First, the result of our amazing luck? Galatasaray.

Galatasaray has got to be one of the harder teams in the UEFA Cup, and I’m not just over estimating them because they’e Turkish. I mean, they had the brains to sign Harry Kewell and Milan Baros, who both turned out to be fantastic players this season, away from the shitty form with their old teams. At least Kewell is injured right <–see, optimisim for the holidays. (No dirty jokes on his operation…but I do hope Baros goes on a partying rampage and hurts himself grinding in a club).

Anyway, on to more joyous stuff, Kevin Olimpa signed an extention with Bordeaux! Blanc’s extention talks will be in January and he insists not talking about his decision till then.

Chamakh was Father Christmas for a day! (Or a few hours, at least). He was at a local school, giving autographs for the boys. He even says

“I remember that at their age, I was a fan and supporter of Girondins de Bordeaux, the year of their title of champion of France 98-99. My favorite players were Micoud, Wiltord, Ramé and Benarbia. “

How precious is that? Now if I can only find pictures, it will be the most adorable thing ever. Wayyy more than Gourcuff.

Finally, I leave you with the Chalmé interview. This is actually way more interesting than the Gourcuff interviews, but I have this feeling not many are going to read it.

If you’re not going to read it, I’ll just say this: I love his comments about having a good beer from time to time, but especially on Govou’s recent blood alchohol scandal…and his dining out with Micoud after games. And he would choose Yoann Gourcuff if he was a girl (but probably he’s just jealous.) The love he has for his children is just sweet. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, he wants to cure people too, especially sick children. Very admirable.

(From maxifoot)

OM or PSG?
It’s more OM for me.

Your favorite foreign team?
FC Barcelona.

The idol of your youth?
It was Eric Cantona.

The coach who marked you the most?
There are several that have counted for me but I would say Claude Puel.  It really marked me when I was in Lille, his state of mind in particular. With him, it worked really great. (rires) (laughter) But in the end, it’s still a good memory.

Your best memory on a football field?
I have several, but the victory against AC Milan 2 to 0 in the San Siro with Lille in Champions League is well placed. As my first match with Bordeaux, it is last season against Lens.

The most boring player that you cross on a football field?
Simão (Portuguese midfielder moving today to Atletico Madrid, editor’s note). At the time, we discovered the UEFA Champions League against Benfica with Lille, so the very high level, and its first action, it is my appeal against call, and made me 20 meters in sight! I can tell you that it marked me! Simão calmed me well! (laughs)

The player with whom you dream to play?
At the time, it was Zinedine Zidane.

What was for you the best player in Ligue 1 in the last five years?
I will say Juninho. Juninho is seven times France champion and every or almost everytime decisive with Lyon.

A French club will win a European Cup this season?
Finally … The Champions League, no, I do not think so. Whether Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux, we showed that we were not quite level. But the UEFA Cup, it was clear ways to win.

What makes your dream stage?
It is rather a stage where I never played, will tell the Camp Nou (FC Barcelona) and Santiago Bernabeu (Real Madrid).

The goalkeeper of the French team, Lloris or Mandanda?
In France, we have the chance to have two great goalies, but I have a soft spot for Hugo Lloris anyway.

If you were Michel Platini, what would you change in football today?
I’d put up the video (replays), particularly in the area (penalty).

If you were Jean-Pierre Escalettes, you would have maintained Raymond Domenech at the head of the French team?
Very sincerely, I do not know anything … The most important thing is that the French team qualify for the 2010 World Cup, whatever the coach.

To succeed Raymond Domenech in the future, rather Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps?
I think both have the middle to become the coach. I have the chance of working beside Laurent Blanc, so I know that yes. And I think that Didier Deschamps is the same calibre.

Does Steve Savidan deserve a second selection?
Yes! He is a really annoying player to play against. In addition I admire him very much. He has impressive statistics. It marks a lot, because a lot of assists and more heavily defended and believes the group first.

If you were the president (Triaud), which rookie will you take this winter?
I leave it to the president and staff to decide.

Who be champions at the end of this season?
I hope Bordeaux! I am ambitious.

Who will finish top scorer in the league?
I think it will be contested between Fernando Cavenaghi and Karim Benzema.

What do you do in general after a match?
Most of the time I go to the restaurant. If Johan Micoud is in the stands, we go together, otherwise I go with other people.

What do you do when you are calm at home?
I look after my children.

If I search in your iPod, I will find what?
Tou’ll find a bit of everything except rap. This too is not my cup of tea.

Your favorite drink?
Ah, good beer from time to time, it’s fun! (rires)

In what animal would you like to reincarnate into?
In a lion, to reign.(laughs)

The biggest mistake you made, being kid?
Honestly, I do remember is that … I did not have to do much! (laughs) Well I had to make some, but not much larger.

If you had not been a footballer, what profession would you like to exercise?
A career in sport, or a trade that would help people. Well, we’ll say fireman, it combines the two.

If you were head of the state, what would your first decision?
Many things I take to heart, but my first decision, this would be my utmost, that each person has a home.

If you could have a super power, which would be?
To cure people, including sick children.

If you were Zinedine Zidane and William Gallas, will you forgive Jérôme Rothen?
No, certainly not! (sighs)

If you invite me home, you make me what to eat?
I cook very little. It will be pasta …

How was your first time?
Hmm … (laughs) It was not great. I am caught thereafter, but the first time, it was not terrible. Well, it is still a good memory because it was my first time precisely, but hey, this was not the best hug of my life will say … (laughs)

What do you look first in a woman?
The whole! (laughs) I look in general. It must all be attractive. But after the most important is what is within. Yes I know, it’s beautiful what I say … (laughs)

If you were a girl, who would you choose in the changeroom of Bordeaux?
Every time you go anywhere it is “Gourcuff this, Gourcuff that,” “we want to see Gourcuff”, “Gourcuff, where is he?”, “Ah Gourcuff, he is cute!” … So I am forced to say Gourcuff. (laughs)

Sidney Govou found with 2.6 grams of alcohol in the blood, what do you think?
(Mathieu explodes with laughter) Govou makes me laugh! I do not know what to say on this matter … (laughs) It’s already happened to many of us, we should not hide! Good attention, not me huh! (laughs) Well, this is something that can happen to anyone of us. It should not be making a dish because he is Govou and he is professional football player.

The last thing you do before you sleep?
A kiss to my children.

Your dream vacation, where you to spend?
I spent every year in Corsica, near Calvi. It is on a small island. C’est le paradis. It is paradise. I’ve went for the past few years. In addition it is not far, there is not too much plane to get there. This place is perfect.

Where will you be in ten years?
I will be in retirement, or close. I hope to always hold a function in a football club. But no coach in any case, that’s for sure. And then when I have time to enjoy as often as I can with my friends.

I am angry. Very very very angry. So if you’re having a really great day, please don’t read this. If you’re a Roma fan, again. Or if you’re a Blanc fan, please don’t.

Okay, I understand that this group is a very difficult group to do well in, and for Bordeaux to be so close in points going into the last leg was a very pleasant surprise. But all that aside, an opportunity is an opportunity. You do not go into the match thinking that you had a great time in Champions League and that it was nice to be here. You go in there knowing that you have to win this because you want to get further than just the group stage.

Well today, Bordeaux did not play Roma thinking that. Blanc’s formation (4-3-2-1) was obviously too defensive for a game that is either win or die. I understand that you want to keep a clean sheet, but a draw will not get Bordeaux anything. I’m sure Blanc knew that Roma’s defense would be hard to break down. But what did he do? Add some defensive midfielders to the mix of course. Because Roma are SURELY not going to score with our (shitty) defense. (I’m not pertaining to Diarra, of course).

Second. Why did Blanc start Gouffran? If you read this blog you’ll know that I’ve had problems with this problem since time immemorial. I’ve always sort of ignored it, but this obviously impacted the game today. No, Gouffran is NOT of the caliber to take on Champions League games yet. He’s too unexperienced and frankly ineffective. Now if he was the ONLY FUCKING PLAYER left on the bench that can fill the role, sure. But a player like Fernando Cavenaghi should not be the SUBSTITUTE coming on for GOUFFRAN. Cavé may not be a winger, but with him on the pitch for longer than just 34 minutes would have greatly changed the outcome of the game. I mean, just how do you keep the team’s top scorer and (almost) top scorer of the league on the bench? I’l be shocked if he doesn’t pick Tottenham when the time comes.

Third. Jéremy f**king Ménez, I’m coming to get you. And Thumb-sucking Totti, I’m crashing the party. (That’s right. No Totti, NO PARTY.)

Fourth. The typical it’s all the referee’s fault. Some of the fouls were not fouls. Fernando didn’t touch a single hair on Riise’s body and you give them a freekick? Totti’s goal also came off a Ménez-foul-that-ref-didn’t-see moment. 

Finally. UEFA cup. HOW THE F**K AM I GOING TO CATCH THAT? I get Champions League with enough trouble already. Bordeaux had better get their game together, because with this kind of performance, they’re not going to be able to  keep their top players (Gourcuff, Cavenaghi, Diarra, Chamakh) and things will just go down hill. 

(That said, I actually thought that Ducasse, Jurietti, Chalmé and Diarra played very well. And Ramé is just getting old.. Wendel was quiet. Bordeaux just didn’t have a good game like they hoped.)

Expect Ramé, for he has returned. Jussiê as well!

The group
Ramé, Valverde – Chalmé, Diawara, Jurietti, Placente, Planus, Trémoulinas – Diarra, Ducasse, Fernando, Wendel, Gourcuff, Sertic, Traoré – Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh, Gouffran, Jussiê, Obertan.

Blanc knows that to expect too:

“I know what to expect in Rome. We must not imagine that Bordeaux will throw in the attack to mark immediately. We have 90, 95 minutes to win this match. We’ll first we strive to defend well. To win the match, it must first defend well and if we succeed we may have opportunities to win this meeting.” Laurent Blanc
 

You can also expect the rest of that Gourcuff interview. The amazing people at ontd_football took pictures of the scans. Did I mention they also have the video of Gourcuff walking around in his undies?

(For those of you not here for Gourcuff:
-Potential target Yohan Cabaye is also under watch from Arsenal. He also interests many other clubs such as Bordeaux, OL, PSG, ASSE, etc.

-Wendel says that Bordeaux goal for this season is to qualify for Champions League again. He said that it might be too hefty a goal to dream about winning the league, and that he would rather not think about it. He also thinks that Bordeaux does not need Gourcuff to continue playing well, but admits that Gourcuff will be an asset who keeps the pace of the game, as well as the fittest in all the Girondins.)

Ahead of the do-or-die against Roma on Tuesday, Bordeaux’s L1 match against VAFC has been pushed forward to take place this Friday after appeals. (At this point Lyon starts to complain about them not getting this treatment…) Chamakh and Triaud are both happy about this decision, and I can really see how this will impact the training prior to Tuesday.

The group is wide open. Roma lead with 9 points, but Chelsea has 8 and Bordeaux 7 (and Cluj 4). Which means Bordeaux can only qualify by beating Roma. Chelsea will go through except if we win and they lose. Roma will only not qualify if we win and Chelsea wins. 

The downside? Gourcuff is hurt. He suffered a knock to the knee against Sochaux and is training lightly. And Ramé and Henrique did not train either. Blanc is probably saving both of them for the game, but I don’t want to sound too optimistic (the last time this happened, I was not thanked). On the upside, Valverde was man of the match against Sochaux (he kept a blank sheet! OMG) and Obertan was also praised for filling in Gourcuff’s spot (by Blanc, which doesn’t say much. The poor boy was nervous).

I’m hoping for a morale booster against VAFC because that’s simply what is called for in this circumstance. I can’t say how amazing it will be to see two French teams in the round of 16. And please don’t let me be jinxing anything.

BORDEAUX
Olimpa, Valverde – Chalmé, Diawara, Jurietti, Placente, Planus, Trémoulinas – Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Sertic, Traoré, Wendel – Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh, Gouffran, Obertan.

VALENCIENNES
Grondin, Penneteau – Abardonado, Bisevac, Ducourtioux, Mater, Rafael, Tiéné, M. Traoré – Belmadi, Danic, Jeovanio, Khiter, Lacourt, Saez, Sanchez – Audel, Pujol.

Ummmm, yeah, that basically sums it up.

“If we win it, it will be an achievement.” – Chamakh

Le groupe : Valverde, Olimpa – Chalmé, Diawara, Jurietti, Placente, Planus, Trémoulinas – Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Wendel, Sertic, Traoré – Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh, Gouffran, Obertan.

I was so excited about Ramé returning to training, but I guess he didn’t pass his physical and cannot participate against Chelsea. If Chelsea can squeeze a 4-0 with Ramé in goal, what will happen tomorrow? Jussiê, Saunier and Paletta are also returning. Obertan and Saivet remain injured.

I think the lineup will be fairly predictable, with Cavenaghi starting from the bench (yet again.) As you know, Cavé is very very upset by this setup. He scores in almost every game even when he does come off the bench and is definitely an asset to the team. He does deserve more time on the European level, but I agree with Blanc that he is more of an asset when he comes off the bench to help with finishing. I think comparing Cavé with Chamakh is comparing such different things. Chamakh doesn’t score, but he assists goals and provides the kind of creative impetus that Bordeaux needs up front, along with Gourcuff.

I would love to see Chamakh and Cavenaghi play together because that would be a formidable duo. However, this obviously does not fit in to Blanc’s usual formation with the lone striker up front. In the comments, Julien mentioned that if Cavé does leave in January, it will help with the bills for Gourcuff a lot. I feel the same way, but I’m also concerned with losing our highest scorer. Yes, Chamakh, Bellion and Jussiê are amazing in terms of striking, but I do feel that they just don’t have the finishing quality that Cavenaghi possesses.

A lot of these decisions are up to Blanc to make, including what I think should be a debate: Gouffran or Obertan. I see his need to consolidate what he thinks is a good purchase (gone bad, if I might add); I see the need to allow younger players (perhaps, I mean Homegrown Youth Players That Didn’t Cost As Much As Gouffran Did) to play. One lesson Bordeaux is starting to take from Lyon’s success is the well established academy. Lyon is obviously well prepared for the departure of this generation (Benzema, and already ben Arfa) with the new generation (Tafer, Grenier, etc.). I think Bordeaux’s progress in this step is already evident with players of quality like Saivet, Obertan and Saunier. An alternative to actually buying Gourcuff at this inflated price (when he will leave again in another 2 years, for maybe 5m more) is in two parts: 1. Beg for a loan extension, 2. Invest in (quality) youth players and in the youth system.  But as I’ve mentioned before, most of this is up to Blanc, who may or may not leave for greener pastures at the end of the season. No extension deal just yet.

While I’m at it, I might as well throw a few names out there that Bordeaux are following:
-Dănuţ Coman, Goal (Rapid Bucharest): Bordeaux are (rumoured to be) in talks with this young Romanian keeper
-Yoann Pelé, Goal (Le Mans) Linked to Bordeaux for the next season
-Yohan Cabaye, midfield (Lille OSC): Another one of those young French talents coming out of Lille. He claims to have a preference to Bordeaux (questionable), but also won’t mind joining his old coach at Lyon. Fitting in the Lille-on trend, perhaps.

Wow, this post has nothing to do with Chelsea at all <font size=”1″>and I also just keep talking and talking…</font> Really, a win will be a miracle.

I thought we needed a “just for laughs” section here. *Giggles immaturely*

Just trying to console myself for what may not be a good match day against Cluj. If you don’t already know, Ramé was injured against the loss to Nancy and cannot play tomorrow.

Le groupe : Valverde, Olimpa, Meslien – Chalmé, Diawara, Henrique, Jurietti, Placente, Planus, Trémoulinas – Diarra, Fernando, Gourcuff, Wendel, Traoré – Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh, Gouffran, Obertan.

I won’t be writing about the CL game in detail. This is probably why:

Group A

	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Chelsea	2	1	1	0	4	0	+4	4
CFR Cluj	2	1	1	0	2	1	+1	4
Roma	2	1	0	1	4	3	+1	3
Bordeaux	2	0	0	2	1	7	−6	0

Stolen from Roma’s chris

-Ramé will probably be making his comeback, everyone is stressed, Cluj might qualify. I hope you understand my brevity.

The group called up:
Ramé, Valverde – Chalmé, Diawara, Jurietti, Placente, Planus – Diarra, Ducasse, Fernando, Gourcuff, Sertic, Traoré, Wendel – Bellion, Cavenaghi, Chamakh, Gouffran, Obertan

Trombetta’s Romanian group:
Stancioiu, Nuno Claro, Hirschfeld – Galiassi, Panin, Pereira, Alcantara, Tony, Cadu – Culio, Dani, Trica, Deac, Peralta, Muresan, Prette – Dubarbier, Didi, Y. Kone, E. Kone.

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