Gregory Coupet: Presentation
By: Thomas |
2 Comments
We have the new information that in fact it was Landreau who made the decision to leave and Coupet was brought in to replace him. That makes this all seem less bizarre to me. Anyway, here is an interview upon Coupet’s presentation at the Parc des Princes, courtesy of the PSG website:
How do you feel after signing for PSG?
“It’s fantastic. I hope signing my contract in brilliant sunshine is an omen for things to come. The Parc des Princes brings back a lot of memories as both a player and a spectator. This club has always been an inspiration to me as a goalkeeper; Baratelli, Bats, Lama and Luc Borelli are all ‘legends’ to me. I’m very proud to have joined this giant family that is PSG.”Why did you choose PSG after Lyon and Atletico Madrid?
“To be honest, when I was 20, if you’d told me I’d sign for PSG at 36 years of age… it’s just unbelievable. Paris is a big club in France – a club that everyone wants to play for. The opponents, when they come to the Parc des Princes, they always give 100 per cent, so it’s a chance to play all top line matches.”What are your goals in the French capital?
“My aim at PSG is to win. I’m not just here to make up the numbers. I want to fly the club colours high and I’m ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
And some numbers…
Date of Birth: December 31 1972, Age: 36 yrs, Height: 1m81, Weight: 80kg, Position: Goalkeeper.
Career: 436 L1 matches, 22 L2 matches, 6 Liga matches, 24 UEFA Cup matches, 87 Champions League matches, and 34 caps for France.
Clubs: AS Saint-Étienne (93-96), Olympique Lyonnais (97-08), Atletico Madrid (08-09), PSG (09-).
Record: Confederations Cup 01, 03 (France), Trophée des Champions 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, French Champion 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, Coupe de France 08, Coupe de la Ligue 01.
Transfer Rumors and Gregory Coupet Responds
By: Thomas | 4 Comments
Young center back Larrys Mabiala has moved to OGC Nice for an undisclosed fee. I don’t have much of an opinion on this as he only featured in a few first team games last season, but I do hope we got a reasonable sum for him.
It seems that we have given up our supposed chase of Patrick Vieira, which I am fine with as we really don’t need another French veteran defensive midfielder.
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Switching Keepers
By: Thomas | 3 Comments
So its official. Les Rouges et Bleus have signed 36 year old Gregory Coupet from Atletico Madrid after an unsuccesful season in which he was second fiddle to Argentine Leo Franco. To make room for the former Lyon and France gardien des buts PSG have allowed Mikael Landreau to move to Lille for an undisclosed fee.
I am completely baffled by this move. Coupet has at most one season left in him, and is well past his prime, barely playing last season after being signed as a starting keeper. Landreau on the other hand has been reliable for us since 2006, Read the rest of this entry »
Bonjour!
By: Thomas | 5 Comments
Welcome to the newest incarnation of the Paris Saint-Germain Offside. I am a fairly new fan of le PSG, as I only began following the club two years ago, but I was quickly caught up in the capital club’s struggle to avoid relegation last year and their attempt at Europe this year.
On to news about the club. Young Turkish international striker Melvut Erding is expected to sign for PSG in the next few days, with both clubs (Sochaux and PSG) having agreed on a 10 million euro price tag for the 22 year old. I find it a shock that we landed his signature, with bigger clubs such as Aston Villa and Lyon reportedly interested.
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Category: Team NewsAntoine Kombouaré steps into crisis
By: j | 1 Comment
Deny it all he will, new manager Antoine Kombouaré takes the reigns of Paris Saint-Germain with the club veiled in crisis mode.
Through a series of mismanaged moves by PSG président Sébastien Bazin, the club is dealing with a end of season collapse that dropped the club out of the Europa League, precipitated by the poorly timed decision of announcing that Paul Le Guen would not be back, troubling financial position of ownership’s underlying business and a likely defection of a number of players.
Of matters directly on the pitch, the laundry list of talented players either fed-up with the events around the capital since Charles Villeneuve was ousted or simply be sought-after in the transfer market effectively works through their starting eleven. While there is quite obviously a great deal to be settled it is entirely possibly that les Rouge et Bleu lineup by the time August rolls around will no longer include Mickaël Landreau, Guillaume Hoarau, Stéphane Sessegnon, Jérémy Clément, Clément Chantôme and Jérôme Rothen. Add Mamadou Sakho to the delight of Arsène Wenger’s wish list and first course of business now that the dog and pony show introduction of Antoine Kombouaré to the public is complete, is to stem the crisis.
After considerable thought this will serve as my final post. If you care to apply for this blog please contact Daryl with The Offside (click here) after reviewing the guidelines at www.theoffside.com/bloggers.
Category: Team NewsPaul Le Guen bids farewell to Paris Saint-Germain
By: j | 1 Comment
PSG’s extraordinary campaign came to a end as the played Monaco to a scoreless draw at Parc des Princes. While it is true the club stumbled dreadfully late in the season, the year is one to celebrate as pride has returned to les Rouge et Bleu.
The match was the final curtain call for Paul Le Guen and he is deserving of utmost respect. I cannot help forget the sorrow of last year, when the Parisians walked the fine line of relegation only to be saved in the last moments of the season. From survival came a new breath of air and his work is at the root of the clubs re-birth.
Of the match, it was a modest affair and I suspect for PSG, the lack of venom was a carryover from the moment it was announced Monsieur Le Guen would not be back. Realistic scoring chances were a rare find as defending was the order of the day. However as the match wound down, the Parisians stirred with late efforts by Guillaume Hoarau, Jérémy Clément and Clément Chantôme whispering that the winning goal was near. Finally two minutes into added time Sylvain Armand struck the crossbar but that was as close as it would get.
Sadly the result leaves Paris Saint-Germain out of the Europa League and while disappointing, this is a year to celebrate. Whether it the emergence of Guillaume Hoarau, Clément Chantôme and Mamadou Sakho, the extraordinary attacking vision of Stéphane Sessegnon and of course the leadership of Claude Makélélé, Mickaël Landreau and Ludovic Giuly, PSG was packed full of remarkable highlights. However lest we forget there is a special place for Monsieur Le Guen, who laid a foundation that les Rouge et Bleu can build upon for years to come.
Category: Team NewsAntoine Kombouaré era begins
By: j | 3 Comments
The worst kept secret in Football was finally announced as VAFC manager Antoine Kombouaré will take over Paris Saint-Germain this summer as he signed a three-year contract.
After announcing Paul Le Guen’s contract would not be renewed there was little doubt who the new man would be. For fans of les Rouge et Bleu, it will be interesting to note if he will change his tactical styling given the heightened talent base or if he will continue with a more battened down defensive plan.
Category: Team NewsClaude Makélélé decides to stay with les Rouge et Bleu
By: j | 5 Comments
Despite early suggestions that this would be his final season, Claude Makélélé has decided to return to the les Rouge et Bleu next year. Eager to continue his leadership role with the Parisians, he said:
“I’m staying because the president assured me that the next coach of the club would want me here. That was my first condition. I’ll stay on the pitch for another season, because Sébastien Bazin wants me to play until 2010.
“I want to work for the club - be available for the president, the coach and the sporting director.
“I’m very interested in recruitment. My overseas network, my charisma and my standing in the game can help the club.”
Category: Team NewsPSG’s late season swoon continues
By: j | Add Comments
The “late season sputter” of les Rouge et Bleu has turned into a full scale free-fall as they fell 2-1 to Valenciennes. With three loses in the most recent four matches, the Parisians have fallen out of a Europa League spot. If not more obvious managements decision to not renew Paul Le Guen’s contract has shaken the underpinnings of the club.
Paris Saint-Germain took the lead as Mateja Kežman efficiently turned-in Ludovic Giuly’s cross for the 1-0 lead. For the Serbian striker, who has finally got his footing in Paris, his recent play has shown promise and validating his need for more play to maintain his touch. That aside, his future of the club is murky at best as Paris Saint-Germain is attempting to squeeze-out of a €4m purchase that is automatically triggered with the club avoiding relegation. Antoine Kombouaré, who is highly likely to lead PSG next year, adjusted tactically at the half and the northern side leveled the match a minute past the hour as Gaël Danic’s free-kick was headed-in by Johan Audel. The Côte d’Azur native, Audel, turned provider as he sent the ball to Grégory Pujol to close out giving les Valenciennois the 2-1 lead. The Parisians came close to evening the match as time wound down but it was not to be and match ended with a difficult 2-1 loss.
Category: Team Newsmiserable performance as PSG loses to Auxerre
By: j | Add Comments
PSG’s late season sputter continued with a 2-1 loss to Auxerre. With the outcome, their second consecutive at Parc des Princes, les Rouge et Bleu will need to wait on Sunday’s match between Marseille and l’OL to see if they remain a point behind the defending champions.
With Guillaume Hoarau absent, the attacking vision of the Parisians was in the hands of Péguy Luyindula and Mateja Kežman but sadly both were out of sorts and could not connect despite a number of top-shelf chances. After a quiet start going forward l’AJA were gifted the lead as Thomas Kahlenberg sent a long lobbing ball down the right channel. At first Zoumana Camara showed the level of intensity best served for a walk along the Seine before Ireneusz Jeleń forced him to speed up and at the last moment the Parisian defender struck the ball high over Mickaël Landreau into the net. As whistles echoed throughout Parc des Princes in response to the truly dreadful own-goal, l’AJA extended its lead just before the break on a further shocking goal if not impossible to describe. Getting on the end of Benoît Pedretti’s provision, Polish international Ireneusz Jeleń struck a shot from dead on the byline, as he was falling, past Mickaël Landreau with the ball curling to the far post in. With the match seemingly decided PSG were thrown a lifeline as Stéphane Sessegnon effort from inside the box deflected off Jean-Pascal Mignot into the net. Immediately the Parisians pushed forward and had a perfect chance to level as a late corner made it to the back post to Mateja Kežman but his touch was off and the match concluded without further mark.
Category: Team News
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