Not Quite the Start They Wanted
By: Martha | July 11th, 2008
We’ll never get too much more information about the match, which is probably for the best, but Nice lost to a UNFP team in Vichy today 5-1. OUCH. Bamogo opened the scoring early, but from that point on it was all UNFP — they led 3-1 at half, and compounded the humiliation by scoring twice in injury time at the end of the match. Man, that’s just cruel!
According to the Nice website, Antonetti played two totally different teams, starting with a lineup that could conceivably be close to what he’s left with during the Olympics, then putting out an entirely second-string side in the second half.
1st half:
Letizi
Jeunechamp-Hognon-Cid-Rool
Echouafni-Fae-Hellebuyck
Rémy-Modeste-Bamogo
2nd half:
Moreau
Faviana-Yahia-Gace-Berthommier
Coulibaly-Pastor-Asamoah
Ozokwo-Moussilou-Job
Fae’s only been at training for four days; interesting that he was thrown in with the first group. None of the trialists played (even though I’ve read a few good things about how Rodrigo Galante, the 19-year-old Argentine mid, is training), but all the non-keeper youth players — Favina, Berthommier and Pastor — played the whole second half.
As far as I’m concerned, there’s no point in lamenting or trying to analyze the result since we’ll never find out anything about what went on — obviously, the scoreline is sort of pathetic and sad, but what’re you gonna do? It’s preseason, so there’s a lot more going on — trying to get fit and fighting exhaustion, among other things — than trying to win matches. (She said hopefully.)
The team fly home tonight; all the missing players — including Baky, who confirmed today that he’ll show up — will join them on Monday morning.
For the purposes of good cheer, I’ll put a few pictures from this week in Vichy after the jump.
Antonetti wearing shorts is among the most awesome things ever.
Newbie v Newbie
Skillz.
(Galante, the Argie trialist.)
(Berthommier, who’s got a bunch of youth caps for France — what is he now, 18? 19?)
[The whole gallery is here.]
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Comments
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I wouldn’t be angry with this result. The fact that Antonetti brought out two different lineups in each half shows he was just watching how the players looked (not playing competitive football in a month and a half than coming back and playing can be tough) than worrying about the scoreline.
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I see Loic, I SEE LOIC!!!
It’s always good to experiment during the friendly stage and NOT during the season. I just hope Rémy is part of his plans. He better be.Posted from
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Oh Martha, it’s dissapointing to see you here =[
I know nothing of French footy, and don’t follow it in the least, so I can’t creep here! Should have taken up a Serie A team blog, or revived the dying Serie A blog.
Either way, it’s nice (ha) to see you around here.Posted from
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Yeah, that’s how I’m trying to look at it, too, Jao. Plus, Nice are basically still trying to get fit, whereas the guys they were playing are desperate for jobs and probably played it like a cup final. (That said, though, you’d hope the Nice guys were trying to impress their coach, too, and the “first team” did give up three goals … ) Like I said, it’s impossible to judge without seeing the match — we don’t even know what Anotonetti wanted from the match, whether he was playing with possession, or tactics, or whatever.
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Hi Mele! Sorry you can’t hang around — I’m sure the Serie A blog is in good hands, I just don’t have to time to research and write about a whole league anymore.
I’m hoping this one team will not take over my life like the Serie A site did …And Jen, he’s definitely part of the plans! He’ll start no matter what Baky does, and no matter who else comes in — don’t you worry.
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i’d like to know what you really think of Antonetti, Martha. i’m sure your opinion will come out over time, but i wonder if you think he is the right man to take Nice forward…
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Richard, I won’t claim to be informed enough to make that decision yet — I’ve not been following Nice long enough to judge. Right now, though, I like him. I like his personality, and his frankness, and think he did really well last season dealing with big departures, and putting a team together out of such disparate ages, experience, and ability.
You comment suggests you’re not a fan — what do you think of him? I’d love to hear your opinion.
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