French League worth a look this season!

[suspiria]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I'm so bored I changed my avatar just to irritate Spike...

That’s just the kind of pointless provocation we need to get us through the close season

[LFCfanatic9]

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

Just for that, we'll whup your green arses this season!!!

Ha! C'est ne pas vrai, Oncle Spike!

I guess its been way too harmonious between us in this thread. We've got to open up some sort of rivalry in anticipation for the new season. Was speaking more about the 09/10 RC Lens kits, but will hold the Bolton analogy until I see their style of play.

One thing to smooth things over, turns out that Jean-Guy Wallemme used to play for ASSE as well. Didn't know that one. More and more I find interesting titbits and history especially while I'm sitting here tapping my toes waiting for our season to start.

[Uncle Spike]

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

Just for that, we'll whup your green arses this season!!!

or should that read "green ASSEs"?!!!

I guess Wallemme will be forgiven for past sins, after bringing us back up to League One!

Well impressed with St Etienne's ticketing policy for their forthcoming friendly match with Clermont..... accompanied under 12s get in totally free!

I know we have sometimes let kids in for a fiver at Anfield at lesser matches..... but this makes that look rather mean spirited by comparison.

What a great idea..... fill the stadium with the supporters of the future and make a real investment in the future.

[Uncle Spike]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I'm so bored I changed my avatar just to irritate Spike...

Irritate, no. Amuse, yes!

Wearing those colours is rather like dressing up as a clown, BD. You give everyone else a laugh, and look a total plonker yourself!!!

[Big Dave]

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

Irritate, no. Amuse, yes!

Wearing those colours is rather like dressing up as a clown, BD. You give everyone else a laugh, and look a total plonker yourself!!!

I would truly look like a clown if I wore whatever that electric-pink/peach coloured strip that I remember them wearing the CL a few seasons back. Truly, truly awful!

[Big Dave]

Truly...

Truly...

Fugly...

[Uncle Spike]

Ah, well, one of the delights of French (and indeed European) soccer is wierd, unfamiliar team strips!

I wouldn't like to see Liverpool wearing them, you understand, but some of the strips are fun. I loved RC Lens' "checker-board" red and yellow squares, especially with the black shorts.... very gallic cool!

Vive le difference!

[Scouse Paul]

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

It doesn't help, of course, that Marseille is a big, big City, and an undoubtedly scary place to go.

The best thing about Marseille is their fans. Very noisy, very colourful, very loyal and enthusiastic. Perhaps the reason why the Liverpool fans got on well with them.

Isn't that what I said?

[Uncle Spike]

RC Lens now have English translation pages on their website!

check out www.rclens.fr/english

Some of the European giants' websites, like those of Barca and Madrid, have had English pages for years, but I've not noticed it as being common on French club websites.

Might be something to do with rumours of a "Les Anglais merde" attitude, perhaps?

Will expect the same from Les Verts in about ten years time, after the yokels have learnt to read and write in French first!

[LFCfanatic9]

Originally Posted by Uncle Spike

Might be something to do with rumours of a "Les Anglais merde" attitude, perhaps?

Will expect the same from Les Verts in about ten years time, after the yokels have learnt to read and write in French first!

So it begins, 'Oncle Spike!

I will just let you know that les stéphanois du 'quatre deux' (4-2) have an english translation page to the site. Although, its only one page but it gives a nice introduction to the most successful team in France ever!...even though they haven't won in almost 30 years. http://www.asse.fr/index.php?page=uk

Looks like they changed the template of the shirt and added gold stripes instead. I think it looks very classy. The team played in a a split squad against Clermont Foot, one of the cinderella teams in last years French Cup. Jeremie Janot is the GK in the top photo with Plante the one on the bottom. Good height for a keeper and is a much better replacement to the departed Jody Viviani. Looking forward to see what he can do. Either way, the team will need some more players in and still no sight of Loic Perrin who is still away from the squad for 'reasons'. http://www.asse.fr/index.php?page=detail_actu&id=4553

Another titbit I found interesting between Lens et St. Etienne. Both were big mining towns thought the history of time and both stopped the industry around the same time. Pretty industrial and grim in some places, but I'm planning/would like to buy up some of these old intrastructures/properties in the city to develop them into some nice eco-homes or commerical properties in a 20-year time frame. If it does happen, might have to schedule LFCNY forumite reunions in France!