ChristopheVAFC

JWP is BACK !! Very happy for all Saint's Fans !!!!

Funny you mention that—I was just thinking Southampton hadn't loaned us any players yet this summer, haha. After Dierrick Abu and Rento Takaoka, I certainly wouldn't say no to another loan from you guys I know VA is looking for a striker before the window closes; since Charles Abi and Gaetan Courtet aren't exactly firing on all cylinders right now, I think BBD could help us put the ball in the net, haha.

FULL TIME STATISTICS

Freed From Desire LALALALALALALALALA 🥰

3 important point today, for the confiance, for the dynamic, for all the team. Happy for you !!

Victory scelled !!! Yes !!!

last defender, logic red card, double sanction !

Yes penalty !!!

I say ! One goal in last minute !!! Very Happy !

Oh YESSSS

The end of the match is approaching, and our Saints are pushing for a second goal. Come on, lads!

HALF TIME STATISTICS

All square at the break—though we did score first, and Cyle is still in that post-World Cup form. As for the rest, it’s an early-season match: plenty of sloppy play and some unnecessary fouls... Come on, let's get a second goal and win this!

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shit shit !

LARINNNNNNNNNNNNN !!!!!!!!!!!

Hello friends. I hope Southampton wins this afternoon! At home, in front of the fans. If you have a link to watch the match, I'd love to have it! #COYR!

Good evening friends, here’s the news from tonight’s match: Valenciennes conceded the opening goal early on (4th minute), and not much else happened; at halftime, Valenciennes was trailing 1-0. In the second half, VA conceded a second goal in the 55th minute. Towards the end of the match, a Paris 13 player committed a foul, resulting in a red card and a penalty. VA pulled one back through Rayane Ekra in the 89th minute... I didn't watch the match, so I don't have any further insights tonight. Have a great night, everyone. Allez VA!

So, here’s the latest from Valenciennes. Today is matchday (yes, a Thursday), with an away game on the synthetic pitch of Paris 13 Atletico. Following last Friday’s home win against Bourg-en-Bresse, the goal tonight is to maintain the momentum and pick up points. However, there is a note of caution: across all its squads—including the academy—Valenciennes has never won at the Stade Pelé in Paris. I’m predicting a draw, which I’d consider a good result tonight—though if Valenciennes wins, I’ll certainly take that too! ** STANDINGS ** - 9 - Valenciennes (3 pts) - goal difference (-2) - 11 - Paris 13 (3 pts) - goal difference (-1) ** RESULTS ** *PARIS 13* Matchday 1: Paris 13 1-0 Quevilly Rouen Matchday 2: Villefranche Beaujolais 2-0 Paris 13 *VAFC* Matchday 1: Caen 4-0 VAFC Matchday 2: VAFC 2-0 Bourg-en-Bresse ** COACH'S ANALYSIS - PIERRE BLOIS ** "It’s been a beneficial week; there was a lot of positive energy in training." "We quickly focused on preparing for tonight's match (against Paris 13); despite having one day less than usual, the team worked hard this week." "It’s a unique match because we’ll be playing on an artificial pitch. Naturally, we trained on the academy's synthetic pitch this week to get our bearings; the players adapted well to this type of surface, as there are many differences—such as the bounce of the ball and footing." "Paris 13 is a team with great attacking potential, featuring dynamic players, good wingers, and plenty of athletic players. I’m expecting a great match tonight, as they beat some strong teams during the pre-season." "Paris 13 lost last Friday, so they’ll be looking to bounce back tonight in front of their home crowd. We’ll need to put in a disciplined performance to leave Paris with something to show for it and get our points tally moving." "Absentees: Kyllian Kouakou (injured for a few months, recently underwent surgery); Kader Daou Diomande (also injured; his recovery is progressing well, though he hasn't returned to the pitch yet); and Samir Belloumou (also still injured, facing complications that require continued treatment)." "...longer than expected: Célestin NYEMBE is out, and Noam BLÉ is making a gradual return." "As for the heavy defeat at Caen—I don't dwell on it anymore, but personally, I think it did us some good; it helped everyone—players and staff alike—get their heads back in the right place. Since it happened on the opening matchday, it was actually a good thing in a way, but now we have to use that experience to ensure we never go through it again. We’ve moved on; I view the Caen match as a one-off mishap. We just need to prove that it was an isolated incident and nothing more." "Tonight's match and this stadium hold special significance for both Rudy MATER and me, as it’s where we took charge from the bench for the first time last season after I replaced Stéphane MOULIN. I have fond memories of it, even though playing there is never easy—you have to put in a gritty, determined performance to get a result." To sum up: the match against Paris 13 is tonight, kicking off at 8:45 PM French time. I’ll try to find a link for you, though it’s becoming increasingly difficult here in France. Have a great day, everyone. Allez Valenciennes !

Hello friends, just before I talk to you about tonight's match, I’m sharing a long interview with Yoann Godin—the new CEO of VAFC—right below. Enjoy the read. Yoann Godin, now CEO of VAFC: "Our salvation lies in our ability to build something for the long term." Having served as General Manager of VAFC for nearly three years, Yoann Godin stepped up last week when he was appointed CEO of the club. "We have no choice but to eventually secure a sporting comeback," he insists. Reigniting momentum will require a degree of stability. - Yoann, what drove the changes announced last week to VAFC’s organizational structure? "The key takeaway—because I sometimes feel people still have doubts—is the commitment and involvement of Dragan Solak (the head of Sport Republic) regarding the club, notably demonstrated by the presence of Bojana Mijailovic. He, more than anyone, wants to see things turn around." - Who is Bojana Mijailovic? "She is his trusted associate who manages his investments and has been loyal to him for many years. Since Dragan Solak is the Chairman of Southampton FC, he wanted to be represented without being directly involved himself." - So, does this signal an interest in VAFC rather than a move to take direct control? "I’m not sure what 'taking direct control' would mean in this context; the reality is that he has always known what was happening at the club. Is it a sign of confidence in me? I’d say yes. My goal is to ensure that trust lasts as long as possible. But it’s neither a battle nor a source of stress; I have no desire to cling to the position at all costs, but rather to work properly for the good of the club." - You are moving from General Manager to Chairman and CEO; how does that change your responsibilities? "In operational terms, not much." "It is the responsibility of embodiment that comes with the title. I bear an even greater responsibility—towards the fans, partners, local authorities, and the region as a whole—for the path VAFC will take." - Didn’t you already have that representative role? You couldn't exactly say Dirk Gerkens was known for his high profile during his presidency. "Perhaps I’ve been less visible lately due to the behind-the-scenes developments regarding the ownership. But throughout the first half of last season, I was at almost every match. I know the role of president carries a certain weight in people's minds, even if it was never an issue for me personally. Perhaps this helps clarify my role to everyone. Now, the main priority is to change our sporting momentum." - This show of confidence has led some people on social media to claim the owner doesn't understand the situation at all, arguing that Yoann Godin is to blame for all of VAFC’s woes. Does such harsh criticism affect you? "You can never remain completely indifferent to that sort of thing. We know that on social media, it’s often the 'haters' who speak up. There were serious accusations and inaccuracies that helped destabilize the club, without me ever being given the chance to respond. I stepped away from social media to try and distance myself from that, so I could work with as much peace of mind as possible. I also received messages of support when the announcement was made; that tells me many people believe in what we’ve tried to build." - Isn't the criticism directed at you linked to the fact that you stepped into the spotlight last season when Stéphane Moulin was appointed? "You have to understand that I don't make decisions unilaterally; there is always a dialogue with the board of directors and the owner... The reality is that I never interfered with sporting matters in the way people might imagine. Yes, I played a major role at the time in Mathieu [Frison]'s promotion and the arrival of coach Moulin." "At the start, it seemed like a good choice to everyone. But the reality on the ground caught up with us. Last year’s failure was our inability to establish stability. Our salvation lies in our ability to build something for the long term." - Is that your biggest failure so far? "Successful clubs are built to last, even if there are a few exceptions. Dijon last year, and Boulogne and Le Mans the season before that—to me, those are good examples to follow. We’re trying to find the right solution. We made a bold move by putting our trust in a young coach who is still completing his training, knowing he would also help foster a sense of stability. We know his qualities. And yes, I got personally involved to ensure Pierre [Blois] was allowed to manage the team without us having to pay a fine. It took a lot of lobbying work." - The club’s new strategy involves recruiting players from lower divisions or Ligue 3. Is that because the previous method wasn't working, or is it a cost-cutting measure? "We’re learning. Our recruitment used to be driven by players' experience and status; we wondered if we shouldn't change tack. Last season—and I’ll say it again—the squad never gave up, even though they took a real beating. Perhaps the chemistry just never clicked, but the truth is, we didn't have any slackers. We needed guys for whom VA represented a genuine stepping stone rather than the end of the road—players eager to prove themselves, because that ultimately lifts the club up." I’ll go back to the Dijon example; it worked at other Ligue 3 clubs. Incidentally, given the overall state of French football, we also needed to gradually scale back our wage bill. - A cost-cutting plan was implemented in the spring; what does it entail in concrete terms? "There were cuts to overall overheads and the professional squad's wage bill, and we had to adapt the club's structure to its current situation (Ligue 3). It was necessary. However, 'necessary' doesn't mean 'easy.' Ultimately, nine positions were eliminated, meaning people were affected—something I am obviously well aware of. And it is not at all easy to handle." - "It is unsustainable in the long run for a shareholder to cover losses year after year. The goal is to reduce our dependence on them." Was it a painful period to go through? "Yes, because the legal side of things is very cold in that context; the rules are quite strict. I may have appeared distant to some employees during the process—even though that isn't my nature—but I had no choice; these are very sensitive matters." - What is the idea behind this cost-cutting plan? Is it for VAFC to balance its books, or will the shareholder still have to chip in? "It is unsustainable in the long run for a shareholder to cover losses year after year. The goal is to reduce our dependence on them. And, in the long term, to move toward a virtuous model. In football today—and this has accelerated further due to the media rights crisis—a virtuous model inevitably involves selling players. There isn't a single club today—with one or two exceptions—that is operationally profitable before player sales." "I’m simply saying that it’s easier to make those kinds of sales when you’re in Ligue 1 than when you’re in Ligue 3. The transfer market relies heavily on English clubs, and to a lesser extent on Spain and Germany. When you’re in Ligue 3, you have very little visibility in those markets." - So, if Sport Republic wants to recoup its investment, it has no choice but to get the club back into Ligue 1. "It’s also worth noting that the shareholder has made bold decisions, such as maintaining the youth academy—an infrastructure that costs money. But it’s a strategic choice. That’s also part of my discussions with the federation: our shareholder is indirectly funding French football, at least for the time being. Many Ligue 2 clubs have abandoned their youth academies or never had one to begin with. For a club like Valenciennes—given the resources currently being invested and the infrastructure we have—we have no choice but to eventually succeed in winning promotion on the pitch." - What is Sport Republic’s roadmap? "I’m not going to announce a specific deadline. We can’t be satisfied with the results we’ve had in recent seasons; a club like Valenciennes shouldn’t be languishing in the middle of the Ligue 3 table. That said, patience, stability, and long-term work are paramount to me. The challenge is to create real momentum that allows us to aim higher. The challenge is staying the course amidst all the surrounding noise." PARIS 13 vs. VALENCIENNES, Thursday, 8:45 PM. Ligue 3 Matchday 3. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+.

My match recap: In sweltering conditions (39°C, feels like 42°C), the goal was to prove that the heavy 4-0 defeat away at Caen was just a blip. With a crowd of around 4,900—including the return of the supporter groups—Valenciennes looked a cut above their opponents all evening. There was also an element of caution, given they were facing a former Valenciennes coach (Nicolas Rabuel). Just before the cooling break (22nd minute), Rayane Ekra opened the scoring following a sequence of one-touch play. Not much else happened before halftime. In the second half, VA had a few nervy moments but held onto the lead, and in the dying minutes, Vincent Marcel sealed the fate of the opposition (90+4'). There were a few other chances to score, but to no avail. Overall, there was improvement; I liked the one-touch play sequences that really put the opposition under pressure. However, we still lack the attacking firepower to score more goals—specifically a true striker—though that’s not the easiest profile to recruit in the transfer market. Next match is on Thursday, an away game against Paris 13 Atletico. Good night, everyone. Allez VA! ****************************** NUNGESSER STAND ------------------ Fifteen years in the stands of the young and proud successor to our iron stand!

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1729182/article/2026-08-14/ligue-3-des-retrouvailles-reussies-pour-va-avec-ses-supporters

Hi friend. News live from Valenciennes. End match now. Valenciennes win 2-0. Goal for Rayane EKRA and Vincent MARCEL. I resume the game later. Allez VA !

Ligue 3: "A scar" – Nicolas Rabuel returns to Valenciennes, where his story ended painfully Now the coach of Bourg-en-Bresse—having succeeded David Le Frapper, another former Valenciennes figure—Nicolas Rabuel returns to the Stade du Hainaut this Friday as an opponent for the very first time. It will be no ordinary match: VAFC, the club that dismissed him in April 2023, represents ten years of his life. The takeover bid for the Bourg-en-Bresse football club, spearheaded in May by investor Germain Targowski, marks a pivotal moment in Nicolas Rabuel’s life—a situation he describes as a "confluence of circumstances." His appointment as the Bourg coach—finalized in a whirlwind forty-eight hours just as he was turning down a contract extension at Épinal (N1)—brings him back to his home region. He is working alongside a president who hails from the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area, a region where Rabuel himself spent fifteen years, split between Boulogne-sur-Mer and Valenciennes. "I didn't get to say goodbye" Ever since the Ligue 3 schedule was released, everyone has been talking to him about this second match of the season, which will take him back to the Stade du Hainaut—a place that felt like home until April 2023. "I try to detach myself from all that; I force myself to put the emotional side of this fixture aside," he notes, even though his personal history with the club makes that difficult in reality. Nicolas Rabuel experienced everything at VAFC: he arrived during the Ligue 1 era in November 2013 to join Ariel Jacobs’ staff and didn't leave until ten years later, having spent eight of those seasons as an assistant coach. His dismissal was a deeply painful blow. It left behind "a scar, because I didn’t see my work through to the end, and the way I left was so brutal that I couldn’t say goodbye. And yet, I place great importance on the quality of hellos and goodbyes." The episode gave him "a lot of experience and maturity; I received messages saying, 'Now you’re a real coach.' It was funny. But until you’ve been through it, you don’t know." Nothing will shake his conviction that stability must be a cardinal virtue for anyone looking to build something lasting. "You have to give executives and coaches time to put things in place" in order to finally break free from "the culture of instant gratification." Any resemblance to VAFC is not necessarily coincidental. VALENCIENNES vs. BOURG-EN-BRESSE, Friday, 7:00 PM, Stade du Hainaut. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+.

VAFC: After a half-season hiatus, the *kop* makes a highly anticipated return to Stade du Hainaut The standoff lasted the entire second half of last season; deprived of ultra support, the Valenciennes players and staff found the atmosphere at Stade du Hainaut rather flat. Now that differences have been smoothed over, the big reunion between the club and its supporters is set for this Friday—in an atmosphere everyone hopes will be festive. Patience is a rare commodity when it comes to VAFC. The thrashing suffered at Caen (4–0) last Friday didn't exactly conjure up old demons, but it did immediately trigger some harsh comments on social media. The line between leniency and the first signs of rising tension is a fine one. Everyone at the club and in its inner circle knows that the shift from one state to the other will depend on results—the only thing capable of ensuring harmony. There is palpable anticipation ahead of the team's first official home game. "We missed them last year," remarks Pierre Blois regarding the supporters who had abandoned the *kop* for the entire second half of the season. "They are keen to make amends, and so are we, because last week they made the trip [to Normandy] while we failed to show up for the occasion." A total of 196 fans took their places in the away section at Stade Michel-d’Ornano—a tangible sign of thawing relations following the icy chill caused by the attempted pitch invasion during the match against Sochaux on December 12, 2025. That flare-up was the logical culmination of a series of incidents that had severely strained the first half of the season, fueled by disappointment over inconsistent sporting results. "We needed this time, this step back, to ask ourselves the right questions." We know how it ended: the match was halted before completion; VA was penalized with a point deduction in the National league standings; the club took action against the agitators (those identified were recently issued stadium bans); supporter groups dug in their heels in solidarity; and everyone involved spent the intervening period giving each other the cold shoulder. Yet, the bond was never completely severed, and the ultras took a hard look at themselves, using those eight months for introspection. "We needed this time, this step back, to ask ourselves the right questions," explains a representative of the Roisters. The various groups held internal discussions before meeting with the coaching staff when training resumed—a dialogue both sides deemed productive. The supporters, who have prepared a massive tifo to mark the reunion, want to rediscover the simple joy of cheering on their team. It is up to them to play a more active role in the stands, in sync with the action on the pitch. The prevailing mood is positive, though everyone is aware of just how fragile the relationship can be. VALENCIENNES vs. BOURG-EN-BRESSE, Friday, 7:00 PM, at the Stade du Hainaut. Broadcast live on Ligue 1+. Absentees: Diomandé, Belloumou, Kouakou (injured); Méïté, Blé (returning to fitness).