Just wanted to note that Les Verts failed to win their home opener for the 21st consecutive season.

I'm going to be cheering for Gazélec in Ligue 2 this year. The third of Corsica's Big Three finally gained promotion more than a decade after being turned away because of an arcane ruling that prevented a town of Ajaccio's size from having two teams in the same division.

Corsicafoot is in brilliant shape, with both AC Ajaccio and Bastia in Ligue 1 for the first time since 2004.

Gazélec looked appallingly dirty against Lyon in the Coupe semi.

That overpriced lumbering geriatric stiff zlatan managed to score two and salvage a draw against Lorient.

I shall pass this one online to the missus' brother, in my worst French. They're all ardéchois who venture up to le chaudron every now and then. Interesting obscure piece of trivia (if it hasn't already been splashed over L'equipe etc) if not a typically depressing representation of how the last thirty years have been for France's most successful club. Still, it was decent opposition in LOSC.

Oh how we'd laugh should PSG botch this one. Having lived in Paris four years ago for one year, a month ago I was there for over a week and reckon I saw more PSG shirts and merchandise during that time than the entire 2007-8 season.

As good a place as any to mention the breaking news that Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema have both been arrested for paying a minor for sex. Merdé.

They're not under arrest, they're standing trial (and it's not breaking news, this came out before the 2010 World Cup). Ribery has already admitted to having sex with her, his argument is that he didn't know that she was underage.

Bloody Twitter.

Another poor result for PSG, drawing 0-0 at Ajaccio on a rutted surface. Ancelotti was sent off near the end for kicking a water bottle onto the pitch. Lavezzi also got a red card when he cretinously stamped on one of the Ajaccio midfielders.

PSG only created one real chance, which Menez spurned. They are now already four points behind the leaders, one of which (Bordeaux) they have a crunch game against on Sunday night.

For some reason, neither Ibrahimovic nor Thiago Silva played any part in the game.

Ibra has an ankle issue that is effecting his ability to kick the ball. PSG said today that he may miss the Bordeaux game, too.

They were giving Thiago Silva a break after his recent globe-trotting with Brazil.

It's at once scary and sad (if you're a Parisian) to think how good PSG could be if they only hold on to some or most of their homegrown talent instead of going on stupid splurges, you look at a guy like Distin who has shut out Man U today and makes a small fraction of Ibra's salary...

PSG has a huge competitive advantage, that of sitting by its own on the greatest talent pool in Europe, and now it has the means to defend that position (well at least until Hollande's 75% kicks in...)

I told a friend about the St. Etienne fact, yet a friend told me that they didn't lose last season home opener.

I'd like to put him straight, but a scan of L'equipe left me in tears.

Can anybody help?

Saint-Etienne opening game of the season 2011/12 away at Bordeaux. Methinks, this is to do with the first day of the season at home, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

ASSE beat Nancy 1-0 in last season's home opener.

88th minute winner from Sylvain Marchal.

Very impressed by Lorient last week, and an impressive win against Montpellier too, by all accounts - could be worth keeping an eye on if they're televised often.

Looks like Barton at Marseilles is going ahead (according to RMC)...

For our French readers on here, the low-down on all the Premier League clubs (on-going!) :

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea

Everton, Fulham, Liverpool

Man City, Man United, Newcastle

Norwich, Queens Park Rangers, Reading

Caught a first look at Nice this year, its home game against LOSC being featured in TV5. This looks like another typical OGCN squad, which will keep its fans nervous in april but clear relegation 2 or 3 weeks before the end.

Landreau single-handedly (literaly) kept Nice from netting 3 pts, with two stupendous saves, one on a point-blank headerto his side, the other on a deflected free kick where he strained against the momentum carrying him in the original direction of the ball to clear it with his trailing arm. He's cementing his lock on the backup GK position for the national team.

Third consecutive draw for PSG, who are already six points adrift of OM.

A round chorus of boos around the Parc des Princes, the home side had plenty of possession but precious few shots on goals - will the Qataris be throwing bucketloads of cash at Pep before Christmas?

I think they're experiencing what Man City did two seasons ago: it's all very well to pile up the stars, but it takes time for the team to gel and click.

[and that Ligue 1 is no cakewalk]

Have just posted my article about Swansea & Tottenham, for those who are interested:

Swansea and Tottenham

17 down, 3 more to go!

It appears that tomorrow's France Football is going to include a 32 page settlement celebrating the 50 best foreigners ever to play in France.

Worth looking out for (and should be downloadable to Ipad).

ursus arctos wrote:


Be interesting if we could see the list, too early for Joey Barton to make his presence felt.