Tidings from La Gaillette

Lens will be back in Ligue 1 action tomorrow and the Artisan side will be relying on a cohesive group when they take to the pitch against Montpellier. “If we do something special this year it will be because of the solidarity in this group, said goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui. The guys have been very supportive, and thus the early season success. Frankly, we believe in our talent.”

With three straight starts under his belt, Dejan Milovanovic may be finally finding his place within the starting eleven. Coach Jean-Guy Wallemme says of the former Red Star Belgrade icon. “I think the player best suited to conduct our attack is Milo. Nenad Kovacevic on the other hand remains someone who excels in defense and recovery in the short game. Less so with long passes. Adil Hermach has lots of quality but he is not necessarily the fastest guy out there. So the player most capable of running the midfield is Milo.

Gradually, rising star Samba Sow has carved out his place on the first team. The young Malian trained at la Gaillette academy, was the author of some brilliant plays recently, particularly against Grenoble and Rennes. Against Rennes, Sow was able to impose his physique late in the match and provide Kevin Monnet-Paquet with a perfect pass and a chance to seal the deal. Indeed, a performance that could allow him to show his qualities beyond a few minutes late in matches. “There is a kid knocking on the door of stardom and his name is Samba Sow, who is progressing in a very interesting way, says the Lens coach. I think the beginning of last season with us, he was was very good. And he has confirmed this since. A starting role may be upcoming.”

Due to issues with his work visa, Tunisian International goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui, Lens’ big summer signing, has been unable to play a minute with his new club and today feels like a caged lion. “I was really worried, so I tried to forget the problems by working real hard. But honestly, I felt like a warrior without weapons. The Tunisian keeper now wants to catch up and finally get some game time. “There is no number one and number two. I am one of two international keepers on the club. My desire is to work and show my worth. With all due respect to Vedran, competition with him will make me progress even further.

Having recruited a plethora of left backs in recent years, most notably Nadir Belhadj and Lucien Aubey who were both lost after the relegation, Lens is without a replacement for Marco Ramos who is out suspended tomorrow against Montpellier. It will therefore be reserve right back Fabien Laurenti who will take his place, explains coach Wallemme. For now, objectively, there is no other choice. Among the youth players, there is the promising Joao Baty. But he is still not really ready. Fabien is fit for this position, even if left is not his strong foot.”

Tunisian media outfit Voice of Sports has announced that Tunisian International striker Oussema Darragi could very well join Lens next season. The twenty-two year old has been starring at Esperance in Tunisia as well as the national side.

This has been Tidings from la gaillette.

Category: Tidings from la Gaillette

Tags: fabien laurenti, hamdi kasraoui, jean guy wallemme, ligue 1, marco ramos, montpellier, racing club de lens, Tidings from la Gaillette

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