I'll be honest, it brings me joy to know Marseille have us to thank for directly qualifying into the Europa League. You're welcome. No but seriously, I'm genuinely happy for Bordeaux and Chantôme. I hope they can go as far as possible (along with ASSE). As for the CL, it was really impressive for two French teams to be in the quarterfinals this year, so hopefully next year we can surpass that and send one into the semi final (as in PSG). I just hope French teams aren't screwed in the draws this year.
PSG will do well of course. Huge budget plus they will add players to strengthen even further. I dont think Lyon will get out of the group stage with their "recruitment made in France" policy. Also dont know if Lacazette is staying for sure. Recruit Morel who was part of the 0 pts OM in the CL. Monaco you have to see if they pass the 2 qualifying rds first . I would like to see them use Falcao for the 2nd rd to try to help them qualify then dump him before the window closes. I dont think he'll be available for the 1st rd due to resting from Copa America. I have confidence in Jardim regardless whom they may lose (YFC?, Moutinho?, Kurzawa? Abdennour?) Marseille are in shambles with little money so I dont expect them to do anything in Europe. Plus they will want to focus on top 3 instead because they missed it this year. You need a deep roster for Europa League and they wont have one. St. Etienne, they sell off every year and don't keep their team together (this year it will be Gradel and Tabanou) thus I dont expect them to do much. Also no killer in front of the net. Erding ? Bordeaux I like because they wont lose anyone important plus they will add some good players(Gourcuff?) so I expect them to do pretty well. Well organized with good coaching.
Paris SG lost to Barcelona in the quarter final AS Monaco lost to Juventus in the quarter final Both Barcelona and Juventus are in the CL final, basically our teams lost out to the two best teams in the CL this season.
I just realized Bordeaux have an excess of forwards. Rolan, Thelin, Diabate, Toure, Saviet, Sala, Jussie. Crivellii. Sala might be bought by another club and Crivelli might go on loan so no need to recruit at that position. Unless Rolan has a great Copa America and some club with money buys him then that would suck.
So AS Monaco will play Young Bouys from SUI, Bordeaux will play AEK Larnaca F.C, league runner-up from Cyprus and Saint-Etienne will play Târgu Mureș runner-ups from Romania. Call me a pessimist, while Monaco should be clear favorites I wouldn't be surprised to see both Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne lose (or at least one of them). They are facing the exact type of team that usually beats French ones in the qualifiers.
I expect Bordeaux and Monaco to win. I dont have any faith in St Etienne since every year they sell key players and replace them with weaker (cheaper) players. They lose Gradel and they are done.
Bordeaux lost both their RB's ( Mariano and Faubert) yeah no wonder why France sucks in Europe, too many players sold = no cohesion.
Faubert yes but Mariano was one of the better RB's in Ligue 1 since he got there IMO. I understand him wanting to make the move to a bigger club at age 29 but yeah it just shows you that a new stadium doesnt mean anything, Sevilla is still the bigger club.
Forget it, dude. Looks like they are about to lose their top prospect (Allan Saint-Maximin) also. This club has a great history but that doesnt mean anything in 2105. They are still stuck in the late 70- early 80's and have no idea how to grow in the modern football era. Having a jersey sponsorship with Le Coq Sportif means something in 2015 I guess but its still a French company and football is global now. D'oh.
Haha it actually gets worse for St. Etienne as they want to bring in Bahebeck on loan. He and Nolan Roux will tear up Ligue 1 and Europe.
. we gave them sanaa titraoui outright and all you drop in that beat up old hat les verts always have in front of them on the sidewalk is jean-eudes bahebeck???? on loan??? what a bunch of cheapskates!
Very nice away win. Halfway there. Kurzawa man of the match. Mario Pasalic, on loan from Chelsea looked really good. The big negative is Abdennour didnt play because he wants to go to Barca/Milan so they started old man Carlvalho in his place. If he leaves its a huge blow.
farès in the background of one of them. I saw someone in the neighborhood with his ASM jersey. he's from right here, in mermoz, his first club was élan 8ème just a block from my house.