France Ligue 1 2017/2018

Glad to see at least one other person cares about Ligue 1 , though I'm a L'OM supporter so Monaco-PSG doesn't really set my pulse racing lol. Any predictions for the year? I think you guys have to be the favorites even if you don't get Neymar and ridiculous favorites if you do. I do think Marseille should be better than Lyon and push Monaco and Nice for second based on the transfer activity we have managed under Mccourt/ Zubizeratta. Mandanda has been brought back in goal. Adil Rami to sure up the center of defense. Luiz Gustavo brought in at defensive mid (one of very few non French players recruited under McCourt, Zubizeratta, and Garcia) Thauvin made permanent after last year's fantastic loan spell to help Payet with the midfield attack and creativity. The only thing left to do is a secure a a high caliber forward to lead the line. Despite his Europa league hat trick, Valere Germain (who I do think is a good pick up from Monaco) is more of a second striker than the man to replace Bafeimbi Gomis' goals.
 
Glad to see at least one other person cares about Ligue 1 , though I'm a L'OM supporter so Monaco-PSG doesn't really set my pulse racing lol. Any predictions for the year? I think you guys have to be the favorites even if you don't get Neymar and ridiculous favorites if you do. I do think Marseille should be better than Lyon and push Monaco and Nice for second based on the transfer activity we have managed under Mccourt/ Zubizeratta. Mandanda has been brought back in goal. Adil Rami to sure up the center of defense. Luiz Gustavo brought in at defensive mid (one of very few non French players recruited under McCourt, Zubizeratta, and Garcia) Thauvin made permanent after last year's fantastic loan spell to help Payet with the midfield attack and creativity. The only thing left to do is a secure a a high caliber forward to lead the line. Despite his Europa league hat trick, Valere Germain (who I do think is a good pick up from Monaco) is more of a second striker than the man to replace Bafeimbi Gomis' goals.
Predictions. Not going out on limb saying PSG will win the league but would be awesome for them to have a complete season by winning the domestic treble a very difficult feat in any league. In terms of Champions league, obviously with the additions of Neymar and Dani Alves can't say Champions league is seriously not out of the realm.

Draxler Neymar DiMaria

Rabiot Motta Veratti

Kurzawa T.Silva Marquinhos D. Alves
Trapp

With Monaco getting decimated in the summer transfer here's my order.
  1. PSG
  2. Marseilles (think Payet will have a breakout season)
  3. Nice
 
That sounds about right though now Nice have signed Wesley Sneidjder there could be a real interesting race between Marseille, Nice , Lyon and maybe Monaco for the remaining two Champion's league spots. Just presuming PSG gets one most likely actual champions unless something crazy happens.
 
BUMP:

Neymar only scored one goal you should demand your money back ! :D

Marseille kind of looked like shit yesterday but they got the three points. I think they do desperately need one top level striker to challenge for second place.

Interesting hearing Ray Hudson do (Both Marseille and PSG) matches this weekend since LA Liga and Serie A haven't started yet. Not something I've given a lot of thought to but he's very impressed with the standard of reffing in Ligue One.
 
BUMPING yet again

So looks like Mbappe to PSG is going to be happning 150 Mil Euros and player possibly Lucas Moura. So thats 350 mil on 2 players..... PSG spending just insane putting even City and Chelski in the shade.
 
BUMPING yet again

So looks like Mbappe to PSG is going to be happning 150 Mil Euros and player possibly Lucas Moura. So thats 350 mil on 2 players..... PSG spending just insane putting even City and Chelski in the shade.
How exactly can they fit under FFP??? There's no way a French team, without a massive TV contract, can have the offsetting revenue to balance the books.
 
Barca are also using $ 130 mil I think it is of the Neymar money to buy Dembele from Dortmund so the top 3 transfers of all time all this summer and if you go back to Pogba top 4 all in barely over a year. Madness.
 
Barca are also using $ 130 mil I think it is of the Neymar money to buy Dembele from Dortmund so the top 3 transfers of all time all this summer and if you go back to Pogba top 4 all in barely over a year. Madness.

Its not madness, its the new normal market. We now know what the market rate is for genuine world class talent that is somewhat younger.
 
Its not madness, its the new normal market. We now know what the market rate is for genuine world class talent that is somewhat younger.

It's only the new normal market for the very best talents. I wouldn't expect to see more than one or two players move around on transfer fees this high every season for the next few years, the same as how Neymar's transfer to Barca only laid the groundworks for higher fees and didn't instantly revolutionise the market.
 
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantinos_Mitroglou

I think Marseille might have been taking signing a "BIG NAME" Striker a little too literal and signed a striker with a big name as in a mouthful !:D Seriously I was expecting someone with a bit more star power based on L'OM's current ambition and decent if not amazing new financial power from McCourt. Hopefully he exceeds my expectations. His goal scoring record is actually rather good but Ligue 1 is a step up from Greece or even Portugal.
 
proud of the L'OM performance , disappointed in the end in a result I would have chewed my hand off for prior to kick off. 2-2 in The Ele classique. Most people would have PSG by at least a couple going in but the fact that Marseille blew 2 leads including a stoppage time equalizer from a free kick against 10 men..

Anyone aware Adil Rami is apparently dating Pam Anderson? Not that she's very interesting or relevant these days but it's just kind of weird.
 
He came on as a sub and got 12min.

So he got more playing time than Jack generally is at Boro then....

Weston Mckennie got about the same for Schalke , do we have a thread just for tracking Americans abroad?

I was of course very disappointed in the two recent PSG-Marseille matches. I thought OM had made up a bit of ground in the quality gap but they got thumped just like City did to Arsenal over the course of a league and cup match.
 
Weston Mckennie got about the same for Schalke , do we have a thread just for tracking Americans abroad?
I like that idea. I would also suggest following the Nats Abroad account on twitter