Valenciennes

[Toadhall Saint]

8 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

Hello friend.

Firstly, congratulations for your Victory today !

Secondly, end of the match for Valenciennes.

Draw score: 1-1.

Good point versus 2nd of the championship.

Good evening everyone.

Well done on the draw. You have a great one too. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

VA will be happy enough with an away point.

But both teams were very poor, and there for the taking.

VA went down to 10, when the home side hit an excellent ball through the high line of defence. Koum collided into the back of their through player. Not cynical, as their player made sure of the chance of contact, on the way to get the ball. But no arguments either.

VA then conceded a shocker. There's plenty of good reasons to play across the back. To switch the play; to maintain possession; to draw in your opponents. Not because you've no better ideas; when you're not organised; when you've already lost 1 center half and when 2 of the others are 2 feet apart. Cue losing possession, when Sochaux still have plenty in the half from their last attack (another reason not to do it), and going 1 down.

Sochaux really could have had a second. They hit the post and shot wide when a pass would have given them a tap in.

But then VA got an equaliser from a penalty. One of those where a player dips his head into a clearance, and gets a decision. Somewhere, during treatment and waiting for the spot kick to be taken, a second yellow was shown. Not sure if it was for persistent dissent. Appuah, on his way to his own second yellow before being subbed, put it in.

And that was it from both sides. Sochaux hit a post later with an effort from an angle. Other than that, it seemed the goals had been converted into barn doors, neither side could hit.

El Hadary came on, but was particularly poor.

One thing that did stand out, was Abu's good use of VA having a physical presence up front. he picked out sub Nyemb on a number of occasions. Good range and accuracy.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

« Un match de bonhomme ! », ils les ont rendus fous, Valenciennes parfait dans l’art de gâcher la fête - La Voix du Nord

"A real man's game!" They drove them crazy, Valenciennes perfect at spoiling the party.

Shaken, reduced to ten men, and trailing in the first half, VA quickly equalized against a Sochaux side also down to ten men to take a point (1-1). And play a nasty trick on all their former players who thought they were taking a giant step towards Ligue 2.

The Sochaux players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle, under a barrage of rather harsh boos. The Valenciennes players, too, lay down on the Bonal pitch, exhausted from the long battle fought in the Doubs region. After all, perhaps the jeers of the 20,000 Sochaux fans were partly intended for them as well. What nerve, though, to come and spoil the party that everyone saw coming. Sochaux couldn't secure promotion with a win, but they would have taken a giant step towards Ligue 2. Except it's never a good idea to get ahead of yourself. Even if it's a local tradition, apparently, the fireworks for the players' entrance were perhaps a bit much.

Valenciennes, however, was largely blindsided by the joy of their former players. A packed, noisy, singing stadium, buzzing with excitement at returning to Ligue 2, is where Vincent Hognon, their former coach, shines this year, alongside Aymen Boutoutaou, dazzling in the first half, Julien Masson, suspended against Valenciennes, and Samy Baghdadi. Even if they only have themselves to blame for not being invited to join them on the promotion run, Valenciennes already had their fill last year of watching others celebrate their success. Boulogne and then Nancy, both future promoted sides, had come to celebrate at the Hainaut stadium at the end of the season. So, not seeing others celebrating a goal that Valenciennes couldn't achieve was a small consolation. And well deserved in this instance.

Grumpy Hognon, frustrated Mauricio

Because they had to dig deep during a first half that started poorly on all fronts: Alexi Koum was rightly sent off after just over fifteen minutes (17th minute), and Sochaux opened the scoring with a ruthless strike (30th minute). It was hard to imagine a more difficult situation. Then the halftime break proved to be the turning point: a more determined performance, quickly rewarded with a clear penalty, awarded to Bayanginisa for a red card (50th minute), which Stredair Appuah converted. That's how you change the momentum of a match. "The lads played like men, we played thirty minutes longer than them with one less player, I'm really proud of them," praised Pierre Blois.

Valenciennes' comeback surprised, and irritated, everyone in the Sochaux camp. "They were really motivated, they were wasting time," grimaced Vincent Hognon. You should have seen his assistant, former Valenciennes player Tony Mauricio, practically throwing a tantrum in the press box, frustrated by his team's inability to regain their attacking edge. But Valenciennes isn't on holiday yet and also thrives on pride against the top teams. "It was a good test for next season," emphasized Pierre Blois, "but I'm not worried about them, they'll get promoted." Not right away, anyway.

SOCHAUX – VALENCIENNES: 1-1 (1-0)

19,150 spectators

Goals: Djoco (30th minute) for Sochaux, Appuah (53rd minute, penalty)

Yellow cards: Bayanginisa (47th and 51st minutes), Vitelli (57th minute) for Sochaux; Appuah (53rd minute), Wahib (66th minute), El Hadary (74th minute) for Valenciennes

Sending off: Koum (17th minute) for Valenciennes; Bayanginisa (50th minute) for Sochaux

SOCHAUX: Pierre; N’Gata, Vitelli (captain) (Tavares 74th minute), Peybernes, Gomis; Mexique, Bayanginisa; Boutoutaou (Fofana 65th minute), Baghdadi (Youssouf 65th minute), Gomel; Djoco (Sidibe 81st minute). Foreign referee: Pierre Blois

VAFC: Louchet; Abu, Coeff, Landre, Koum; Rouai, Belloumou (cap) (Daubin (45th), K.Diomande (Wahib 24th), Courtet, Appuah (El Hadary 56th); Kouakou (Nyemb 70th). Etr: Pierre Blois

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello everyone,

Here’s an update from Valenciennes.

Following last Saturday’s draw away at FC Sochaux, our team is now facing the last two matches of the season:

- An away trip to Bourg-en-Bresse today

- A home game against Châteauroux next Saturday

Two matches of little significance, as the club has already secured its place in the division, but the aim is still to finish on a high note and secure a good league position.

Tonight, our current second-choice goalkeeper, Justin Lacombe, will start the match, and some of our younger players are also expected to get some playing time.

Kick-off is at 7.30 pm French time and the match link is as follows:

Have a lovely day, everyone.

Allez VA !

 

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

VAFC : la porte s’ouvre enfin dans le but pour Justin Lacombe, « le moment opportun pour montrer que je suis prêt » - La Voix du Nord

VAFC: The door finally opens in goal for Justin Lacombe, "the right time to show I'm ready"

Backup to Jean Louchet in goal, Justin Lacombe has had limited playing time since arriving at Valenciennes. Pierre Blois has decided to throw him in at the deep end of the National league this Saturday in Bourg-en-Bresse, in order to assess his potential.

Justin Lacombe is set to play the two remaining National league matches in goal for Valenciennes. This decision is neither an experiment nor a makeshift solution, and certainly not a punishment for Jean Louchet, whose second half of the season has been quite remarkable. "Since Rudy (Mater) and I have been here, I think he's done a very good job," confirms Pierre Blois. "We're lucky to have a very good goalkeeper, and we've told him so." “

It also turns out that the club needs to assess its designated replacement (under contract until 2027), who arrived last summer from Toulouse Football Club, where he was developed. He hasn't been able to offer him a single minute in official competition so far, except with the reserve team in Régional 1, where Pierre Blois saw him in action and where “he always played very well.” In an ideal world, the player from Corrèze should have been able to play in the Coupe de France if Stéphane Moulin hadn't chosen, for the match against Croix in October, to give Jean Louchet continuity amidst a congested schedule. And since Valenciennes had somehow managed to get knocked out in their first match…

“I didn't show it on a daily basis, even though I was disappointed.”

Justin Lacombe emerged from this episode upset, without ever letting on. “The Coupe de France was a difficult moment, I won't lie.” “I didn’t show it on a daily basis, even though I was disappointed. I told the coach,” recounts the 23-year-old, who was fully aware, upon signing with Valenciennes, of the established hierarchy in the Valenciennes goal. “I was told I was coming as the number two and that things weren’t set in stone.”

“He’s the kind of goalkeeper who can fit the modern mold. Now, to get the answers, he needs to play.” Damien Perquis, VAFC Goalkeeping Coach

“In a way, I’m glad he took it badly,” reacts Damien Perquis, upon hearing the player’s comments. “That’s how you reach the top level.” The VAFC goalkeeping coach had complied with the club’s desire to focus on a developing young player. His choice fell on the former third-choice goalkeeper for Toulouse FC, whose explosive profile he appreciates: "He's quick in his movements, you can feel he's got fire in his legs." He's about to be tested in the National league. "He's the kind of goalkeeper who can fit the bill for a modern goalkeeper," continues Damien Perquis. The qualities a goalkeeper shows in training are one thing, but competition is another. "Now, to get the answers, he needs to play." The rookie's chance arrives in Bourg-en-Bresse. "It's the perfect opportunity to show that I'm ready," the player anticipates.

BOURG-EN-BRESSE – VALENCIENNES, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

A disappointing 1-0 defeat, to a Bourg-en-bresse side needing the points at the bottom of the table.

VA.had their usual busy, without end product, start. As the game settled, they had the better of the chances. 

The best came off the underside of the bar and was cleared in the first half. In the second El-hadery took it just too far round the keeper, and it was cleared away close to the line.

Around those, Appuah had an effort, while Courtet had a header, an acrobatic effort, and a quick turn and shot through a lot of bodies that was saved.

It was beginning to look like a draw, when the home side's big centre half, Do Marcolino got up really well from a corner, to head it in, on 63 minutes.

Abu had just come on for Airhiavbere, who had received a knock. He hit an early, direct ball to a central Appuah, that looked promising. But Appuah was then subbed. Without any target, or plan, VA's final 4 subs just made their side more disjointed.

The home side had their own 1 on 1 that Lacombe blocked, and they finished the stronger side.

A pitch invasion of happy home fans weaved their way around dishearted, departing VA players, Courtet keeping his obvious frustrations to himself, as best he could.

7 points off the relegation places, and 18 off promotion, VA are now in the middle of a midtable pack. They could still drop another couple of places. So a last good result would at least end the season on a small positive.

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well?

Today in Valenciennes is the final match of the season – a season that has once again been a struggle.

A win tonight would be a positive note, but it won’t be easy against La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, whom we’re hosting at the Stade du Hainaut; they absolutely must win to stay in Ligue 3 next year.

Next year, matches will no longer be streamed for free on YouTube; in France, you’ll need to subscribe to a pay-TV channel called ‘Ligue 1+’, which broadcasts Ligue 1.

Kick-off is at 7.30 pm French time and the link to the match is below:

I’m sharing the latest news from Ligue 3 and the press articles below.

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

The Executive Committee of the French Football Federation (FFF) has officially confirmed the launch of the professional Ligue 3 for next season (2026-2027). This name change is accompanied by a major restructuring of the French third division.

Here is a summary of the main changes compared to the current National 1:

1. A 100% Professional Status

Before (National): The league was considered the elite of amateur football (a "hybrid" status combining relegated professional clubs and amateur clubs with federal contracts).

Tomorrow (Ligue 3): The league becomes fully professional. This is a major historical first, as the FFF (and not the LFP) will organize this professional league. For players, this means an upward harmonization of salary conditions, social benefits, and training facilities.

2. New Competition Format (Playoffs and Relegation)

The league retains its 18 clubs and 34 matchdays, but the distribution of promotions and relegations has been radically changed to maximize the stakes:

Promotion: The top two teams in the standings are automatically promoted to Ligue 2.

Playoffs: This is the major new feature. The teams ranked 3rd through 6th will compete in a playoff tournament. The winner of this tournament will play a two-legged playoff against the 16th-placed team in Ligue 2 for a chance to secure a third promotion spot.

Relegation: Only the bottom three teams will be relegated (whereas the National league has seen recent seasons with four or six relegations due to reforms).

3. Media and Technological Revolution

Full Broadcasting: All 309 matches of the season (regular season + playoffs) will be broadcast on the Ligue 1+ platform. In addition, eight matchdays will be scheduled outside of international breaks or at the beginning/end of the season to provide Ligue 3 with an exclusive showcase, free from competition with Ligue 1 and Ligue 2.

Increased technical resources: The days of the single camera are over. Each match will be broadcast with two cameras, and the highlight match of each matchday will benefit from a five-camera setup.

Refereeing and Video Assistant Refereeing (VAR): Ligue 3 will test a simplified VAR system. Unlike traditional VAR, coaches will have two challenges per match to request a review of a play. A fourth official will also be present on the sidelines.

4. Financial Framework and Squad Limits

To prevent bankruptcies and stabilize club finances (the overall budget allocated to the division will be €12.3 million for the first season), the FFF is imposing strict rules:

Salary Cap: Starting in 2027-2028, club salaries will be capped at 60% of their operating revenue (then 50% in 2028-2029 and 40% in 2029-2030).

Squad Limit: From 2027-2028, clubs will be limited to a maximum of 20 players under federal/professional contract. The aim is to encourage clubs to rely on youth development and local players.

5. Administrative Flexibility (End of Deadline)

To avoid legal complications and truncated 17-team leagues (as has often happened in recent years due to protracted DNCG procedures), the July 17th registration deadline has been eliminated. From now on, a club can be administratively reinstated up until the day before the first matchday of the season.

Bonus Clarity: To make the French football pyramid clearer, the lower divisions are also changing their names. The current National 2 will become National 1, and the current National 3 will become National 2.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Derrick ABU held a press conference yesterday:

 

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

« Je me suis parfois senti seul », à Valenciennes, une première année à tâtons pour Derrick Abu - La Voix du Nord

“I sometimes felt alone,” says Derrick Abu, who has been feeling his way in Valenciennes for the first year.

The 22-year-old English right-back, who arrived last summer from Southampton, has made three appearances but has played very little this season. This is partly due to a more difficult adaptation to French life than he anticipated.

A season has passed, and we still don't know what to make of Englishman Derrick Abu, who arrived last summer from Southampton. At 22, is the Chelsea academy graduate a talent waiting to take off, or just another player who has moved from club to club, like a pawn in the great game of multiple ownership? We haven't seen enough of him in action – just six matches – to be certain, even if memories of him in preseason last summer and the three matches he has just played suggest potential. But in between, there's an interminable tunnel of a season spent primarily in the reserves, far from the first team and the high hopes expressed upon arrival.

"When you don't speak the language, when you can't communicate, it's frustrating, but the hardest part is everyday life. Doing your shopping, going to the doctor, calling a number for Wi-Fi, everything is different. It's sometimes a heavy burden," says Derrick Abu.

"I wanted to play abroad, to take on this challenge. It didn't go as planned. I didn't expect to be so uninvolved, but it's ending better, so I prefer to look on the bright side," the Englishman says positively today. "All of this has made me stronger; it will serve me well." Derrick Abu describes his first year in France as a "roller coaster"—one that, one suspects, had far more lows than highs. Born in Germany to Nigerian parents who settled in England when he was three, the Briton has a taste for openness but admits he hadn't fully grasped how complicated it can be to integrate, young and alone, into a new country.

"It took me time, but I'm 100% now."

"When you don't speak the language, when you can't communicate, it's frustrating, but the hardest part is everyday life," he explains. "Shopping, going to the doctor, calling a number for Wi-Fi—everything is different. It can be a heavy burden. A teammate, after a bad day at training, can talk to his wife, hug his children. I won't deny it, even though I knew it would happen, there were times when I felt alone."

All of this weighed more heavily on his mind than he imagined, and consequently on his performance. Almost a year after his arrival, Abu can already see the difference: his French has improved, he's settled into his new life at Valenciennes, and he now feels "at home." "It took me some time, but I'm 100% now," he promises. A little late for this season, which ends Friday against Châteauroux, but not without its advantages for what lies ahead. "Because I always look straight ahead," the Englishman asserts. In Valenciennes, he's not the only one who doesn't want to dwell too much on the past year.

VALENCIENNES (10th) – CHÂTEAUROUX (16th), Friday, 7:30 p.m., Stade du Hainaut

[Patrick Bateman]

34 minutes ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

 

"When you don't speak the language, when you can't communicate, it's frustrating, but the hardest part is everyday life. Doing your shopping, going to the doctor, calling a number for Wi-Fi, everything is different. It's sometimes a heavy burden," says Derrick Abu.

 

Châteauneuf du Pape! Been there nearly a year, surely he's learnt some French!?!?