AS Monaco thread [R]

[colombo]

Any news about PINO? Anybody knows when is he comming back??

[soccer krazy]

Monaco interested in italian striker Ventola
http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=287373

[sidis]

Monaco wants the Club World Cup winner coach, Abel Braga

http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/0,,MUL26504-4410,00.html

they will dispute the coach with an arab emirates team.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Wow, I had to dig deep to get this thread. Thought I'd give this an update. Of course, arguably not as many interesting things are happening in la Principauté as in Lyon or Marseille, though it looks like we will be getting a new manager if Laurent Banide doesn't get an extension in the next 72 hours. Apparently Guus Hiddink :) and Ricardo :rolleyes: are among the candidates to replace Laurent Banide, if Banide doesn't decide to finish his contract with the club, which is due to expire in 2008.

I, for one, would love to see Hiddink at the helm, as he doesn't underachieve (look at what he did in World Cups) and does well when he's not at too big a club, like Real, though it looks like the chances of us landing him aren't that big, considering he's coaching the Russian NT, who for the moment are ahead of Les Anglais in Euro 2008 qualifying. I think Hiddink would be very good at Monaco, as he's a good judge of players and can get a team to gel. Hopefully he can get more out of Yaya and develop the likes of Distel Zola, Nimani, Gakpé, etc.

In other ASM headlines, Guillaume Warmuz has announced his retirement. The veteran backup (and indeed that's the role he's been playing for quite a bit now) had been the oldest joueur in L1.

[Allez Lyonnais]

Banide was just a fill-in anyway. You guys need a real coach.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

We had one, but he had a bad start to a season, didn't get along with M. Pastor, so resigned. No, I'm not talking about Bölöni, for whom Banide didn't do poorly in replacing. I'm talking about DD, who gave all of us a team we were so proud of in the Champions League. If Hiddink comes, I'd feel quite good about everything. Ricardo, not so much, though I don't believe he's that bad.

[Allez Lyonnais]

The problem with Ricardo is that he plays to win, not entertain. Still a decent coach though.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Agreed. I would say that Bordeaux underachieved a bit, though, this season. I mean they definitely are not as strong as you all (OL), but on paper, I'd think they were better than Toulouse/Rennes/Lens/Sochaux.

I'd welcome Claude Puel back, but he's settled at Lille, it would appear.

Will Raynald Denoueix be returning to coaching, or will he remain as a consultant on Canal+? I'd certainly consider him with all the U-19 players we have at our centre de formation.

[SportBoy333]

Things have been very quiet on the transfer rumor front so far. Doesnt seem like there be sny significant departures which is good. This team needs a lot of help anyway. The only decent rumor I saw was Illan from St. Etienne but thats not too exciting.

[SportBoy333]

Agreed. I would say that Bordeaux underachieved a bit, though, this season. I mean they definitely are not as strong as you all (OL), but on paper, I'd think they were better than Toulouse/Rennes/Lens/Sochaux.



I think they were slightly better than those teams. I hate Ricardo's style of play but the team does lack good forwards.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Ilan is coming? Hooray, yay, let's throw a party! Wait, who is Ilan?

J/K! I know who Ilan is, though, yeah, not very exciting. Hopefully we'll get some new blood that we definitely need, but I hope it doesn't come at the expense of the development of our many starlets who have been playing for Les Bleuets U-x teams.

[SportBoy333]

I found a list of players who were out on loan last season.

11 FW Sébastien Grax (at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard)
13 FW Alexandre Licata (at FC Gueugnon)
20 DF Arnaud Lescure (at Sporting Toulon Var)
22 FW David Gigliotti (at Troyes AC)
28 FW Nicolas Maurice-Belay (at CS Sedan Ardennes)
29 DF Thomas Mangani (at Stade Brestois 29)
31 DF Olivier Veigneau (at OGC Nice)

Im not totally familar with a lot of these guys so I was wondering if you knew which ones are coming back and which are top prospects

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Hmmm, I'm not that familiar with many of them either, actually. Browsing around a bit, though, particularly at France Football (http://www.francefootball.fr), taking a quick read of Onze Mondial (it's a magazine that doesn't have a website, regrettably), checking out L'Equipe (http://www.lequipe.fr), and then some Monaco fan forums, mainly those in French, I have some idea now.

Also, I IMed a couple of my cousins on la Côte d'Azur.

Though really, I based many of my decisions on the étoile (star) rating system of France Football, especially for those who were loaned out to Ligue 2 or lower divisions, since I mean, it'd be a bit tough to attempt to judge them otherwise.

I've ranked them based on my own beliefs after reading what I have. Oh, and Grax was sold, not loaned out, to Sochaux, apparently.

Out of those 6 that were loaned out (very important as it turns out, as according to many people's opinion, we have better guys back at the centre de formation):

1. Thomas Mangani (87, left-back): Though he's only turned 20, Mangani's actually been around the team for a while now, though he's yet to make a major breakthrough. Many had thought that he'd be the obvious replacement for Patrice Evrà not only at Stade Louis II, but also on the French NT, eventually. Another member of the Nasri/Ben Arfa/Benzema/Menez winning U-17 Euro team. Solid on both sides of the pitch, he's a bit like Lizarazu, taller though less attacking.

Didn't do much in the past couple of years at Monaco, it would appear (only 2 appearances total), though he played in 14 matches for Brest in L2 in the second half of this season.

Considering only captain Givet is assured of a starting place in defense, who knows, Mangani may live up to his billing and make an impact, as his contract will be expiring at the end of the season.

2. David Gigliotti (85, striker): Has been compared to Trez due to his ability to finish in the box, though the comparisons end there as he's nowhere near as tall, has to work on moving to get open, and has to focus over the course of an entire game. Interesting to note here that very few actually compare him to Trez, though he's the only one mentioned as having a style that's similar. Gigliotti a good shot, though, as it's powerful and accurate. Has a tremendous scoring record as well, though it's mainly with the Les espoirs (about 1 goal every 2 games) and reserve squads (about the same ratio).

It appears that scoring record has continued, as Gigliotti scored 9 goals in L1 with Troyes in 20 starts, though overall he appeared in 29 matches. He apparently has scored a wonderful finish or two among those 9.

It definitely looks like he will be back and perhaps is looking at a starting role.

It's worth noting here that the only reason I ranked Mangani ahead of Gigliotti is because I believe he could be the better player in the long run. (Gigliotti appears to have only finishing ability.)

3. Alexandre Licata (84, forward): Licata is different everyone on this "loaned" list as he isn't a Monaco product. He came to prominence when he scored 20 goals in 38 matches for National (Third Division) side Louhans-Cuiseaux over 2 seasons. He's able to play almost anywhere in an attacking position, whether as a striker or an attacking midfielder. Is a good finisher and dribbler, though not very creative. Also has a tendency to fade in and out of games.

During his loan to Guegnon, he did score 2 goals in 5 matches, so it appears his scoring record at lower divisions remains intact. It's for that reason alone that I put him here, though I think there's definitely a drop in ability after Mangani-Gigliotti.

Licata has 2 more years on his contract, so that could definitely play a role into whether he'll continue at Stade Louis II. It appears the opinion is that if he wasn't under contract, he likely would not make the team.

4. Nicolas Maurice-Belay (85, striker): M-B is quite fast and decent at dribbling. That's about it, though there's always that inevitable comparison to Henry when you're brought up at Monaco and those happen to be your 2 traits that stand out. I don't think anyone actually thinks he'll be at any point in the same galaxy as Henry, though there's always those who believe the hype. Offensive awareness is considered a major flaw.

Got into 30 matches during his loan spell at Sedan, starting 23 and scoring 7 goals. However, it can be viewed as a bit disappointing in the end as he started well and then definitely faded.

It appears that M-B will be loaned out again, as it doesn't appear right now as if he'll be playing an important role in the season ahead.

5. Arnaud Lescure (86, center back): Everywhere I look, it appears there's only one story to tell about this guy. He was once highly thought of, played on some U-x teams, and turns out, he's only average. Average in almost everything. Average height, average speed, average tackling, average awareness, average average.

Well, he did play in 27 games. Hard to tell how he did, though his club allowed fewer goals than many of the other bottom-feeders who were battling relegation. Perhaps it's good that he got some experience in National, after all, the #22 on Les Bleus had starred in National with Brest, non?

Considering that we have quite a lot of average players already, I don't see how Lescure would make a difference. Could get loaned out again, I would think.

6. Olivier Veigneau (85, left back): Being at the bottom of this list is arguably unfair to Veigneau as he has some good qualities. He has speed and a very good left foot. His deficiencies are mainly on the defensive side. He is short and he gets caught a bit too often on the break. He has appeared for les Espoirs.

On his loan to Nice, he started well and even scored a goal. However, he did fade, and became a player coming off the bench.

Hard to say what will happen with Veigneau, though it wouldn't shock anyone if he wasn't with the team much longer.

That's about it I think for the loaned guys. Yes, no one here sets the world alight, so I suppose that Ilan rumor is looking better and better. J/K! Actually, I think we have a couple of very good players for the years ahead in Zola and Nimani. Together with Yaya, who will hopefully improve, that's a good core to our midfield, I think. :)

[SportBoy333]

Ricardo is top choice to be new manager. Not a good choice if you ask me. Dont like his style of play. Notice how Bordeaux arent trying too hard to keep him.They clearly arent happy he failed to qualify for the Champions League. The bigger rumor is Dechamps for the Bordeaux job and also Papin who's on the outs as Strasbourg.

[guignol]

Ricardo is top choice to be new manager. Not a good choice if you ask me. Dont like his style of play. Notice how Bordeaux arent trying too hard to keep him.They clearly arent happy he failed to qualify for the Champions League. The bigger rumor is Dechamps for the Bordeaux job and also Papin who's on the outs as Strasbourg.you don't think didi could be lured back to the rock? ;)

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

you don't think didi could be lured back to the rock? ;)

There were grumblings that DD had issues with M. Pastor (the chairman). If they somehow can get past that, I'd be thrilled to have him back.

[guignol]

There were grumblings that DD had issues with M. Pastor (the chairman). If they somehow can get past that, I'd be thrilled to have him back.issues... is that what you call it? :D

[SportBoy333]

No I think he will take some time off. He wont come back. Papin is available now. Bordeaux are also looking at Laurent Blanc.

[SportBoy333]

Supporters de Monaco video I found


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNT8J3JqRyE

[SportBoy333]

RICARDO, NOUVEL ENTRAÎNEUR DE L’AS MONACO FC

http://www.asm-fc.com/article.aspx?id=3457