RC LENS Thread........

[Allez Lyonnais]

Remember STEAUA 4-0 LENS! :D In France only Lyon counts ...
O...kay.

[soccer krazy]

Daniel cousin joins Rangers
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/6938629.stm

[soccer krazy]

charles Itandje joins liverpool
http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=378076

[HADJI]

Such negativity from a Lensois is disappointing. Thomert and Jussie were both want aways and the club is better off without them. Talented? Mercurially so, which is a problem, IMO. Itandje is in the same boat. Man U has been bandied about by his agent, there's been little else (certainly nothing I've read in the English press) to indicate he is going there. If you'll recall, Thomert's agent did the same thing and look where he ended up.

Keita was almost gone last year, it was inevitable he went on to bigger things. Had we been in the CL this year he probably would have stayed. That, aside from income, is the single biggest loss from not qualifying last season.

You make it sound as if the club is falling down around itself and, at the same time, inflating the importance as players such as Itandje who is a decent goalkeeper but certainly not the keystone of the club that will ruin the entire club when he departs.

LENSOIS,

We usually agree on most things but not on this. As you see Itandje was signed by Liverpool, one of the best clubs in the world. Furthermore, the losses of Jussie and Thomert were HUGE.....last year. In fact, when they left the club started playing poorly. I think both of those players were very underappreciated by the Lens fans. Jussie always seemed to come up with timely goals and Thomert created absolute havoc with his runs. The team was much more dangerous with them and Aruna really benefited from their presence. Moreover, what about the loss of Jemma? This was incredible to me. Granted, he is on loan but why? Maybe because we failed to make the CL? Needed the money? Also, look at the players who came in when Thomert/Jussie departed. Monterrubio and Tixier. This was very bad for Lens. Monterrubio is on his way down. I think we should start playing some of these younger guys from the developmental system. Where is Zayatte and Jabi? We got rid of a great young talent like Taarabt and we don't seem to be keeping the young players we are developing in the African academies. Gervais Martel has been making some very questionable moves, at least for me.

[Lensois]

We usually agree on most things but not on this. As you see Itandje was signed by Liverpool, one of the best clubs in the world.

Liverpool happen to be my team in England. Name me the last four goalkeepers they have signed as backup to their first choice. Then tell me where they are now. Itandje is good, not great. He has how many caps?

Furthermore, the losses of Jussie and Thomert were HUGE.....last year. In fact, when they left the club started playing poorly. I think both of those players were very underappreciated by the Lens fans. Jussie always seemed to come up with timely goals and Thomert created absolute havoc with his runs. The team was much more dangerous with them and Aruna really benefited from their presence.

So it would be your policy to keep want away players? Thomert had been looking to leave for three years, that's not a big secret. What you may not know is how is big headed attitude affected the dressing room. This without mentioning his stunning inconsistency. On his day, absolutely a great player--he was my favorite for a long time--however he never had the consistency to get him where he really want to f off to, the Premiership. They've rated a lot of young(er) French players but somehow never him. Wonder why that is.

Jussie I'll agree was more consistent, but again it comes down to attitude. What we see on the outside might be very different from the inside. Even his countryman Hilton agreed that Jussie's attitude was such that he had to be moved. No player is more important than the club...Jussie disagreed.

Moreover, what about the loss of Jemma? This was incredible to me. Granted, he is on loan but why?

I'm guessing GR doesn't rate him. Is that wrong? Perhaps. Is that a major loss that will bring down the club? Hyperbole.

Maybe because we failed to make the CL? Needed the money?

The club is not in a financial pinch as you imply might be the case. We've spent less than we've brought in from player sales, not to mention that the club has a sound financial base.

Also, look at the players who came in when Thomert/Jussie departed. Monterrubio and Tixier. This was very bad for Lens. Monterrubio is on his way down.

When clubs know players want out and/or the club wants them out it's a buyer's market. In that same time period we've brought in Kovacevic and Bisevac.

I think we should start playing some of these younger guys from the developmental system. Where is Zayatte and Jabi?

As I've said, this is one of the biggest reasons Roux was brought in , IMO. As the season progresses we will see more and more of the youngters, something that has been underutilized to this point. Of course, not dipping into the pool of academy players is something that has been going on for a few years and has nothing to do with this season.

Jabi? He's not played for us for two years. He played for Ajaccio last season is at Grenoble this season. He is off the radar...and 25, hardly developmental player at this point. Zayatte just played against us this past week for Young Boys in the Intertoto. Neither has proven to be lighting the world on fire after the club let them go.

We got rid of a great young talent like Taarabt and we don't seem to be keeping the young players we are developing in the African academies. Gervais Martel has been making some very questionable moves, at least for me.

Got rid of? No, Taarabt wanted to leave and get the wage packet that comes for many young players when they leave France, especially for England. Assou-Ekotto was the same. They, unfortunately, are not like a number of young French players.

BTW, we don't have RC Lens Academies in Africa. We do provide some support (financial and coaching) to some academies in Africa but the only officially run academy is the Gaillette in Avion.

[HADJI]

As I stated before, we would be in trouble this season and possibly battling relegation, now we have lost the coach. Lens is definately in big trouble.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/25/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Lens-Roux-Quits.php

[Lensois]

As I stated before, we would be in trouble this season and possibly battling relegation, now we have lost the coach. Lens is definately in big trouble.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/25/sports/EU-SPT-SOC-Lens-Roux-Quits.php

Four games in and sign us up for Ligue 2.:rolleyes:

[sl7vk]

Wow. So early to give up on a club.

Lets see who they appoint and wait before Christmas to start deciding who's up and who's down in L1.

[sl7vk]

On a side note..... Maybe the league was right in deciding that he was too old to be a coach!

Just kidding.

[Lensois]

Wow. So early to give up on a club.

Lets see who they appoint and wait before Christmas to start deciding who's up and who's down in L1.

It was sarcasm.

[HADJI]

I think this is a move in the right direction. Here we get a strong, young midfielder signed to a 5 year contract. We may have hope yet. Any word on Mahmoud Younes? We need plenty of help. By the way, anything wrong with Aubey? I haven't seen him the last two games. Lensois, do you know anything about this?

[HADJI]

http://rclenszone.blogspot.com/

[SportBoy333]

This week's episode of Futbol Mundial they are airing a segment on Guy Roux coming back to coaching at Lens. Kinda ironic I guess.

[SportBoy333]

http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/mag/Une_FF_20070828.jpg

[samasimo]

Uefa Cup 2nd leg
Lens 5-1 Youngboys

All the goals HERE (http://watchgoals.blogspot.com)

[SportBoy333]

Looks like Lens are back in business !

[HADJI]

Not so fast.........we are second to last in Ligue 1 after yesterday's loss to Nice. Did you see our lineup????? Terrible!!! Where is Aubey? I haven't seen him play in the last few games. Why wasn't Kalou starting yesterday? I hope Papin doesn't plan on using that squad again.

[SportBoy333]

He has to use and trust players that he didnt sign. Must be hard for him.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Not so fast.........we are second to last in Ligue 1 after yesterday's loss to Nice. Did you see our lineup????? Terrible!!! Where is Aubey? I haven't seen him play in the last few games. Why wasn't Kalou starting yesterday? I hope Papin doesn't plan on using that squad again.

Aubey and Kalou have both been subpar according to France Football and L'Equipe, in their matches. Aubey, based on those magazines, was particularly bad in the games he started early on.

Nevertheless, and it's only my opinion, I think they should give him a shot again since athletically he could be Lens' best defender. I don't know about Kalou, though. There is nothing in what I've seen thus far nor with his PSG misadventure that would make me think he should actually start.

[SportBoy333]

I picked Lens to finish very high because I thought Guy Roux would be guiding them this season but since he left early why would I expect the team to still do as well.