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Ligue 1 - 2017-18

Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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I'll let you know what the whole Lyon experience was like. Football, food and whatever happens.

Cheers. Apart from being the gastronomic capital of the world (according to my Lyonaise mate), they have a great young team right now and a swanky new stadium too.
 

Bus-Conductor

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Jeez, this is like a BC batsignal you just sent up here and I see our 'Gallic' superhero has already answered your call.:D If you guys threw in a foray slightly south to pick up a tactical Serie B nil-nil between Novara and Pro Vercelli he would self-combust.

To his credit his knowledge of Ligue 1 is far more comprehensive than mine. I mainly follow 1 team (actually 1.5 teams now and all the big/interesting matchups) and it happens to be the team of that particular gastronomic hotspot. So jealous of your trip.

To the players, yes, Fekir is a very good player. For me he is levels above our proposed transfer target Malcom, whose play as of late is less than inspiring (anonymous vs Rennes the other day and left out of the team in a contest previous). Fekir was on fire before his ACL and seems to have returned to that form if not better now.

Tanguy NDombele: Tough because of our history with 'N-type' French players but he is a 'Dembele' so that's a plus.:) Interesting that you will see the Amiens game as that is NDombele's parent club. He is on loan this season with an option that most definitely will be picked up...unless Daniel can finagle a 'Toby-Atleti-Soton'-type situation.:sneaky: He has been played throughout the midfield and shone in all positions. Although he has ability (strength, decent left foot, very decent recovery pace and defensive desire) he would definitely have to learn to play more conservatively with the ball in the PL were he to make a move. He can definitely beat a man in the MF. Maybe not to our Dembele's level but it is impressive. He also knows how to both position his body and use his strength/leverage to protect the ball ie he shows very decent press resistance. I like him a lot and he is a more rounded player than any of our midfielders. I saw BC make the comment in reference to Doucoure than these types of players are dime a dozen in Ligue 1 and I would tend to agree with him but NDombele's footballing ability is beyond this.

Aouar: Just might be special. He knows what is going on around him. This sounds a simple statement but so many present day MFs don't. The 360* game is hard and with the prevalence of the 4231 it is less a necessity but this kids seems to have it. He is only 19 FFS and he showed me something this weekend that was beyond impressive. Drawing to what is effectively their Chelsea (assuming ASSE still counts as their Arsenal...which they do considering the Fekir-inspired pitch invasion that occurred earlier this year) at HT and having a so-so game he comes out in the second half, ups his game and begins to dictate the proceedings. Yeah, I speaking about a 19 year old. His composure and presence was impressive. He was rewarded for his efforts with a nice goal taken first time from just outside the box. Unfortunately, he had to leave the game for a knock/cramp. This kid has promise. He's no shrimp but he could stand to eat a meal or two but he is only 19.

Mendy: Not really sure what BC has said in the transfer thread but I agree with his sentiments here. He is another that is in his first year at Lyon. He comes from the same academy at City's Mendy (Benjamin) but don't believe they are related. What is related between these feckers is a powerful thick-legged run that will surprise you when you realize just how fast they are.

Lyon's Mendy (Ferland) does not have the superior delivery like Benjamin. I have seen decent crosses but Lyon's play is less reliant than our's on this. What he does have is the ability to run/dribble with the ball, beat a man, and pass it. He is a good player that I could definitely see and would love to see at Spurs. He has it all to be a good LB but he would need the Poch treatment. I do see more in him at LB or LWB than I do Sessegnon but he does have him by 4 years (but very similar first team experience). But I'm talking defensive instincts here.

Gastronomy: Pretty sure you will enjoy this. It was some of the best eats I've ever had as it was both objectively good and 'expensed'. Not much better than good, free food that is prepared for you.:) BC would disagree here as I probably didn't show the requisite 'effort'. But then again I heard he didn't rate the recently deceased Paul Bocuse because of his knife skills or something. What I'm saying is BC's a stickler. :D

EDIT: By the length you can tell I started this a while ago. Only saw the first reply. slow tot he party again. What can you expect though when you mention French footie in general, Lyon in particular, and food...BC gonna BC and I would expect nothing less.


Just to add, agree on NDombele being a cut above (I meant Ligue1 has a Doucoure in every team almost - but I don't think he's that special, NDombele I think is).

Also, I think Lyon's Mendy's delivery is on it's way to being every bit as good as his City/Monaco namesake. He (Lyon Mendy) also can play a deft pass in forward areas too. He's not all "Walker". I think he's going to be a good'un.
 

heelspurs

Le filet mignon est un bastion de rosbif
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Just to add, agree on NDombele being a cut above (I meant Ligue1 has a Doucoure in every team almost - but I don't think he's that special, NDombele I think is).
Yes, that is how I understood your sentiment and was agreeing with. That is most teams but PSG ironically. And it's exactly what they need but sent off to Juventus.

Also agree with you about Doucoure not being that special but he is a unicorn in the PL and that might tempt Poch because of PL-proven. Hope it doesn't and he looks further afield.

aside: just saw the worst 'finish'by Paulinho after a great dribble by Coutinho. Two yards out and he hit the shot right back where it came from. He probably had 120-130* of angle to hit it in but hit it at 180*. Luckily he jsut redeemed himself with a headed goal.

Also, I think Lyon's Mendy's delivery is on it's way to being every bit as good as his City/Monaco namesake. He (Lyon Mendy) also can play a deft pass in forward areas too. He's not all "Walker". I think he's going to be a good'un.
Might just be the confidence after the step up from Ligue 2. He seems to have a lot of what is needed to be successful in the PL. He would be cheap also. I just think that our dealings this summer will be complicated by the homegrown predicament.

I sensed a little pushback on your part re: Lyon's food. Was that just freindly rivalry or did you really not rate the food there? Admittedly, any place saying they are the best in the world is silly but it is a great place to dine.
 

GobbyJJ

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Jan 31, 2013
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Looking forward to seeing Fekir but from your greater knowledge it seems Mendy & NDombele maybe more likely signings for THFC. Hopefully they all play and I will keep you informed of how they played. I’ll also let you know what I think about the culinary delights of Lyon
 

Bus-Conductor

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Yes, that is how I understood your sentiment and was agreeing with. That is most teams but PSG ironically. And it's exactly what they need but sent off to Juventus.

Also agree with you about Doucoure not being that special but he is a unicorn in the PL and that might tempt Poch because of PL-proven. Hope it doesn't and he looks further afield.

aside: just saw the worst 'finish'by Paulinho after a great dribble by Coutinho. Two yards out and he hit the shot right back where it came from. He probably had 120-130* of angle to hit it in but hit it at 180*. Luckily he jsut redeemed himself with a headed goal.


Might just be the confidence after the step up from Ligue 2. He seems to have a lot of what is needed to be successful in the PL. He would be cheap also. I just think that our dealings this summer will be complicated by the homegrown predicament.

I sensed a little pushback on your part re: Lyon's food. Was that just freindly rivalry or did you really not rate the food there? Admittedly, any place saying they are the best in the world is silly but it is a great place to dine.

Nah, Lyon is a fabulous place for food, but the Lyonaise are as famous for their food snobbery as they are for their wonderful food.
 

Danners9

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I'm not into French Football, but there's a fun interview in France Football magazine about Ben Arfa's time at PSG. Some tweets:

Get French Football
‏@GFFN

Hatem Ben Arfa told Unai Emery in the spring of 2017 after Barcelona's remontada that he would never pass the quarter-finals of the Champions' League, even with the best team in the world, according to France Football.

Hatem Ben Arfa was also known to do little imitations of PSG manager Unai Emery's attempts to speak French for the other players. (FF)

Dani Alves requested that PSG Sporting Director duo Antero Henrique & Maxwell reinstate Hatem Ben Arfa into the 1st team, who he nicknames "Fenomeno" because of his brilliant abilities in training - without success, according to France Football.

At the end of a training session in April 2017, Hatem Ben Arfa joked to the Emir of Qatar Al Thani about how he was more accessible than President Al Khelaifi, who had been dodging meetings with the Frenchman. Al Khelaifi, humiliated, ensured Ben Arfa didn't play for PSG again.

Hatem Ben Arfa announced on Instagram last week that he is leaving PSG when his contract ends this summer - he is now thinking about how best to celebrate his birthday on April 5th & is tempted to bring everyone pizza in the PSG dressing room to provoke the club's staff. (FF)

In an autumn 2016 training session, Unai Emery said the following to Hatem Ben Arfa after the latter was being particularly selfish on the ball: "Stop taking yourself for Messi. You're not Messi." (FF)

5 months following his arrival, then PSG Director of Football Patrick Kluivert told Hatem Ben Arfa: "You have to leave, the manager doesn't want you, we have found you a club, Fenerbahce, you'll see Turkey is a good league." Ben Arfa ignored him. (FF)

Last summer, a Hatem Ben Arfa + money - Jean Michaël Seri swap deal was in the works on transfer deadline day, with Mario Balotelli even calling Ben Arfa to make him come back to Nice - everything else was agreed, but Ben Arfa said no. (FF)

Hatem Ben Arfa has previously been spotted by a PSG employee eating a kebab in the Camp des Loges training ground parking lot, according to @parisunited6's new book.
 

GobbyJJ

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Jan 31, 2013
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Am off to Lyon on Friday to watch game vs Amiens. Know very little about Amiens but am really excited by the whole Lyon experience. Looks like a great little stadium & really looking forward to the gastronomic delights Lyon has to offer. Can’ Wait to see N’Dombele, Aouar, Mendy ( who I can see being a possibile future target) and the reemergence of Depay. Am a bit gutted tho, one of the the main reasons Lyon was selected as the destination of my boys weekend was that I wanted to see a fit Fekir in person. Does BC or anyone else know how his injury problems are going?
 

Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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Am off to Lyon on Friday to watch game vs Amiens. Know very little about Amiens but am really excited by the whole Lyon experience. Looks like a great little stadium & really looking forward to the gastronomic delights Lyon has to offer. Can’ Wait to see N’Dombele, Aouar, Mendy ( who I can see being a possibile future target) and the reemergence of Depay. Am a bit gutted tho, one of the the main reasons Lyon was selected as the destination of my boys weekend was that I wanted to see a fit Fekir in person. Does BC or anyone else know how his injury problems are going?

He was due back a week ago. Not sure what's going on. He did his knee in, the scoped it a month ago and said he should be back in three weeks?
 

GobbyJJ

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Bit gutted Fekir may not be fit but have got other good players too. Am really excited about the game and the whole weekend. The gastronomic delights of Lyon should be something else hopefully.
 

Bus-Conductor

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Bit gutted Fekir may not be fit but have got other good players too. Am really excited about the game and the whole weekend. The gastronomic delights of Lyon should be something else hopefully.

Funnily enough, they were talking about the gastronomic delights of Lyon on one of the footie podcasts (Guardian I think).
 

haxman

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Jan 14, 2007
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PSG 4-0 Monaco after just 30 mins, an attacking masterclass so far. 100 goals in the league and counting and they win the title tonight.

Zero competition for them in this league when they can take the team in 2nd place apart like this but they're still great to watch.
 

ardiles

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Nov 24, 2006
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PSG 4-0 Monaco after just 30 mins, an attacking masterclass so far. 100 goals in the league and counting and they win the title tonight.

Zero competition for them in this league when they can take the team in 2nd place apart like this but they're still great to watch.

And Sidibe being stretchered out. Bad day for Monaco in more ways that one.
 

Bus-Conductor

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Oct 19, 2004
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PSG 4-0 Monaco after just 30 mins, an attacking masterclass so far. 100 goals in the league and counting and they win the title tonight.

Zero competition for them in this league when they can take the team in 2nd place apart like this but they're still great to watch.

ManC could have sealed the PL last week and Bayern did in Germany.
 

haxman

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ManC could have sealed the PL last week and Bayern did in Germany.
Not been a great year for competitive title races alright. It's telling when PSG came up against proper quality in the CL that they ended up getting dumped out. It wasn't close either.
 

GobbyJJ

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Funnily enough, they were talking about the gastronomic delights of Lyon on one of the footie podcasts (Guardian I think).
As said previously I spent the weekend in Lyon and went to a game. Must say I was VERY impressed by the stadium. The whole experience will hopefully be replicated in our stadium. The legroom was great and from the images I've seen ours may even be bigger. The lager we drank was so much nicer than at OWHL (not difficult) and served in sturdy plastic beakers that the customers could take home with them. Maybe something we could replicate. Merchandising and advertisement? The hard-core element were in their Kop end and didn't stop chanting and singing all game. They were led by around 6 or 7 guys at the front who never turned to watch the game. There was at least 1 megaphone and 20 large flags. This was all done in the lower tier from what must have been approximately 7000 fans. To think the noise and atmosphere that could be generated by 20000 in our South Stand could be awe inspiring. My two friends I went with are West Ham season ticket holders and were left dumbstruck to how different thing were to the Olympic Stadium. They still couldn't believe a visit to the WC and getting a drink was possible at half time without leaving before the end of the half. They told me they wouldn't have gotten back to the pitch until 10 minutes of the second half.

The football was pretty good too. Must say I wasn't studying the football intently, as I was soaking up the atmosphere and experience. Went to Frankfurt last year and the football here was much better although really enjoyed the football, beer and sausages experience. Aouer & Mendy made some nice touches although I would probably need to see more to give a proper measured analysis of them. The star of the game was really Memphis Depay. Scored a really great goal and always looked good. Wonder if he may be an option for us as I'm sure he could play as one of the AM's and give us an option to rest Kane. Haven't seen enough of him but on this form we should definitely consider it. Don't know about cost. Following recommendations by BC, Heelspurs and others I really was excited to see Fekir. Can you imagine my disappointment when he's been injured for a month. I was in part relieved when I saw his name among the subs. He came on with 12 minutes to go and was majorly involved in 2 goals. All I can say in that 12 minutes he looked a different gravy. Although admittedly it was only a small sample to watch, he maybe the truly world class player we are missing to take us to the next level. How much would he cost? 60mill? 70mill?

If anything doesn't make sense then I apologise but it was a heavy weekend. The food was incredible and the city of Lyon was lovely. The people were warm and friendly. I shall be going back and would recommend it for a lovely weekend away.
 
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Danners9

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Unai Emery says he is leaving PSG at the end of the season.

Reckon they'll go for Wenger?
 

Marty

Audere est farce
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Unai Emery says he is leaving PSG at the end of the season.

Reckon they'll go for Wenger?
Tuchel is nailed on according to Rafa Honigstein, who knows German managers inside out, and Julien Laurens, the biggest PSG fanboy in the world of journalism.
 

Danners9

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Tuchel is nailed on according to Rafa Honigstein, who knows German managers inside out, and Julien Laurens, the biggest PSG fanboy in the world of journalism.
Ah yes, I'd seen that. Now Emery has announced he's leaving, they might be able to announce it.
 
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