Weekend Recap
By: Xavier |
4 Comments
The first week of training ended on a rather sad Sunday evening at Le Touquet with a match against Charleroi ( Belgium D1 ). Lens Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme fielded two teams (one for each half), they presented quite different faces and the Lensois finally succumbed 2-1 to the young Belgian side. The end result of course was meaningless but there were some interesting observations to be made from this the first encounter of the upcoming campaign. The match began with a tribute to former Lens great Moncef Djebali who passed away this past November. The late Franco-Algerian forward played in blood and gold from 1977 to 1980 before moving on to feature for OM. Family members surrounded Djebali’s portrait and Lens’ coach Jean-Guy Wallemme later embraced and chatted with them in a touching moment on the pitch.
Demont, captain once again?
Eric Chelle, Mali international and Lens captain for the past two seasons was included on the starting sqaud fielded for the first half of the weekend encounter, but it was one time captain and longtime Lens veteran Yohan Demont who wore the captain’s armband on the breezy Sunday afternoon. Perhaps a clue as to who will assume the role of field general this season arises, even if Coach Wallemme expressed that no final decision has been taken on the matter. Backup defender Romain Sartre assumed the role in the second half.
Keepers:
In the absence of projected starter Hamdi Kasraoui, still with the national squad of Tunisia, and Vedran Runje out with a nose injury, and unavailable for ten days, (the player has since returned to his native Croatia) youngsters Samuel Atrous and Kevin Goeman shared the duties in goal. Goeman produced a very nice save while Atrous who looks to be the third keeper this season looked very nervous to say the least.
The Goals:
Major prospect Darnel Situ uncomfortable since the beginning of the match, succumbed to the Belgian attack that led to the opening goal from Gabon striker John Tshibumbu (0-1 23e) . In contrast, Sebastien Roudet has looked sharp and equalized a couple of minutes later (1-1 26e) . A penalty by young center back Alassane Toure late in the game offered Cyril Theriau the chance of scoring from the penalty spot (1-2 87th ). That was all that was needed to secure the win for the visitors from the Jupiler.
Second Team:
As expected, Coach Wallemme presented a team 100% changed for the second period . Marco Ramos, Razak Boukari, Alex Coeff (injured) and Eduardo did not participate in this preparation. The Belgians also significantly altered their squad for the second half proceedings.
Martel’s “relevant” Comments:
Rather than talking about Sunday’s encounter and what it might mean for the upcoming season, Lens President Gervais Martel only mentioned the Netherlands NT in the World Cup: “I’ve been saying it since the beginning that they will win. Robben is one of the best in the world!” Monsieur Martel definitely has the World Cup feeling…
Other Notes:
Kanga Akalé had a decent showing as he gets into playing shape. He also received a yellow card (77).
Transfers and Signings:
L’Equipe is reporting that Lens is battling with Lille, Bordeaux and a few German sides for the services of former U-21 and Lyon, Le Mans midfielder Hérold Goulon. Although intrigued by the offers coming from Lille and Bordeaux, the young defensive midfielder is concerned about playing time at both clubs. Lens may very well be in a pole position at this point. More to come…
Meanwhile, another youngster from La Gaillette by the name of Anthony Rogie has signed with the pro club for three years. It is the player’s first professional signing.
There have been some raised eyebrows at La Gaillette the last few days over reports that prospect Abdelhakim Omrani may very well be poached away ala Gael Kakuta. FC Sevilla and Werder Bremen are the latest culprits to try and strip away talent from Lens’ coveted training academy. Matters have been made worse when some disgraceful supporters relentlessly booed the young prodigy after missing a penalty shot last season. Dylan Deligny who almost left for Italy and Juventus signed a few weeks ago and the front office is trying desperately to get this young Moroccan playmaker, Omrani, under contract as well.
Photos of the match:
Razak’s pre-game chill tactics
The new home kits for those who have yet to see…
A touching tribute to Si Djebali
France U-21 Captain Darnel Situ in action…Thuram’s favorite!
Lens’ iron man Yohan Demont with the captain’s band
Filo Maoulida, will he stay or will he go?
Henri Bedimo races down the flanks
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)
Sights and sounds from the training grounds
By: Xavier | 4 Comments
Lens players and staff headed to the beach resort and training grounds at Le Touquet this week where they will commence the first stage of preparations for the upcoming season. The week will be punctuated with a friendly match, the first of the summer session, Saturday against Charleroi .
Absent for the resumption of training on Friday, Kanga Akalé has finally returned. Following the absence of Toifilou Maoulida earlier in the week, Akalé met with Lens management before hitting the pitch. Only the Brazilian Eduardo (excused for personal reasons) has yet to make an appearance. The Tunisian Internationals which include Issam Jemaa, Hamdi Kasraoui, and Ala-Eddine Yahia are still being held by their national squad and should return later in the week.
Meanwhile, the author of nine goals in the CFA Last season, prospect Mehdi Guezoui extended his contract with Lens. “I actually initialed an agreement for two additional seasons“, confirmed the forward in an interview with Lens’ official website. Guezoui should quickly be loaned out before the start of the season. “I will not wear the Lens shirt this season, He continues , the management and I agree that I should be loaned out and returned the following year. I’ll most likely feature in Ligue 2 or possibly the Belgian first division.” Guezoui will follow fellow Lensois William Remy who was loaned out to Créteil earlier in the week.
Sidi Keita bats the ball around
A strong possibility that striker David Pollet who starred for RC Paris last season will get a shot with Lens in the upcoming campaign persists. Furthermore, Dylan Deligny also signed his first pro contract with Lens earlier in the week.
For his part the young Franco-Moroccan defender Zakarya Bergdich, signed from Alfortville last month in a heated battle with PSG who was fiercely vying for the young left back’s services, is in camp and ready to make his mark in blood and gold.
Sidi Keita is also back from his loan spell with Xerez in La Liga. Having been relegted the Spanish club desperately wanted to keep the Mali International after an outstanding season where he started twenty four matches. Keita however, has no desire to play in the lower divisions at this point in his career. Lens has already received several offers for his services from clubs in Spain and the UK.
Injuries:
Razak Boukari stayed at the hotel during this morining’s training session in order to continue rehabbing his leg with trainer Phillippe Darques. He should be in action shortly.
Pictures from Le Touquet:
Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme relaxing at the beach resort
The training begins!
Samba Sow works out
Issam el-adoua on the ball
Fabien Laurenti in the hotel room
Category: Tidings from la GailletteJacques Santini joins Lens staff as Cuperly exits.
By: Xavier | 3 Comments
Jacques Santini, former France National Team Coach, has signed a two year deal with Lens, he will be tasked with supporting Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme in the assistant role vacated this week by Dominique Cuperly.
Santini, 58, a former great of several championship seasons with St. Etienne of the 1970s, will replace Cuperly, who announced his departure for “personal reasons”, according to the Lens website.
“It will be his experience that will be deeply felt throughout the club,” the club’s official statement read. A member of the epic side which led Les Verts in the final of the European Cup of Champions in 1976, Santini also coached Saint-Etienne (1992-1994). He also led strong sides in Toulouse, Lille, Sochaux, Tottenham (EPL), Auxerre and most notably Lyon with whom he won the Ligue 1 title (2001), the first of the amazing run of seven league titles for OL (2002) before taking the reigns of Les Bleus (2002-2004).
Coach Santini was presented this evening at La Gaillette, and gave his first impressions:
“I was receiving several proposals from overseas clubs to assume a head coaching role. It’s something that has been constant since I left Auxerre in 2006. Many young coaches, who feel attracted by the position of being head coach on a team as prestigious as Lens, have often burned themselves to the ground because they faced the unforgiving demands for top results. Right now I’d rather assume a different role, the ability to help, to accompany. It’s more in that area that I wish to work.”
“I chose Lens because of the overall project, it’s the best fit for my experience, a project that interested me straight away. The word trust is very important for me too. Coaching and projecting confidence, are words that have been the basis of our initial discussions, and the past 48 hours. It could have been done with another club, but I have not felt the determination and confidence, I felt right away with Lens. There is a common desire to work together here. From there, even if Lens has experienced difficult times in recent seasons, it is still a great club and a great job for anyone, there was really no reason to refuse being associated with the global project that President Gervais Martel and Lens have planned for the coming years.”
“I am aware, and the public is aware that the club was going through some very serious sporting and economic difficulties two years ago after the shocking relegation. There are still some small steps to climb, and if I can, with confidence, assist in the club’s overall preparation and especially in the accompanying work of Jean-Guy for the good of the club, I’ll do 100%. If I can bring the experience that I have gained, there is no reason we can not reach the summit soon. But we know as with all seasons, the page is blank in June.”
Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme for his part seemed genuinely excited about having Coach Santini on the Lens sidelines in the upcoming campaign.
“” I think it’s a great coup for us. I would say that I am an ambitious man yet a reasonable man. Someone who has the experience of a legend like Jacques, it can only be beneficial. His mission is to provide his full support to the club, and more precisely to our staff.”
The signing is being rightly viewed as a great coup for President Martel by the French press as well as the Lens nation. His role however, remains to be clearly defined and we shall certainly hear more in the coming weeks. We may then very well know more about his true role within the Artisian side.
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Aruna finally leaves Lens
By: Xavier | 7 Comments
Aruna bids farewell
Its been a few years coming now but Lens great Aruna Dindane has finally been sold. To the surprise of many observers the Ivorian International will be moving to the Persian Gulf to ply his trade with promoted Qatari side Lekhwiya. The Gulf club is under new ownership and is splurging cash throughout Europe and Latin America to acquire the very best of available talent. Joining Aruna will be fellow Ivory Coast teammate in Marseille forward Bakary Kone who also looks to thrill the fans in the oil rich Dawlat Qatar.
Dindane now amazingly 29 years old scored eight goals for the relegated Premier League side of Portsmouth while on a one-year loan deal worked out by Lens President Gervais Martel and the provisional ownership at Pompey at the time.
During his loan, cash-strapped Pompey had to negotiate a deal with Lens to allow Dindane to continue playing without having to pay the required £3.5m fee. President Martel eventually capitulated in allowing Aruna to play out the rest of the season, including the FA Cup final when Lens had the right to invoke the contract clause that would have forced Pompey to pay the entire fee outright.
Aruna had a fine season when he was actually allowed to play and he helped Pompey reach the FA Cup final after earning the penalty that Kevin-Prince Boateng converted in the 2-0 semi-final win over Tottenham.
Earlier in the 2009/2010 season President Martel was in dispute with Portsmouth over instalment payments involving Dindane’s loan move as well as Nadir Belhadj’s permanent transfer negotiated in December 2008.
A tribute to Aruna has already been done on this blog as his move to Portsmouth had virtually guaranteed he would not return to Artois. And although the 3 million Euros will come in handy for a club who’s finances have been ravaged after the ridiculous relegation two seasons ago it is no doubt a bittersweet day for many fans of the blood and gold. Aruna’s talent, charisma and heart will not soon be forgotten. Great things surely still await the danger man and we wish him a fine World Cup in South Africa and many thanks for his years of dazzling service.
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Weekend wrap up
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At the end of Sunday’s action Lens picked up another three points but still remain mired in 14th place in league play. Having already secured their Ligue 1 status prior to the start of today’s match against St. Etienne, the Lensois looked to open things up and abandon the cagey defensive style that Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme has employed for the better part of the campaign. The results were lovely and Toifilou Maoulida proved once again what an efficient poacher he can be by scoring two beautiful goals after entering the contest in the second half as a substitute.
Early on the story was much different as Les Verts still fighting to stave off the slightest possibility of relegation, opened the scoring with Pape Diakhate’s 43rd-minute goal after a mad aerial scramble in front of goal. But a scintillating Kanga Akale was awarded for his great wing play by leveling nine minutes after the restart. Thereafter St Etienne simply fell apart.
Issam Jemaa put Lens in the lead on the hour with an inadvertent goal as he slipped on the wet turf at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard causing the ball to lob over the head of goalkeeper Jeremie Janot. Toifilou Maoulida’s sparkling late double made the scoreline all the more lopsided at the merciful final whistle.
Hamdi Kasraoui was again in fine form and he still needed two attempts to save his club after Ivory Coast International Boubacar Sanogo turned and shot straight at goal, just a minute later Kasraoui also denied Bakary Sako in similar spectacular fashion.
The result wasn’t as catastrophic as it may seem for Les Verts as it leaves them seven points clear of the drop zone with three matches remaining.
Coach Wallemme commented after the match: “I am satisfied with the objectives we set for ourselves at the end of the season for both the club and fans. The team is not demoralized after last week. We want to finish this season as best as possible to prepare the next. The group has been exemplary in it’s attitude and behavior, such as when moving to Nice, but this time with a lot more success. This victory is good for everyone here. It gives me great satisfaction on a collective and individual level.”
President Gervais Martel eager for the club to finish as high as possible in the league table and therefore reap the attendant financial benefits said; “We had missed the boat in our last encounter against Valenciennes. We did not miss it tonight, especially with this fine second-half showing. Now, we must confirm this victory on Wednesday. This more accurately reflects the level of our team which should be located closer to the tenth or twelfth place.”
Other notable performances came from 17 year old right back Serge Aurier who continues to make the game look easy. It boggles the mind to see someone that young play with such maturity and poise. Furthermore, his physical presence belies his tender age. The youngster looks more like a body builder than a football player.
Kevin Monnet-Paquet is slowly working himself back into the lineup after his nasty leg injury and did a fine job setting up one of Maoulida’s scores. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for star winger Razak Boukari who continues to suffer from nagging leg injuries and may not return for the final few matches of the season. Many fans at Lens are worried that Frederic Antonetti’s aggressive overtures at Rennes may very well lure the Togo International away from the Stade Felix Bollaert over the Summer.
Side Notes:
-After recently signing his first pro contract with Lens prized young striker Mehdi Guezoui has scored two goals in each of the last two games with the reserves.
-Several reports coming from France have Lens hot on the trail of Nigerian International striker Isaac Promise currently plying his trade in the Turkish League this season with Manisaspor. The player’s agents are said to be in talks with Lens President Gervais Martel. Although, Lorient, PSG and St. Etienne have also been mentioned.
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Birane Ba Signs with Lens
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Whilst super youth prospect Abdelhakim Omrani waits to be presented with a professional contract by the hand of Lens President Gervais Martel, Birane Ba for his part is one of the new promising young pros to sign for the Sang et Or. A highly touted defensive midfielder for the U-19 squad, Ba had signed his first professional contract back in June of last year. But the young Senegalese native did not want to discuss his status before it became official. With the recent financial troubles at Lens however, it was only recently that the DNCG validated the contract of the seventeen year old phenom. He is now officially under contract until June 2012.
Ba now joins a growing rank of prized young pros developed at La Gaillette. A list which includes the likes of Alexandre Coeff, France U-21 Captain Darnel Situ, Mehdi Abeid, William Remy, Thorgen Hazard, Bilal Hamdi and Raphael Varane.
Abdelhakim Omrani (L) and Nassim Boukheliffa (R) wait in the wings
Ba spoke to the press at La Gaillette and discussed the thrill of signing his first professional contract with a storied European club. “I’ve always watched a lot soccer on television, I saw many Terranga Lions of the Senegalese National Team playing at Lens. Legends like Papa Bouba Diop, Ferdinand and Matar Coly, El-Hadj Diouf, not to mention all the young ones coming up…Today, as a young pro, I dream of one day emulating them and stomping on the lawn over the Stade Felix Bollaert. However, I’m still not toasting the feat much because I am aware that lot’s of training is an essential step towards a great professional career. I am convinced that in any case I must work hard to achieve my goals. As such, I now place myself humbly among the elite without neglecting my education to come.”
More signings are expected to follow in the coming weeks. France Football Magazine is reporting that President Martel is in the running for one of Ligue 2’s most promising central defenders in Guingamp’s Bakary Koné. The club has already held a few discussions with the player who is also sought by PSG, Marseille as well as a few EPL sides. The twenty two year old Burkina Faso International is recognized as a major upcoming talent and Martel wants him to replace ageing captain Eric Chelle alongside Lens defensive rock Allaeddine Yahia.
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Weekend Recap
By: Xavier | 4 Comments
It was Hamdi Kasraoui’s second foray in Ligue 1 as Lens all but secured their future in the topflight with a 1-1 draw against northern rivals Valenciennes, although they will surely be disappointed not to have emerged victorious.
Sebastien Roudet gave the Lensois the lead in the 38th minute but Gregory Pujol levelled matters for VAFC 18 minutes from stoppage.
As for Kasraoui, the Tunisian International continued to prove what a mistake it has been to keep him waiting in the wings whilst an ageing Vedran Runje struggled throughout the campaign. Kasraoui continued the fine form he showed last week in his Ligue 1 debut against Nice. Indeed, Valenciennes had several opportunities with Lens’ best defender Allaedine Yahia suspended for today’s match. The Tunisian International had other plans as he frustrated VAFC all day long.
Lens emerged 14th in the end, 12 points above the drop zone with four games in hand.
Coach Jean Guy Wallemme addressed the media following the derby. “Despite the point gained I’m a little worried. I think we were a little tired. We must regain our energy in the coming days. At halftime, I asked them if they had sore legs, they were tired because of the heat apparently. I just shook my head. I think I was a bit surprised. Am I too ambitious? I observe and notice some behaviors that confirm what I think of some of the players. I cannot satisfy myself with this result because I was expecting something else. I wanted the players to confirm the content and the game presented last week and also the good work week in training at La Gaillette. We beat ourselves today. Its a Pity really.”
Lens may now begin to incorporate many of the talented youngsters making their quick rise through the club’s ranks. France Under 21 captain Darnel Situ may soon be called up along with Bilal Hamdi and Thorgen Hazard among others.
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Matchday (Lens-Boulogne-sur-Mer) Stade Félix Bollaert
By: Xavier | 4 Comments
The current state of affairs at Lens assures that today’s northern derby against USBCO serves as the proverbial side show of a side show to borrow a line from Lawrence of Arabia. Surely, no one other than Lens die hards and the hardy denizens of the sub-prefecture at Boulogne will be tuning in.
Nevertheless, the match represents a crucial step for the blood and gold as a loss further exposes the club to threats of relegation late in the campaign. Although Lens are heavy favorites at the Bollaert this lowly USBCO side making their maiden voyage in Ligue 1 have previously beaten the Lensois in an embarrassing affair earlier this year.
Still, lens coach Jean-Guy Wallemme sees this as a completely different situation and said as much during the lead up. “This is a different context. Beyond the derby, USBCO is now a direct opponent to be removed completely from contention. Even if we cannot predict what will happen with six games remaining and a better goal average than our opponents, it would be very positive to win the match.”
Lens is coming off an extremely disappointing effort against Marseille where the club seemed listless and thoroughly unable to produce threatening chances. Coach Wallemme was visibly frustrated at the conclusion of the encounter and called out certain players.
“Even if the team was different, it is, once again, the overall match that disappointed me. Even if I replaced Alaeddine Yahia and Adil Hermach, Serge Aurier had a great game! I was disappointed with Sebastien Roudet and Dejan Milovanovic who did not make the necessary impact in midfield, with respect to the disposal of the team. They did not provided enough support to Issam Jemaa upfront. I do not think we were dominated at Marseille, but… we have been a bit disjointed. We were not convinced that we could at least come back with something, even a win.”
It has no doubt been an eventful week at La Gaillette with the publication of the club’s continued financial difficulties stemming from the contractual hold ups regarding Aruna Dindane, Nadir Belhadj and even former Lens great Seydou Keita. The latter’s contract having yet to be liquidated from Sevilla. Indeed the DNCG was back knocking at President Gervais Martel’s door asking the usual questions. Many Lens observers are worried that if these disputes are not resolved the team will be in grave financial straights leading to possible sanctioning by the league. Worst case scenario sees the club heading to the third division National and probably dissolving from there.
Currently, Sidi Keita, Fabien Laurenti, Issam el-adoua, Steeven Joseph-Monrose and Geoffrey Doumeng are on loan. Keita, has performed very well in Spain with Xerex but the club seems destined for relegation. The Spanish side would love to hold onto the Mali International but Keita has said he doesn’t want to play in the lower divisions at this point in his career. Therefore his salary would be swallowed up by Lens lest they are able to unload him over the summer. With the exception of Monrose who is projected as one of Lens’ best prospects and a future star, the other players on loan may not garner enough interest from their current hosts to stay on permanent contracts. Indeed, none of the current agreements include options for buyouts imputed in the respective contracts.
President Martel meanwhile announced the signing of two promising prospects from the training academy at La Gaillette. Young Martinique defender Raphael Varane and Thorgan Hazard, brother of Lille star Eden Hazard have become the latest to sign pro contracts following Allasane Toure, William Remy and Bilal Hamdi.
Kevin Monnet-Paquet will return after two weeks of rehab for a leg injury. Toifilou Maoulida will also finally return to the starting lineup where quite frankly he belongs.
Le Groupe Lensois: Kasraoui, Runje ; Aurier, Bedimo, Chelle, Demont, Ramos, Sartre, Yahia ; Hermach, Kovacevic, Roudet, Sow ; Akalé, Eduardo, Jemaa, Maoulida, Monnet-Paquet.
Le Groupe Boulonnais: Bédénik, Bague – Perrinelle, Rabuel, Béllaïd, Lachor, Soumaré, Lecointe, Dembélé – Karuru, Da Rocha, Agouazi, Marcq, Ducatel – Yatabaré, Moussilou, Kapo, Lorca, Thil, Robert.
Viewing Options: http://iraqgoals.net/7546-rc-lens-vs-us-boulogne-.html
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)Matchday (Lens-OM) Stade Vélodrome
By: Xavier | 7 Comments
The third and final installment of Lens-OM 2010 will be played out at the storied Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. The two clubs however could not be farther apart in terms of league standings and present form. OM is coming off an impressive victory over Lyon and seem to be poised for a strong final push for a Champions League spot. Moreover, the legendary southern side ended its 17-year wait to raise silverware by beating Bordeaux 3-1 in last weekend’s League Cup final.
The Lensois on the other hand are playing shell shocked, still seemingly haunted by the ghosts of PSG. Ever since the infamous encounter at the Stade Félix Bollaert in early March, when a back breaking 94th minute equalizer from Stéphane Sessegnon sent lens reeling, the northern giants have yet to recover.
Last week’s disgraceful debacle at the hands of Nancy seems to have plunged the club into the depths of deepest despair. Indeed, the only positive note for the entire season so far seems to rest on the results produced in the often ignored Coupe de France.
Didier Deschamps‘ men currently lie in sixth place with 53 points, four behind the new leader Lyon, and find themselves on a scintillating seven-match unbeaten run.
“It’s a relief to have put an end to the club’s trophy drought but we still have work to do,” Marseille midfielder Fabrice Abriel told French daily L’Equipe. “The season is far from over. The club’s aim for the end of this season is still to qualify for the Champions League.”
OM winger Mathieu Valbuena hopes the cup win will give the club more confidence and relieve some of the pressure as it chases a top spot in the league.
“We mustn’t stop in the middle of the road,” Valbuena told L’Equipe. “I hope this victory will allow us to relax and play at our best. We hold all the cards in our hands to go and get this title.”
Lens now finds itself disgracefully mired in 16th place with 35 pathetic points but OM still cannot underestimate its opponent. Deschamps’ men lost 1-0 at Lens in the league last November before being knocked out of the Coupe de France by the same team, losing 3-1 in February.
“We can get our revenge this time,” Marseille defender Stephane Mbia told the club’s Web site this week.
For his part Lens Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme talked to the press about having to travel to Marseille looking to rebound from the disgraceful drubbing at the hands of Nancy: “If we received Grenoble, this would be the same. I do not think it is worse to go there. We have everything to win this match …We won’t forget the match against Nancy. We must instead use it, and say to ourselves that we have more than ten games left. We must set a goal in the league cup as … And as I said before, the fact that for the most part, we have taken a very long time to achieve our objectives such as securing our place for next season, it won’t get to our heads … Hopefully this last misstep was merely an accident.”
“In terms of our overall goals, Ligue 1 is still the main objective. We remain twelve or thirteen points from relegation. The other clubs haven’t responded. Nevertheless, this is not an end in itself. We must keep in sight the fact that the higher you finish, the better for the club’s finances and ultimately recruiting.”
OM will be without two key players with club captain, striker Mamadou Niang (hamstring) and veteran midfielder Benoit Cheyrou (calf).
Lens welcomes back 18 year old right back Serge Aurier who was suffering from a few nagging injuries. Young prospect Allasane Toure will also rejoin the club after making his Ligue 1 debut last week.
Corner Kicks:
Marseille have won only one of their last seven league encounters against Lens (three draws and three defeats).
Lens won their two competitive encounters against Marseille this season.
Marseille are unbeaten in the last seven match days (five wins and two draws), currently the longest run alongside Auxerre.
Marseille have lost the fewest games this season in Ligue 1 (five).
Lens have failed to win their last five league fixtures (two draws and three defeats), currently the longest run alongside St Etienne.
Lens have scored 150 Ligue 1 goals against Marseille, no other team has netted as many against OM.
Le Groupe Lensois: Gardiens : Kasraoui, Runje
Défenseurs : Aurier, Bedimo, Chelle, Demont, Ramos, Sartre, Touré, Yahia
Milieux : Hermach, Milovanovic, Roudet, Sow
Attaquants : Akalé, Eduardo, Jemaa, Maoulida, Monnet-Paquet.
Le Groupe Marsellaise: Gardiens : Mandanda, Andrade
Défenseurs : Taiwo, Bonnart, Mbia, Diawara, Heinze, Hilton, Mbow
Milieux : Gonzalez, Cissé, Kaboré, Ben Arfa, Valbuena, Abriel
Attaquants : Brandao, Koné, Morientes.
Viewing Options: http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=71074&part=sports
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)The Wallemme-Maoulida row intensifies
By: Xavier | 2 Comments
It seems the row between Lens striker Toifilou Maoulida and his coach Jean-Guy Wallemme has reached a tipping point. According to several sources Maoulida, who left training camp at La Gaillette on Tuesday after receiving word that he would not be included in the Coupe de France fixture against St. Etienne, has spoken with Lens management about the upcoming transfer window and how he wants out.
Sixteen appearances, five hundred eighty-five minutes of action and two goals in Ligue 1. By his own admission, Toifilou Maoulida has experienced the “worst season of his career”. Lens’ top scorer during the dreadful relegation campaign of 2008-2009 with thirteen tallies in league play, the veteran striker from the the East African island of Mayotte today stands as the third choice Striker in the plans of coach Wallemme who prefers Issam Jemaa and the Brazilian Eduardo upfront. Alas, the former Marseille man is not at all content.
Wallemme was asked about Maoulida’s absence after the rousing midweek victory against Saint-Etienne, the headman seemed annoyed with the latter and said bluntly: “Toifilou Maoulida? He is not hurt. Let’s be clear about that.”
Much of this comes as a surprise to many Lens fans as it was thought Maoulida was greatly appreciated by the management after staying on with the club post-relegation and playing a key role in the club’s eventual promotion. Indeed, several Ligue 1 sides (namely Lorient and St. Etienne) coveted his services. But coach Wallemme has obviously seen things differently and has cited weight and attitude issues as major impediments to the striker’s lack of form. Then again, Lens has a terrible scoring record this season and many including yours truly feel the club could have benefited more from Maoulida’s solid poaching instincts.
How will it end?
Category: l'actualité (Matches and More)
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