Tuesday, August 9, 2011

2011-12 French Ligue 1 Preview

An old hand might reclaim the summit.

After the heroics of last season, where unfancied Lille stormed to the title, Ligue 1 may probably revert to a more household name this year in PSG.


Despite their opening day defeat at home, no less, to Lorient, PSG are, on paper, the team to beat. With a generous injection of funds made possible by the Qatari Investment Authority, they have already set new transfer records with 86 million euros worth of talent acquired. One of Serie A's and indeed one of Europe's brightest and most talented stars, Javier Pastore has already been purchased from Palermo, moving for 43 million euros alone.  He joins a team that finished fourth last year and links up with one of France's best young strikers in Kevin Gameiro (11m from Lorient), French midfielder Blaise Matudi (5m from St. Etienne), Italian national team reserve goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and Mohammad Sissoko from Juventus. Roma attacker Jeremy Menez also joins on a free transfer, more experience from Serie A.


When you consider that the existing squad already contains striker Nene, arguably the most imposing defender in the league, Mahmadou Sakho, Guillaume Hoarau, Sylvain Armand, Mathieu Bodmer and Peguy Luyindula, it would appear that PSG are stocked without peer and should walk the title. However a new squad needs time to gel, belnd together and find a winning cohesiveness. Under manager Antoine Kombouare and Director of Football, Brazilian legend Leonardo, the club have good management and should find their feet as the season progresses. An attacking trident of Gamiero, Nene and Pastore, in front of a midfield of Bodmer, Matuidi and Sissoko, should give managers up and down the country shivers. Still, it takes time and a title is a marathon, not a sprint.  However PSG are favourites to land the Ligue 1 crown, 18 years after their last win, under Brazilian captain Rai et al in 1994.





Lille, the defending champions are still at large and have the most dynamic coach in Rudi Garcia as well as almost the entire title winning squad from last year. The key word here, however, is almost. Despite an impressive team that remains, Lille is defined by the key departures. Their best all round attacker Gervinho now suits up at Arsenal, club captain Yohan Cabaye is at Newcastle and their best defender, Adil Rami has joined Toulalan at Malaga. However, with Moussa Sow, top scorer last year, Eden Hazard, Ligue 1's best winger, Rio Mavuba, their excellent all-round midfielder still intact, and joined by newcomers Dimitri Payet, St. Etienne's outstanding forward and Auxerre's Benoit Pedretti, in to shore up the midfield, Lille are still tasty. How they meld together will be key to Lille's chances of retaining their title. If anyone can prove that PSG can be outlasted over the season, it will be Garcia's charges.


Behind them, Lyon are looking ominous again and should threaten to regain the impressive form that won them seven consecutive titles last decade. The handbrake under which they had atrophied with former manager Claude Puel has been lifted and a vibrant, refreshed squad looks ready to build on an impressive recent pedigree. Supremo Jean Michael Aulas is smiling again and the Olympique are set to embark on a season where they believe they can reclaim a trophy they practically owned in the noughties. A strike pairing of Befetembi Gomis and Lisandro Lopez is impressive enough, while their midfield is one of the most balanced in the league, with Ederson, Youann Gourcouff, Miralem Pjanic and Kim Kallstrom. The sheet anchor that is Jeremy Toulalan is gone, departed for the greener bank balances at Malaga; but youth team product Anthony Grenier is ready to build on his impressive return of two goals in seven games last season, having been given the number 7 shirt. Lyon will fancy their chances at the title and should come very close. Intriguingly, Lyon have not spent a dime on new talent this summer, at time of writing. And with an impressive 3-1 win at Nice on the opening day, one can see why.

Very much on the outside looking in are Marseille, who complete the quartet of title favourites. After a tragic start they were very consistent and finished a strong second, storming up the table after spending the first month in the relegation spots. An unknown quantity at times with the mood swings of an adolescent teenager, Marseille are equally capable of destroying a title threatening team as they are of limply succumbing to a candidate for the drop. Famously temperamental, like their south coast fanbase, Marseille possess more than a handy sprinkling of talent that can upset the applecart and regain the title they won in 2010. Former World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps is both devoted and passionate about the cause and will use all his experience and expertise to extract a winning harvest from this side.

Projected standings with keynotes for each club:

1 - PSG - A strong squad that has gotten crucial improvements should eventually prove to strong for the league. PSG are now big time.

2 - Lille - Still very good, but cannot pip the talent that money can buy at PSG. Champions' League participation will also be a distraction.

3 - Lyon - Consistency and an improved away record will see them compete but not triumph. Top three is plausible, beyond that is dificult.

4 - Marseille - The Ayew brothers, Andre Gignac, Loic Remy and Lucho are still a handy bunch but Marseille will only come so close.

5 - Toulouse - The best youth in the country, with a season mostly spent in the top six already under their belts, the purple will prosper this season.

6 - Bordeaux - Recovery, after Jean Tigana, post Blanc's departure to the French national setup had set them in limbo, is in place and the Aquitaine's coastal side will move back up.

7 - Montpellier - Largely intact with a couple of key additions should see them push back into the top eight.

8 - Lorient - With Rennes and Sochaux weakened, Lorient, despite Gameiro's departure, should prosper.

9 - Rennes - European distractions could prove disastrous as a talented but thin squad is stretched thinner. Goalkeeper Douchez, arguably the best last year, is gone to PSG.

10 - Sochaux - The squad is intact but they are unlikely to threaten the European spots again. Handy at home, weak away from it. Marvin Martin is key.


11 - Evian - While a fifth successive promotion is obviously impossible, this driven and talented squad's glass ceiling will be the upper half of the table.

12 - St. Etienne - Severely weakened by the losses of Matuidi and Payet, the Green and white stripes will falter. Steed Malbranque will not be enough.

13 - Auxerre - Pedretti is a big loss, but last year's Champion's League experience will aid them in a move up the table as will, the lack of a second European front.

14 - Caen - The kids will see them through but the top half is the best they can aim for. Need to keep striker Youssef El-Arabi fit and motivated.

15 - Nancy - Perennially struggling since their return, their already sparse squad was raided in the off season and is now threadbare.

16 - Valenciennes - Will spend the entire season flirting with relegation. Pujols' goals will not be enough with defensive standout Milan Bisevac gone to, you guessed it, PSG.

17 - Nice - David Ospina can only do so much in goal with a limited playing corps in front of him. Should struggle all season before just avoiding the drop.

18 - Brest - Last year's early season wonders will not recur as second season syndrome sinks in. Likely to drop before the last day of the season.

19 - Ajaccio - Will find it very hard not to drop back down. Squad is weak and the youth are not good enough to paper over the cracks.

20 - Dijon - An anaemic midfield and a barren attack can only lead to a swift return to Ligue 2.

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Still to come - French Ligue 1 Meet and Greet at end of August, at the close of the Transfer Window.

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