Laurent Blanc, The Next Sir Alex?

By: Jennifer | 6 Comments

There have been reports that Blanc is the United’s #1 in terms of replacing Sir Alex when he retires (which health permitting might be in a season or two). I can see why Blanc would be an excellent choice for United, and I know that if indeed Sir Ferguson does retire, Blanc will certainly be the man to fill in the position very nicely. (Or indeed, Jose Mourinho’s spot when he goes to Real Madrid*, or even Domenech’s position.)

I’m a big fan of Blanc as our manager and the logic he applies our game here. Most of the strategies and the moves he makes make sense. I understand why he starts a certain player or substitutes another, and I appreciate his good taste in selecting players (with the exception of Placente). I have no doubt that bringing Ciani to Bordeaux had a great deal to do with him.

A quick look at Blanc’s current record with Bordeaux on scapulaire.com shows that Bordeaux wins at home 69% of the time and 50% of the time away. The away percentage is quite high compared a lot of the previous coaches (this is why I love scapulaire.com AND all their stats.) Blanc has quite the record. Guiding Bordeaux to a second place finish in his first year of coaching, and then a L1 title, and now early qualifications to Champions League, and though with spotty performances here and there, a top table standing in L1.

Blanc to United is just a little bit farfetched, but it does make sense seeing as Fergie did try his best (and succeeded) to get Blanc as a player. He has also attempted to bring Blanc in as an assistant coach but that was not accepted. However, it is evident that Blanc and Fergie are on extremely good terms…seeing Blanc’s reaction to Gaby Obertan’s recent move to United, I don’t doubt that Blanc had something to do with it. (In a related note, Gaby has been toted to take over Nani’s beleaguered spot and is apparently doing quite well indeed. Oh how I tear up with pride.) There are now also rumours at an United bid (an alleged £13 million versus Arsenal’s meagre £7.5 million) on Marouane Chamakh. Wenger should be fearful of Ferguson indeed, but of course he doesn’t want Chamakh anymore…..

I guess the point that I’m trying to make here, while writing this at 4am when I should be designing, is that if Blanc can make so much out of our squad and our meagre resources, imagine what he can accomplish with the vast resources at United? For me, Blanc has always been a coach (alas not for a long time) that made the most out of his resources and what he has. He always finds the best that his money can get (which in Placente’s case was almost free). While some people complain that his lineups always seem to depend on a few players (Chamakh, Gourcuff, say what you will), there is no doubt that he always tries to field the best possible and the most logical combination.

Blanc to Inter is quite plausible as well. The job isn’t as prestigious as taking over the reins at Old Trafford, but makes sense for Moratti to hire an ex-player. To be honest, as an Inter fan (hahahahahahhahaha no jokes here), I will actually resume following Inter if Blanc went.

I’m really curious to see what your reactions are to Blanc’s possibly departure from the club after bringing us so much. I forsee a great exodus of talent, from Gaby (already), to Chamakh (soon), then Gourcuff (obviously) to even Blanc, then many many other players. If Blanc does leave, who will be suitable to take over?

*I’m not justifying goal.com’s credibility in anyway, just a rumour that has been propogating.

P.S.: Happy birthday Laurent Blanc I was really trying to get this post up today just for your birthday.

Category: Bordeaux Team News

Tags: Bordeaux Team News, Champions League, Gabriel Obertan, Laurent Blanc, Marouane Chamakh, Transfer Rumours, Yoann Gourcuff

By: Jennifer | 4 Comments

Oh they’re so cute!
I’ve decided that having Gourcuff, Carrasso and Diarra is enough to make me support France in the World Cup (especially considering Sweden’s exit…)

Category: Bordeaux Team News

Tags: Bordeaux Team News, Cédric Carrasso, Yoann Gourcuff

By: Jennifer | 6 Comments

After the exciting win (again) at Bayern with both Gourcuff AND Chamakh scoring (<–love), I think it’s time we take a good break and relax with some pretty calendar photos. Martha (once of the Nice blog) managed to dig up some lovely photos of the new calendar which I am now bent on having. I mean paying 30 bucks for an awesome calendar would be nothing right?

Gouffran’s picture just kills me in this! In the beanie and the scarf, it’s just a puddle of “awwwww”. He should pose for like Abercombie or something. Also, Carrasso and Chamakh.

Category: Bordeaux Team News, People

Tags: Alou Diarra, Bordeaux Team News, Cédric Carrasso, Fernando Cavenaghi, Henrique, Jaroslav Plašil, Jussiê, Marouane Chamakh, People, Yoan Gouffran, Yoann Gourcuff

Entertaining Bayern

By: Jennifer | 23 Comments

This is another one of those posts where I can dig up ancient history, but since I was just a little kid then,  I won’t.

I know I’ve been gone for a long time from this blog and that’s because of school commitments and midterms and all that stuff. But, midterms are done, and even though I’m still really busy, THIS POST NEEDS TO GO UP OMG.

So we can talk about the finals 13 years ago, or we can talk about this upcoming game. I really haven’t been keeping up with the league and I have no idea what is going on with both Bordeaux and Lyon falling to teams that have been in the relegation zone just last year. I did watch Lyon vs Liverpool yesterday though, and it really showed that it is POSSIBLE to beat teams of that calibre away while coming off of a defeat. Nevertheless, Bordeaux is really struggling with the attacking portion of the game.

Category: Bordeaux Team News, Champions League, Match

Tags: Bordeaux Team News, Champions League, Match

Two Things

By: Jennifer | 16 Comments

Or maybe more things, I guess. Just a quickie update before Rennes.

-Gourcuff had to rush away from training after a thigh injury. He might not be available for Rennes as he was told not to exert for the next 48 hours. (The above image is from yesterday.)

-Wenger has allegedly said that he will not consider putting in another bid for Chamakh when the January window opens. He claims that he doesn’t need another striker since he has many capable players already (this is true). I think he just wants go wait till Chamakh is free and then make a grab for him.

-Also good news is that Bordeaux (the city) has been selected as the French candidate that will go for Euro 2016. If this does happen there will be a spanking new stadium for Bordeaux and all kinds of amazing things will happen.

Category: Chamakh

Tags: Chamakh, Marouane Chamakh, Yoann Gourcuff

Old Lady

By: Jennifer | 14 Comments

The image is not suggestive at all, only hopeful. I know I’ve been gone for a loooooong while but university (and frosh week) ate a chunk of my time, but now I think I’m back, albeit not for very long posts but still back.

The group for Turin:
C. Carrasso, Rame – Sane, Chalmé, Ciani, Henrique, Jurietti, Placente, Planus, Trémoulinas – A. Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Plasil, Wendel – Saivet, Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh Gouffran, Jussie.

My probable lineup (because I feel like I understand Blanc a bit more now):

Carrasso
Chalme  Ciani  Planus  Tremoulinas
Diarra     Gourcuff    Wendel
Chamakh          Gouffran
Cavenaghi

I pray pray pray that I can stream the game tomorrow, but it’s right smack in the middle of my physics lab (from 1-4…), but I should be able to stream part of the second half. I was reaaaaally excited for Inter-Barca too, but my schedule just goes right above it. *RAGE RAGE RAGE* University sucks.

Category: Champions League, Match

Tags: Champions League, Match

Chamakh ISN’T That Good.

By: Jennifer | 41 Comments

I recently spotted an article titled Arsenal Target Marouane Chamakh Isn’t Very Good, and guess what, besides their video proof, I have proof too. I agree wholeheartedly with him. Chamakh is a terrible player. Everything from his ridiculously ludicrous headers to his impossibly insane moments in the air. The man is a beast (and I mean that in the bad way.)

This is why I say so:

1. His hair defies gravity, and he probably uses enough hair gel to fund a small economy.

2. He defies gravity. <— most ridiculous photo I’ve seen of him yet.

3. He gets chummy with Gourcuff.

4. He gets kisses from Triaud.

5. His head is small.

6. He ain’t no arshavin or brazillian.

7. He’s really old. I mean, 25? Come on, he is only functional for like 5 more years.

8. I think he has a nightclub in Morocco? (<– cannot be confirmed)

9. He photographs too well.

10. He’s skinny.

There you go Wenger. 10 reasons why you shouldn’t sign Chamakh on even a free transfer. Do you really want him ruining the lucrative hair gel market, skyrocketing the prices for the average Londoner? ‘Course not. In fact, no club deserves the completely undesirable Chamakh. If Gourcuff didn’t have a slight crush on him, we wouldn’t even want to keep him for ourselves (but obviously, to please Gourcuff we must, and we must pay him a lot of money.)

(If it’s not obvious I was totally stuck on the 7th reason and beyond.)

Can someone else give 10 reasons why Arsenal shouldn’t sign Chamakh?

In other news, I am completely grateful for the international break. I’m going MIA for the next week as I’m packing like crazy and moving. Also, frosh activities and the beginning of school is going to eat a chunk of my time. Similarly, since school is starting and I don’t think I want to fail post-secondary education, I’m going to take it easy on this blog.

Category: Bordeaux Team News, Chamakh

Tags: Bordeaux Team News, Chamakh, Marouane Chamakh

By: Jennifer | 10 Comments

I realize I have something like 5 mins to up this post before the game but here we go.

Possible groups:

Marseille:
Mandanda – Bonnart, S. Diawara, Heinze, Taiwo – Abriel, Mbia, Be. Cheyrou – Kone, Brandao, Niang (cap.)

Bordeaux
Carrasso – Chalmé, Ciani, Planus, Trémoulinas – Diarra (captain) – Plasil, Gourcuff, Wendel – Chamakh Cavenaghi (or Gouffran)

Also known as Mr. 55% now, it’s been pointed out thatGourcuff responsible for 54.54% of Bordeaux’s goals.

Gourcuff had let slip that a girl who is not famous/celebrity/model CAN BE MRS GOURCUFF! Any girl indeed.

Also he says “I am very happy that Marouane remains even if the transfer window is not finished yet and it may happen a lot of things. I get along with Marouane on the field and off. He happens to be easy [going] and he is understandable. And he’s a good guy, so it’s nice to play with guys like that.”

I honestly apologize for the random bit of trivia I threw in there. I sort of planned a post a few days before and saved this draft, and now I kind of just put everything together. Anyway, there are the streams: http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=47087∂=sports

Also, live blogging right now in the comments.

Category: Bordeaux Team News

Tags: Bordeaux Team News

Say What?

By: Jennifer | 11 Comments

Wait, let me dig up some ancient history and pretend that we are still as glamourous as we were then.

Maybe this will happen again? After all this is a league winning squad as well. Maybe we’re back to the good ole’ days with Blanc.

SO. Juventus, Bayern and Maccabi Haifa. What’s the plan?

Like Blanc, I completely expected this draw. After Roma and Chelsea (and the surprisingly good Cluj last year), Bordeaux managed to draw another group we probably can’t get out of (and god forbid we end up last in). Maybe it’s my pessimissm or perhaps it’s the fact that Blanc and I see eye to eye (and heart to heart), because hey, it can’t get worse right? I think secretly I believe we can get through but realistically I hope we’ll have a good run in UEFA Cup.

But wait, is that the sound of one hand clapping, or is it the ridiculous fact that the two unlikeliest teams to get through are the champions of their respective leagues? Not that it means anything. The irony that the champions and runner-ups to the French league probably won’t be repping the league in Champions League but the less-than-stellar OL (but more so than most of their CL group) will. If they don’t blow it that is.

Maybe it’s time to do that relate Gourcuff and Zidane thing? Honestly, I don’t have much to say about this. All I can say is good luck to us and OM (and also OL, on a relatively smaller note since they need less luck) and hope for the best this Champions League. Also on a side note Blanc, winning UEFA Cup would nice!

The schedule:

Tuesday, September 15, 2009: Juventus Turin – FC Girondins de Bordeaux

Wednesday, September 30, 2009: FC Girondins de Bordeaux – Maccabi Haifa

Wednesday, October 21, 2009: FC Girondins de Bordeaux – Bayern Munich

Tuesday, November 3, 2009: Bayern Munich – FC Girondins de Bordeaux

Wednesday, November 25, 2009: FC Girondins de Bordeaux – Juventus Turin

Tuesday, December 8, 2009: Maccabi Haifa – FC Girondins de Bordeaux

ETA: Someone fix my sidebar because I managed to break it again. Without knowing how I did..

Category: Champions League, Match

Tags: Champions League, Laurent Blanc, Match

August 26th, 2009

Back To Business

By: Jennifer | 12 Comments

Some genius decided to tell Google Translate that Mickaël Ciani = Adam Clayton. Hmm, I wonder why. (You might have to fullview that seeing as I don’t have Photoshop yet.)

As you can see, I’ve been absent for the past few weeks, but hopefully I’m back (for a while before school starts again). I know I missed some very exciting/interesting games. I badly wanted to watch them (especially Lens’ return to L1, but also Nice), but both weekends happened to be very busy. I hate to think that I lost chances to see Ciani’s performance, but there are always other times.

But, just reading some of the reviews, it’s apparent that the two players pushing the squad this season are Gourcuff and Chamakh. In some ways it’s very worrying since one of them will be leaving soon and the other will be leaving in a while.

The most important thing right now is that we’re scoring against some good teams and some good keepers (Ospina has been a real catch for Nice).

As anicho in the comments pointed out, we have a most crucial game coming up this weekend, again OM. I don’t see it online yet, but all of the active L1 Offside bloggers have done a little Top 10, and it seems that everyone thinks that OM will be the team to beat and the team most likely to win the title this season. I see where they’re coming from, but I think we’d like to prove them wrong .

In my opinion though, after some reading around, OM’s play hasn’t been THAT stellar, though it’s just the start of the season and they’re bond to pick up. IF we can beat them this weekend, it will set a tone for the rest of the season for sure. Picking up points is crucial from the start and it’s even more imperative when it is picking up points from our biggest opponents (OM and OL both)

I think I’m a little weary after the Chamakh drama (Arse? West Ham? Fulham? Greek club?). He’s obviously going to leave on a free transfer and Bordeaux will lose potential profit. But the opportunity cost gained in him assisting the title run obviously appealed to them more. I’m pretty sure that they’re not idiots and probably did realize that if they don’t let Chamakh go on his request, he will get significantly pissed and refuse to extend. At this point they can hope that 1. Chamakh scores a shitload and secure a lot of points (6 so far) and/or 2. Chamakh does really well that he will consider his situation to be a good one and stay. I think so far Blanc’s plan is working. I guess we won’t know if he’s going to stay for sure until the end of the transfer window on August 31st. It’s drawing quite close and I’m waiting anxiously.

Other things in the transfer window that are coming up is Fernando’s potential transfer to Werder Bremen for 4 or 5 million euros. I wonder if this Fernando would want this considering his open request to go La Liga.

Anyway, hopefully I will find time to put up a real preview of the game against OM sometime soon. (Seeing as I’m going to be busy this weekend again.) So long ’til then!

Category: Bordeaux Team News, Chamakh, Gourcuff, Transfer News

Tags: Bordeaux Team News, Chamakh, Fernando Menegazzo, Gourcuff, Marouane Chamakh, Mickaël Ciani, Transfer News, Transfer Rumours, Yoann Gourcuff