And the decision is...

[Inara]

...Ray Ray is staying.

The FFF confirmed (http://www.fff.fr/bleus/469929.shtml) his contract until 2010. Of the twenty votes, nineteen voted that he remain and one abstained.

I'm guessing that it was last night's match that pretty much did it. France came from behind in the last two games, and yesterday they seemed to have the spirit that's been missing from the side.

I don't know if that's reason enough to keep him on, or maybe this was just Escalette's way to say "f*ck you, 1998 WC winning team," but it looks like Domenech is here to stay.

[lefutur]

I don't think anyone is surprised. Maybe the vote wouldn't have been as resounding without the Tunisia result but I never thought Domenech would get the boot after hearing Escalettes statements after the Romania game "what a great performance! we tied!" etc.

OK. so i guess we need to accept it and hope that Domenech realizes, eventually, that Boumsong and Abidal suck in central defense. I'm convinced that he started those 2 players again to prove to everyone that his instincts were right and to try save face. He was, of course, wrong.

His bizarre selections will surely continue but at least France are starting to resemble a team composed of the actual players on the roster, rather than look-alikes.

Gourcuff, of course, is a big hope for the future. Domenech must be given at least credit for giving him a chance, even if Nasri, at least for now, seems to have been looked over.

I will say this...I find Domenech to be a distasteful man in a lot of ways, but in the end he can win me over very easily, with results. France seems like they will qualify for the WC because they have an easy group. He then has almost 2 years to get the defensive issues sorted out. I think he can do it.
Even though I think Deschamps would be a very good coach, the philosophy in the FFF is that continuity is important, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt and accept the decision, even if Domenech continues to bewilder us every once in a while.

[blackjack]

How is this possible? It's plain as day to anybody watching that France were absolutely without ideas in the Euros, and have been even worse in qualifying. There are so many good coaches to be hired, why stay with Domenech when it's clear he's in over his head?

[lefutur]

I just realized that France may have a goalkeeper issue if Mandanda doesn't work out because it means that only young, inexperienced keepers are available since Frey and Coupet don't want to play for Domenech. mandanda hasn't been looking too hot for les bleus lately.

[Inara]

Hopefully Domenech will give Lloris a try. Plus I think Mandanda is just suffering a period of low confidence.

In the short term, having an inexperienced gk is annoying, but in the long run, these guys are so talented and will really benefit from the experience they are getting now that they will be ready in time for the World Cup. IMO Mandanda and Lloris are more talented than Coupet and Frey, and it will pay off eventually.

[Inara]

What is for sure is that Mexes's career with Les Bleus seems to be over. Domenech played Boumsong-Abidal twice despite it being the worst pairing on Earth. Then again, he didn't play Squillaci either.

But good news is that he's willing to play Gourcuff. For the time being, it looks like France's #10 issues might be solved.

[lefutur]

Hopefully Domenech will give Lloris a try. Plus I think Mandanda is just suffering a period of low confidence.

In the short term, having an inexperienced gk is annoying, but in the long run, these guys are so talented and will really benefit from the experience they are getting now that they will be ready in time for the World Cup. IMO Mandanda and Lloris are more talented than Coupet and Frey, and it will pay off eventually.

I hope you are right.

I just read that the 1 person among the 20 that didn't vote for Domenech actually abstained from the vote. That means that in 2 seperate voting situations noone has ever voted against Domenech. If that doesn't have Boys Club written all over it, I don't know what does. The one lone guy didn't even have the courage to vote "no" so he just abstained instead. Its all politics.:mad:

[lefutur]

What is for sure is that Mexes's career with Les Bleus seems to be over. Domenech played Boumsong-Abidal twice despite it being the worst pairing on Earth. Then again, he didn't play Squillaci either.

But good news is that he's willing to play Gourcuff. For the time being, it looks like France's #10 issues might be solved.

If Mexes pulls a Trezeguet/Giuly/Coupet/Frey/Pires/insert-your-favorite-former-french-player-here and quits France that would be a tragedy and Domenech will have really dug himself into a hole when Gallas isnt available.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Haha of course he was gonna stay after that second half performance. I see no where else I can talk about the Tunisia match so I'll just say it was great. Apart from some baffling defending at one point, that they almost scored on, it was textbook. Henry's second was just wonderful link up play between Ben Arfa, Benzema, Gourcuff and Henry. It had to be luck that Henry stayed onside or he is just ridiculous. Rod Fanni had a piece of brillance that kept the play alive for Benzema's screamer. Fanni's move should be illegal the way he made those two Tunisians look. And Karim's goal.....no comment. I just want one more season Karim, than whatever is whatever. But the defense is honestly in shambles, and has seem that way for the last 3 games at least. France resorting to starting a Left back and a guy who can't even get infront of midfielder in his club's CB pecking order, should not be starting in Central defense. Matter of fact, Bodmer should really have been starting if Boumsong is what we are gonna put out there. He was made to look silly on Tunisia's goal.

[zizouForlife]

DM is staying we can forgetting the thought of him getting fired and support the team, i never really hated the guy to be honest, but neither did i like him, i guess i had hate love admiration for him. i thank him for bringing zidane out retirement and letting him do his job, DM is one of the toughest character, the man never gives up even in defeat, few coaches can withstand what DM has gone through. i hate for his selection ( look at our defense and euro 08), his tactics are nearly the same, i guess he has lost his touch but with recent come backs will have to see, france needs to win games convincingly, i hate reading an article the day france plays about the pressure players are under, uncertainty within players etc.

i doubt a new coach would have done anything different domenech has done except bring in new players. because lets face it the team is going through a difficult transition here, regardless of what coach, france would still have problems

[guignol]

i doubt a new coach would have done anything different domenech has done except bring in new players...actually domenech has possibly brought in more new players than a new coach would!

when he first took the reins he did too, but had to backpedal; too much too fast. this time it seems to be working out much better. come 2010 we'll have a team that will be seasoned, stable, and still young enough to make it to 2014... and who knows? raymond may still be coaching them and be written about in the pages of l'équipe in terms generally reserved for aimé jacquet and other minor deities.

http://www.unitedmedia.com/comics/ripleys/images/logo_ripleys.gif
in his first years running OL jean-michel aulas was unpopular and regularly burned in effigy!