ChristopheVAFC

I don't think the sale of our 3 clubs is in the cards...

Today's press review of our sporting director, Ben Chorley.

It's always a pleasure to share the news from my team with you. The club is becoming more professional and I know that in certain areas it is taking its cue from you, as with the club's official mobile application, which is the same as Southampton's. I'm delighted to be able to share my team's news with you. As far as sport is concerned, I maintain that in a football club, it's the most difficult thing to build and stabilise in order to have a good season. Even if the choices are carefully thought out at the outset, no one can say whether these choices will pay off 100% (players out of form, injuries, player behaviour, declining performance)... Our coach, who arrived at the start of the season, was quick to spot the flaws and weaknesses in our team, and once again, it's not for nothing that, as I speak, 18 of the 26 players probably won't be retained for next year... The players don't realise that they're at a club like Valenciennes, with a Ligue 1 stadium and training centre, and a crowd that's always behind their team... A lot of work awaits Sport Republic next summer and next year. Stay tuned!

Aside from the sporting director's responsibility, we don't talk enough about the disappointment of certain players who have not lived up to their expectations and who have greatly disappointed SR... The sporting director makes and validates the choices, the players have to do the work on the pitch, and today, few are satisfied, and it's not for nothing that 18 of the 26 current players will potentially not be retained in the team for next year... I hope we'll have a much better season next year, with players who are fully committed and aware of the expectations placed on them. If our coach stays with us and does the whole season, it could be very good in building the new team.

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1579544/article/2025-04-25/vafc-le-mans-symptomatique-battu-sur-la-fin-va-prend-encore-ses-limites-en

Let's look back at yesterday's game, which was a continuation of the last few games, a team that gave up and which, for me, is already on holiday because there are no longer any objectives to achieve... As I said here yesterday, I think we need to start thinking about next year and building a new team. I hope that SR will make the right choices this summer and that we'll have a better season next year. Below is a press article summarising yesterday's game. Have a good day and a good game, folks.

Well said, what expression in your answer! I expected nothing less from you, dear colleague! I would simply reply that, on the one hand, Mr Eddy Zdziech left the club, and he is far from it today, for the good of the club. The most important thing for me is to want what's best for the club and its institution; yesterday it was the dictator, today it's an investment fund. I would give SR as much time as EZ had in his time. I think that our friends from Southampton who read us every day want to hear about our club and not see the settling of scores. I don't deny that SR don't do everything right, they make mistakes, that's obvious, they even make mistakes at our friendly club Saint's! Many Valenciennes supporters are lucid about the current situation of our club and know that things are improving in certain areas. A project takes time, and you have to be patient, even if it takes a long time... You and I won't agree on the management of VAFC, and I don't want to pollute this discussion with a debate that will never end...

It's always a pleasure for me to give you news about my team. We're preparing for next season now because we can't go up to the second division and I know that the team will probably change a lot next year (at least 10 departures this summer). SR governance was very disappointed with some of our players and I'm expecting a big mercato as far as I'm concerned. There are 4 games left before the end of the season: - Le Mans (home) - Paris 13 (away) - Nancy (home) - Aubagne (away) These 4 matches will allow us to test players and systems that could be used next year.

Hello friends, I hope you're well? Today is match day for Valenciennes, who host Le Mans at the Stade du Hainaut. With promotion to Ligue 2 no longer a possibility, the aim at the end of the season is to finish as well as possible and finish in a good position. The coach is also taking advantage of the end of the season to give playing time to players who haven't had much of a chance in order to prepare for next season. Also, according to my information, a friendly match will take place in mid-July between Southampton and Valenciennes at Saint Mary's Stadium if all goes well. Kick-off is at 7.30pm French time and you can follow the match via the link below: --> Have a nice day and a good weekend. Allez VA!

Hello friends, I hope you're well! No league game for Valenciennes today as we're exempt. But this morning we played a friendly at the Stade du Hainaut against RFC Liège (Belgium). Victory 3 goals to 2. The match was played behind closed doors and was not broadcast on television. Press review of this morning's match: ( Football : un doublé d’Axel Camblan et VA renverse le RFC Liège - La Voix du Nord ) Have a great weekend! Allez VA !

Personally, I was very happy for you after your season last year and your promotion back to the Premier League.

Phil, I met him last year when I came to see you. A simple and nice guy from my point of view. I know that's not everything, especially in football. Like our CEO at Valenciennes, Yohan Godin, I think your CEO is doing the best he can, but he also depends on the governance of Sport Republic. It's SR who makes the most important choices, and who also looks after the finances. I think they're doing a good job in terms of administration and communication, but it's the sporting side of things that's not going well, and we've got the same thing here at Valenciennes. And when it comes to managing a football club, it's the sporting side that counts the most, because if the sporting side is doing well, the rest is bound to follow suit...

I hope the season comes to an end soon. For you and for us, I can't wait for the holidays 🫣🫣

That's what I said a few months ago on this forum. As far as I'm concerned, the first mistake was keeping Ahmed Kantari as head coach after the club went down to the National League. He shouldn't have been kept on in the summer of 2024. If you compare the budgets of National League clubs, we're in the top 3 and logic would have had us at the top of the table, but sport is the most complicated area to stabilise and put in place. The arrival of Vincent Hognon has done the team a lot of good and has helped us climb back up the table, but unfortunately the last few games have been fatal for our club. I'm not at all sure that Ben Chorley will stay on next year because he's had 18 months of complicated sporting management and I think that Sport Republic has a duty to take decisions against him. Valenciennes' season is over and we know that the National Championship isn't easy with teams that don't give up and we're going to have the same thing next year. I've been a Valenciennes fan for 21 years now, and I'm not going to be afraid of this season or next. I will always be there for my beloved club.

No problem, my friend, I'd love to. It's always great to talk to you, fellow Saint's fans.