•Squad list for Arras:

Gardiens: Letizi, Moreau
Défenseurs: Apam, Cid, Gace, Hognon, Jeunechamp, Rool
Milieux: Echouafni, Faé, Hellebuyck, Traoré
Attaquants: Bamogo, Ben Saada, Modeste, Mouloungui, Ozokwo, Quansah

Rémy, Kante, and Coulibaly all have injury problems and Adu is suspended (?!), but the rest of the absences are being rested or, in the case of Barul and Moussilou, cruelly ignored. Antonetti said earlier this week that Moreau could get the start if Letizi can’t go and, though the match is being taken seriously, it’s nevertheless thought that guys like Hognon, Cid, Traoré, Ben Saada and Modeste could all figured in the first XI.

•Though he returned to Nice not yet fully recovered from the injury he picked up last month, Rémy is due to start training again on Tuesday, and is expected to be in the squad when L1 resumes on the 10th. Woo hoo!

•Not surprisingly, Roger Ricort is denying that the club are interested in either Dindane (yes, him again) or Sablé, the former because he (still) costs too much, and the latter because, well, they just don’t want him.

•During the break, both Cyril #1 (who Google translate calls “the crustiest“) and Chouf talked to Nice-Matin about the season so far, and both of them, while pleased with the 30 points the team have amassed, pointed to the canceled Grenoble match as the thing that screwed everything up because it “broke our rhythm.” Cursed rain!

•In an interview with the official site, Antonetti also gave his take on the first half, praising the team’s ability to take points even when they don’t play their best, and being his usual, eminently reasonable self in bringing some perspective to how high Nice were flying about a month ago. (He, also, lists the cancellation of the Grenoble match as one of his regrets, along with the loss to Le Havre on the season’s opening weekend.)

•Ospina was voted Nice player of the month for December, because he is just that awesome.

Happy New Year, everybody. Hopefully next time we talk, it’ll be about advancing in the Coupe de France, and not about some sort of humiliating disaster.

•The Grenoble match will be played either a week from today or on the 17th of this month. The 10th was the league’s initial proposal, but Pierre Wantiez had a fit about Nice getting an extra day of rest, so it could be pushed back a week. (In response to the fit, Antonetti turned on the sarcasm and suggested that maybe a strike is in order, if only to ensure three full days of rest between matches. Oh, snap!)

•Out of concern for the proverbial “public safety,” the police have stepped in and forced the cancellation of the special train that was to take Nice supporters to the OM match. In light of past problems, one understands their concerns, but Nice’s security guy had a point when he suggested it’d be a lot easier for police to manage the supporters if they were all in one place, rather than arriving as they will now, via bus and car, at various times and locations.

•The official site has an interview with Chouf ahead of the match, in which he’s characteristically cautious, and also expresses some concern about the team going two weeks between games.

•Nice Premium ran a long interview with Maurice Cohen on Sunday, and even through the filter of Google translate, it’s well worth a read. Among other topics, he discusses the status of the club’s youth program, if there will be any winter signings, what’s up with Chouf’s and Letizi’s contracts, and how the defense will stand at this time next season. (He also reveals that Cyril #2 has a clause in his contract whereby it’s automatically extended if he reaches a designated number of appearances. That’s, like, flying car technology right there!)

•On the topic of signings, a couple different sources are reporting that Nice are tracking Monaco’s Camel Meriem. No idea of there’s any validity to the stories at all, though. Anyone?

•Via the OGC Nissa forums, here’s an Infosport feature on Nice from last week that includes some of the yelling at Habib! (among others) that I’m always talking about. It’s hilarious even to me, so I’m guessing people who actually understand French will enjoy it, as well.

•And, finally, I can’t find the original source, but one of the fan sites is reporting that Antonetti has officially announced the gloves are Ospina’s after Christmas. Nice. (Nahhhc, not Neece.) He also may end up playing against OM, depending on how Letizi’s feeling — the old man didn’t train at all yesterday.

ETA: The train to Marseille has been un-canceled.

Ability + vision + audacity + 10 pounds of muscle = legitimate future #10

I’ll have some sort of report up about the match tomorrow whether you like it or not but, until then, watch the above clip. Then, watch this one, which is even better, but is crappy when embedded. Next, sigh happily. Repeat as often as necessary.

When you’re done, take a minute to read this article about the newest of the blood at Fourth Place Nice, specifically new kids David Ospina and Abeiku Quansah. The Quansah quotes are particularly charming, he’s just overwhelmed that supporters not only know who he is, but also actually cheer for him.

Also, add Mouloungui (Gabon) and Fae (Ivory Coast) to the list of people on international duty this week. Fingers crosses no one come home from the friendies hurt.

And, finally, good news regarding to the Coupe de la Ligue quarterfinal against Le Havre: It’ll take place at the Ray. Huzzah!

Gardiens: Letizi, Ospina
Défenseurs: Apam, Cid, Diakité, Hognon, Kanté, Rool
Milieux: Coulibaly, Echouafni, Faé, Hellebuyck, Jeunechamp
Attaquants: Bamogo, Ben Saada, Modeste, Mouloungui, Quansah
Absents: Traoré, Rémy (blessés), Adu, Barul, Gace, Moreau, Moussilou, Ozokwo (choix de l’entraîneur)

Away from tomorrow’s squad, there were at least three articles about Emerse Faé in various French outlets yesterday. Did he hold an all-press conference call, or something? I guess, as a former Nantes player, he’s the obvious person to talk to as the media try in uselessly to generate neutral interest in the match — it was worth a try, anyway. Sadly for the press, Faé didn’t have anything controversial to say, though he nevertheless didn’t shy away from agreeing with the assertion that there are significant problems at Nantes, problems that were not solved by their brief stay in L2. (Not exactly an earth-shattering revelation.) As a kid at Nantes, because of the problems there, he thought constant “tension off the field” was the norm, which is among the saddest things I’ve ever heard. Happily, though, Nice is showing him otherwise, and he’s loving life on the Côte d’Azur, in no small part because he’s playing regularly after a year in the stands in England.

Doing their part in the build-up, Ouest France ran an interview with Antonetti, who assured them he’s “very much in Nice” and that his family loves the city so he’s not going anywhere. (Cross your fingers, everyone.) He also talks about the insane youth of his team — despite the ancient people who are central to Nice, 16 of the players on the roster are between 18 and 22 years old (GOOD GOD) — and assures the reporter the team can still improve in every area.

If I find a stream tomorrow, I’ll put it up. Otherwise, enjoy your minute-by-minute text updates, everyone!

ETA: Lots of streams here, and not just the TV-aimed-at-webcam kind.