I don't know if it has something to do with the Evian crest/badge/logo looking like a Danish flag, but their coach and director of sport seem to be highly interested in signing Danish players in this summer transfer window, Stephan Andersen, Daniel Wass and now also Christian Poulsen from Liverpool. .
It is the flag of Haute-Savoie the French department (think something between a state and county) that Evian is located in.
So Bertrand Laquait, Evian's original #1 GK, finally returned from his injury. He had made the bench three times before but this week he replaced Andersen as the starter. I have no idea what this means for Quentin, other than it seems like there are at least 2, maybe 3, GKs ahead of him on the depth chart. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/gamecast/_/id/320311?cc=5901
Laquait even got the start in today's friendly versus Young Boys. I couldn't find anything that listed the bench.
Westberg didn't even make the bench for the friendly today. Things not looking good for the lad at Evian the last few months.
Westberg made the bench for the first time since Sept. 1 in a Dec. 10 game against Toulouse. He's at least third or fourth string on this team. Much like Yelldell, he needs to find playing time. Or hope someone gets injured (ala Guzan). http://www.soccerway.com/matches/20...louse-fc/football-croix-de-savoie-74/1114887/
Looks like Westberg made the bench for the Cup game today. Evian lost 3-2 at Rennes. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match/_/id/336954?cc=5901
Random update: Westberg has made the bench for 5 out of the 10 league games since I last posted. It looks like he's been alternating with Johan Durand for the backup role to Stephen Andersen.
Westberg's contract is up in June. He made two starts this season, and made the bench about 10 times. Hopefully he can get a starting job somewhere in France, or maybe MLS. I could see him in Toronto for sure.
Toronto would be a good spot if Frei is out for long term due to his broken leg. Frei is a very good keeper, he is the only thing that has kept TFC in games.
Seltzer talks w/ Westberg. He turned 26 this year and has played his entire career in France. Sounds like he's happy enough at Evian. I don't see an MLS move.
L'Equipe.fr has just reported that Westberg has signed with Luzenac which plays in National (French 3rd division) and barely avoided relegation last season. Good luck to him and hopefully he gets PT over there. http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Westberg-a-luzenac/290011 http://www.usluzenac.info/?p=6662
gotta go where you can start, if he can impress there then someone will snap him up in ligue 2. remembering back at the youth games i saw he wasnt exactly a bad keeper. guys with skill have the tendency to rise and he will too
Westberg spent several seasons as a backup with Troyes in Ligue 1, then in Ligue 2. They were relegated again and he started for them in the National division. Despite bouncing back up, they parted ways and he signed on with Evian in Ligue 2. He was a backup there and was a sometimes-backup, sometimes-3rd string GK last season in Ligue 1. National is the only place he's ever been able to start before, so I don't think it's actually that low for him.
He made four league starts when called upon and notably was in net when they beat Marseille in the Coupe de France. However, he was behind Bertrand Laquait in the pecking order. In Ligue 1, Laquait got injured and Westberg got a few starts (in one of them, he really shot himself in the foot with a very bad gaffe). Evian ended up picking up Stephan Andersen from Brøndby, who were selling off all their good players due to financial issues. Andersen is currently Denmark's #1 and he started the rest of the season. Westberg alternated making the bench with Johann Durand.
Bad day at the office for Westberg and company as they played a man down for about 35 minutes after Ndoh was ejected and lost 1-4. From the match report it appears Luzenac had issues with defending on corner kicks.
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/espnfcunited/id/11712?cc=5901 Very, very interesting piece on Westberg's club. I wasn't aware that Luzenac is one of these 'ambitious project' teams. Westberg cited as one of two high profile additions. Some good quotes from him. Club is in second halfway through the season and seven points clear in a promotion spot.
I'm shocked that he's only 27. Also, the best part from that article: Goalkeepers be crazy. EDIT: Also worth noting, Luzenac are currently second in the Championnat National with 35 points after 17 matches. Top three get promoted, and they're 7 points clear of fourth. Also have the joint-second best defensive record in the league. http://www.fff.fr/championnats/fff/...t-national/phase-1/poule-1/derniers-resultats