Ligue 1 Preview – Part 3

Where would a Ligue 1 preview be without me talking about Lille OSC, thinking of starting a Separate blog for Lille so I can talk about them as much as I want.

Lille OSC – 5th place

Last season proved a great season Les Dogues went on a run of 18 games unbeaten, this was enough to secure a Europa League place not bad for Rudi Garcia’s first season in charge. You wouldn’t think this would be followed by Rudi being sacked after a fall out with a director. The rumour was Paul Le Guen was going to take over, then the director in question was sacked and Rudi Garcia was back in charge.

His first action was to bring in French International Goalkeeper Mikael Landreau, a big name signing for the northern club, then in true Lille fashion in training he ruptured his knee and will be out for 3 months.

Michel Bastos was first to go his €18m move to Lyon was expected, and Lille couldn’t afford to not accept the offer. Garcia moved quickly to find a replacement, eventually a deal was agreed to bring in Le Mans winger Gervinho, the Cote D’Ivoire player has previously been linked with Arsenal, and will add pace and trickery down the Right-hand side of Lille.

Some rebuilding work has been done, with Tafforeau, Malicki and Souleymane Youla all being allowed to leave, Piere Aubameyang a talented forward has come in from Milan on loan with the option to buy him at the end of the season, and because of Landreau’s injury Gueugnon’s keeper Barel Mouko has been signed to give cover.

I expect a similar season to last for Lille, If Striker Tulio de Melo can stay fit and the talents of Cabaye and Hazard continue to grow, a Champions League place could be a target but more realistic a Europa League place would be a success.

PREDICTION – 4th Place



OTHER NOTABLE TRANSFERS

PSG
Antoine Kombouare has made a couple of interesting signings for his first season in the capital, Turkish striker Mevlut Erding is joined by Lyon Legend Gregory Coupet and Lorient defender/midfielder Christophe Jallet adding to a talented squad.

SOCHAUX
Jeremie Brechet returns to France from PSV and an interesting move up and coming American striker Charlie Davies moves from Hammarby to Ligue 1, I like this guy, and more to come on him later.

Most other interesting transfers have been players leaving Ligue 1

Kahlenberg moves from Auxerre to Wolfsburg, joined by Karim Ziana, Djibril Ciise also moves away, off to Greece with Panathinaikos, Cedric Kante of Nice joins him at Pana.