French Championship chaos.

[ART]

Potential Champions Montpellier are playing Auxerre who were relegated and the Auxerre fans are determined to see the match doesn't finish. Montpellier need not to lose to win the Championship. 5 times the game has been stopped and players taken off for 20 minutes. Auxerre fans have thrown hundreds of tennis balls, toilet rolls into the goal mouth followed by smoke bombs preventing play. It's taken an hour to call in the riot police who finally are emptying the stand behind the goal. The new socialist Minister of the Interior has been in the stands. Total chaos.

 

All other matches finished an hour ago and 4 teams season is reliant on this result. Fighting has broken out, CRS have resorted to tear gas and rubber bullets but the game has restarted and Montpellie has scored to lead 2 -1

 

This will be an incredible end of season for me with Saints back in the Premiership, Chelsea as European Champs and hopefully Montpellier Champions of France.

 

Montpellier team is worth 2 million euros, PSG has spent 106 millions euros this season on players.

 

Montpellier is playing this game away. 70,000 supporters are watching on 2 giant screens in the city center tonight.

Edited 20 May, 2012 by ART

[ART]

http://www.franceinfo.fr/football/ligue-1-montpellier-a-un-point-du-premier-sacre-de-son-histoire-620477-2012-05-19

[Glasgow_Saint]

Brilliant!

[skintsaint]

that the same Utaka that was at Pompey?

[ART]

that the same Utaka that was at Pompey?

None other, what an amazing player he's been this season. Montpellier have proved that football and heart in a team can beat massive financial outlays. The city of Montpellier has invested ver the past 15 years in sport and academies which are bearing fruit. World hand ball chmpions, Basket Ball Champions and now football ligue champions. After suffering financial and relegation problems like the Saints, they are now one of the best financially balanced clubs in football. I'm proud to follow Saints and Montpellier who both prove team spirit and love of football is overcoming financial suicide.

[Pugwash]

What's with all these Camaras in Senegal? One big family of footballers?

[dubai_phil]

None other, what an amazing player he's been this season. Montpellier have proved that football and heart in a team can beat massive financial outlays. The city of Montpellier has invested ver the past 15 years in sport and academies which are bearing fruit. World hand ball chmpions, Basket Ball Champions and now football ligue champions. After suffering financial and relegation problems like the Saints, they are now one of the best financially balanced clubs in football. I'm proud to follow Saints and Montpellier who both prove team spirit and love of football is overcoming financial suicide.

 

So you are saying there may be evidence of a way to gain a Championship & CL entry without spending 1 billion quid?

 

Hmm that could make an interesting thread

 

Nice updates though Art, thanks for that - interesting stuff

[Lord Duckhunter]

Montpellier is my very fav French City, set in a fantastic area of the Country. Me and Mrs Duck love it down there.

[ART]

So you are saying there may be evidence of a way to gain a Championship & CL entry without spending 1 billion quid?

 

Hmm that could make an interesting thread

 

Nice updates though Art, thanks for that - interesting stuff

 

I believe that Saints are following the same type of blueprint that Montpellier has followed these past 3-4 years. Like Saints their future was on a knife edge and they were relegated as were Saints. Like Saints they have risen up with smart, tight finance and making good use of academies and excellent scouting. Their success and that of Saints shows that true love of the game, team spirit and a belief in each other can succeed over big financial outlay on players who's hearts are dominated by money.

[JackFrost]

What's with all these Camaras in Senegal? One big family of footballers?

 

Same thing that's going on with all these Smiths over here

 

HTH

[ART]

Had you but known it 39 years ago when I first came to the city. Lots have changed and it's lost the closeness and friendliness where everyone knew one another by sight. Everything was concentrated in the heart of the city. Nowadays, everything and everyone is spread out more and more.

I do hope his Lordship and Mrs Duck will let me know next time you're both in these parts.

[dubai_phil]

Montpellier is my very fav French City, set in a fantastic area of the Country. Me and Mrs Duck love it down there.

 

+ 1 flew into their really neat airport some time ago then toured the region, glad they have had success.

 

And Art, we both see that there COULD be a different way.

 

 

Let's hope NC can actually do the same as your man.

 

We may be dreamers or nutjobs, but IF there really COULD be a way to "get up there" then the World of football could change for the better.

 

& I could be sh@gging Cameron Diaz & Angelina Jolie tonight

[Whitey Grandad]

+ 1 flew into their really neat airport some time ago then toured the region, glad they have had success.

 

And Art, we both see that there COULD be a different way.

 

 

Let's hope NC can actually do the same as your man.

 

We may be dreamers or nutjobs, but IF there really COULD be a way to "get up there" then the World of football could change for the better.

 

& I could be sh@gging Cameron Diaz & Angelina Jolie tonight

 

Hmm, I might pay to watch that.

[dubai_phil]

Hmm, I might pay to watch that.

 

And then I woke up oh well, back to the stadium debate. If 70,000 fans watched the game on Giant screens in a French City centre..........

[CB Fry]

I believe that Saints are following the same type of blueprint that Montpellier has followed these past 3-4 years. Like Saints their future was on a knife edge and they were relegated as were Saints. Like Saints they have risen up with smart, tight finance and making good use of academies and excellent scouting. Their success and that of Saints shows that true love of the game, team spirit and a belief in each other can succeed over big financial outlay on players who's hearts are dominated by money.

 

 

93% wages to turn over is not that great an example of "smart, tight finances".

 

We've done well but not for the reasons you say here. With a big wage bill and some significant tranfer fee outlay, we've spent our way up.

 

Money is far more important to our progress rather than guff about "true love of the game".

[Window Cleaner]

I too like Montpellier,was down that way a couple of week-ends back, even went into the sea at Palavas,not many places around that you still find free near-beach parking these days.MHFC's budget isn't all that small though, 36 million euros,so that's about

30 million £ annually so that would be a bit more than Saints I think.Still they do have a fine academy system and contrary to us many of their youngsters actually see first team football.That's then difference with French football though, they do give home grown youngsters a bit of a chance but when they turn out well they have great difficulty hanging on to them,probably because of the relatively poor salaries on offer (compared to the PL that is) and the savage taxation system which M.Hollande's election will no doubt make even worse.

[ART]

I too like Montpellier,was down that way a couple of week-ends back, even went into the sea at Palavas,not many places around that you still find free near-beach parking these days.MHFC's budget isn't all that small though, 36 million euros,so that's about

30 million £ annually so that would be a bit more than Saints I think.Still they do have a fine academy system and contrary to us many of their youngsters actually see first team football.That's then difference with French football though, they do give home grown youngsters a bit of a chance but when they turn out well they have great difficulty hanging on to them,probably because of the relatively poor salaries on offer (compared to the PL that is) and the savage taxation system which M.Hollande's election will no doubt make even worse.

 

From yesterdays papers

 

The French exception: Ligue 1 has quite a poke at modern game strongly dominated by the wealthy. Montpellier was only 13th annual budget starting the season. Ten months later, the club "Loulou" Nicollin has won the first title in their history. An extraordinary feat with René Girard in control. The former coach of the Espoir de France has maximized a staff composed of club academy trained , trained in other academies and recruited from L2.

 

Friends of Michel Platini, Louis Nicollin and Lawrence were invited by the President UEFA to the final of the Champions League on Saturday. Not sure if the boss of MHSC will succeed one day to bring their club to a similar standard. The champions, Chelsea, a club is boosted by a billionaire Russian Roman Abramovich, while Bayern Munich take its legend, its titles won and its most legendary players to be one of the few profitable clubs European football. Against such a background (they are fourth in the hat for the draw for the group stage), it is as a champion of France in 2012 that Montpellier will attempt to do honor to France on the European stage, at next fall. If the feat was possible in Ligue 1 this season, despite the budget of the elite 13th, come with a workforce fit for European games is another story. The experience of a group stage, like others before, might even stopping some of the club "Loulou" Nicollin. But the work of the latter, holding office since 1974 (three before his inauguration as president of the family group), is awarded in exceptional cases. Generation Belhanda, the League 2 title at the 3rd Mounted Division under the leadership of the entrepreneur in the late 70s, Montpellier Paillade Sports Club (its name until 1989), carried by his strongest supporters, has rarely missed its seasons (when he did not fail completely to be relegated) . In the modern era, the club Hérault has invested significantly in scouting and training. The youth team won the Gambardella in 1996, before failing in the final the following year. From 2004 to 2009, in League 2, the club was able to give a chance for all young people, for a result directly linked to the performance of this season. This season, Montpellier, which once trained Laurent Blanc, has relied on a half a dozen products from the center become important components. Obviously, Rene Girard has often seen Younes Belhanda make a difference in his first year as a true owner in a pivotal role behind the tip. The porter holds, Geoffrey Jourdren, the captain and defensive rock, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, promising versatile defensive Benjamin Stambouli, the excellent recovery, Jamel Saihi, and dribblers, Karim Ait Fana-and Remy Cabella, took turns their contributions to the building. Giroud, 2 million for a striker Beyond these symbols of the work in the youth teams, the MHSC, with former players at the helm, was able to achieve remarkable recruitment. That of Olivier Giroud is an example of great success, the center forward comprehensive arriving from Tours as part of a transfer of 2 million. Henri Bedimo, who has made ​​his dynamism on the left side on his arrival, was rescued after relegation from Lens. As for John Utaka and Vitorino Hilton, two experienced, they were resumed after a little time in their careers, respectively, on the banks of Portsmouth and OM. And proof that the MHSC is also known to rely on players unearthed more far: Marco Estrada landed in Chile two years ago, to replace a metronome southpaw, "Tino" Costa, arrived in 2008 from the National (and nearby Sete Club) and two summers later sold to Valencia for 6 million euros. Becomeing club scout, trainer and recruiter of talent in the making, the MHSC, which lacks popular appeal in a sports town, is already preparing for the future, with the gradual departure of its top players. A classic in French football in recent decades.

[Window Cleaner]

From yesterdays papers

 

The French exception: Ligue 1 has quite a poke at modern game strongly dominated by the wealthy. Montpellier was only 13th annual budget starting the season. Ten months later, the club "Loulou" Nicollin has won the first title in their history. An extraordinary feat with René Girard in control. The former coach of the Espoir de France has maximized a staff composed of club academy trained , trained in other academies and recruited from L2.

 

Friends of Michel Platini, Louis Nicollin and Lawrence were invited by the President UEFA to the final of the Champions League on Saturday. Not sure if the boss of MHSC will succeed one day to bring their club to a similar standard. The champions, Chelsea, a club is boosted by a billionaire Russian Roman Abramovich, while Bayern Munich take its legend, its titles won and its most legendary players to be one of the few profitable clubs European football. Against such a background (they are fourth in the hat for the draw for the group stage), it is as a champion of France in 2012 that Montpellier will attempt to do honor to France on the European stage, at next fall. If the feat was possible in Ligue 1 this season, despite the budget of the elite 13th, come with a workforce fit for European games is another story. The experience of a group stage, like others before, might even stopping some of the club "Loulou" Nicollin. But the work of the latter, holding office since 1974 (three before his inauguration as president of the family group), is awarded in exceptional cases. Generation Belhanda, the League 2 title at the 3rd Mounted Division under the leadership of the entrepreneur in the late 70s, Montpellier Paillade Sports Club (its name until 1989), carried by his strongest supporters, has rarely missed its seasons (when he did not fail completely to be relegated) . In the modern era, the club Hérault has invested significantly in scouting and training. The youth team won the Gambardella in 1996, before failing in the final the following year. From 2004 to 2009, in League 2, the club was able to give a chance for all young people, for a result directly linked to the performance of this season. This season, Montpellier, which once trained Laurent Blanc, has relied on a half a dozen products from the center become important components. Obviously, Rene Girard has often seen Younes Belhanda make a difference in his first year as a true owner in a pivotal role behind the tip. The porter holds, Geoffrey Jourdren, the captain and defensive rock, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, promising versatile defensive Benjamin Stambouli, the excellent recovery, Jamel Saihi, and dribblers, Karim Ait Fana-and Remy Cabella, took turns their contributions to the building. Giroud, 2 million for a striker Beyond these symbols of the work in the youth teams, the MHSC, with former players at the helm, was able to achieve remarkable recruitment. That of Olivier Giroud is an example of great success, the center forward comprehensive arriving from Tours as part of a transfer of 2 million. Henri Bedimo, who has made ​​his dynamism on the left side on his arrival, was rescued after relegation from Lens. As for John Utaka and Vitorino Hilton, two experienced, they were resumed after a little time in their careers, respectively, on the banks of Portsmouth and OM. And proof that the MHSC is also known to rely on players unearthed more far: Marco Estrada landed in Chile two years ago, to replace a metronome southpaw, "Tino" Costa, arrived in 2008 from the National (and nearby Sete Club) and two summers later sold to Valencia for 6 million euros. Becomeing club scout, trainer and recruiter of talent in the making, the MHSC, which lacks popular appeal in a sports town, is already preparing for the future, with the gradual departure of its top players. A classic in French football in recent decades.

 

 

Now Stambouli, there's a player I'd like to see us sign (as well as Belhanda of course) but he says he's not really interested in moving on just yet so I guess it's just a pipe dream.

[ART]

Now Stambouli, there's a player I'd like to see us sign (as well as Belhanda of course) but he says he's not really interested in moving on just yet so I guess it's just a pipe dream.

 

Maybe it's because the players are awaiting to get paid their bonus' etc, that they're all saying including Giroud, that they all want to remain with the club. As I pointed out at the time of Rupert Lowe, Nicollin has run the budget by selling a player per year to fund the year. The aim is to bring in cash from an academy trained player. Will be interesting what transpires as they prepare for the Champions League. Montpellier certainly don't have either CL players or the money to bring in new players.

[Window Cleaner]

Maybe it's because the players are awaiting to get paid their bonus' etc, that they're all saying including Giroud, that they all want to remain with the club. As I pointed out at the time of Rupert Lowe, Nicollin has run the budget by selling a player per year to fund the year. The aim is to bring in cash from an academy trained player. Will be interesting what transpires as they prepare for the Champions League. Montpellier certainly don't have either CL players or the money to bring in new players.

 

Yanga Mbiwa(PSG,Spurs etc cited) is set to leave I think and they'll not be able to resist the euros on offer for Belhanda.

Just those 2 should bring them somewhere north of 20 million I should think