Tidings from La Gaillette

By: Xavier | August 5th, 2009

Monday, Yohan Demont, Geoffrey Doumeng and Fabien Laurenti all worked out well.

The participation of Marouane Chamakh in the upcoming curtain raiser against Lens is considered “unlikely” according to L’Equipe. Hopeful of joining Arsenal, the Moroccan international has yet to report to le girondins.

Back in Ligue 1, Lens is no longer viewed as a perennial contender, which may be a good thing, according to coach Christophe Delmotte.” “It is true that the caliber of teams we will face each weekend could, over time, become burdensome to our players. However, mentally, we are able to prove something to ourselves. We know that this year our squad may be less experienced and less talented than other years, therefore, we will have to rely on our strength of character, especially since there is a certain harmony one senses with this group. ” Most importantly, the players will not rely on the strength of their individual personalities which caused so many setbacks leading to the relegation!”

Trying to explain said relegation, Daniel Percheron, Regional Chairman of Nord-de-Calais has challenged Lens President Gervais Martel and Guy Delcourt. ” The Lens President, and the city mayor responded to the Regional Chairman. “Daniel Percheron is convinced he is always right. He is annoyed by the independent management of the club president, he would have preferred that the club be under his command. It is his passion to win football games. I believe, club presidents should be free to run their clubs as they see fit. Indeed, I believe it is a prerequisite for success. ”

LFP President Frédéric Thiriez will be on hand for Sunday’s curtain raiser against Bordeaux. No doubt the league president is breathing a big sigh of relief that Lens is back in Ligue 1.

The newspaper L’Equipe has asked “thirteen experts” to give their opinions on the upcoming campaign. The list includes the much hated (in Lens) Guy Roux and Jean-Pierre Papin. After coming to Lens, one wonders how these two can still be considered experts?

Former Nantes (since relegated) coach, Elie Baup addressed the question “What kind of season awaits the promoted sides?” Answer: “The promoted sides will surprise many. Montpellier and Lens are two clubs in L1 which should have never been down. Montpellier can do as Grenoble did last year, it will be hard for teams to pick up points at the Mosson. Lens seems even stronger, but they should not rest on their success from last season in Ligue 2 and they should show their fangs relatively early in the campaign. ”

Saint-Etienne has denied various rumors regarding players arriving to strengthen the squad of coach Alain Perrin. This morning, President Martel said in the pages of La Voix du Nord that there had been “no contact with the stéphanois’ front office.”

Toifilou Maoulida is also no longer a priority for Saint-Etienne, reported L’Equipe. Les Verts would prefer Amadou Alassane (Le Havre) and Aruna Dindane, but both players will most likely either move to the English Premiership or stay with their respective sides.The transfers of Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne) and Kleber (Cruzeiro) have proved too expensive and the ASSE could lay a claim on Guiherme (Dynamo Kiev) and Bobo (Besiktas). If not, Maoulida’s file may resurface.

Monaco has not stopped inquiring about Aruna Dindane it seems. However, says President Martel. “I will repeat what I said recently: Aruna will either go abroad, or remain at Lens.”

The Lens President also said that “Nenad Kovacevic will likely remain with the club. “It would take a rather large offer before August 31 to change the current situation. And there is an important point to consider: if we sell Nenad, it means that we have already found his replacement. If not, we will do nothing.”

Lens has lost another of its promising youngsters. A French Champion in June, Anthony Ihou has left the club by mutual agreement. Disagreements with his coaches, and a lack of confidence with the player have been cited. ” “I have not been able to see eye to eye with my coaches and they accused me of some things, so, we have decided to part ways. I really want to prove to Chelsea that the coaches were wrong about me. And why not return to Lens in the future? I won’t say I didn’t feel well at Lens, but there are so many good young players in La Gaillette at some point , the leaders will have to make moves on them.”

Ihou seems confident for the future of the young players training at La Gaillette. “The generation 1990-91-92-93 is currently the best in France. In this sense, Lens is on top of Marseille and Bordeaux. Lyon also has one of the best youth systems in France. All the youngsters have great quality. Lens I think, at least in the coming months will be concerned with staying up in Ligue 1.”

William Remy, Darnel Situ, Adama Diakite and Abdelhakim Omrani were selected by coach Philippe Bergeroo for Team France U-18. They will participate in an upcoming tournament in Japan from August 17 to 26. With four players on the U-18s, Lens remains the club with the most U-18 selections of any side in France.

This has been Tidings from La Gaillette…..