[FR] Ligue 1 2005/06 (1 Viewer)
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Sochaux have moved to cater for Sylvain Monsoreau's likely departure by completing the signing of Rabiu Afolabi.
The Austria Vienna stopper has penned a four-year deal at Stade Bonal despite the current uncertainty surrounding the future direction of the club.
Marseille had also reportedly shown an interest in the 25-year-old, although he will now link up with his new team-mates at Ligue 1's tenth placed side.
Impressive youngster Monsoreau is expected to move onto greater heights with either Lyon or Werder Bremen, and Sochaux will be hoping that new man Afolabi will be able to slot into his place with ease.
In a bid to improve the options in the Lionceaux squad, the club are also reportedly stepping up their interest in Liverpool's Bruno Cheyrou.
The Merseyside misfit spent the season on loan at Marseille, and Sochaux are believed to have approached the UEFA Champions League winners regarding a similar one-year agreement.
Whilst the French outfit continue to shuffle their playing personnel the future of coach Guy Lacombe at Stade Bonal remains cloudly.
Lacombe has been slated as a possible contender for the Bordeaux job, after being heavily linked with a summer exit, although Sochaux supremo Jean-Claude Plessis has now stated that the tactician could yet remain at the club.
"I had phone calls with him on Saturday and Tuesday, it went smoothly" said Plessis.
"He should be back at Sochaux on June 23 but before that date things can still happen."
The Austria Vienna stopper has penned a four-year deal at Stade Bonal despite the current uncertainty surrounding the future direction of the club.
Marseille had also reportedly shown an interest in the 25-year-old, although he will now link up with his new team-mates at Ligue 1's tenth placed side.
Impressive youngster Monsoreau is expected to move onto greater heights with either Lyon or Werder Bremen, and Sochaux will be hoping that new man Afolabi will be able to slot into his place with ease.
In a bid to improve the options in the Lionceaux squad, the club are also reportedly stepping up their interest in Liverpool's Bruno Cheyrou.
The Merseyside misfit spent the season on loan at Marseille, and Sochaux are believed to have approached the UEFA Champions League winners regarding a similar one-year agreement.
Whilst the French outfit continue to shuffle their playing personnel the future of coach Guy Lacombe at Stade Bonal remains cloudly.
Lacombe has been slated as a possible contender for the Bordeaux job, after being heavily linked with a summer exit, although Sochaux supremo Jean-Claude Plessis has now stated that the tactician could yet remain at the club.
"I had phone calls with him on Saturday and Tuesday, it went smoothly" said Plessis.
"He should be back at Sochaux on June 23 but before that date things can still happen."
French champions Lyon have the won the chase for Sochaux defender Sylvain Monsoreau.
The centre half had attracted the attention of Everton and Southampton, although the English duo shied away from making a bid for the stopper.
Werder Bremen appeared close to signing Monsoreau after the 24-year-old visited the German club's training facilities.
There were reports that the centre half had verbally agreed a deal with Bremen but he is due to sign for Lyon in the next 24 hours.
Lyon will fork out €4 million for the former France Under-21 international, with Sochaux confirming a deal is in place.
"Lyon will send me a fax that I will sign," said Sochaux chairman Jean-Claude Plessis.
"You know, when Jean-Michel Aulas and I give our word that is equal to any signature.
"If nothing has changed, Monsoreau will be a Lyon player."
Sochaux have already brought in Rabiu Afolabi as a replacement for Monsoreau and are close to signing Switzerland starlet Arnaud Buhler.
Auxerre had been interested in the defender but Buhler, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Aarau from Liverpool, will sign a four-year contract at Sochaux if he passes a medical on Tuesday.
Lille captain Philippe Brunel and Liverpool flop Bruno Cheyrou are other targets for Sochaux, with Plessis to decide upon the duo this week.
"We have to see if those players want to come," he added. "I will have meetings with them this week."
The centre half had attracted the attention of Everton and Southampton, although the English duo shied away from making a bid for the stopper.
Werder Bremen appeared close to signing Monsoreau after the 24-year-old visited the German club's training facilities.
There were reports that the centre half had verbally agreed a deal with Bremen but he is due to sign for Lyon in the next 24 hours.
Lyon will fork out €4 million for the former France Under-21 international, with Sochaux confirming a deal is in place.
"Lyon will send me a fax that I will sign," said Sochaux chairman Jean-Claude Plessis.
"You know, when Jean-Michel Aulas and I give our word that is equal to any signature.
"If nothing has changed, Monsoreau will be a Lyon player."
Sochaux have already brought in Rabiu Afolabi as a replacement for Monsoreau and are close to signing Switzerland starlet Arnaud Buhler.
Auxerre had been interested in the defender but Buhler, who spent the past two seasons on loan at Aarau from Liverpool, will sign a four-year contract at Sochaux if he passes a medical on Tuesday.
Lille captain Philippe Brunel and Liverpool flop Bruno Cheyrou are other targets for Sochaux, with Plessis to decide upon the duo this week.
"We have to see if those players want to come," he added. "I will have meetings with them this week."
Norway striker John Carew has joined French champions Olympique Lyon on a four-year deal from Besiktas worth 7.65 million euros. Lyon wanted an experienced striker to strengthen their attack in an attempt to improve their Champions League record.
"It's a great news since the club's priority was to recruit a forward. He is experienced and there is no doubt he will be a plus for Lyon," club president Jean-Michel Aulas said on Sunday.
They have failed to go beyond the quarter-finals in the competition for the last two seasons.
"We were looking for a powerful and pacy striker to have more options up front, especially in the European competitions where it gets usually more physical," said coach Gerard Houllier.
The four-times champions have also targeted Morocco and Girondins Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh and AJ Auxerre's Zimbabwean forward Benjani Mwaruwari.
Carew, 25, joined Turkish side Besiktas last season after a year with AS Roma.
He played for Valencia from 2000 to 2003, scoring 20 goals in 84 Primera Liga games before going on loan to Roma.
Since Houllier took over as coach from Paul Le Guen last month, Lyon have also signed France midfielder Benoit Pedretti from Olympique Marseille and Sochaux defender Sylvain Monsoreau.
They also expressed an interest in Liverpool striker Milan Baros but the Czech said he was not interested in leaving the European champions.
"It's a great news since the club's priority was to recruit a forward. He is experienced and there is no doubt he will be a plus for Lyon," club president Jean-Michel Aulas said on Sunday.
They have failed to go beyond the quarter-finals in the competition for the last two seasons.
"We were looking for a powerful and pacy striker to have more options up front, especially in the European competitions where it gets usually more physical," said coach Gerard Houllier.
The four-times champions have also targeted Morocco and Girondins Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh and AJ Auxerre's Zimbabwean forward Benjani Mwaruwari.
Carew, 25, joined Turkish side Besiktas last season after a year with AS Roma.
He played for Valencia from 2000 to 2003, scoring 20 goals in 84 Primera Liga games before going on loan to Roma.
Since Houllier took over as coach from Paul Le Guen last month, Lyon have also signed France midfielder Benoit Pedretti from Olympique Marseille and Sochaux defender Sylvain Monsoreau.
They also expressed an interest in Liverpool striker Milan Baros but the Czech said he was not interested in leaving the European champions.
Marseille are busy trying to make a number of moves in the transfer market.
The Stade Velodrome outfit, always actively involved when the window is open, are exploring a number of options with coach Jean Fernandez keen to strengthen his side.
L'OM missed out on Mateja Kezman, who has sealed his move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, and are facing a fight with West Ham over top target Mamadou Niang.
"Chelsea wanted the whole wages to be paid by the club," confirmed chairman Pape Diouf. "It was already difficult to match that but Atletico proposed a definitive transfer.
"The fight became unequal."
As for Niang, the Strasbourg striker has been the subject of an offer from West Ham that exceeds the bid on the table from Marseille.
"The problem is simple," Diouf revealed. "We want him but not at any price.
"We want a fee that matches the boy's value and the market. We remain calm."
Strasbourg want €8 million for the highly-rated hit-man but l'OM will only go to €6 million.
Marseille are also still keen on Panathinaikos star Angelos Basinas and the midfielder is rumoured to prefer a switch to France.
Birmingham City have made a better offer for the Euro 2004 star and are expected to meet the player in Nice on Wednesday, even though Marseille remain in the background.
The Stade Velodrome outfit, always actively involved when the window is open, are exploring a number of options with coach Jean Fernandez keen to strengthen his side.
L'OM missed out on Mateja Kezman, who has sealed his move from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, and are facing a fight with West Ham over top target Mamadou Niang.
"Chelsea wanted the whole wages to be paid by the club," confirmed chairman Pape Diouf. "It was already difficult to match that but Atletico proposed a definitive transfer.
"The fight became unequal."
As for Niang, the Strasbourg striker has been the subject of an offer from West Ham that exceeds the bid on the table from Marseille.
"The problem is simple," Diouf revealed. "We want him but not at any price.
"We want a fee that matches the boy's value and the market. We remain calm."
Strasbourg want €8 million for the highly-rated hit-man but l'OM will only go to €6 million.
Marseille are also still keen on Panathinaikos star Angelos Basinas and the midfielder is rumoured to prefer a switch to France.
Birmingham City have made a better offer for the Euro 2004 star and are expected to meet the player in Nice on Wednesday, even though Marseille remain in the background.
Paris Saint-Germain appear to be the best placed team to challenge Lyon’s supremacy next season after spending wisely in the summer.
Having picked themselves up from last season’s disappointments, the side from the capital are piecing together a strong squad. And without the distraction of Europe this time around, they can focus their attention purely on winning the Ligue 1 title.
The side seemed to bond better in the final months of the season, after Laurent Fournier had replaced Vahid Halilhodzic as Coach, and it was no surprise that the former PSG defender was asked to stay on.
Fournier has succeeded in landing his top two summer targets – Bonaventure Kalou (Auxerre) and Vikash Dhorasoo (AC Milan) – as well as Czech Republic centre-back David Rozehnal (FC Bruges) and midfielder Christophe Landrin (Lille).
Kalou, arguably the most gifted attacking player in France right now, is a superb acquisition, while Dhorasoo’s intelligent passing and penetrating dribbles will give the team another dimension.
With Jérôme Rothen, Edouard Cissé, Lorik Cana and Modeste M’Bami already on the books, Fournier will be spoilt for choice in midfield, while the prospect of Kalou playing just off the lethal Pedro Pauleta is an exciting one. Fournier has made it clear he would like to sign a target man to give him more tactical options and to take the pressure off Pauleta. Roque Santa Cruz of Bayern Munich and Monaco’s Emmanuel Abedayor are both targets.
Monaco boss Didier Deschamps may be reluctant to lose Adebayor, with three other forwards Shabani Nonda (Roma), Javier Saviola (Barcelona) and Souleymane Camara (released) having already left. But while Deschamps has fewer options in attack, Monaco (third last season) could be in business if Ernesto Chevanton has more luck avoiding injury.
Chevanton and Adebayor should certainly get a good service: midfielders Olivier Sorlin and Toifilou Maoulida (both Rennes), Gerard (Barcelona) and Olivier Kapo (Juventus) have all been brought in to the principality. Furthermore, Patrice Evra looks set to stay, so Monaco’s defence will remain stable.
Lille boss Claude Puel perhaps has the hardest job of all. After their fantastic second-placed finish last term, the northerners will be expected to finish in the top five once more - as well as competing with the big boys in the Champions’ League on their shoestring budget.
That could be a tall order. As well as Landrin, they have lost the inspirational Philippe Brunel to Sochaux, with only Swiss pair Daniel Gygax and Stefan Lichsteiner arriving so far.
Marseille’s trophy drought has been extended to 12 years, but the one-time kings of Europe seem no closer to mounting a serious title challenge.
They’ve sold their linchpin Benoit Pedretti to Lyon, leaving the midfield looking particularly lightweight despite the arrivals of Wilson Oruma (Sochaux) and Franck Ribéry (Galatasaray). Mamadou Niang, who scored 12 goals for Strasbourg last season, is a good signing and Coach Jean Fernandez appears confident that the Senegal international will complement Peguy Luyindula.
The trouble for the challengers is that Lyon have arguably signed more quality than anyone. Pedretti’s arrival makes their midfield the envy of all of France (and most of Europe), with Michael Essien, Juninho Pernambucano and Mahamadou Diarra all set to stay.
Sylvain Monsoreau (Sochaux) is a versatile, assured defender and, though he won’t be first choice straight away, could turn into a great signing in the long term. John Carew, meanwhile, gives Lyon’s attack the focal point it was arguably lacking in certain games last term.
Otherwise, an interesting bet for the title - albeit a very long shot - is big-spending Toulouse. Les Violets amazingly beat Marseille and Lyon to the signature of Jérémy Mathieu, while they managed to lure another Sochaux player, the Tunisia striker Santos, to the Stadium Municipal.
The capture of midfielders Yacine Abdessadki (Strasbourg) and Fodé Mansaré (Montpellier) are also promising, and having convinced France forward Daniel Moreira to stay rather than join Rennes, the goals could be flowing at Toulouse next season. Their Coach Erick Mombaerts would surely settle for a place in the top five, however, and it looks certain that PSG and Monaco will be Lyon’s strongest rivals.
Last year, Monaco finished 16 points behind the four-times champions, PSG a massive 28 points back. Lyon are unlikely to get that far ahead next term, but toppling Gérard Houllier’s men may ultimately prove too tall an order.
Having picked themselves up from last season’s disappointments, the side from the capital are piecing together a strong squad. And without the distraction of Europe this time around, they can focus their attention purely on winning the Ligue 1 title.
The side seemed to bond better in the final months of the season, after Laurent Fournier had replaced Vahid Halilhodzic as Coach, and it was no surprise that the former PSG defender was asked to stay on.
Fournier has succeeded in landing his top two summer targets – Bonaventure Kalou (Auxerre) and Vikash Dhorasoo (AC Milan) – as well as Czech Republic centre-back David Rozehnal (FC Bruges) and midfielder Christophe Landrin (Lille).
Kalou, arguably the most gifted attacking player in France right now, is a superb acquisition, while Dhorasoo’s intelligent passing and penetrating dribbles will give the team another dimension.
With Jérôme Rothen, Edouard Cissé, Lorik Cana and Modeste M’Bami already on the books, Fournier will be spoilt for choice in midfield, while the prospect of Kalou playing just off the lethal Pedro Pauleta is an exciting one. Fournier has made it clear he would like to sign a target man to give him more tactical options and to take the pressure off Pauleta. Roque Santa Cruz of Bayern Munich and Monaco’s Emmanuel Abedayor are both targets.
Monaco boss Didier Deschamps may be reluctant to lose Adebayor, with three other forwards Shabani Nonda (Roma), Javier Saviola (Barcelona) and Souleymane Camara (released) having already left. But while Deschamps has fewer options in attack, Monaco (third last season) could be in business if Ernesto Chevanton has more luck avoiding injury.
Chevanton and Adebayor should certainly get a good service: midfielders Olivier Sorlin and Toifilou Maoulida (both Rennes), Gerard (Barcelona) and Olivier Kapo (Juventus) have all been brought in to the principality. Furthermore, Patrice Evra looks set to stay, so Monaco’s defence will remain stable.
Lille boss Claude Puel perhaps has the hardest job of all. After their fantastic second-placed finish last term, the northerners will be expected to finish in the top five once more - as well as competing with the big boys in the Champions’ League on their shoestring budget.
That could be a tall order. As well as Landrin, they have lost the inspirational Philippe Brunel to Sochaux, with only Swiss pair Daniel Gygax and Stefan Lichsteiner arriving so far.
Marseille’s trophy drought has been extended to 12 years, but the one-time kings of Europe seem no closer to mounting a serious title challenge.
They’ve sold their linchpin Benoit Pedretti to Lyon, leaving the midfield looking particularly lightweight despite the arrivals of Wilson Oruma (Sochaux) and Franck Ribéry (Galatasaray). Mamadou Niang, who scored 12 goals for Strasbourg last season, is a good signing and Coach Jean Fernandez appears confident that the Senegal international will complement Peguy Luyindula.
The trouble for the challengers is that Lyon have arguably signed more quality than anyone. Pedretti’s arrival makes their midfield the envy of all of France (and most of Europe), with Michael Essien, Juninho Pernambucano and Mahamadou Diarra all set to stay.
Sylvain Monsoreau (Sochaux) is a versatile, assured defender and, though he won’t be first choice straight away, could turn into a great signing in the long term. John Carew, meanwhile, gives Lyon’s attack the focal point it was arguably lacking in certain games last term.
Otherwise, an interesting bet for the title - albeit a very long shot - is big-spending Toulouse. Les Violets amazingly beat Marseille and Lyon to the signature of Jérémy Mathieu, while they managed to lure another Sochaux player, the Tunisia striker Santos, to the Stadium Municipal.
The capture of midfielders Yacine Abdessadki (Strasbourg) and Fodé Mansaré (Montpellier) are also promising, and having convinced France forward Daniel Moreira to stay rather than join Rennes, the goals could be flowing at Toulouse next season. Their Coach Erick Mombaerts would surely settle for a place in the top five, however, and it looks certain that PSG and Monaco will be Lyon’s strongest rivals.
Last year, Monaco finished 16 points behind the four-times champions, PSG a massive 28 points back. Lyon are unlikely to get that far ahead next term, but toppling Gérard Houllier’s men may ultimately prove too tall an order.
So finally the football starts this weekend with Ligue 1. Any streams?
Fixtures:
29/07/05 PSG - Metz
30/07/05 Marseille - Bordeaux
30/07/05 Nice - Troyes
30/07/05 Lille - Rennes
30/07/05 Nantes - Lens
30/07/05 St-Etienne - Ajaccio
30/07/05 Sochaux - Toulouse
30/07/05 Strasbourg - Auxerre
30/07/05 Nancy - Monaco
31/07/05 Mans - Lyon
Fixtures:
29/07/05 PSG - Metz
30/07/05 Marseille - Bordeaux
30/07/05 Nice - Troyes
30/07/05 Lille - Rennes
30/07/05 Nantes - Lens
30/07/05 St-Etienne - Ajaccio
30/07/05 Sochaux - Toulouse
30/07/05 Strasbourg - Auxerre
30/07/05 Nancy - Monaco
31/07/05 Mans - Lyon
Bordeaux upset 10-man Marseille 2-0 at the Stade Vélodrome on Saturday thanks to goals from Julien Faubert and Ligue 1 debutante Pierre Ducasse.
Despite being denied the services of attacking summer signings Mamadou Niang and Wilson Oruma, new Marseille Coach Jean Fernandez still aligned an offensive formation with attacking midfielders Sami Nasri and Laurent Batlles playing behind a three-pronged led by last season’s leading scorer Peguy Luyindula.
OM dominated the early exchanges but it was the visitors that opened the scoring when Faubert latched onto a Jean-Claude Darcheville pass and saw his left-foot drive fly in with the aid of the post after taking a wicked deflection off Abdoulaye Meité.
Fernandez brought on new Peruvian striker Andres Mendoza at the break at reverted to a classic 4-4-2 in an effort to break down a well-organised Bordeaux defence.
The impact of the extra man in midfield was immediate as Marseille went in search of the equaliser.
However, the Marseille boss was forced into another reshuffle on 54 minutes when new captain Frédéric Dehu brought down Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh as the last defender and appropriately received his marching orders.
Luyindula immediately made way for defender Demetrius Ferreira leaving Mendoza to plough a lone furrow against a determined Bordeaux back four.
Bordeaux used their numerical advantage to comfortably hold off their hosts until teenage substitute Ducasse put the result beyond doubt in the dying seconds, beautifully set up by the rejuvenated Darcheville.
Despite being denied the services of attacking summer signings Mamadou Niang and Wilson Oruma, new Marseille Coach Jean Fernandez still aligned an offensive formation with attacking midfielders Sami Nasri and Laurent Batlles playing behind a three-pronged led by last season’s leading scorer Peguy Luyindula.
OM dominated the early exchanges but it was the visitors that opened the scoring when Faubert latched onto a Jean-Claude Darcheville pass and saw his left-foot drive fly in with the aid of the post after taking a wicked deflection off Abdoulaye Meité.
Fernandez brought on new Peruvian striker Andres Mendoza at the break at reverted to a classic 4-4-2 in an effort to break down a well-organised Bordeaux defence.
The impact of the extra man in midfield was immediate as Marseille went in search of the equaliser.
However, the Marseille boss was forced into another reshuffle on 54 minutes when new captain Frédéric Dehu brought down Bordeaux’s Marouane Chamakh as the last defender and appropriately received his marching orders.
Luyindula immediately made way for defender Demetrius Ferreira leaving Mendoza to plough a lone furrow against a determined Bordeaux back four.
Bordeaux used their numerical advantage to comfortably hold off their hosts until teenage substitute Ducasse put the result beyond doubt in the dying seconds, beautifully set up by the rejuvenated Darcheville.