Montpellier

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I'd seen this article too which was quite interesting insofar that PSG seem to be the team on the up and Lyon are often cited themselves as a model of a well run club (atleast by Simon Kuper.) I don't know anything about Montpellier but it is amazing how they have pipped the two favourites.

French football is pretty odd. There are no "traditions" as is the case in the UK and many of the clubs date from the post-war era. I think PSG were only formed in the 70's and Racing Club were the original Parisian team. I've been to a few grounds (saw England in Marseille) and watched home games at Cherbourg (almost non-league standard) and Auxerre. The latter played against Wolfsburg to a half-empty stadium in the middle of a sports centre. Auxerre is effectively a "cathedral" city and nothing like any of the communities that host the bigger English clubs.

I am surprised that comparisons haven't been made with Reims. I was in this city the penultimate week of the Championship season and Reims were in a similar situation as Saints. Ultimately, they also finished second. There is a link to the Reims website here. Odd to see photos of streets i can recognise being full of supporters whilst the only recognition of the club I witnessed was one bloke wearing a jersey and the headlines in the local paper in preparation for the Friday night match. The French press seems to over-rate the interest in football which isn't so obvious from the ground. Also curious to see that a 3rd division team from Normandy reached the final of the French cup having knocked out some serious competition/ You wouldn't see that in the UK.

http://www.stade-de-reims.com/
 
Joe Steinberg said:
That's a very average squad they have. Their manager must be amazing. Younes Belhanda is the only real quality player I can see in that team.
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Think the stability and positve atmosphere at the club play a part. Hiring the best manager around doesn't guarantee success. Creating a positive environment is the best way to go. It's what we're trying to do as well as planning for a sustainable future.
 
Itchen North Matt said:
Think the stability and positve atmosphere at the club play a part. Hiring the best manager around doesn't guarantee success. Creating a positive environment is the best way to go. It's what we're trying to do as well as planning for a sustainable future.
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We should definitely be looking at teams like that for inspiration. Levante had a remarkable season as well.
 
Itchen North Matt said:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18156868

Saw this rather nice story about Montpellier winning the French Ligue 1 with a low budget and stability, fighting off big spending PSG in the process. Montpellier have finished well in Ligue 1 since they got promoted. They have brought through some excellent young players and supplemented that with some very shrewd signings. Thought I'd share it with you.
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Yeah, heard about it on Radio 5 the other day. My ears perked up because Montpellier is right in the region of one of my favourites parts of the Mediterranean, and hence the World. Well done to them. Doing things the Montpellier Way, no doubt.
 
pass the football said:
Sheesh, he moved to France as a young child. He's a French citizen. There is no "you're African but you can play for France" thing.
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Don't France have a pretty cosy relationship with French-Africa and bring quite a few youngsters from there into French academies? Radhi Jaidi is in North Africa to be an ambassador and to pinch talent from under French noses.
 
Maybe so but the clubs aren't doing it to fill the national team with Africans. There are a lot of people of North-African origin particularly in France anyway, because of the close ties between France and those countries in the past. Most of the players you might think of as North-African were actually born in France, and many of those are representing the countries of their parents or grandparents, so it works both ways.

I think in many cases it's more that France is a natural destination for these players as they already speak French, rather than French clubs deliberately seeking them out (although I'm sure that does happen).
 
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