ola! even as I returned from my iberian adventures, bringing with it glorious weather. it was worth the turbulence...
I want to focus this week on the formerly derided, untapped market, of French football. Previously, if a manager had scouted and subsequently bought from lesser french clubs, he would have been lambasted. But in the past few years with the transfer market as it is, with hugely inflated fees and players wages, scouts have increasingly used the near continent as their talent pool; and what a pool it is turning out to be. Now when a french based player is touted within the media as being destined for his/her club its not a case of 'OH NO' nor 'OH YES' but more OH....OK INTERESTING. This is frankly nothing short of meteoric departure from how things were.
taking a look at the wider picture, of course there has always been talented french footballers, Cantona, etc. but only really at the height of the game. Arsene Wenger used to be the big buyer from Le Championnat, what with his vast scouting network and oh being french and all. Pires, Vieira, Henry, Petit were all members of Arsenal's invincibles side. Now not only are there more of a choice of french players, but a plethora of belgian and african talents, all of which are beginning to catch the big boy's eye.
In the past few seasons however, the purchase of French talent at lower level has been more widespread. Generally, because where they were seen as not physical enough for the top leagues - in particular the Premier League - but now and increasingly so each year, that appears to have been a myth. Looking at the success stories of last season, Yohan Cabaye, when he moved to Newcastle from Lille, I tipped for success. Though it took time for his burgeoning talent to come to the fore, it was always bubbling under the surface. Then his goal against Wigan in October was his moment. From then on he never looked back.
Lets look at the evidence with the new crop of french based talent.
To name a few: (top to bottom, left to right) Eden Hazard (belgian, Lille) Marvin Martin, (french, Souchaux) Yann M'Vila (french, Rennes) Laurent Koscielny (french, Arsenal) and Olivier Giroud (french, Montpellier)
The above four have all started to make big waves in France. 3 frenchman, 1 belgian.
Lets start with a guy who has been a sensation for the last 3 seasons at Lille. He was a guy who was earmarked by Arsene Wenger from an early age, but was priced out of any potential move to the Emirates and has now (like Mata, sigh) found a new home at Stamford Bridge, or the 'Power Station' as it's now, rather jovially being dubbed. He will not come cheap, mind. It is estimated his combined fee will reach £78m, once his wages and add ons have been taken into account.
God I hope Chelsea go bust.....i digress.....
Then we have two french midfielders; one 23, the other 24. Both in the Euro 2012 squad. M'Vila is a player who at the moment is a player who could be heading for Arsenal after the tournament. Where the other could be the cheaper, riskier alternative. Both players are excellent ball holders and adept at moving the play forward, much like Cesc Fabregas did.
The final player currently in focus is Montpellier's talismanic striker Olivier Giroud. His 25 goals and 9 assists helped the french club win this seasons French title. Whilst comparisons could be made with Arsenal misfit Marouane Chamakh, he has better positioning and is stockier, which could be perfect for the Premier League, should he make the jump.
If France go far in the Euros, Id expect him to be up there with the top scorers.
I will be posting a pre-euro piece next week
enjoy the weekend.
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