PSG - Ligue 1 Into The Final Stretch

With Ligue 1 now heading into the home stretch, Paris Saint-Germain find themselves vying with Lyon for third place and Champions League qualification after a disappointing run of results saw them slip out of the title race in March. Currently fourth but only on goal difference, le PSG are in good form going into their final five matches but will be frustrated that they are not still in contention for higher honours.

Disappointing results against Rennes (1-0) and Lens (0-0) saw the side stall in February, dropping from second to fourth whilst nervously looking over their shoulder at a resurgent Lyon side closing on their position. But despite this blip, progress into the last 16 of the Europa League after a victory on away goals over BATE Borisov of Belarus (2-2) added to good victories in Nice (0-3) and at home to Toulouse (2-1) saw the side rally and climb back into second place by the end of the month.

However, this was to be where les Parisiens’ title charge came to an abrupt end as devastating results in Auxerre (1-0), at home to Montpellier (2-2) and away to Marseille (2-1) in the Clasico nearly destroyed PSG’s season as they slipped to fifth place. In addition to only gathering one point from a possible nine domestically, the side also crashed out of the Europa League on away goals to Benfica following a 2-1 away defeat and a 1-1 draw at home.

The only consolation the capital side took from a miserable March was progression into the semi finals of the Coupe de France, thanks to a 2-0 victory at home to Le Mans, where they were drawn against further Ligue 2 opposition Angers.

Faced with a difficult task of having to motivate a group of players struggling to recreate the scintillating form that saw them top the table earlier in the season and amidst rumours of changing room unrest (Mamadou Sakho, Guillaume Hoarau and Mevlut Erding were accused of being disruptive by elder members of the squad including captain Claude Makelele), the pressure was building on Antoine Kombouare heading into May.

This tension showed no signs of abating as PSG started the month playing out a tame 0-0 draw with Lorient, looking like they were ready to drop out of European contention completely.

What followed though was a run of important victories over Caen (1-2) and Lyon (1-0), dragging themselves back into the Champions League reckoning whilst pegging Lyon back as Rennes slipped to fifth. A 2-2 draw away at Brest was disappointing, particularly as Lyon failed to win, maintaining the three point gap between the sides. But this weekend’s 3-1 victory over Valenciennes coupled with Lyon’s disastrous 0-2 defeat in Toulouse means that PSG are now only fourth on goal difference and a victory over Monaco next week will heap the pressure on Lyon ahead of their crunch match with Marseille.

In addition to their strong domestic finish to the month, PSG ousted Angers in the Coupe de France semi finals (1-3) to face Lille in two weeks time with a chance to defend their crown as last year’s winners.

With matches left against Monaco, Nancy, Bordeaux, Lille and Saint-Etienne with Lyon and Rennes facing tough run-ins, Kombouare will surely fancy that his side can pick up at least nine points from a possible 15 to give les Rouges-et-Bleu a fantastic opportunity to bring Champions League football back to Parc des Princes for the first time since 2004.

Christian Chivu Punch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1OrdQvwds0

Martigues 1-4 PSG

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/martigues-psg-8381397/

Where In The World Is Freddy Adu?

Since his Major League Soccer debut in 2004 at the tender age of 14, big things have been expected of Freddy Adu but he has never quite lived up to the great expectations of many soccer fans. Since the early promise in his performances for D.C. United, Adu’s career has gradually stagnated before coming to a complete standstill upon his move to Europe. Still just 21, the youngster currently finds himself on loan at Turkish Second Division side Caykur Rizespor from parent club Benfica, having already failed in loan spells at Monaco, Belenenses in Portugal and Aris Thessaloniki in Greece. The question is, why has such an obvious talent failed to develop since his move to Lisbon?

Since leaving Real Salt Lake, Adu has been competing with established internationals such as Simao, Pablo Aimar and Rui Costa in the first team at Benfica while also vying with the immense talents of Argentinian youngster Angel Di Maria, who has since joined Real Madrid, for a space in the squad. This competition is too great for a player as young and inexperienced as Adu and it was inevitable that he would not get much playing time. The same can also be said of his loan move to Monaco because, although it was a wise decision to send him out for first team experience (especially when the club’s chairman specially arranged his loan agreement), they too boasted established internationals in most of their positions and he was always going to have to wait for a chance to impress.

Why then did he fail to make the grade with Belenenses the following season when he was up against less competition? His time with the club was jinxed from the start as he picked up an injury during the first half of his debut for the club, and despite going on to recover from the injury and making eight further starting appearances, he failed to score a single goal and the club’s new manager Toni released him from his loan in December. Adu’s failure with Belenenses can be put down to bad luck, but in a similar situation with Aris, he still failed to recapture his best form so it begs the question, do his problems lie off the field?

Many American soccer pundits have raised the issue of Adu’s attitude and how he appears to thrive when he is the centre of attention and it appears justified. At D.C., he was the team’s star and he provided a focal point for all of their positive attacking play and, with his developing reputation, the crowd were constantly clamouring for their star man. This was also the case at Salt Lake although to a lesser degree, but since his move to Europe he has become a small fish in a big pond and in addition to his “me-first” mentality, his current ability just doesn’t command the regular starting places that his older, more experienced competitors do.

Now, with Aris having sent Adu back to Benfica and Yiannis Mihalitsios deciding that he can do without him, the youngster faces an uphill battle to resurrect his career as Rizespor were the only club willing to take a chance on him, and the only club small enough to persuade Benfica to part with the youngster without paying a fee. They were impressed having seen him on trial alongside Edson Buddle at Ingolstadt during the German side’s winter break.

Should he still be unable to make the grade in Turkey, this would leave him with two options; either he can return to the U.S. with his tail between his legs and work on rebuilding his career and getting himself back into international contention with a franchise willing to take a risk. Or alternatively, he could look to make it in a smaller European league that has proved successful for U.S. development like Benny Feilhaber, Michael Parkhurst and Clarence Goodson in Scandinavia.

Having looked at success stories such as Charlie Davies, a move to a less reputable European league could do wonders for Adu’s confidence and game time. He would be a star player in many leagues, a guaranteed starter and a focal point for the attack with whichever team he were to sign for, giving him the confidence and attention he was accustomed to in D.C. with a lower level of expectation that would see him potentially thrive. Success there would put him in the shop window for a transfer to a bigger European club, a triumphant return home or even a recall to the national side.

If it were my decision, despite the temptation to look at Landon Donovan’s example of returning to the MLS to rebuild his reputation and re-establish himself in the national side, I would take this latest chance in Europe and try to make it work. If that does not work, then I would try to release myself from the contract at Benfica and consider a move to a less-reputable league as a last chance in Europe. Yes he is just 21 but by the same token, he has been in the game for seven years and it is time to grow up. At least that way, if he doesn’t succeed it won’t be for a lack of effort and there will always be a franchise willing to take him on when he decides to return.

PSG 10-11 Season Update

It has been a while since I last blogged on Paris Saint-Germain and a lot has happened since mid-September. However, no sooner had I finished my article praising Antoine Kombouare for keeping the PSG squad together during this transfer window, Stephane Sessegnon left to join Sunderland throwing my finishing lines out the window.

Despite having lost a player of undoubted flair and ability, I think that the club have done some good business in letting the Benin international leave at this moment. Sessegnon has, for the best part of a year, been disrupting the team in his attempts to engineer a move away from the capital and, despite the club and the manager’s best efforts to keep him until the end of the season, it had become obvious over the last few weeks that he would not play for the club again in protest at being unable to move. After emancipating himself from the first team by refusing to train and falling out with Kombouare, Sessegnon had pulled out every stop to ensure that he would get his transfer. The move which sees PSG pocket seven million euros has come at the perfect time; the player has got his move and is one less headache for Kombouare, whilst the club get a good return on a player who has been out of the first team picture since November.

The transfer also comes as Saint-Etienne winger Dimitri Payet revealed that contract talks have broken down over an extended deal with Les Verts and that he would be keen to join the capital club after PSG officials enquired about the 23 year-old in the build-up to the Sessegnon transfer. This would be a considerable coup for Les Rouges-et-Bleu as Payet is a rising star on the domestic scene, an international and, having demonstrated his goalscoring prowess with an impressive 8 goals despite playing out wide; it would suggest that few will miss Sessegnon in the capital. However, PSG will have to wait until the summer to bring him in as the transfer failed to materialise before Monday’s deadline.

Otherwise, the squad is practically the same one that started the season. Siaka Tiene, bought from Valenciennes in August has yet to make any real impact, whilst Edel Apoula has ousted Gregory Coupet in goal, surely forcing the former French international into retirement. Guillaume Hoarau has overcome his difficulties in front of goal, establishing himself as first choice striker and centre-back Mamadou Sakho has earned rave reviews with some outstanding performances at the back.

On the pitch, Les Parisiens have been advancing strongly on three fronts and currently sit second in Ligue 1 having played just over half the season. Although currently four points behind surprise leaders Lille, they are three points clear of their closest rivals and have been in good form recently. They even looked set to reach another Coupe de la Ligue final before last week’s extra-time defeat to Montpellier, their second since late October when they succumbed to a home defeat to Auxerre.

Prior to that defeat, PSG endured consecutive, frustrating 0-0 draws with Rennes and Nice, whilst enjoying back-to-back 0-2 victories at Lens and Toulouse. Although the home draws were disappointing, the away victories maintained the capital club’s good league position as the early league table took shape. However, further disappointment at home followed as Auxerre claimed a 2-3 victory, leaving fans wondering if it was going to be a case of the same old story this season.

What happened next though proved to be a catalyst for Kombouare’s side. PSG travelled to Lyon for a Coupe de la Ligue tie that they managed to win 1-2 after extra-time and then went on a run that saw them draw 1-1 away to a difficult Montpellier side, win 2-1 at home against rivals Marseille in the Clasico, then pick up points at Lorient (1-1) and Lyon (2-2) either side of a home victory over Caen (2-1) followed by a Coupe de la Ligue victory at Valenciennes (1-3). They then registered victories over Brest (3-1) and Valenciennes (1-2) to briefly claim top stop from Rennes but a home draw against Monaco (2-2) and a surprise away defeat to Nancy (2-0) saw them slip to third going into the winter break.

Their form since returning has been impressive, with a 5-1 demolition of Lens at the Parc des Princes marking their return to the Coupe de France, followed by a 2-1 win over Sochaux in the league. However, the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final defeat in extra time (1-0) to Montpellier was a disappointment, but les Parisiens bounced back last weekend with a 2-3 victory over Agen in the Coupe de France, setting up a winnable quarter-final tie against lowly Martigues which they won 1-4 to reach the semi-final. They recorded a 1-2 victory at Arles Avignon on Saturday to maintain their league position.

These results see the club currently lying second in Ligue 1, but the real signs of progress have come in their Europa League performances. Drawn in a group containing Sevilla, Bundesliga leaders Borussia Dortmund and minnows Karpaty Lviv, PSG were expected to finish third at best. However, they topped their group thanks to some outstanding results. Home (4-2) and away (0-1) triumphs over Sevilla and solid draws at home (0-0) and away (1-1) to Dortmund coupled with and an easy 2-0 home win over Karpaty saw Kombouare’s men qualify for the next round in top spot with a game to spare, where they fought out a 0-0 draw in Lviv with a second-string side. An impressive effort from PSG and their record of conceding only three goals in the group stages will give them great confidence as they head to Belarus to face BATE Borisov in February.

Kombouare will be thanking Nene in particular for their recent progress as he scored an impressive nine league goals, adding a number of other important strikes in Europe to cap a memorable end to 2010. Although 29, the Brazilian has never represented his country at the highest level, yet surely he must now be considered for future squads given his current form. His arrival has coincided with PSG’s resurgence as a force in French football after years of mediocrity and his impact on the team has been obvious as he has, at times, single-handedly kept the club in the title race. He has quickly become the face of the new PSG, as a playmaker and a scorer of simple and outrageous goals, also contributing sublime pieces of skill and assists that have rejuvenated players such as Hoarau and Ludovic Giuly who were stagnating in the capital. Whether he can maintain this form only time will tell, but if he does, then the club will face a tough task to keep hold of him as the bigger sides in Europe come calling.

MLS

The current domestic MLS season is approaching the home straight and it looks to be an exciting battle to be crowned champions. Columbus Crew and the New York Red Bulls are streets ahead of third placed Kansas City Wizards in the Eastern Conference whilst LA Galaxy, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas are all well-placed at the top of the Western Conference. This exciting finale is down, in part, to a host of impressive new signings by some of the franchises and there are real signs of growth in the rising attendances, increased competition within the league and the developing ability of the young American players exhibited in South Africa.

It would be obvious to point to the arrivals of New York Red Bull’s Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez as signs of the MLS’ progress to Europeans but their impact off the pitch is as important as what they do on it. The signing of Henry is akin to that of David Beckham for LA Galaxy - Red Bulls have brought in a sportsman still at the top of his profession to boost interest in the team as well as strengthening it on the pitch. Henry’s link-up with MLS favourite and former Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel has begun to show signs of progress with Henry netting his first few goals and Angel currently topping Red Bulls’ scoring charts with 13 goals. However Henry’s signing has coincided with Red Bull’s move into the Red Bull Arena and the logic of using his signing to boost attendances on the back of what is proving to be a successful season looks well founded.

The signing of Rafael Marquez also boosts the club’s image off the pitch but in a different way. Like Henry, the signing of a player still at the top of his career and still an international will boost interest in the franchise, but Marquez’s appeal is more far-reaching that that of Henry. Being a Mexican, his presence at the club will attract many Mexicans and Americans of Mexican descent to the games, opening a new market to the club in a very shrewd acquisition.

In addition to Marquez and Henry, the MLS has seen a number of high-profile new arrivals recently. Shakhtar Donetsk’s Nery Castillo and former Fulham FC striker Collins John have joined Chicago Fire, Branko Boskovic has joined DC United from Austria Vienna and Omar Bravo has joined Kansas City Wizards from Deportivo La Coruna whilst Geovanni has joined San Jose Earthquakes from Hull City and Blaise N’Kufo has joined Seattle Sounders from FC Twente. These signings will boost attendances at their respective franchises but it also illustrates the MLS’ ability to attract quality players to play in America and now, with the designated player rule having been extended to two players per team, the signs are that the MLS is rapidly developing.

The increased competition in the league witnessed this year is due partly to these new arrivals, but also due to the high standard of coaching within the league and the rapidly developing younsters who are beginning to make an impression at international level. Players such as Robbie Rogers, Robbie Findley, Edson Buddle, Jonathan Bornstein and Omar Gonzalez have all been given a chance at their respective clubs in previous seasons and now, having established themselves in the MLS, they are beginning to help form a strong national side. In addition to this, the return of old favourites such as Gregg Berhalter, Eddie Lewis and Kasey Keller has helped the younger generations in their rapid development as the old school stars provide plenty of experience for the youngsters.

Bob Bradley must also be praised for recognising these players’ potential, and his ability to instil a sense of discipline and implement his strong organisational skills paid dividends at the World Cup as the U.S. greatly impressed in their matches whilst on the other hand, a team full of supposed “stars” for England flopped badly under poor management. The English F.A. would do well to learn some lessons from the American approach to the tournament.

Right now it is a great time to be invloved in MLS as the league gets set for further expansion with new franchises in Portland and Vancouver ready to be introduced, soon to be followed by Montreal a year later. A strong league already thriving and constantly developing coupled with a successful national team who appear to be going from strength to strength has seen big-name players begin to arrive and with established American stars returning home from Europe and more and more people watching the games, the future is bright for American soccer.

Martin O'Neill Good and Bad

When Martin O’Neill took over in August 2006 the club needed an overhaul and together with Randy Lerner, he built the club back up to the top level and restored the fan’s faith in the team, embedding optimism and ambition that was missing in previous years. This is a balanced account of his achievements at Villa.

O'Neill is a great man manager and he raised a lot of good young players, turning them into top Premier league talents. Players such as Agbonlahor, Young and Milner would not get close to the levels of recognition they enjoy today without his belief and leadership. We also have a British spine to the team, providing a number of players to the England setup recently.

Despite finishing 16th in O'Leary's last season in charge, O'Neill got rapid results. He took us back into the top third of English football in his second season, maintaining that position for a further two seasons. This proves his ability as a manager as the squad he inherited was weak and underachieving.

Traditionally we have Cup pedigree and for the first time in years MON gave us success (nearly). He took us to our first major final and semi-finals for years, showing us how close we were to glory.

The attacking style of football we played under him got us scoring goals and winning matches, making us more entertaining to watch. He also got us back into Europe. A return to the scene of our greatest triumph was the "dream" he said. Big teams need European football and MON made the fans feel that he shared their view in desiring continental success.

He fought to keep Barry and Milner. He believed that we are equal to the top 4, making other teams in the PL take us seriously and his hardball approach won us a lot of respect. But most importantly for Villa fans, MON renewed our enthusiasm for football and created a feel-good factor that lasted for the majority of his reign.

Whilst we have a lot to be grateful to MON for, there are drawbacks to his time at the club. He spent over the odds for a number of players (£120mil) in his time at the club, many of whom arrived for big money and never really got a chance in the first team. Some signings such as Sidwell and Beye were also unjustifiable in their lack of ability.

Despite some remarkable achievements MON was stubborn. He constantly played the same XI and his insistence to play some players out of position (Cuellar) and not give others a chance (L Young) was frustrating. This approach led to fatigue and accusations of us having a threadbare squad when our depth is not as bad as people think.

No plan B. When plan A worked it was fantastic and we could win games easily, especially after the defence was strengthened. However, he rarely trusted his subs' (bar Heskey) ability to turn a match and would persevere with the same tactics for the whole 90 minutes. Consequently teams learnt our style and we became predictable and tired.

His decision to prioritise the league over the UEFA Cup in 08/09 was a mistake. This upset the fans who were desperate for European progression and interrupted the team’s rhythm at a key point in the season. Also, MON was reluctant to look abroad for players. We are crying out for a creative midfielder, a rarity in Britain, so he should have gone abroad for one but it seemed he lacked an insight into foreign football. A few good signings with money spent on players like Sidwell would have helped MON persuade Barry and Milner to stay and avoided public tugs of war.

He lost face after his public challenge to Lerner, giving the owner an ultimatum. He stayed but didn’t spend anything, suggesting Lerner had called his bluff, damaging their relationship.

MON made us competitive, restored our status as a top PL side and launched a number of promising careers at Villa. The fans are once again proud of the club and it is in fantastic condition with a good squad. His achievements are incomparable and most Villa fans are extremely grateful to him. However, his transfer policy was flawed and his stubbornness over his starting XI and the way they played made it impossible for us to reach higher than sixth. The team petered out in the last third of each season and had MON put more trust in the players that he had bought then we stood a chance at breaking the top four.

Lerner had every right to take stock of the club’s position this summer. MON spent heavily since 2006 and Lerner has invested generously, enhancing the club on and off the pitch. To be told to sell before he could buy was not unreasonable given our spending in the last four years (training ground, facilities, forgoing sponsorship etc).

The perceived glass ceiling between the top 4 and everybody else is a myth. We had the tools to achieve it but MON was defeated by himself. MON should have accepted that he had to sell some players to buy more. If he could not sell the players that he bought but did not rate then selling Milner is something he should have come to terms with.