Houllier urges rising French football stars to stay put

[SportBoy333]

Houllier urges rising French football stars to stay put

PARIS (AFP) - National technical director Gerard Houllier on Thursday urged rising French stars Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa to resist the lure of foreign clubs.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is known to be interested in Lyon pair Benzema, 20, and Ben Arfa, 21, while Real Madrid have been linked with 20-year-old Marseille playmaker Nasri.

But former Liverpool and Lyon boss Houllier believes the trio, who will play in Euro 2008 this summer, would be better served by staying at home.

"For those three players, it would be an error to leave for abroad now," Houllier told the sports daily L'Equipe.

"Nasri, Ben Arfa and Benzema are being selected in the best French teams. They are therefore in the best conditions to develop their game, progress and make that step up.

"They must stay and get more confidence into their game, assert their qualities and achieve things.

"And leaving Ligue 1 shouldn't just be a question of money. You must be professional in your approach to leaving. Going abroad must be motivated by the desire to assert your potential, your play."

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/March/6/houllier-urges-rising-french-football-stars-to-stay-put/

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

As much as I want to agree with this, I can't. I agree with them staying put to improve, though once they've established themselves, it would be a disservice to their ability not to go to a better league. We can argue, given their progress, that it may take only another season or less until that happens.

I would strongly agree, though, that for those who have yet to establish themselves consistently (Briand, Gouffran, Gakpé, etc. would be among them), they would be much better off staying in L1.

[SportBoy333]

As much as I want to agree with this, I can't. I agree with them staying put to improve, though once they've established themselves, it would be a disservice to their ability not to go to a better league.

Things should be done by Thiriez and co. to try to make this a better league in order to try to entice players to stay. After all, part of his "footpro 2012" plan is that the national team be made of 2/3 ligue1 players.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Agreed. Though I think until there are signs that is happening, it's a shame to have world class players, once they've established themselves, stay in this league. Again, though, I am against having the very unproven players leave.

[SportBoy333]

The Bundesliga is way behind the "Big 3" but they still seem to keep the core of their national team. Granted the market and demand for German players isnt nearly as high as it is for French players though.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

We will see how long they are able to hold onto Kroos (even though Bayern are a big club, so this may not be the best example), Neuer and Adler. Although there is also the factor that there are very few German stars abroad, which is self-fulfilling to an extent.

[guignol]

i don't think someone who coached liverpool would be against french players going abroad per se, or deny that one of the reasons for france's NT success in the last decade is largely due to having so many players in the world's top clubs. he's just saying that for these three it's too early, and he's dead right.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

guignol, allow me to disagree. I don't think it's too early for those 3 as I think they've proven they can have success at the highest level. It's too early I think with others (Briand, Gouffran, and Kaboul the year before) who haven't proven much. Although of course I don't think it bad if Benzema, Ben Arfa and Nasri stayed a while longer, though if they remain in France after the World Cup in a couple of years, I don't think it'd be a positive.

[SportBoy333]

This is why its difficult to be both a Les Bleus fan and a Ligue 1 fan. If you are more of a Les Bleus fan then you want them to leave. If you're more of a Ligue 1 fan then you want them to stay. I wish you could have it both ways but you cant right now unless Ligue 1 improves.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Wow, I think you've got it exactly right. :)

I think the best solution would be to continue like we're doing actually, that is, allow Thiriez and company to improve the league, though in the meanwhile, also allow the ones who have proven their stuff leave. After all, they can always come back if the league improves itself in a big manner.

On another note, though, even if Benzema, Ben Arfa and Nasri leave (as well as Lloris and Ménez, we can assume), there are many guys who could very likely be Ligue 1 stars who will be waiting in the wings. After all, Benzema, Ben Arfa and Nasri were part of the big "87 class," and by all accounts, it appears that the 90 class could actually come close to eclipsing them. I think that as long as Clairefontaine continues to be as bountiful as it has been, the big L1 stars can leave without dropping the quality too much.

[SportBoy333]

Well I am more of a French League fan than a Les Bleus fan probably because I am not French. That's why I prefer the best players stay in Ligue 1 for as long as possible. As an American I dont really have an emotional attachment to the French national team. I hope they do well but I have to support my own country(USA) first and foremost but yeah as far as European teams go I support France.

[SportBoy333]

Another thing. I dont wanna speak for guignol but he is an American living in France and an OL fan so maybe he doesnt care about what's best for Les Bleus which is why he prefers the players stay longer. You Seb are French living in the US, correct ?

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Even though I was born here in the States, I have dual citizenship actually, as my parents are French, hence I certainly do care about Les Bleus. Though I'm not saying I want L1 to be a mere feeder league either, but I think until it improves, it's in the best interest of the rising stars to depart once they've proven themselves capable of being successful at the highest level. In any event, if Thiriez and company are successful in their ventures, it can only be good as then our stars in the making will go against better opposition earlier.

[SportBoy333]

Since you have dual citizenship and your parents are from France then it makes sense you prefer Les Bleus. I completely understand.

Most of us seem to think his footpro2012 plan wont pan out though. We are hoping but we arent realistic about it.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

I would also add that I think the league is better this year than it was the year before. An actual title race - whether you think it really is or not, the standings are close - as well as the emergence of guys who have the ability to be stars of the highest, highest order in Benzema and Lloris makes this a decent year, I think.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

These is only my opinion, though considering it's pouring outside, I decided not to be lazy and do a bit on this. This is a list of player I think who can go abroad, and those whom I think should stay in France.

Guys who can go abroad because they've proven they can be successful at the highest level of competition:

Benzema (duh)
Ben Arfa (remains a bit selfish on occasion, but is now an international who is capable of tremendous performances, seen in CL/L1 this season)
Nasri (a terrific performance yesterday in UEFA Cup, injuries are a concern though has the class already to succeed abroad)
Toulalan (duh)
Lloris (yet to play in Europe, though has been brilliant in everything)

Guys I'm on the fence about (they really should be able to succeed abroad, but staying in France wouldn't be bad either):

Ménez (does he have enough skill? yes? maturity? we will see)
Obertan (his technique is awesome, but has to get better at involving teammates)
Rémy Riou (I think he is second only to Lloris in terms of goalkeeping skill, and now should cement himself as the start at Auxerre, if they don't get relegated)
Gakpé (has to improve slightly in terms of not disappearing in matches, though the skill is there)
Bodmer (a move could be good if it allows him to be an automatic starter)
Bellaïd (this is a personal choice, though I think he already has everything it takes to succeed abroad, as he isn't Kaboul)
Squillaci (can improve his game if he stays, though if he can succeed abroad, it would certainly answer those who doubt him)
Alou Diarra (he has been transferred so much that it wouldn't be an issue either way)

Guys who should stay:

Landreau (won't attract a very high price if he is sold now, anyway, and has to regain his confidence)
Govou (the day when he should/could have departed isn't here anymore)
Cissé (looks as if he is turning it around in Marseille, given his injuries, should stay to prove himself)
Mandanda (spectacular this season, I think he has to confirm as keep in mind that he was in L2 only a season ago)
Briand (has to get better at finishing as he blows a decent amount of opportunities)
Gouffran (has to prove he can get it done at a big club, could have gotten that opportunity had Cayzac been more competent)
Matuidi (is coming on strong, like much of his team, when they win, lazy when they lose)
Payet (has good skills, though has disappeared in some matches)
Clerc (has to prove whether he is elite/international class or merely very good in L1)
Dia (lots of speed and dribbling, the final product requires work)
Cheyrou (has been quite good in the second half of this season, have to see whether he'll be able to keep it up)
Pelé (has a leaky defense in front of him though has had poor matches, though he hasn't been bad in general)
Givet (has to attempt to regain the form he had at Monaco)
Boumsong (has only actually only been good in L1, should relish the good bit of success he's having)
Valbuena (has been on fire, but have to see whether he can follow it up)
Savidan (the local guy should, and wants, to stay)