Valenciennes

[FredVaFC59100]

7 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

 

From now on, after Ben's official departure, we won't be able to say it's his fault haha.

Correct, considering that all transfers were free players and on loan w/o buyout options, it indicates that he didn't have much money to play with. His replacement won't be able to perform miracles unless SR finally decides to break the bank.  

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 minutes ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

Correct, considering that all transfers were free players and on loan w/o buyout options, it indicates that he didn't have much money to play with. His replacement won't be able to perform miracles unless SR finally decides to break the bank.  

One blessing is that they didn't have a lot of the squad on longer contracts. Whether that's through self imposed limits, or league limits, at least they didn't get carried away there. There can be a major clear out, without too many baggage players.

One of the articles said VA's budget was quite substantial for the league, as it was. With the focus on "Frenchfying" it, perhaps they've seen that a cohesive, lower budget squad could work pit better than a team of strangers.

If SR can add a few definite stand outs, who could be playing above, then all the better. Attracting them is an ask though.

[ChristopheVAFC]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

One blessing is that they didn't have a lot of the squad on longer contracts. Whether that's through self imposed limits, or league limits, at least they didn't get carried away there. There can be a major clear out, without too many baggage players.

One of the articles said VA's budget was quite substantial for the league, as it was. With the focus on "Frenchfying" it, perhaps they've seen that a cohesive, lower budget squad could work pit better than a team of strangers.

If SR can add a few definite stand outs, who could be playing above, then all the better. Attracting them is an ask though.

It was one of the objectives following our descent into the 3ᵉ division last year to have fewer players under contract (35 players before / 26 this year).

No limits imposed here in France, but I think having a smaller squad allows us to work better and for all the players to be involved in the season too.

We had the biggest budget in the league and that doesn't make any difference in my opinion.

We have a bigger budget because we have the infrastructure and the way we operate (stadium, training centre, for example), which some clubs in our division don't have (e.g. Aubagne or Paris 13).

Once again, SR realised a little too late that the current system wasn't working and needs to change the way it works for next season, and indeed the idea is to put people who speak fluent French in key positions, which Ben wasn't doing.

It's going to be a busy summer for SR haha

[ChristopheVAFC]

It's the last home match of the season for Valenciennes, who host Nancy (recent champions and about to move up to Ligue 2).

No sporting stakes other than preparing for next season haha.

Kick-off 7.30pm French time and the match can be followed via the link below:

Allez VA! 

[Weston Super Saint]

I guess Ben is heading our way now that he has officially failed and been broken.

#thesouthamptonway

[Convict Colony]

7 hours ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

Correct, considering that all transfers were free players and on loan w/o buyout options, it indicates that he didn't have much money to play with. His replacement won't be able to perform miracles unless SR finally decides to break the bank.  

This is the thing i dont get really.

The ROI on investment giving you a good transfer budget for the league you are in will pay off next season, it is critical Valencienne be giving a large budget (say 5-7.5m as a guess) to sign players and give them wages better than they can get in Ligue 2 etc.

5-7m is hardly anything to SR given the money theyve wasted on players and the club is an asset so it they want to appreciate it they need to invest properly in the squad.

When we were in league 1 we were the real madrid of the league it was awesome, buying the best players in the league and players from the leauge above (fonte) who came for the wages we could offer along with potential.

 

[Convict Colony]

4 hours ago, ChristopheVAFC said:

It's the last home match of the season for Valenciennes, who host Nancy (recent champions and about to move up to Ligue 2).

No sporting stakes other than preparing for next season haha.

Kick-off 7.30pm French time and the match can be followed via the link below:

Allez VA! 

You think normal team or manager to try out some younger players ?

[ChristopheVAFC]

5 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

You think normal team or manager to try out some younger players ?

It's the right time for me, I think, to test players who haven't had much of a chance during the season. In any case, we need to start working now for the future.

[FredVaFC59100]

6 hours ago, Weston Super Saint said:

I guess Ben is heading our way now that he has officially failed and been broken.

#thesouthamptonway

enjoy!

[FredVaFC59100]

3 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

This is the thing i dont get really.

The ROI on investment giving you a good transfer budget for the league you are in will pay off next season, it is critical Valencienne be giving a large budget (say 5-7.5m as a guess) to sign players and give them wages better than they can get in Ligue 2 etc.

5-7m is hardly anything to SR given the money theyve wasted on players and the club is an asset so it they want to appreciate it they need to invest properly in the squad.

When we were in league 1 we were the real madrid of the league it was awesome, buying the best players in the league and players from the leauge above (fonte) who came for the wages we could offer along with potential.

 

We were sold a project where all would be centralized in SR headquarter for scouting, player analysis and all the good stuffs for efficiency and a more scientific approach to recruitment. B Chorley explained all that in his interview from April 2024.

Now that this has failed,  we are doing a 180 degree turn around  to the old way, with frenchyfying the club, local scouting and sporting director; It remains to be seen how Spors is going to glue everything together for a cohesive approach for SR long term.

Why does Rasmus still have a job ?

[Holmes_and_Watson]

49 minutes ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

We were sold a project where all would be centralized in SR headquarter for scouting, player analysis and all the good stuffs for efficiency and a more scientific approach to recruitment. B Chorley explained all that in his interview from April 2024.

Now that this has failed,  we are doing a 180 degree turn around  to the old way, with frenchyfying the club, local scouting and sporting director; It remains to be seen how Spors is going to glue everything together for a cohesive approach for SR long term.

Why does Rasmus still have a job ?

Our Turkish colleagues have done well, and he's apparently more involved there now (last refuge)

He has money in it, so his involvement may be linked with that.

SR considered him to be "Mr Football" which says a lot about their grasp of things.

Despite the local focus, I'd imagine there would still be shared data services and links. SR just have to find some best practice in anything, before sharing it. 🙂

[Weston Super Saint]

2 hours ago, FredVaFC59100 said:

enjoy!

Bâtard

[Holmes_and_Watson]

VA keeper makes an excellent double save from a penalty. Nancy's third effort goes in. 'keeper high kicks post in sheer frustration, possibly wondering why none of his team mates could get it clear.

0-1

[Holmes_and_Watson]

A couple of mins later, it's an unpressured cross to a very unpressured header and VA are 2 down.

There wasn't much quality in the opening 15. But VA tried to get forward and had a couple of decent opportunities from corners.

Let's see how much fight is left.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Occasions on each flank, where there's space to cross, and bodies in good positions in the middle. Instead, the ball is stopped, and the player waits to try an intricate pass that gets promptly intercepted. Very frustrating.

VA get one back from a free kick, that their keeper looks to have been able to do a lot better with.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Nice finish for VA equaliser. Nancy expecting it to come in, as VA had looked decent in previous ones. Instead it comes out, a nice cut in to get the angle and a shot from range.

All square.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

All square at half time. VA just about the better side. Didn't get a good view of the pen, but the player had to go out of his way to concede it. Both sides leaving some space on the flanks to get behind. VA were caught a little forward when they conceded from this. There was a second not long before the break, Nancy did nothing with.

VA had a nice cut back before the break, but sadly no AA to put it in. A second chance near their keeper towards the interval could have gone better too.

Both sides will be thinking they can win this.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

A slow start to the second half.

Those gaps at full back came into it again. A nice cut in and shot at an angle lobbed over the VA keeper for Nancy's third.

VA offered nothing in response. On around 62, a better chip into the middle would have had 2 Nancy players lined up to make it 4.

10 mins later, it was 4. VA's defence slow in tracking back, slow to close down and slow to put in any block. VA keeper once again a frustrated figure.

VA got a third around 80, with a nice turn and shot in the middle.

Other than a shot across the face of goal towards a well marked player at the back post,that was it.

VA didn't create enough to get close to compensating for conceding so many. It did look as though there were some fringe players coming on, without names on their shirts.

Far from a classic game. Not too many good moves or passages of players. Yet 7 goals and more VAcdisapointment.

[disconnect]

How was Daouda Traoré?

[SuperSAINT]

24 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

A slow start to the second half.

Those gaps at full back came into it again. A nice cut in and shot at an angle lobbed over the VA keeper for Nancy's third.

VA offered nothing in response. On around 62, a better chip into the middle would have had 2 Nancy players lined up to make it 4.

10 mins later, it was 4. VA's defence slow in tracking back, slow to close down and slow to put in any block. VA keeper once again a frustrated figure.

VA got a third around 80, with a nice turn and shot in the middle.

Other than a shot across the face of goal towards a well marked player at the back post,that was it.

VA didn't create enough to get close to compensating for conceding so many. It did look as though there were some fringe players coming on, without names on their shirts.

Far from a classic game. Not too many good moves or passages of players. Yet 7 goals and more VAcdisapointment.

Nice write up. Thanks for these.

PS - I blame Ben Chorley  

[Holmes_and_Watson]

22 minutes ago, disconnect said:

How was Daouda Traoré?

Came on with 8 mins to go. So not much chance to see much. As a team VA didn't do much in that period, so nothing that stood out for him.