Comments on: Dear Raymond Domenech:

By: Jean Pierre

Jean Pierre — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:40:18 +0000

Henry is not retiring, isnt it?

By: jeff

jeff — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:12:21 +0000

I think Sagna would make a very good central defender.

By: Michel-Olivier

Michel-Olivier — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:06:03 +0000

@ Alexandre
your line up is wrong, sagna in central, clichy in the right, please stop watching MLS and watch football from europe.
———–Frey——
Sagna—Mexes–Gallas–Clichy
——-Toulalan——-
Ribery—-Flamini—-Nasri
—Benzema—-Gouffran—-
with domenech around it will never happen. thank god for xbox 360 and fifa 08.

By: Alexandre

Alexandre — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 21:26:09 +0000

Ok then. If my lineups are too young, then what do you suggest? Whom of the experienced ancients who are washed up, would you keep to help “mentor” these guys? What other young talents did I miss?

I don’t care about winning right off the bat. I say, let them take their lumps and learn the hard way (Much like Spain has recently done with their youngsters…pretty nice results). If they fail to qualify for the World Cup, then they will be forced to further pull together as a team. They have so much young talent, however, I don’t see them failing to qualify.

Once again, there is too much young talent (which has been wasted for short-sighted job security) and it is not too late.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:28:07 +0000

how young is the french team going to be by 2010?

Alexandre: your line-ups average age by then would be less than 26, which is pretty young (would have been youngest at this year’s euros).

however, this means that today it stands at 24…the kind of side Arsenal might put out! Of course, the area with most youth will have to be the attack (midfield and up front) because this is where France lost it, not just in these euros, but arguably from 2000. Trezeguet is gone, cisse is out of favour, henry may retire before the euros, and govou does not provide many goals as such. Malouda was awful, as usual, and the French midfield was solid, but not creative AT ALL!

Luckily for us, the coach has no option to rely on old favourites anymore, as A. a lot of them are/will retire and B. French fans will boycott his games most likely!

Lets see what happens in august/september – i don’t mind if nothing spectacular is produced, so long as there is a solid foundation laid for the progression of the young team. (no losses, please). !!!

By: Alexandre

Alexandre — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:29:24 +0000

Ok, here is my new roster (coach withstanding) for what I think is a realistic and potentially strong next move towards world domination:

G: Frey, Mandanda,Lloris

D:Sagna, Evra, Clichy, Mexes, Clerc, Gallas, flex to d:L.Diarra, and Sébastien Puygrenier

possible d replacement [left D only!]: Abidal

M:Ribery,Nasri,Toulalan,Gourcuff,Diaby,Flamini,Taarabt

posible midfield replacemnt: Jeremy Menez

F:Ben Arfa,Benzema, Florent Sinama-Pongolle (22 goals last year and just signed with Atletico Madrid), Briand, and Trezeguet (one more year)

possible forward replacement: Gomis (haven’t given up on this guy)

This is my starting lineup for the next three matches:

G:Frey
D:Clichy,Mexes,Sagna, and Evra
M:W:Ribery, Nasri C:DM: Flamini and AM: Gourcuff
F: Benzema and Trezeguet

That lineup should out talent alone all teams except:

Brazil (Dunga sucks)
Argentina
Italy
Spain
Germany
Netherlands

where some strategy may be required.

By: ian

ian — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:33:33 +0000

I also would like to say that i believe benzema was played in to much of an attacking midfield role in the romania game. he could not find his form because when he got the ball(near half field) anelka was non existent so he had to take on more players. he was not used to the position and played poorly(no excuses). He will prove to be a great attacker for the NT. The future looks good with some young players(Benz, ribery, ben arfa, nasri, sagna) hopefully they will learn to play together as a team, unlike the euro who could not

By: Laurie

Laurie — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 20:08:16 +0000

Jeff, I understand about Benzema. I’ve loved his style of play since before his first NT game.

I think my frustration comes from my maternal area. Exhaustion leads to loss of form. Loss of form leads to loss of joy. I never want to see Benzema lose his joy in playing.

By: alessio

alessio — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 18:06:03 +0000

Not a shitty coach, not a bad formation, and not using him as a sub. He isn’t a supersub. Besides, with a 1:2 ratio of goals to games, that’s hardly bad.

By: Steven

Steven — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:07:14 +0000

“David Trezeguet has announced his retirement from the international game and he has blamed Raymond Domenech for his decision”.

Thanks Michel-Olivier,

Wow, I guess we should have seen that coming!

What was it that has worked for Trezeguet at Juventus that hasn’t work in the past few years with the French NT?