Nice has to qualify. Can't say I expected them to finish where they did let alone in the top half of the table. Friday's French Cup match is on ESPN3 in the states... looking forward to watching it. Ligue 1 is starting to get some good global attention. The youtube channel they established is outstanding. It has everything (match highlights, goals, behind the scenes, etc) and is really well done. PSG's rich owners will only bring Ligue 1 more press. It was awesome to get a player like Ibrahimovic in the league. There are quite a few quality players in the league who I think can be real studs (Grenier, Aubameyang, Sakho, etc). I also like seeing how the league has some washed up names (Rothen, Plasil, etc). I'm excited to see Monaco return to Ligue 1. They have a quaint stadium and now they will soon be a strong team
they might have some help from france's UEFA position but on their own they obviously have zilch points. lille would have been a better candidate from a national standpoint.
I'm willing to give Nice a shot. I'm tired of Lille. Ugly stadium with gray steats. Horrible performances in Europe cost us UEFA points. Sell their best players every year. Let them sink into the abyss and give someone else a shot. Claude Puel > Rudi Garcia. Lille had a 100m budget and finished 6th. Nice's budget less than half of that.
Alessandrini, who's from Marseille wants to go there at all costs and looks like its happening. http://www.footmarseille.com/5618/alessandrini-d-accord-avec-l-om.html
Nice should sign Jérémy Perbet from Mons would be a great striker for Ligue 1 and get to play in a new stadium plus Europa league ! http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jérémy_Perbet french leftback from Nice who plays in Elche could work too they got into la liga Grégory Béranger http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grégory_Béranger
El Mundo Deportivo reports that Eric Abidal has received offers from PSG, Lyon, and Monaco for his services. Also:"Abidal has not been offered a new playing contract [from Barcelona], but instead a role within the sporting structure of the club which he is free to take up immediately or whenever he has finished his playing career somewhere else."