AS Monaco thread [R]

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Oops, it's Jeunechamp who's the Nice right back, but anyway, it's HT. We're dominating this match, but have yet to breakthrough with a goal. Oh, and yes, it's actually an attacking lineup that's out there, Meriem is actually an attacking player, on the side opposite Nenê. We'll be disappointed not to be ahead, especially as Nenê arguably had a penalty, but the bright side is that our defense hardly looks threatened, other than on a corner at the end of the half.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Muratori almost gets called for a penalty on a handball. Yikes, though I'm happy it wasn't called.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Meriem with a pretty shot that curves inside out, but Lloris comes up with a big save.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Ménez comes in for Nenê.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Koller opens the score on a header from a crisp cross from Cufré! :D

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Laslandes equalizes on an acrobatic, pretty goal. :(

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Meriem with a good shot that Lloris turns aside for a corner.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

It ends 1-1. I'm actually less disappointed than I thought I would be, even though we really should have taken all 3 points, but overall the team's doing well. Nice on their part defended well and had they not, we could have scored a bunch more goals, with Lloris coming up with a couple of big saves. Nice's equalizer was certainly controversial as it started with a free kick at midfield which was given even though the foul had been Cufré being knocked down by Rool. In any event, there are mainly good aspects to take from this game, and on another day, we would have won it.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

In other headlines, we, along with PSG and Man City, are apparently after the Nigerian Yussuf of Dinamo Kiev, and well, if we get him, it'll certainly be a very nice Christmas gift. He's a defensive midfielder who is very strong in the tackle and very consistent. I mean I think that I'd like him better than Emana because it appears he's the type that won't leave his defense behind, as we don't really require the offensive game that Emana can bring. Also, except if the bids begin to pile up, he'd cost less.

Anyway, back to the derby, and I thought I'd wrap it up by saying that everybody did well pretty much. That includes Nice players, though Jeunechamp was consistently tortured by both Nenê and Ménez, while I don't believe Koné touched the ball at all the entire game.

[SportBoy333]

Oh well. Nice are having a good season. Sounds like Monaco had their hands full. I need to see some highlights of this.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Nah, it was more they had their hands full with us, especially on our left wing, where both Nenê and Ménez made Jeunechamp think about retirement. We really should have won the game, though Nice weren't poor at all.

Going into this game and the one at the Vélodrome the week after, I thought it would be terrific if we could get 4 points total after both matches. L'OM, even though they drew at Lille, are much improved than they were a few weeks ago, and a draw would likely be fine now I believe. That is, I have a feeling that Ricardo will go back to the 3 defensive midfielders and shut out the phocéen attack.

We now have a few injuries to deal with though. Meriem, Adriano, Cufré, Leko and Bernardi all got a bit of a knock yesterday. We'll know the extent of their injuries in a couple of hours. Everyone in attack is healthy except Gakpé, who before being injured attracted the attention of Wenger.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Here is a sad tale this year. Our record against OL, Bordeaux, PSG and OM, what would it be? 0-4. I'm actually more disappointed in the losses to Lorient, Valenciennes and Nancy, though we've definitely been affreux against the other "big" clubs. I kinda expected to lose those 4 matches, though, with the exception of the Bordeaux one because we were on a winning streak then.

[SportBoy333]

Its bad enough you have to suffer through a disapointing season and then you have to read stuff like "Menez to Inter."

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

The odd thing, though, is given the mediocrity of the other teams, it's not that far-fetched to believe we'll get a Champions League spot if we actually play better. Ricardo has a lot of thinking to do now, though. Especially it appears that we depend too much on both Bernardi and Pérez, who I don't think should be the base of this team. When those 2 get dominated in midfield and lose their duels, we have no shot at winning. Same can be said about Monsoreau-Modesto as when they've been horrible, we do as well.

Oh yeah, I'm not excusing Muratori or Cufré either because they were bad on Saturday too. The only one whom I won't scathe is Roma because he couldn't do anything on both of those goals, while he did make a few good saves on Ziani.

As for Ménez to Inter, I'm of course against this because Ménez is our best player in terms of technical skill, while in my opinion, he's actually improved his teamwork this year as well (not as selfish, though I am in no way suggesting he doesn't have a lot to work to do in that department). His lack of discipline and training remain, though it's hard to expect too much from a guy who is eligible as an U-21 player.

[SportBoy333]

The Marseille-Monaco match is always a match that I get really excited about. I couldnt see Saturday's version but I really wasnt too upset I missed it.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Yeah, except if you were a OM fan, in which case, it was arguably one of their best performances all year, besides the win at Anfield.

[SportBoy333]

I saw the OM-ASM match on Fox back in '04 and this was the match that was played after both teams clinched European finals appearances and I remember I was so giddy about that match taking place. Both teams were the talk of Europe at the same time and then they were gonna play each other in a French league match. Just awesome. I'll always keep that memory with me. Its never gonna get any better than that.

[guignol]

now in 1991 it was something to see... OM and ASM had a match au sommet at the end of the season to see who would be champion... marseille won... but few days later the same two teams played the cup final and monaco got their revenge...

and in 1992 it would have been the same scenario if not for furiani! those two dominated outrageously in those days.

[SportBoy333]

now in 1991 it was something to see... OM and ASM had a match au sommet at the end of the season to see who would be champion... marseille won... but few days later the same two teams played the cup final and monaco got their revenge...

and in 1992 it would have been the same scenario if not for furiani! those two dominated outrageously in those days.

I see your point but I think 2004 match was more special because both teams were in European finals and the match was played after they both had already clinched those spots making it more special. Making a European final is the pinnacle of club football in Europe short of winning it.

Now Im sure the 91 and 92 OM and ASM teams had more talent than the 04 versions but the European aspect of it made for a greater spectacle IMO. I understand the impact of playing for a league title and a cup vs just another regualar season match but Im just looking at it from a different angle.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Thought I would update this with some positive developments among our U-19 guys, who were victorious in a friendly against Italy. Of note, Léo Schwechlen had a very good match, helping his side's defense keep a clean sheet. Distel Zola, Djamel Bakar and Yohan Mollo also participated in the match, bringing the total of monégasques to 4.