Onyewu: Creteil - Metz 3/28 [R] http://www.fcmetz.com/news_detail.asp?num=1756 Onyewu Oguchi is in the starting lineup for 2nd place Metz for the league match against relegation-threatened Creteil (tied in points for last relegation spot with a game in hand). The starting spot can likely be attributed to eleven players being out for either injury or international duty (mostly with African teams). Gooch would seem to be the left back in a 5-3-2.
O http://www.fcmetz.com/news_detail.asp?num=1756 Onyewu expected to start today. 3 vs. 16 in the French 2nd division.
Interesting sidelines... http://www.fcmetz.com/news_detail.asp?num=1758 According to the Metz web site, the Creteil manager was let go in a "putsch" (their term). The version here is that five players went to see the club president - a M. Lopes - on Tuesday demanding that he remove the manager. Lopes refused, but changed his mind 24 hours later under pressure from city hall which has some role in running the club!!! Jean-Michel Bridier, an assistant coach, will manage the club tonight but not beyond. Sounds to me like a situation where the players will go all out to prove their point, non? Combine this with the eleven missing players and it sounds like a "trap" game for Metz. The Metz manager Jean Fernandez when asked in the interview in the link above about the absent players said that "...the absences will let guys like Becas, Onyewu, D’Amico and Frutos show up and prove their potential."
Final... ...1-1 according to a Metz forum. Metz manager Fernandez 'exclu' which I would think means kicked out early in the match. Metz goal by Borbiconi with Marshal sent off just before half time (both players defenders) so I guess Marshal leaves another hole for Gooch to fill next week hopefully. Metz got a penalty in the second half but it was saved. Fernandez said before the game that Metz needs 13 points and has four games left at home so that if they win all the remaining home games they need only one point on the road meaning he would probably be happy enough with a point from this game. The forum gave only the high points of the game and not a play-by-play so there was no mention of Gooch.
thanks FT. it's weird how a player can have such support and then so easily fall from the coach's graces. it seemed like gooch was a fan favorite for a short while -- now he's struggling just to get on the field.