Valenciennes

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

https://www.lavoixdunord.fr/1732735/article/2026-08-29/ligue-3-il-manque-l-audace-valenciennes-et-un-vrai-grain-de-folie

Ligue 3: Valenciennes lacked daring—and a real touch of flair

Toothless, VA posed little threat to Concarneau this Saturday in a match devoid of life or spark (0-0). Pierre Blois’s men primarily needed to steady the ship following last week’s defeat against Paris 13; to their credit, they remained solid.

A few boos did drift down from the stands at the final whistle—nothing too harsh—but the supporters' section remained true to the stance it had adopted for its big return to the Stade du Hainaut (following the previous match against Bourg-en-Bresse). The order of the day is unconditional support for VAFC, even after a match notably lacking in moments of brilliance—to put it mildly. Truth be told, it was a thoroughly dull affair at the Stade du Hainaut, with neither side willing to take any risks.

"I prefer to see the glass as half-full"

Valenciennes, in particular, needed to regain some confidence after somehow managing to lose to Paris 13 despite enjoying 72% possession. "I prefer to see the glass as half-full," said Pierre Blois. "We picked up a point this Saturday, kept a clean sheet, and remain unbeaten at home." Training that week had focused primarily on these aspects: "being more solid, giving the opposition less space, and being sharper on second balls." Like model pupils well-briefed on the strengths of a Breton side now playing under the "Moulin method"—"I knew Stéphane would be waiting for us with his pacy forwards"—the "Red and Whites" were never really troubled, save perhaps for a header by Loïc Goujon that forced a save from Jean Louchet (58th minute).

It was something of a tit-for-tat moment, coming just two minutes after a free-kick from Thibault Maréchal had found Gaëtan Courtet’s head at the far post—though the effort went over the bar—sending a (slight) shiver down the spines of the Concarneau side. Otherwise, VA lacked the attacking initiative to cause any real alarm, save for a series of shots from Rayane Ekra—only one of which was on target. "In terms of attack, it’s not enough," admitted Pierre Blois, "but then again, Rome wasn't built in a day; it’s going to take time." The coach is also counting on the return of injured players and reinforcements from the transfer market to speed up the process. VA is back in action soon, with a match in Rouen this Thursday.

Pierre BLOIS and Stéphane MOULIN

VALENCIENNES – CONCARNEAU: 0-0.

Stade du Hainaut. 4,864 spectators.

Referee: Mr. Gazon.

Bookings: Passi (Valenciennes, 61st); Janno (Concarneau, 13th), Divialle-Corbière (Concarneau, 55th).

Valenciennes: Louchet; Abu, Passi (capt.), Zogba, Rocchia (Wahib, 87th); Rouaï, Maréchal; Amir (Lebouath, 78th), Marcel (Boiteau, 78th), Ekra (Lesueur, 87th); Courtet (Abi, 70th). Coach: Pierre Blois.

Concarneau: Viot; Halby-Touré, Seba, Divialle-Corbière, Etcheverria; Daou; Sidibé (Macon, 46th), Goujon (Gbelle, 90+4), Picouleau, Rosier (Mercier, 72nd); Janno (Varvat, 78th). Coach: Stéphane Moulin.

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello everyone.

First of all, congratulations on yesterday's win against Millwall.

A look back at yesterday's match:

Since I wasn't at the stadium, I can't give you my own opinion, but from the many reports I've heard, it was a dull game with few chances—resulting in a draw that seemed almost inevitable...

I hope the arrival of Issa Tounkara and the new striker next week will add some extra quality to the team.

Valenciennes' next match: An away game against FC Rouen on Thursday, September 3rd, at 8:45 PM (French time).

As for my comparison between Tonda and Pierre, I mainly made that point because both had been reserve team coaches before being promoted to the first team. 🙃

Have a great Sunday, everyone.

Allez Valenciennes, all the way! 😎

[ChristopheVAFC]

Quote

https://www.va-fc.com/articles/34640

Issa Tounkara joins VAFC on loan until the end of the season

A promising young talent from Malian football has just arrived in Valenciennes. The 18-year-old Issa Tounkara was loaned to VAFC this Monday by Southampton—a club also owned by the Sport Republic group—for the remainder of the season.

A defensive midfielder, the player came up through the ranks at the Malian academy *Etoiles du Mandé* before signing with Southampton last June. As captain of Mali’s U17 team, he reached the final of the U17 Africa Cup of Nations with his national side last season. A player with immense potential, Issa Tounkara now hopes to take the next step in his development while wearing the Valenciennes colors. Welcome to VA, Issa!

Issa Tounkara, VAFC’s new signing: "I came to Valenciennes to continue my development and give my all to help this great club in Ligue 3. I am a defensive midfielder who wins back a lot of possession and has good passing ability. I can't wait to get started in my new colors."

Jean-Christophe Cesto, VAFC Sporting Coordinator: "Issa is a player who was recruited by Southampton. However, as part of his development, the idea was to include an intermediate step at Valenciennes. Above all, his profile matches exactly what we were looking for: an aggressive defensive midfielder—a defensive anchor capable of bringing power and strength. That was the type of profile we were missing in the squad. We are very happy to bring him in, as he is a player with huge potential. We will play a part in his development so that he can help us perform well this season."

[Göztepe]

Friends from Valenciennes, what sort of player is Mohamed Kaba? Is he a number 6 or a number 8 who can carry the ball?

[ChristopheVAFC]

Hello my friend!

Here is what I can tell you about Mohamed Kaba:

His preferred position: Defensive midfielder / Central midfielder (Number 6 or 8)—he plays both roles!

Here is a summary the AI helped me put together (and it is generally spot-on):

He is an athletic, box-to-box midfielder capable of playing just in front of the defense to break up play or a notch higher to drive the transition forward.

Key Strengths

Work rate and physical impact: He has a tremendous capacity for repeated high-intensity efforts, winning duels, and recovering possession frequently.

Ball recovery: Excellent timing in tackles and interceptions; he effectively disrupts the opposition's lines immediately after losing possession.

Forward drive and ball-carrying: He doesn't just defend; he has the ability to break lines with the ball at his feet through powerful bursts of acceleration up the middle.

Maturity and leadership: Despite his youth during his time at VAFC, he quickly demonstrated great consistency and genuine tactical maturity.

Areas for improvement / Weaknesses

Discipline and commitment: His positive aggression in duels can sometimes lead to avoidable cards or fouls in dangerous areas.

Finishing and final action: While he makes good forward runs, there is still room for improvement regarding his final shot or the decisive pass needed to boost his stats.

Managing quiet spells: He could still learn to channel his intensity when the team is under pressure—settling the play down rather than constantly seeking physical impact.

My summary: he was a highly appreciated player here in Valenciennes who gave his all on the pitch, wasn't afraid of physical contact, was often well-positioned, and had good game vision; personally, I was never really worried when he was on the field.