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National League: The story between VAFC and Stéphane Moulin comes to an end Faced with a persistent lack of results and the looming threat of relegation to National 2, the relationship between VAFC and Stéphane Moulin has ended. The two parties decided on Monday to part ways by mutual agreement. This was officially announced by the club in a press release this Tuesday morning. The interim role, pending the search for a successor, will be entrusted to the reserve team coach, Pierre Blois. The weather had cleared up early Tuesday morning over Valenciennes, but appearances can be deceiving. Rumors had been circulating since Monday evening that the relationship between VAFC and Stéphane Moulin was about to end. This was confirmed Tuesday morning, with the club announcing in a statement that both parties had decided to part ways amicably, meaning there would be no dismissal. The financial implications for the manager, who was under contract until 2027, remain unknown. In the statement, unusually, he explained that he had "decided to step down, solely in the best interests of the club." He thanked everyone, particularly the management, for the trust they had shown him. He leaves, accompanied by his trusted assistant Patrice Sauvaget, just nine months after his arrival, despite the initial plan to build something with him, if not for the long term, at least for a period long enough to bring a degree of stability. That plan failed. Valenciennes is starting from scratch again, having realized that things weren't clicking. On Saturday, Stéphane Moulin's job was safe… The 2-1 defeat suffered on Friday against bottom-of-the-table Saint-Brieuc, their tenth loss of the season, clearly puts Valenciennes in danger of relegation (the first team in the relegation zone, QRM, is now only seven points behind if we take into account the one-point penalty imposed after the pitch invasion against Sochaux, a decision the club is still undecided about appealing). This is clearly unthinkable for the owner, Sport Republic, tired of losing money since taking over in the summer of 2023. General manager Yoann Godin was still insisting on Saturday that Stéphane Moulin's job was safe. It's well known in professional football that it's often after offering this kind of assurance that a manager's job rolls. President Dirk Gerkens had first assured him of the SR group's support a week before Christmas, when the results were already far from impressive. During the winter transfer window, Stéphane Moulin got what he wanted: the arrival of new players (Charles Abi, Erin Airhiavbere, Bryan Passi, Quentin Daubin) to create the complementary skills he hadn't been able to achieve until then. Pierre Blois to take over as interim manager There has been some improvement since then (Bourg-en-Bresse, Rouen). But it has never been sustainable, as demonstrated by the defeats in Le Puy, against Orléans and then Bourg-en-Bresse, and the team has never shown any real signs of recovery. Faced with this situation, both parties concluded on Monday that it was best not to continue. The club will therefore begin the search for a new qualified coach (the BEPF coaching diploma is mandatory to coach in the National league, otherwise fines apply). In the meantime, the interim role has been entrusted to Pierre Blois, who until now managed the reserve team, currently top of their group in R1. He will be assisted by Rudy Mater, who is in charge of the U18 team. Both will be on the bench this Friday in Paris 13.

Stéphane Moulin is leaving the club along with his assistant, Patrice Sauvaget, and is being replaced by: - Pierre Blois: currently the coach of Valenciennes' reserve team, which is currently first in the "Regional 1" league, the sixth tier of French football (our first team is in the third tier). A product of the club's youth academy, he has coached many of the club's youth teams and has been in charge of Valenciennes' reserve team for the past two years. - Rudy Mater: a Valenciennes native and former player for the club, with over 300 appearances for VAFC, he was, along with others, instrumental in the club's golden era between 2004 and 2014. He knows the club's work ethic better than anyone and will bring his experience to this team, which is currently experiencing some uncertainty. They are appointed as interim coaches while a permanent replacement is sought. Can Pierre be the new Tonda, just like you? To be continued...

Unfortunately, this decision had become inevitable and almost inevitable... While they had gained some ground with the victory in Rouen, the two home defeats, particularly against Orléans and Saint-Brieuc, proved detrimental. We had sensed for some months now that communication between the coach and the players was no longer working... It is up to the players to understand the decision made today by management. The objective is to maintain the team's position in this National 1 championship, which will become Ligue 3 next year and become a professional league.

VAFC Press Release: Stéphane Moulin's Departure VAFC and Stéphane Moulin have decided to end their collaboration, effective Tuesday, February 17. Assistant coach Patrice Sauvaget is also leaving his position. Appointed first-team coach at the start of the season, Stéphane Moulin carried out his duties with professionalism and dedication. VAFC wishes to thank both men and extends its best wishes for their future endeavors. Pending the appointment of a new coach, the interim period will be managed by Pierre Blois, coach of the VAFC reserve team, assisted by Rudy Mater, coach at the club's youth academy, who will be tasked with preparing for upcoming matches. VAFC remains fully committed and united behind its team to approach this period with determination and responsibility. Stéphane Moulin: "It is with regret that I must resign from my position." Despite the difficulties encountered, I persevered, but it's clear that the results are not satisfactory. Like the coaches who preceded me, I haven't been able to reverse the trend. Therefore, solely in the best interest of the club, I have decided to step down. I would like to thank the management who placed their trust in me, the staff for their welcome, and all the supporters of VAFC. I wish the players and the club all the best for the remainder of the season.

Yoann won't be leaving anytime soon. 😉

Personally, I don't blame my player because he's doing his best. Of course, many of our supporters expect more from him, want him to be more decisive and score more goals, because he's considered a striker. Rumours also say that he has one of the highest salaries in the club and therefore, inevitably, he has to justify it. He realised he had lost the ball on Friday and tried to make up for it and help the other players, but unfortunately our opponents scored a goal and so some of the crowd turned on him... In my opinion, he's neither the best nor the worst. The problem lies elsewhere and we really need to find a solution to our issues with confidence, efficiency and communication... Our players each have their qualities, that's undeniable, but it's difficult to understand why our players can't play at their level... That's the paradox of our team this season...

Gaetan Courtet's apology on Instagram:

Hello Friend's ! Today press: National League: "We're not actually scary," Valenciennes confronted with their shortcomings and doubts While the victory in Rouen certainly didn't make them a title contender, Valenciennes, still recovering, fell ill again on Friday with a 2-1 home defeat, their sixth loss of the season, this time against bottom-of-the-table Saint-Brieuc. The grim reality: survival is now the priority. As he was substituted (79th minute), Gaëtan Courtet was booed off the pitch at the Stade du Hainaut, embodying the frustration of a crowd weary of waiting for a turnaround that never materializes. Frustrated and furious, the captain stormed to the locker room, tearing off his jersey in a fit of anger. This didn't go unnoticed, especially by the commentators who have been harshly criticizing him on social media since Friday. He apologized on Instagram on Saturday but will be sanctioned by the club for this gesture. It's the way things are when results aren't forthcoming. Gaëtan Courtet was booed by the crowd as he left the pitch in the 79th minute. His visceral reaction did not go unnoticed. - Photo Christophe Lefebvre The club's general manager, Yoann Godin, knows this all too well, as he tries his best to "keep a cool head" and weather the storm. He doesn't intend to part ways with Stéphane Moulin now, whose distress is understandable but also raises questions. "We'll have a meeting with the coach and Mathieu (Frison, the sporting coordinator), as we do every Monday. We need to be honest with each other and try to move forward together. The important thing is that the coach is with us and believes in us." » Weaknesses As exciting as it was, the 2-1 victory in Rouen, against the league leaders, achieved with unwavering determination, didn't make Valenciennes a potential champion. Stéphane Moulin is well aware of his team's weaknesses: "effective about once every five matches," capable of eight shots on target, as on Friday, hitting the woodwork twice, and scoring only one goal, in stoppage time. The stark assessment: "We're not exactly intimidating." And defensively, things aren't much better. "The standings in this league based on a single match mean nothing. I said based on a single match. That's why there are so many erratic results compared to the league table." “Stéphane Moulin, on the eve of VAFC – Saint-Brieuc The coach knew what to expect from Saint-Brieuc, the “false bottom” team determined to save themselves at all costs at the start of the year, and who, before unsettling VA on Friday (1-2), had held Dijon (0-0) and Sochaux (1-1). “The hierarchy of this league based on a single match means nothing. I said based on a single match. That’s why there are so many erratic results compared to the standings,” he observed the day before this latest defeat, the sixth conceded at home by his team, who are also the only ones to have lost, and twice at that, against Saint-Brieuc. What does this say about this team? Stéphane Moulin remains perplexed: “I have absolutely no idea… But it’s certainly not to our credit.” “ To make matters worse, Valenciennes, now 13th, saw QRM, the first team in the relegation zone, close the gap to seven points after their 2-1 victory over Concarneau on Thursday. The order of the mission has changed: “The objective is to secure our place in the league as quickly as possible,” insists Yoann Godin. This will allow them to prepare for the future with a minimum of peace of mind.”

I really love the name of this topic. 🤣

VAMOS !!! Congratulation Saint's Friends !!!

Thanks for the link 🙏 COYS !

That's exactly right, my friend. Sometimes I feel like they want to score with the ball... Sometimes you have to take a chance and dare to create opportunities. We often have possession, but unfortunately we don't score many goals, which is frustrating because we could score at least three goals in every match, and that would make things easier for us. It does seem like they're afraid and don't dare to... Do we need a mental coach? Do we need to work even harder on our play in front of goal during training? Our players need to let loose and not be afraid to take chances.

I think that if winning a match came down to the number of scoring opportunities, we would be at the top of the table. Right now, I feel like they're afraid to score! Once again, it's been the same thing for years. Sometimes I wonder if we're victims of a curse... Yet our players have everything they need to succeed. Do they have too much to succeed? Good question...

The statistics are frightening! VA must do MUCH better!!

“When you concede a goal, it feels like the sky is falling,” Loïck Landre said, reflecting on Valenciennes’ weaknesses. The Valenciennes FC center-back didn’t shy away from discussing the latest defeat suffered this Friday at the Hainaut stadium against Saint-Brieuc (1-2). Loïck, what are your feelings after a match like that? “We’re disappointed, it’s a bit like the one against Orléans. We come up against teams that are incredibly efficient, they manage to open the scoring, and then it’s always more complicated, you have to put in more effort, open yourself up… And then today (Friday), we concede a second goal, a really nice one at that, so it’s tough. It’s not what we were hoping for; we wanted to build on that momentum.” We came up against a team that played a good match, that was cohesive, that knew how to exploit our weaknesses. Conversely, is it a lack of efficiency that prevents you from winning these matches? "We missed our first half, we left too much space, I think, and unfortunately, we were in trouble too often." "It's a combination of factors; it's not just the forwards who are at fault. It's a problem in both penalty areas. It's true that offensively, things didn't go our way, whereas last weekend we scored two. We missed our first half, we left too much space, I think, and unfortunately, we were in trouble too often. They played their cards right." As soon as you went behind, you lost your way. "Often, when we concede a goal, we feel like the sky is falling, but it's not." We had a lot of hope going into the match; we wanted to take the next step, to build on that momentum. Unfortunately, we conceded that goal which was a bit of a blow, and then we conceded a second… We need to be a bit tougher mentally. The one thing is certain: we can't give up. We were able to win away from home for the first time. There are about ten matches left, and we need to keep going. Our objectives from the beginning of the season are a long way off, we have to be honest, but we have to keep working. Doesn't all this say a lot about your team's weaknesses? "Yes, that's perhaps why we're where we are in the standings. It's up to us to keep working."

National League: The pile of sand on which Valenciennes had built has collapsed... Saint-Brieuc, bottom of the National League table, once again crushed Valenciennes' hopes this Friday. Defeated again at home (1-2), Valenciennes are back to square one just a week after defeating league leaders Rouen. All the world's misery seems to have fallen on Gaëtan Courtet's shoulders. - Photo Christophe Lefebvre All the promises born from the 2-1 victory in Rouen have vanished. A week later, everything is to be rebuilt. "What matters to me is finding a team," explained Stéphane Moulin on the eve of the match. He therefore logically fielded the same eleven players who had fought to overturn the league leaders. "I was expecting a confirmation of our form, and we didn't get it." On the contrary, his team has fallen back into the ineffectiveness that has become, as is now widely acknowledged, their trademark. “In two home games, we had 31 shots on goal, 16 against Orléans, 15 tonight (Friday), for only one goal scored. We had eight shots on target, they had three, and they scored two goals. I think we hit the post three times (twice actually). That sums it all up; we can’t win games like that.” Stéphane Moulin reiterates that he’s not a miracle worker: “I don’t know what to do. We’re working on finishing, we’re working on our passing patterns…” “The coach is responsible for the results, so it’s my fault.” Beyond the statistics, there’s also the reality of a team that played well for about 20 minutes before being stabbed in the back by Briochin’s first attack (0-1, 15th minute) and then conceding a second goal (33rd minute) from another unreal shot, which, to make matters worse, came off Léo Yobé’s weaker foot. Fragile as she is, she completely collapsed until halftime. "We have halftime to regroup, we change our system, we change players, a scenario we've seen countless times before." Stéphane Moulin did what he could to try and turn things around. "We have halftime to regroup, we change our system, we change players, a scenario we've seen countless times before. We have to get back into it, I convince them it's possible because I feel we're capable of it. We're missing something to come back or take the lead because in the second half, there was an opportunity." VA finally found the breakthrough, through Alain Ipiélé, as the game entered stoppage time. Far too late. In a protective reflex for his team, Stéphane Moulin says he takes full responsibility: "The coach is responsible for the results, so it's my fault." » VALENCIENNES – SAINT-BRIEUC: 1-2 (0-2). Stade du Hainaut. 4,851 spectators. Referee: Mr. Gazon. Goals: Ipiélé (90+1) for Valenciennes; Yobé (15, 33) for Saint-Brieuc. Yellow cards: Koum (45), Landre (74) for Valenciennes; Diakahbi (45+2) for Saint-Brieuc. Valenciennes: Louchet; Niakaté (K. Diomandé, 69), Landre (Coeff, 79), Passi, Koum; Daubin (Appuah, 46), Maréchal (Boissier, 46), Rouaï; El Hadary; Courtet (captain, Ipiélé, 79), Abi. Coach: Stéphane Moulin. Saint-Brieuc: L’Hostis; Diakahbi, Rabuel (Ndiaye, 75th), Diaby, Diakaby; Yobé (cap.), Beghin, Diatta Dorival (Boudin, 64th), Zakharyan (Lopes, 83rd); Janno (Gomis Maillard, 64th), Faty (Achahbar, 83rd). Coach: Guillaume Allanou.

Yesterday, I didn't recognize my team, which had fought with strength and courage in Rouen. I expected this type of match and this result because I know my team well and they have been making the same mistakes for several years, long before the arrival of Sport Republic. Our team is capable of beating the clubs at the top of the table but also of losing to weaker opponents. Yesterday, we had 15 scoring opportunities, hit the crossbar once and the post once, and scored one goal at the very end of the game, compared to three shots for Saint Brieuc, which resulted in two goals... This lack of efficiency is costing us dearly, and I really don't understand why we can't seem to get it right. We have a talent for scaring ourselves, and once again, this will be the case until the end of the season...

The match has just ended at the Stade du Hainaut. A 2-1 defeat against the bottom team in the league... VA reduced the deficit in the 91st minute. We've lost more points foolishly tonight, what a shame... Allez VA !

Half-time here at the Stade du Hainaut. Well, we're losing 2-0 to Stade Briochin at the break. It's been a tough match so far. I told you so this morning. Capable of playing great games against the big teams and capable of losing against the smaller teams... Will we see a comeback in the second half? Allez VA !

VAFC: "I realized that at this level, you have to be very professional," Alexi Koum's realization Alexi Koum, 20, has grasped what playing top-level football demands in terms of professionalism and effort. This self-reflection has allowed the full-back, on loan to Valenciennes from Olympique de Marseille, to gain a significant advantage over Abdelwahed Wahib on the left flank. Barely 20 years old, but already a seasoned pro. Alexi Koum was asked about his objectives with OM, where he will return this summer, while on loan to Valenciennes. The left-back offered a quick answer: "Right now, I'm really focused on finishing the season strong with Valenciennes." "The starting positions keep piling up for the youngster from Villeneuve-Saint-Georges (Val-de-Marne), who hasn't left Valenciennes' starting eleven since a 4-1 defeat in Dijon, a loss that hardly bodes well for the future. "I'm like doubting Thomas, I only believe what I see," explains Stéphane Moulin about him. "From the moment a lad shows he's committed and gets ahead of his direct competitor…," the coach has objectively no reason not to call him up. It's the very definition of "healthy competition, and I'm open to that." While Abdelwahed Wahib is paying the price at the start of this year, Alexi Koum isn't taking his slight advantage for granted. "Nothing is set in stone, nothing is fixed in our team. It's up to me to keep playing well, keep working hard." Because Abdel is here too. We're two in the same position and we both want to play. But I think we push each other to improve." "Not the behavior of a professional player" Between the player he was in September and the one he has become, it's like night and day. "He realized he couldn't achieve anything worthwhile without hard work, dedication, discipline, focus, and concentration," notes Stéphane Moulin, who had wondered if it was even worth continuing with him "because he didn't have the behavior of a professional player." He didn't give up on him, even if it meant being tough on him. "And there are two ways to look at it: either the player thinks, 'The coach doesn't like me, it's not my fault,' or he takes what he's told to heart." "We've witnessed a rather radical change, as surprising as it may seem, but it's to his credit." “Stéphane Moulin, on Alexi Koum Alexi Koum admits: “To be honest, I wasn’t necessarily giving my best.” Stéphane Moulin pinpoints the turning point to mid-October: “We witnessed a rather radical change, as surprising as it may seem, but he deserves credit for it.” The player isn’t sure if it was a turning point. The discussions he had with the coach and sporting coordinator, Mathieu Frison, eventually took root in his mind. “It made me want to do more”: a lot of gym work, individualized sessions, “there’s also nutrition, sleep, that kind of thing; once I started, I didn’t stop.” Alexi Koum is on a roll. VALENCIENNES – SAINT-BRIEUC, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Stade du Hainaut. Live on BFM TV and FFFtv.

Hello friends, how are you after this perfect week for our two clubs? News from Valenciennes after last Friday's victory at the league leaders, FC Rouen. The week has gone pretty well here in Valenciennes, where the only official announcement has been the departure of Sambou Sissoko, who has signed for FK Qabala, an Azerbaijani first division club. He hadn't been playing for some time and his departure from the club was only a matter of days away, but now it's official. Today is another league match day, and Valenciennes welcomes Stade Briochin, currently bottom of the league, to the Stade du Hainaut. This is the team that beat us at home in the first leg. You might think that since we managed to beat the league leaders at their home ground, beating the bottom team at home will be easier, but beware! We'll need to use the same ingredients as last week and score early to avoid any scares! VA is capable of the best and the worst, haha. We need to take advantage of the momentum to secure a second consecutive victory and move away from the bottom of the league table. As usual, kick-off for this match is at 7:30 p.m. French time, and you will find the link to the match below: I will share the local press coverage for this match in another post. Have a great day, everyone. Allez Valenciennes !!

Yesterday's match proved that football is full of surprises and suspense right up until the last minute of play. The first half was a disaster, even though the players could have opened the scoring very early on if Cameron Archer had scored. The first two goals could have been avoided. In the first case, if the goalkeeper had been more decisive, he could have stopped the ball. In the second case, the players need to communicate more and the goalkeeper should not have come out like that. The third goal, although beautiful, it must be said, could have been avoided with more defensive impact. I think Tonda must have had a strong word with the players in the dressing room at half-time. We thought the match was over, but we could sense that the Southampton players were out for revenge and wanted to show a better side of themselves. The hardest part was scoring the first goal to make it 3-1. After that, our confidence returned and doubt set in among the Foxes. The second and third goals, which came shortly before the end of the match, allowed us to come away with at least one point, which was miraculous considering we were 3-0 down at half-time. The players continued to push forward and believe in themselves, and were rewarded at the very end of the match with a fourth goal, which sealed the victory. It just goes to show that the team is capable of great things. It's a shame they lost time and points at the start of the season... Let's keep believing!

Exactly, probably ragequit haha

This reaction after the Saints' fourth goal: - First person: prefers to hide under his jacket. - Second person: no reaction, just shocked. - Third person: thinks it's a bad joke and prefers to laugh it off. They look so disappointed, haha. Always believe until the very last second! Congratulation again, Saint's Friend !!!

Beautiful comeback really 👌💪