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Brad Wheal retirement confirmed. Wish him all the best for the future and part of some good times. Unless the club is on the brink of going pop, with the number of red ball retirements and departures, there should be plenty of new signings.

It would be great to continue our form and for Tonda to be the leading contender for Manager of the Month.

Managed to catch the Norwich game but this one will be a miss: boarding for the flight home is at kickoff time and we land half an hour after the final whistle. COYS

Portion

Do people still have those?

"Once again, we’ve ended up in the 'French Federation of Loose'..." In Valenciennes, supporters are feeling increasingly lost amidst the instability. The sidelining of Pierre Blois earlier this week has further surprised and unsettled VA supporters. While it may be a response to a lack of results, it is, more significantly, a continuation of a chronic instability that is beginning to seriously wear thin in the stands. "It’s rubbish!" This man is a truly loyal fan—he’s there for home games, away games, and even training sessions. Yet, as he leaves the Mont-Houy training center, his heart just isn’t in it to discuss the latest news about his club. He’s short on time—he has to get to work soon—but, truth be told, he also lacks the desire. "What do you expect me to say?" he asks. "I didn’t see Pierre Blois’s departure coming, but then again, that’s no surprise—it feels like they don’t even know what they’re doing anymore..." The dismissal of the Valenciennes coach, confirmed earlier this week, caught many in the club’s inner circle of fans off guard—not so much because it’s a reaction to a poor start to the season, but because the decision stands in complete contradiction to what was being said just a short while ago, back in the summer. It feels like the management is lost; in the end, it’s not even clear who is actually making the decisions. If things were working, it wouldn’t matter—but as it stands… “They made a huge fuss for weeks about keeping him so he could complete his coaching qualifications in Scotland; they asked us to be patient and sold us on a long-term vision with him. Just three months ago, Pierre Blois was ‘the future’—and now, the very people who asked us to be patient are losing their minds,” laments a regular in the Nungesser stand. “We have no idea where we’re heading. It feels like the management is completely lost; we don’t even know who’s actually making the decisions. If things were working, it wouldn’t matter—but as it stands… How many coaches have we gone through in the last four years?” Five—not counting various interim spells of varying lengths. “It makes no sense” Supporters across all sections and fan groups point to a clear lack of strategy behind this decision. “I was never convinced by Pierre Blois, even last season—but here we go again: bringing in fifteen new players, changing the coach mid-stream, and somehow expecting it to work,” sighs a long-time supporter who has followed VA for over forty years. “The timing is just pathetic,” another adds with a grimace. “It makes no sense.” “Firing a coach right after a 13–0 win—even if other results hadn’t been great—is just baffling. Why didn’t they do it after the Versailles match? Once again, we’ve ended up as a national laughingstock—the ‘French Federation of Failure’… The only time Valenciennes gets mentioned on a national level, it’s to be mocked. A real sense of weariness is starting to set in.” » Even though the *kop*—which made its return to the Nungesser stand at the start of the season—is primarily looking to "have a good time in the stands" during Saturday’s home match against Amiens (a team with whom there is a rivalry), it doesn't matter that those summer hopes didn't last very long.

“Judgment comes with the job”: Yoann Godin, the increasingly criticized CEO of Valenciennes Having been with the club since late 2023 and serving as CEO since August, Yoann Godin is no longer immune to criticism as VAFC once again changes coaches and struggles to find stability. In a few weeks, Yoann Godin will mark three years since his arrival at VAFC—though it is unlikely he will treat it as a cause for celebration. Appointed General Manager on November 1, 2023, and CEO last August by Sport Republic, he has navigated 36 months of turbulence, during which moments of joy have been far rarer than hardships. There was a run to the Coupe de France semi-finals in his first year, but that was quickly overshadowed by the club’s relegation to the National division. This was followed by two difficult seasons at that level, and now a third—currently underway—which has already required the dismissal of a head coach. “I am not the issue, even if I hear a lot of things.” Yoann Godin, CEO of VAFC This is far from the first such change; he has gone through five coaches, seen countless players come and go, and is already working with his third sporting director. Yet, he remains—and inevitably, critical eyes are turning toward him as VAFC has made a very lackluster start to the season, once again marked by a change in leadership. “I am not the issue, even if I hear a lot of things,” he says, brushing it off. “Judgment comes with the job.” A great deal of hard work—and some poor decisions The criticisms are mounting, even though many acknowledge his positive qualities. A tireless worker who is deeply committed, he puts in long hours and has successfully smoothed out many of the frictions between the club as an institution and the local community. But VAFC is, first and foremost, a football club from which results are expected. And certain strategic choices—or missed opportunities—fall squarely on his shoulders. The decision not to retain Vincent Hognon in the spring of 2025 remains a mystery, as does the choice, around the same time, not to bring in Grégory Dupont as sporting director, even though a very real opportunity to do so existed. "My goal is for the club to be in a better position when I leave than it was when I arrived. I know—there is still a lot of work to be done." — Yoann Godin The club’s sporting performance overshadows everything else, and Yoann Godin is well aware of this. "There have been more difficult moments than pleasant ones; it requires resilience, but the fire is still there," he asserts, as the club faces another period of turbulence. "My goal is for the club to be in a better position when I leave than it was when I arrived. I know—there is still a lot of work to be done." On that point, at least, there is still total consensus.

Stink catcher

Musk is NOT sn engineer. He is a facilitator, arranges finance, provides inspiration, and works on high level concepts. He might be a thinker, might be a dreamer but I doubt he can do much more thsn wire a plug.

From National 3 to Ligue 3 in five months: Samuel Goethals’ rapid ascent to the Valenciennes dugout Having moved from Pays de Cassel to Valenciennes last summer, Samuel Goethals will take charge of the VAFC first team this Saturday against Amiens, following the sidelining of Pierre Blois earlier this week. While it is only an interim role, it serves as a significant showcase for the 37-year-old coach. Everything has moved at breakneck speed for Samuel Goethals over the last few months. This spring, following four eventful seasons with US Pays de Cassel—which ended in a relegation he could not prevent—the coach brought a successful chapter to a close at the club where he first made his mark as a head coach. For the former Armentières and Marcq-en-Barœul defender, it was the natural end of a cycle. Having completed his DES (State Diploma for Sports Educators) at Clairefontaine last season, Goethals was keen to take a step up. Valenciennes provided that opportunity after he met with Fabien Dagneaux and his staff, who were looking to add an assistant coach to their ranks. Initially slated for the reserve side, he has ended up with the first team The coach from northern France opted for the Hainaut region over the Opal Coast, partly for family reasons. It proved to be a winning decision, as he will now lead VAFC this Saturday (2:45 PM) for the home match against Amiens (Matchday 10 of the Ligue 3 season). For the former Pays de Cassel manager—who has climbed the ranks at Valenciennes with remarkable speed and has never hidden his ambition to coach at the professional level—this is more than just a dream; it is a major opportunity. Last summer, the club announced his arrival, introducing him as the new coach of the reserve team (R1). However, the former player was immediately integrated into Pierre Blois’s coaching staff, working closely with the first team—which competes in Ligue 3—and participating in their entire pre-season preparation. Well-regarded by the players Within the club, his tactical approach and the way he interacts with the players were quickly noted. This is a key reason why the Valenciennes management has entrusted him with a high-profile interim role, following the dismissal of Pierre Blois earlier this week. The decision came after a poor start to the season for VAFC, who currently sit in 15th place—just above the relegation zone—despite having the second-largest budget in the division (approximately 11 million euros). "We have been very clear with Samuel," the club’s management stated during a special press briefing on Friday, confirming that a new head coach would be arriving soon. Consequently, Samuel Goethals is set to oversee only one match—or perhaps two, should the new appointment not be made official before the sixth round of the Coupe de France (October 24–25). Nevertheless, it remains a fantastic experience for the coach from northern France, who has long aspired to manage at the highest level in the role of head coach.

Hello friends. A few days have passed since Pierre Blois stepped back from his role as coach of the first team. It is, of course, a great shame, as the club had pinned high hopes on Pierre—even fighting to help him obtain his coaching qualifications, which he will go on to complete in Scotland. As of today, Pierre has not been officially dismissed; he remains an employee of the club, and discussions regarding his future will take place. Football can be cruel and not always logical, but we must be realistic: the start of the season has fallen far short of everyone’s expectations. A decision had to be made, and—as is often the case at other clubs—the coach has been let go, in the hope that it will provide a much-needed jolt to the team. As Yoann points out, what the public and the media see is only the tip of the iceberg. No one else is inside the dressing room, so no one—not me, not Fred, nor anyone else—can truly know what is going on behind the scenes. So, yes, Yoann and Christophe likely bear some responsibility, but ever since the austerity measures imposed by Dragan and the current ownership, they haven’t always had a say—and certainly not the final say—on certain decisions. In fact, long before the current ownership arrived, Valenciennes supporters rarely had any real say—whether under Decourrière, Legrand, or, even less so, Zdziech. Today is matchday—a derby at home against Amiens SC. It promises to be a difficult game, though it has been years since we last lost to Amiens on our home turf. I foresee either a draw or a narrow 1-0 victory for Valenciennes. Have a great day, everyone.

Part

VAFC: Pierre Blois pays the price for poor results, but "we’re also looking at what’s happening under the hood" Four days after removing Pierre Blois from his role in charge of the first team, VAFC CEO Yoann Godin and sporting coordinator Jean-Christophe Cesto engaged in a session that felt more like a PR exercise than a genuine explanation this Friday—on the eve of the match against Amiens. The reasons for his dismissal: just the tip of the iceberg There has been no shortage of questions since Monday. There is the decision to sideline a man (Pierre Blois) whom the club had previously fought to keep in his position—a move that also directly contradicts the club’s stated commitment to stability. Then there is the timing, which caught many by surprise: the announcement of a change in direction came just two days after a massive 13–0 victory in the Coupe de France against the modest side Habarcq—a result that was both historic and, ultimately, inconsequential. On Friday, Yoann Godin sought to offer reassurance, insisting that this was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather the result of "a process that led us to remove him from his responsibility for the first team." As the situation began to deteriorate, discussions took place between the CEO, sporting coordinator Jean-Christophe Cesto, the club’s shareholder (Sport Republic), and the sporting management team. "Results are just the tip of the iceberg—the part everyone looks at—but, in reality, they only represent 10% of the whole picture. We’re also looking at what’s happening under the hood—the other 90%, which is even more critical to achieving performance." Beyond that, little more was revealed. Ongoing proceedings involving Pierre Blois The statement released on Monday indicated that Pierre Blois had been "relieved of his responsibilities for the first team." Although the former coach remains an employee of VAFC, legal or formal proceedings are currently underway between the two parties—a situation that has hardly made the club’s communication efforts any smoother. Acknowledging that the coach has been deeply affected, Yoann Godin wants to give him time "to settle down and find some peace, so that we can have constructive discussions and see where that leads." This internal process in no way jeopardizes the training program he began in Scotland—an opportunity the club had handed to him on a silver platter. "It’s very clear with Samuel (Goethals)—there’s no ambiguity: he has been asked to serve in an interim capacity." Jean-Christophe Cesto, VAFC Sports Coordinator Goethals in charge for now; the goal is to "find the right person" VAFC has placed the duo of Goethals and Mater at the helm, but this interim arrangement is not intended to be long-term. "It’s very clear with Samuel (Goethals)—there’s no ambiguity: he has been asked to serve in an interim capacity," emphasized Jean-Christophe Cesto. One match, two matches, four matches? The sports coordinator did not specify a timeframe, though it is clear that it is not in the club’s interest to let the situation drag on. "Right now, our primary objective is to find the right person." As is always the case whenever VAFC finds itself without a head coach—a recurring scenario—applications for the position have come flooding in. "JCC" has not drawn up a profile for an "ideal" coach—nor is there any requirement that the person must have a prior connection to the club. The new coach will need to "establish consistency and a winning mentality—something that needs to permeate this club much more deeply." As for the squad, there will be no adjustments; "I don't see any need for that." "I thought everything would be easy at Valenciennes" Valenciennes’ leadership has sought to define this season by a spirit of humility—a message not always easy to convey to those in the club’s immediate orbit, who continue to expect the world from VA. The same applies to some of the players, according to Jean-Christophe Cesto, who shared an anecdote this Friday. He recounted a comment made to him by one of the players during the off-season: "You know what, JC? I actually thought everything would be easy at Valenciennes—that we were going to win everything." There is still a long way to go: "These are all areas we need to work on" in order to (finally) write a new chapter in the club's history. VALENCIENNES vs. AMIENS, Saturday, 2:45 PM, Stade du Hainaut. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+.

Was hoping it would be a draw, wolves still picking up points without playing well

Role

Not sure this will go the way we expect it to go and we’ll end up losing. Dodgy Ref not protecting our players and Baz playing a blinder. 1-2.

At least the last line was upbeat, gio. 🙂 It's going well at the moment. While the scenarios are plausible enough, I'll just focus on the here and now and let it play out. Besides, I've got posts to write for any of our stand out players, who will all inevitably leave at some point. Even if it's through retirement. 🙂

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ck0j3z1q6pwgt Some doubts about her qualifications. Whether that's from claims made during the process of her getting the post, the tango toddler presenting her as something she wasn't or her going along with him, and getting caught out, is not known at this time.

They'll have Armstrong back soon

Bolton not the best at defending. Only the bottom 5 have conceded more than them.

You're not confusing Tonda with Caspar, are you?

Think I said it in the predictions thread that Wolves will come unstuck and stutter

Has anyone had experience of the new Park and Ride scheme from Adanac? Does it run to schedule? How long does it take? In particular how crowded is it after the match?

Some on here thought he was the next best thing. 😂