldn't be shocked if it turns out to be a high-scoring game.

[SportBoy333]

Menez up front, alone ? I thought he was a wing player.