From: dvlkhh@cs.umu.se
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: French half-season analysis (sort of)
Date: 30 Dec 1992 13:21:46 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

HAPPY NEW YAR TO ALL OUT THERE! 
Remember that the vote for R.S.S. Player of the Year starts 1st of January
at 00.00 CET. All Mails received from that date will be counted if it
includes five players in order according to the rules earlier stated.

LE CHAMPIONNAT MIDSEASON ANALYSIS

STANDINGS - after 19 weeks:

TEAM                         PL   WON  DRAWN LOST  GF-GA   PTS
==============================================================
1. FC Nantes-Loire-Atlantique   19   10   6     3     35-18   26

Canaries on top? Which statement would have made us laugh at the start of the 
season especially in June when they were in the second division for a short 
while. The very low budget Nantes squad have made wonders under Suaudeau
The players are young and hungry and have quite some talent, especially in the 
attack. (Like Ouedec, Loko and Pedros). The strange thing is that they have
the same team as last season, but perform on a very different level. David 
Marraud has his best season ever, possibly because of the competition he gets
from the young prospect Loussouarn?! Anyway, the last weeks before the break
have seen Canaries having quite some trouble and I expect them to fade away
from the title challenge and fight for a place in Europe. Though, next season
when the players have got one more year, they will truly be a team to beat
and fight for the title.

2. AJ Auxerre                   19   11   4     4     35-18   26

Auxerre in shared lead? Well, hardly a surprise that they are close to the
top, but shared lead? If we look at the squad they have, it's not really 
surprising. A very strong attack with Cocard, Dutuel, Baticle, Martins etc
makes them score a lot of a heck of goals! Add to that Bruno Martini, the 
national keeper in goal, you have a very solid side. They are almost unbeatable
at Abbe-Deschams. Their only drawback is there inconsistencies on the road,
if they start to be solid away from home, they are going to be a real
champion. That makes me things that their away from will cost them the 
championship this season.

3. AS Monaco                    19   11   4     4     29-14   26

The Monegasques made some very strange transferring before the season, giving
Georges Weah away to Paris Saint Germain and instead going for Klinnsmann
(a far worse player, not of the same class). They also lost Roger Mendy in the
heart of their defence. This meant that the season started in chaos, many 
goals conceeded and too few scored. Add to that an early exit from the 
Cup Winners' Cup when the cup looked to be settled for them! They were
in disarray, still they turned it around and closed the gap they had given up
to the top sides and are on the same points as the leaders. So, what does
this mean? Well, Monaco can only get better with more games to play the team 
together! They have many players to pick from, except for the defence, and 
they are very solid for the moment, even though they do a bit poorly on the 
road. I actually think that Monaco are very close to winning the league, they 
might even do it.

4. Olympique de Marseille       18   9    7     2     27-18   25

L'Oheme want their fifth championship to get an old time record and despite
all the criticism they might get, they can still do it! They have still lots
of Internationals in their books while they lost Jean-Pierre Papin and Chris
Waddle they got Rudi Voeller and Alen Boksic, the latter of these is really
worth much now! The team does not hold the same qualities as they did and they
don't play as wonderful, footballing-wise, but they get the results. They have
played very poorly for the first four months of the season while having played
well lately, so they are on the way up. Despite playing bad, they got many 
points and are undoubtedly in the running. I still doubt that they will win 
though, they have just two key players, Fabien Barthez and Alen Boksic and if 
these two don't work, things won't go well. No championship for Marseille this 
year, if I'm right.

5. Paris-Saint-Germain FC       19   9    6     4     34-15   24

FIFTH?! Just fifth?!?! My predicted chamions are trying to disappoint me...
Oh well, they are just two point adrfit and that is not much in this stage
of the season. The last matches have been very tough for them, they have still
a very good and complete squad, probably the most complete in the league. They
are not as sensible for injuries, they have a very good bench in all 
departments. Still, I think the last five matches of the season when they are
playing five top sides in a row will cost them the championship. Add to
that a possible UEFA Cup final which I think they will be in and even win,
so they will end up a few points of the pace. If Weah doesn't return to his
true self, they might even miss out of Europe though, it's SO close...

6. FC Girondins de Bordeaux     19   9    5     5     21-16   23

My beloved are back in the champinship and almost there they belong. I.e.
on top! It seems that my goal of the season which also is reported to be
the goal of President Alain Afflelou is will beyond reach, an UEFA Cup spot.
The problem is that we don't beat top sides on the road, if we did that we 
would be a very serious contender for the title. I still think we can get 
enough points to reach an UEFA Cup spot with just a bit of luck. I hope I'm 
right!!!
And the Cup is wide-open, the draw will decide it, that's for sure.

7. RC Strasbourg                19   6    9     4     32-29   21

Racing's performance so far this season should definitely kill all arguing about
which was the best second division group last year: i.e. B. They score many
goals and have lots of fans so they are well worth this. Actually, they might
be title challengers next season if they can get their defence to act together.
I think Racing will continue to score lots of goals while conceeding almost
as much and stay around 7-10th position and be very tough next season.
So, we might have SEVEN teams fighting for the title next year, already
looking forward, aren't you?

8. AS Saint-Etienne             19   7    6     6     16-14   20

The Greens have a very good defence with oldtimer goalie Joseph-Antoine Bell
holding many clean sheets. Their problem is their attack where Etienne Mendy
and Lubomir Moravcik are too alone. If Stephanois started scoring more 
frequently, they would be a top side. Tehy don't, so they are doomed to a 
midsstandings position.

9. Montpellier Herault SC       19   8    4     7     20-20   20

Montpellier got a dream start, but when they started to meet top sides, they 
started to fade away. They have the typical French syndrome, good at home, weak
away. The bright points are Gerard Gili, one of the best trainers working
in France and some good forwards. The problem is that Olivier Pickeu stopped
to score and Fabrice Divert continued to be the no #1 change waster in France.
I hardly understand what's wrong with Divert! If Montpellier find their act
together will be a tough team to beat...

10. Olympique Lyonnais           19   3    13    3     19-19   19

L'Ohele like to draw, have you noticed? Bernard Lacombe has surely made
some impact on the team, from relegation candidates to draw specialists...
They have conceeded fewer goals and score more, but still too few to return
into contest. If they start winning, things might be interesting again
at Gerland.

11. FC Sochaux-Montbeliard       19   7    5     7     16-28   19

Last season Sochaux struggled to avoid relegation and before this season
they lost some key players without any spectacular signings. So, I expected
them to be at the cellar or close to, but instead they are a conssistent side.
Many points at home at Bonal and few away, but enough especially against
the weak teams. Tehy will undoubtedly stay up, I don't understand why, 
though.

12. Stade Malherbe Caen-C-B-N    19   5    5     8     27-24   17

Les Malherbistes started the season in really bad shape, but suddenly
a certain guy listening to the name Xavier Gravelaine popped up and 
started scoring goals as a new Papin! He marched into the National Team and
will probably stay there. He is the new star of the French league and
the big question is who will get him for next season??? All top sides will
be fightinfg for his signature, I just wish Girondins are in the running...
Caen will certainly lose their goldmine and the question is what they will/
would be without him. If he hadn't been there now, I think Caen would have
been dommed since Stephane Paille isn't very effective these days.

13. Havre AC                     19   5    7     7     20-26   17

Last year's cinderella team have find out that it isn't the first season in
the top flight which is hardest, it's the one coming after that. The problem
is that the LHAC defence aren't as solid as it used to be, the forward line
is still too weak even if Gourouli certainly is a better buy than Danek was.
If the solidity returns to the defence and the forwards stat scoring, they will
return to last season's results.

14. FC Metz                      19   3    9     7     21-27   15

The Lorraine side seem doomed to another midtable struggle. The new signings,
mainly from local rivals Nancy, were not enough to put them in contest for any
glory and the lost Francois Calderaro, who hasn't settled too well at PSG,
haven't been fully replaced. Chaouch seemed to fill that, but stopped to score
and now they are really struggling, they might even be involved in the
relegation battle if they aren't careful.

15. Toulouse FC                  19   3    9     7     17-23   15

The start of the season was really bloody awful for TFC, but the sacking of
the manager and the new one, Serge Delmas, trully turned things around. They
are still close to the bottom, but I think they will survive and end up in the
middle of the pack. Vaclav Nemecek was really a good addition to the side while
the loss of Fabien Barthez proved costly, though Alain Casanova seem to
have sorted that out nicely.

16. RC Lens                      19   3    8     8     18-32   14

Just another team with problems at the start of the season. In Lens case
it was the defence who cooked, the loss of Bernard Lama was very hard to bear.
Guillaume Warmuz had big problems at the beginning to prove that he is of D1
qualities. He has improved largely and so has the defence got some confidence
back. They hoped that Nasko Sirakov, the Levski top scorer, should help
their attack, but he hasn't yet find it as easy to score in France as it was
back in Bulgaria. To help this Francois Omam-Biyik was signed and he has
improved the attack enormously. I think the hordes of lyal Racing fans will
see first division action at Felix-Bollaert even next season.

17. US Valenciennes-Anzin        19   3    7     9     20-28   13

The third promoted team knew that the players they had were not enough 
to hold them up, so they went out for some quality players like Thierry
Fernier (had to start with him!), Jorge Burruchaga, Kalman Kovacs and 
Christophe Robert. The season start terrific, but after some time these four
top players started to settle in the squad and the results started to come.
The Nordiste side will have a tough spring to come and will fight their lives
for a new contract. I think they will get it.

18. Nimes Olympique              19   2    9     8     20-31   13

NO are really in trouble this season, Lionel Perez is still an excellent
goalie, but he can't do everything, his defence is sometimes a joke.
Laurent Blanc was indeed a spectacular signing, but he has still to fix lots
of problems for Nimes. The attack are weak since Monczuk isn't in the best
of shapes at the moemnt. The spring will be VERY tough for them.

---------------------------------------------------------------
19. Lille OSC                    18   3    7     8      7-22   13

It's no wonder that the fans at Grimonprez-Jooris are crying for blood as
their team is playing. Just seven goals in 18 matches are FAR too little. And
the defence are not of top class either. Jean-Claude Nadon makes all he can,
but if he shall save them they need to score some more goals. To me their
problems seem overwhelming and I don't think they will succeed in fixing them.
The last match before the break saw a glimse of light, though, so the hope 
aren't over, yet.

20. SC Toulon et du Var          19   2    8     9     13-26   12

Luc Borelli is the only star the Varois have since Xuereb is over his peak,
it seems. Their defence is in bad shape and they rely too much on poor Borelli
he has already saved many points this season and will undoubtedly do that in
the spring, too. If Toulon should avoid relegation they need to fullfil
one of the below criterias:
1. Their youngsters must stand the pressure and imrpove. Or:
2. A new player of Leonardo Rodriguez standard must be signed ASAP.
Otherwise, they are going down.

It's very hard to make any conclusions since we have six teams in just three
points and all of them can win the league, it looks. Still, I have to make
some kind of prediction to conclude this article with.... It's really just
a try I expect to have many errors here:

1  Champion: Monaco!
2  Auxerre
3  Paris Saint Germain
4  Olympique Marseille
5  Girondins de Bordeaux, Cup Winners (with a good draw :-))
6  FC Nantes
7  Montpellier
8  Saint Etienne
9  Racing Strasbourg
10 Le Havre
11 Toulouse
12 Caen
13 Olympique Lyonnais
14 Lens
15 Sochaux
16 Metz
17 Valenciennes
18 Nimes
19 Toulon, Relegated
20 Lille, Relegated

Since I have very little knowledge of the current second division teams I just
pick the new D1 teams out of the bleu:
Promoted:
Rouen
Nancy


Now, I'm eagerly waiting for your comments and analysis and your predictions!

Kent
-- 
+---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
| Kent Hedlundh             | Les Girondins pour une place Europeene en 1993! |
| Dept. of Computer Science | France and Sweden for the WC'94!                |
| University of Umea        | Try DUMII! 130.239.24.66 2001    !              |
| S-90187 UMEA     SWEDEN   | E-Mail: dvlkhh@cs.umu.se     IP: 130.239.96.17  |
+---------------------------+-------------------------------------------------+
               "It's always good to talk soccer!" - Marco Petroni
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