Close this thread please mods.

[Steve Moore]

brilliant

 

[covlad-99]

Lol @ Audrey Yeah, I just thought it would be quite interesting.

SQUAD

KEEPERS
Gregory Coupet
Remy Vercoutre
Johan Hartock

DEFENDERS
Loic Abenzoar
Anderson
Mathieu Delpierre
Cris
Sebastien Squillaci
Mickael Charvet
Anthony Reveillere
Francois Clerc
Fabio Grosso
Nadir Belhadj
Mathieu Bodmer

MIDFIELDERS
Romain Beynie
Tommaso Vaillati
Juninho Pernambucano
Jeremy Toulalan
Mario Sentana
Sidney Govou
Jeremy Pied
Kader Keita
Loic Remy
Hatem Ben Arfa
Anthony Mounier
Kim Kallstrom

STRIKERS
Karim Benzema
Fred
Yan Ekra
Alexandre Lacazette
Matias Alejandro Chiaccio​

covlad-99 added 4 Minutes and 50 Seconds later...

Thanks for the comments guys. Looks like you all like this one
I know I'll enjoy doing it, working with the likes of Karim Benzema, Juninho Pernambucano.... It'll be great!

covlad-99 added 11 Minutes and 3 Seconds later...

Here is how things stand at the moment.

Its November 19th.

Champions Leaue Group H League table:

Liverpool P4 --- 9 Points
Lyon P4 --- 9 points
CSKA Moscow P4 --- 6 points
Anderlecht P4 --- 0 points

Everyone has to play everyone twice, and its looking good for the next round. My first game in charge bis an absolutely massive game against Liverpool, whihc could determine the winners of the group, and therefore who we play in the next round.

Ligue 1 Orange:

5th at the minute, 3 points behind PSG in 4th, 7 points behind Bordeaux in 3rd, 10 points behind Marseille in second and 11 points behind Monaco at the top.

We are out of the Champions Trophy and the Coupe de la Ligue, and the French Cup hasn't started yet.


Anything else you need to know?

covlad-99 added 7 Minutes and 4 Seconds later...

Ah, the players injured are: (Bearing in mind my first game in charge against Liverpool in the Champs League Group H is in 8 days)

Cris (damaged cruciate ligaments, 2 months)
Loic Remy (dislocated shoulder, 3 weeks)
Anthony Mounier (facial injury, 1 week)
Gregory Coupet (torn knee ligaments, 2 weeks)

Cris is a big loss, he is our best defender and the club captain so we'll miss him. Remy isn't really a first team player, more of a young prospect. Mounier sn't first choice but Coupet is our best keeper, but he is back soon but he'll miss the Liverpool game.

covlad-99 added 2 Minutes and 36 Seconds later...

That should bring everyone up to speed!

Anything else you want to know?

 

[PaulNixon1]

Lyon are a pretty good team by the looks.
tough challenge against liverpool.

 

[covlad-99]

Yeah, too right I think I'll struggle but I might have the edge as new managers usually win their first game but I'll definately take a draw.

Are you sure heres nothing you want to know?

 

[w3lshrugby]

You have a challenge on your hands in the Ligue! Should be v. interesting.
Never heard of those players though

 

[PaulNixon1]

Could you post the next 5 or 10 fixtures please craig.

 

[covlad-99]

Haha lol. I am deciding on my team for the Liverpool game and then a but of simulating to do and then I'll play the Liverpool game and put it up. Should be quite a game.

covlad-99 added 0 Minutes and 45 Seconds later...

Could you post the next 5 or 10 fixtures please craig.

Sure. They'll be up in a minute.

 

[PaulNixon1]

My team would Definately have Coupet in goal and benzema and fred upfront with govou and juninho in midfield.

 

[covlad-99]

 

[PaulNixon1]

Thanks craig and if you want to win the title a victory over psg would be vital.

 

[covlad-99]

My team would Definately have Coupet in goal and benzema and fred upfront with govou and juninho in midfield.

Yeah, definately those and also Kader Keita who is actually the best player on the team now! Hes from the Ivory Coast and hes an attacking midfielder. He really is quality.

 

[PaulNixon1]

Now you bring him up ive heard of him but never seen him play.

 

[covlad-99]

Yeah, hes a bloody good player and when hes a bit older I can see him being worth £25mil+ same with Benzema and maybe even Ben Arfa and there are loads of class players. Some of the players who would be the first names on my team sheet at Celtic won't get in the team at Lyon!

covlad-99 added 0 Minutes and 58 Seconds later...

But anyway, I've sorted out the team I think I'll play against Liverpool and you'll see that in a bit.

 

[PaulNixon1]

Looking forward to it craig.

 

[covlad-99]

"We join Craig Tough's first Press-Conference as Manager live":

Congrats on getting the job Craig, but what made you take a job in France?

Well I was in the region anyway on a Managerial course, and I got to know Lyon Chairman Jean-Michel Aulas a lot, as he was president of the Managers' board I was working with. Also, you have got to look at the squad of players Lyon have, its one of the best squads in the World, and managing them is the job of a lifetime.

You have a huge game in charge against Liverpool first up, has the week been difficult to get ready for such a huge fixture?

Well obviously I have only just got here, and I certainly haven't settled in yet, but hopefully the lads will respond by trying to impress me against Liverpool in the week and get my honeymoon period well and truly up and running.

Have you thought about what team you are going to play against Liverpool?

Well yes, obviously, but I would rather not reveal any team news if thats ok.

How are you finding the language barrier?

Its not a problem for me, I am a fluent French speaker, but the few words I don't know, I pick up from my translator, Didier.

Do you think the team needs strengthening?

Well every team needs strengthening, but I hink its a case in whether it is necessary or not, and here, its probably not. We have such depth in quality and its amazing that we are only 5th in Ligue 1.

Do you think that bringing English players out to France would benefit the national team because of the French style of play?

Yes. In England, the good English youth players aren't getting a chance because of the huge amount of money coming into English football, and the players being brought in, but I think there is a place for English players out here.

Are you enjoying life in France?

Yes, its great. Its nice and sunny most days, however my neighbours have given me the nickname 'Roast Beef' but I suppose I'm getting used to it!

What are your first impressions of French football?

Its changed a lot since I was a kid, it used to be a very defensive league with big strong centre halves, rather like English football is now, but it has got a lot more attacking and interesting more like the Spanish leagues. I think its brilliant.​