The Happy, Expectant Couple

June 11th, 2007 | by: Laurie |

I keep meaning to sit down and write up a post or two on the most recent transfers and transfer rumors. (Preview: Ribery isn’t going where I expected, and Anelka’s reputation as le Sulk may still be haunting him despite his apparently remarkable transformation. You have no idea how much this saddens me. Nico DESERVES to play in Champions League and he’s not getting any younger.)

But I’m expecting houseguests to arrive within the next twenty-four hours, so that will have to wait. Instead I’ll give you a photo of the happy and expectant couple, the interesting Raymond Domenech and the lovely Estelle Denis at the French Open tennis tournament. My memory is saying the baby is due this month? (When the happy news was announced, the French blogosphere was saying how they’d planned it so perfectly by scheduling the birth for the off season. Works out well for both of them.)

They look happy, don’t they? (I don’t think I’ll ever figure this one out.)

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paige

I’m so excited about the Ribery transfer. I think it’ll be a great fit, and great for a good team that’s had a shaky last season.
sandrahn

I guess Raymond has qualities invisible to the naked eye, Laurie. (Actually, I think he looks fairly dapper on the touchline wearing those immaculate suits.)

Ribery makes no sense. He kept saying he wants to be in a club that qualifies for the CL next season. Ok, so we gooners all figured he wouldn’t leave Marseille because they managed a 2nd place CL spot on the league table. So we figured Wenger’s interest in him wouldn’t pan out for that reason.

So what does Ribery do? He goes to a team that WON’T be in the CL next season! Franck makes erratic decisions.

That said, Bayern next season will be very interesting to watch with both Ribery and Toni playing for them.
http://lyon.theoffside.com Inara

I think it’s those Bayern contracts. There must have been a big fat incentive labeled $$$ on Ribery’s contract for him to sign. He could have gone to any club in Europe, and he chose Bayern.

BAYERN!!!

No offense to the Bayern fans out there, but it’s a has-been club and plays in a league that’s on par with Ligue 1.

Bayern also did something to Klose. This was the guy who three months ago was swearing up and down that playing at another German club had no interest for him. He’d rather play abroad and experience something new. What does he do? Sign with Bayern.

Should I even mention Luca Toni, who could have gone to Juventus, etc.

Maybe I’m indulging in too many conspiracy theories, but I tell you, something is fishy about those contracts Uli is handing out.
sandrahn

Inara, there’s speculation that Bayern is undergoing a concerted, dramatic push to overhaul its entire system/approach to the game and is really going seriously for a major step-up in its profile in world football. Hence, their aggressive pursuit of players like Toni, Klose and Ribery. For them to have persuaded Toni to leave Italy says they are really splashing out the incentives, as you say. But I don’t think it’s in the chaotic, indulgent Real Madrid way — Bayern seems to have a thought-out longterm plan.
Loreta

Hello! I read everything about Raymond on this website. Great posts! Esspecially when you write about young Raymond or his funny girlfriend/wife(?) .
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[...] This was another one of those relationships that kind of boggles the mind, a la Raymond and Estelle. [...]