As a Chelsea fan, I listen almost exclusively to English radio and it is definitely a case of believing the PL is the best league in the world and Ligue 1 is garbage. I love watching Ligue 1. I think it's a case of missing good football.
Marseille for example has 4 starters who failed in the PL. (Gomis, Thauvin,Cabella, N'Jie.) PL seems to have a habit for overpaying for L1 players. They just loan them back if they fail because money is no object to them.
Just because someone fails in the PL does not mean they are poor. Di Maria didn't go from good to bad in one season. And frankly for all the bad players there are really good players who make the transition and do really well.
We are far from a garbage league, in fact Ligue 1 are the 5th best league in Europe after EPL, LaLiga, Bundesliga and Serie A. We have 2 teams representing in the CL last 16, both PSG & Monaco are doing pretty well in CL this season, while Lyon & Saint-Etienne are still in the Europa League round of 32. It is about time people give and show some respect to Ligue 1 they deserved and I could actually see that the standard of Ligue 1 is growing and on the rise.
And Monaco is currently beating Man City 1-2 at the half. I hope this score holds or at least favors Monaco at the end because the FS1 American commentators have been so biased for the EPL team, as expected. They've been complaining non-stop about the penalty non-call for Man City.
Well Monaco are putting on a great showing with 3 away goals so far (75th min) but the game is tied. Would love to see Monaco win this one.
I wasn't saying I agree, quite the contrary for me. I absolutely love watching and following the league.
Ive said this many times on here before but the French League is really hurt by Paris not being a big football town. If Paris was a big football town and had at least 3 or 4 "big clubs", Ligue 1 would be much much better off and stronger.
That is a fair point, probably the same for both Marseille and Lyon. Paris should be littered with clubs, would do wonders for the league.
Check that. 4-1. Darder gets on the scoresheet. Fekir with a first half brace and Cornet with the other. Scoring for fun.
The budget gap between Lyon and AZ Alkamar isnt nearly as big as the gap between Man Utd. and St. Etienne but its still a big gap.
I'm just happy they're in the EL. It's good. Plus Fekir has looked really hood. If Laca is out this summer, getting him back to pre injury form could lessen the load.
Fekir gets his hat trick. Aouar the academy product gets one and Diakhaby gets another for the 11-2 aggregate win.
NOT quite happy with the draw. Europa League last 16 draw Celta Vigo vs Krasnodar APOEL vs Anderlecht Schalke vs Borussia Monchengladbach Lyon vs Roma Rostov vs Manchester United Olympiacos vs Besiktas Gent vs Genk Kobenhavn vs Ajax
It's a terrible draw and makes you think it's rigged. Honestly. Gent and Genk. The German clubs drawn together. O'L getting Roma which is an awful matchup IMO.
I was ready to give up on French football when Lyon conceded 2 amateurish goals against Roma in the first half, but wow, what a turn-around.
It was really good football. They need to continue that form into the weekend match on Sunday. I will say about the return leg, it is far from over. The good news for us is their form has been rubbish for a couple weeks. There is a ton of talent there though that we can easily get the boot.
Lyon are really motivated to do something in the EL since they have almost no chance of finishing in the top 3 in the league.