Conference trucks::football;1

                                              
    	Monsieur Le Moderateur,
    
    	Any chance of copying the topics in the old notes file for
    	the french league 91-92 into this one?
    
    	I am curious about PSG, cuz Artur Jorge is a damn good coach
    	whose teams play effective soccer (not as boring as Ivic's),
        but effective according to their talent and make-up.
    
    	Another question: why did Beckenbauer and now Goethals move
    	upstairs? And why signing Ivic to a team as entertaining in
    	the past as it was? And why so many foerign coaches being
    	signed? I gues sI lost my head and asked more than one question
    	but we need some life here!
    
    	Tony

    Anybody got the scores from the weekend. I'm in Holland now and we
    don't get L'Equipe here.
    
    Tony

    I can't remember all scores but I'll do what I can
    
    Paris SG 2	0 Monaco
    Metz beat Saint Etienne (1:0 ?)
    Sochaux 1 : 0 Auxerre
    Caen 1 : 3 Marseille
    Toulon 4 : 0 Le Havre
    Rennes beat Nancy (2:0 ?)
    Nantes drew 1-1 (Was it Cannes?)
    Montpellier won
    I think that Lens drew
    I can't remember anything about Lille, Toulouse, Lyon and Nimes

OK then, from an English paper:

Metz 1		St Etienne 0
Nimes 0		Nantes 0
Lille 1		Montpellier 0
Toulouse 1	Lens 1
Lyon 0		Cannes 0
Rennes 3	Nancy 1

grahame

    I was in vacation-
    
    Metz, Monaco and Marseille tied for the lead after 6 games.
    
    Weah and Papin have scored 6 goals already.
    
    Monaco started the season very strong with 5 victories but fumbled in
    Paris who seemed to have strengthened under Artur Jorge's management.
    Paris bought Brazilian star Valdo off Benfica a week ago. He made his
    debut against Monaco. Monaco had their sweeper sent off after 10
    minutes so maybe it's the explanation for the defeat.
    
    Marseille are gathering momentum steadily. Their plan is to be strong
    in October and November when the Euro business starts picking up. They
    bought Trevor Steven of Glasgow Rangers for the meagre sum of 45
    million francs. He will play alongside Pel�, Papin and Waddle.
    
    Lyon, as usual, are incapable of scoring goals and most of their games
    end with 0-0 or 1-1, home or away.
    
    Rennes is recovering from their first 4 defeats with a draw and a win.
    I know millions will be relieved. (For Juanjo) Baltazar has scored 3
    goals for Rennes. Looks like a good buy.
    
    I will try to keep you updated. 
    
    JF

    Hi JF!
    
    Glado to see that old Baltazar still scores goals over there...
    
    

    Hi, JF
    
    After reading carefully your reply in the "introduce yourself" note
    (and especially your list of favourite players) I've come to the
    conclusion that you have no other choice than supporting ASM now there
    you are in sunny Valbonne :-)))
    
    BTW, glad to see that Rennes is recovering
    
    Philippe

    hum...
    
    No choice, no choice... what I would like to see is a domestic
    transfer of Stade Rennais to the Cote d'Azur and the transfer of Sir
    George and Yussuf to my favourite team.
    
    I went to see Monaco-Rennes and I felt, once again, that ASM does not
    have any firm ground to tread upon. To me, they're just a team of
    people assembled by the mere will of powerful sponsors. They do not
    represent a region, there is no local feeling.
    
    It must be said that access to the Stade Louis II is terrible. It's
    either the highway and then the long and winding Turbie corniche or the
    lower corniche which forces you to drive through Nice. Took us 2 hours
    to get back from Monaco! In Paris it was a 10 minute drive...
    
    Allez Antibes.
    JF

    Coucou me revoilou!
    
    9th round of the League
    
    Monaco-Toulon 3:0
    Weah,
    Puel,
    Mendy
    
    Marseille-Toulouse 2:0
    Xuereb,
    Trevor Steven
    
    Nantes-St.Etienne 1:0
    Ferri
    
    Lyon-Paris SG 0:1
         Bravo
    
    Auxerre-Lens 1:0
    Dutuel
    
    Le Havre-Metz
    
    Lille-Sochaux 0:0
    
    Montpellier-Caen 3:1
    Rio (og)    G�rter
    Der Zakarian
    Gu�rin (pen)
    
    Nancy-N�mes 2:3
    S�chet Meilhac
           Vercruysse
           El Ouali
    
    Cannes-Rennes 3:1
    Sassus    Denis
    Langers
    Asanovic
    
    
    Standings after 9 rounds
    ------------------------
    
    St.	Team			GD	Pts.
    ----------------------------------------
    1. Monaco			+14	16
    2. Marseille		+9	14
    3. Nantes			+6	12
    4. Paris			+4	12
    5. Auxerre			+5	11
    6. Metz			+4	11
    7. Lille			+2	11
    8. Le Havre			-2	10
    9. Lens                      0	 9
    10. Caen			-2	 9
    11. Saint-Etienne           +2	 8
    12. Montpellier		-2	 8
    13. N�mes			-5	 8
    14. Cannes			 0	 7
    15. Sochaux			-4	 7
    16. Toulouse		-8	 7
    17. Lyon			-3	 6
    18. Toulon			-5	 5
    19. Rennes			-5	 5
    20. Nancy			-9	 4
    
    
    Leading scorers:
    ---------------
    1. Sir George Weah (Monaco)  10 goals
    2. JP Papin (Marseille)       7 goals
    3. Calderaro (Metz)	          6 goals
    
    
    Leading passers:
    ---------------
    1. Rui Barros (Monaco)	5 passes for goal
    2. Weah (Monaco)		4
    3. Asanovic (Cannes),
       L. Delamontagne (Rennes) 3
    5. Fofana, Waddle, 
       Brnovic, Zitelli,
       Haon, Pavon      	2
    
    
    Fair-play trophy
    ----------------
    
    Based on penalty points for each yeloow and red card:
    
    1. Auxerre
    .
    .
    .
    20. Cannes
    
    
    
    
    
    Next round:
    -----------
    
    Thursday 12 September: Metz-Auxerre
    			   St.Etienne-Monaco
    Friday 13 September:  Paris SG-Lille (Live on Canal+)
    Saturday 14 September: Sochaux-Marseille
                           Lens-Nantes
    			   Caen-Nancy
    			   Toulouse-Montpellier
    			   N�mes-Le Havre
    			   Toulon-Cannes
    			   Rennes-Lyon
    
    
    
    Cheers
    JF

    10th round
    
    Sochaux-Marseille     2:3 
    St Etienne-Monaco     0:1 
    Paris SG-Lille        2:0
    Metz-Auxerre          2:1
    Lens-Nantes           0:0
    Toulon-Cannes         4:3
    Caen-Nancy            5:1
    Rennes-Lyon           0:2
    Toulouse-Montpellier  1:1
    N�mes-Le Havre        1:0
    
    
     Standings:              
    
    1. Monaco		18
    2. Marseille	16
    3. Paris		14
    .
    .
    .
    18. Sochaux
    19. Rennes
    20. Nancy
    
    Leading strikers
    ----------------
    
    1. Sir George Weah	11
    2. JP Papin          7
       Cald�raro         7
       Paille            7

    Just to inform our English friends that Trevor Steven is settling down
    quite nicely in Marseille. Quick, sharp, available, accurate.
    
    And Chris his old self: you can now see him dancing his way past his
    opponent. He did that at Sochaux: for a full 30 seconds he jerked and
    pranced before dribbling and delivering an excellent cross.
    
    He is truly magic. All the things he does for Marseille he would never
    do for England though.
    
    Can't wait for Monaco-Marseille (soon) with the great Papin-Weah,
    Waddle-Djorkaeff, Pel�-Fofana oppositions. Alas, both goalies are
    ridiculous prats.
    
    �JF?

    12th round
    
    Auxerre-Marseille		1:1
    Caen-Monaco			1:0
    Rennes-Paris SG		0:0
    Toulon-Lille		1:2
    Metz-Cannes			1:2
    Sochaux-Nantes		3:1
    St. Etienne-Nancy		3:0
    N�mes-Lyon			2:1
    Lens-Montpellier		1:1
    Toulouse-Le Havre		0:0
    
    Standings:
    
    1. Monaco		19 Pts
    2. Marseille	18
    3. Paris SG		17
    4. Nantes		15
    5. Lille		14
    6. Metz		13
    7. Caen		13
    8. Le Havre		13
    9. N�mes		13
   10. Auxerre		12
   11. Lens		12
   12. Montpellier	12
   13. Cannes		11
   14. St. Etienne	10
   15. Toulouse		10
   16. Lyon		 9
   17. Sochaux		 9
   18. Toulon            8
   19. Rennes            7
   20. Nancy             5
    
    Leading scorers:
    
    1. George Weah (Monaco)	12 goals
    2. JP Papin (Marseille)	 9
    3. Cald�raro (Metz)		 8
    
    
    Ciao,
    �JF?

    Television coverage for Euro Cups:
    
    Tuesday:
    4:50 - La Cinq: Torpedo Moscow-Halle
    8:45 - TF1: Monaco-Swansea
    
    Wednesday:
    7 - Canal+: Marseille-Us Luxembourg
    8:45 - Canal+: Auxerre-Ikast
    10:30 - La Cinq: Inter Milan-Boavista (to be confirmed)
    0:20 - TF1: Excerpts from Inter-Boavista and Z�rich-Anderlecht
    
    Thursday:
    5:30 - TF1: V�xj�-Lyon
    8:45 - TF1: Cannes-Salgueiros
    
    Apparently, TF1 bought the rights for Inter-Boavista so that La Cinq
    would not show it. It's TV warfare. And TF1 will only show excerpts.
    
    The interesting games are those on Thursday.
    
    �JF?

    Cannes-Sochaux	3:1
    Lyon-St.Etienne	0:0
    Marseille-Nantes	4:0
    Rennes-Caen		1:0
    Nancy-Lens		3:1
    Lille-Metz		0:2
    Le Havre-Auxerre	1:0
    Monaco-Toulouse	0:2
    Paris SG-Toulon	2:3
    Montpellier-N�mes	0:0
    
    
    Standings:
    
    1. Marseille	20 Pts
    2. Monaco		19
    3. Paris SG		17
    4. Metz		15
    5. Nantes		15
    6. Le Havre		15
    7. Lille		14
    8. N�mes		14
    9. Caen		13
   10. Cannes		13
   11. Montpellier	13
   12. Auxerre		12
   13. Lens		12
   14. Toulouse		12
   15. St. Etienne	11
   16. Lyon		10
   17. Toulon           10
   18. Sochaux		 9
   19. Rennes            9
   20. Nancy             7
    
    Leading scorers:
    
    1. George Weah (Monaco)	12 goals   [..]
    2. JP Papin (Marseille)	11         [+2]
    3. Cald�raro (Metz)		 8         [..]
    
    
    Shock victories, Toulouse at Monaco and Toulon in Paris cleared the way
    for Marseille to take the lead with a clean victory over Nantes and two
    more Papin goals.
    
    No League games this week as the National side prepares to fight Espa�a
    for what could be the real clincher for Sweden, next Saturday at 20:40
    live on TF1.

    Metz-Monaco		2:0
    Toulouse:Cannes	2:0

    OGC Nice is dead -
    
    Long live OGC Nice-C�te d'Azur!
    
    After a very long legal and political battle, Mr. Bois, a local
    businessman with a good record as president of a small town club
    (Vence), with support from the Town Hall and other partners, was
    validated by the courts to take over the club.
    
    Jean-Marc Guillou, former Nice player, will take over as executive
    director. His first requirement was to be on the payroll. No more
    benevolent charity work, this is real business.
    
    Each month he will have to produce a financial report. The City Hall
    will control the club tightly.
    
    Hope is rising again in the 5th largest city in France. For the time
    being, the club is struggling in Division II. Major changes not
    expected before the end of the season.
    
    Allez les Aiglons.
    
    �JF?
                                  

    
    	Thanks very much, JF !
    
        I am glad to see somebody still bother to olde OGCN !
        Yes, the Club will survive, with a small budget though. 
        Hopes: OGCN Cote D'Azur (Are Cannes happy with this ?) 
         * To keep the same shirt colors (read/black vert. stripes)
         * To keep the players they still have 
           (Mazzuchetti sollicited by Lile, Roy by Cannes)
         * To be allowed to hire players (Elsner...)
         * To participate in the 'barrages' (10 % chances)
         * To have a good sponsor (Tapie like ?) next year.
    
       Cheers 
       PYV  
    
       P.S. (Nice was injustly sent to Div II, but replaced by a nice 
             team. Allez Rennes !)
        Last result:   Nice - Geugnon  4:1    Not bad
    
         

    Nice could get an obvious sponsor, the Tourist people. Anything which
    promotes La C�te d'Azur is good for tourism so a good Nice team is a
    way of erasing the scandals and the bad image we've had recently.
    
    A mixture of Casino, city, department (county), region, Local tourist
    board and industry money should be enough to keep the club going.
    
    Cheers
    �JF?

    Results from tyhe weekend anyone?
    
    Thanks,
    JC

    Montpellier - Auxerre	1-1
    Monaco - Lens		0-0
    Cannes - Saint Etienne	0-2
    Lyon - Toulouse		1-0
    Lille - Caen 		1-2
    Paris SG-Nimes		2-0
    Rennes-Metz			3-1
    Toulon-Sochaux		2-0
    Le Havre - Marseille	0-2
    Nancy-Nantes		3-1
    

    Latest news :
    
    Ivic, Marseille trainer has been "released" from his job for a period
    of 2 weeks.
    The official reason is to allow him to go to Croatia because he has no
    news from his familly.

    Nimes - Rennes		1-2
    Sochaux - Paris SG		0-2
    Toulouse - Lille		1-0
    Saint-Etienne - Montpellier	1-1
    Lens - Cannes		1-1
    Auxerre - Monaco		1-1
    Nantes - Le Havre		0-0
    Marseille - Nancy		4-0
    Caen - Toulon		4-1
    Metz - Lyon			1-1	-> May be to be replayed because
    					   the referee gave 2 yellow cards
    					   to a player forgetting the second
    					   should have being a red.

    Saint-Cloud.
    
    The standings look like this:
    
    1. Marseille		24 pts
    2. Monaco			21
       Paris SG			21
    4. Caen			19
    .
    .
    .
    17. Lyon			13
        Rennes			13
    19. Sochaux			11
    20. Nancy			 9
    
    Leading scorers:
    ---------------
    
    1. Sir George Weah (Monaco)	13
    2. J-P Papin (O. Marseille) 12
    
    
    Interesting to note that during the Marseille-Nancy game the goals were
    scored by Waddle, Papin, Steven and Pel�.
    
    Also note the first away victory for Rennes.
    
    In Division II, the most important fact is Nice's home victory (1:0) over
    Perpignang.
    
    This Wednesday, our 5 European clubs will try to qualify. Should be OK
    for Marseille (3:2 over Pragua), Auxerre (2:0 over L'pool) and Monaco
    (2:1 away Nork�pping) but mission impossible for Cannes and
    Lyon, beaten 0:1 and 3:4 at home, respectively.
    
    Predictions:
    
    Pragua-Marseille 1:3  (3:6 agg.)
    L'pool-Auxerre   2:1  (2:3 agg.)
    Monaco-N'pping   5:1  (7:2 agg.)
    Moscow-Cannes    3:2  (4:2 agg.)
    T'sponsor-Lyon   2:2  (6:5 agg.)
    
    �JF?
    
    PS/ Merci Thierry.
                    

    Marseille-Monaco 	1:1
    St. Etienne-Paris SG 3:0
    Metz-Toulon		4:1
    Sochaux-Nancy	2:2
    Auxerre-Lyon	3:0
    Lens-Lille		0:0
    Le Havre-Montpellier 3:1
    Toulouse-Rennes	2:0
    Nantes-Cannes	1:0
    N�mes-Caen	ppn Sunday
    
    Standings:
    
    1. Marseille	26
    2. Monaco		24
    3. Paris SG		22
    4. Caen		21
    5. Le havre		21
    .
    .
    .
    16. Cannes		15
    17. Rennes		15
    18. Lyon		14
    19. Sochaux		12
    20. Nancy		10
    
    Leading Scorers:
    
    George Weah (Monaco)	13
    J-P Papin (Marseille)	12
    Cald�raro (Metz)		12 (+2)
    

    N�mes-Caen	0-1
    
    Standings:
    
        1. Marseille        26
        2. Monaco           24
        3. Caen             23
        4. Paris SG         22
        5. Le havre         21
    
    	.
    	.
    	.

    Last result:
    
    N�mes-Caen   0:1
    
    Updated table:
    
    1. Marseille	26
    2. Monaco		24
    3. Caen		23  
    4. Paris SG		22
    5. Le havre		21
    .
    .
    .
    16. Cannes		15
    17. Rennes		15
    18. Lyon		14
    19. Sochaux		12
    20. Nancy		10
    
    This Wednesday evening, France-Iceland in Paris, a chance for France to
    become the first team in history to have qualified for the Euro
    Championships with a grand slam of 8 victories in 8 games. With Papin
    out (2 yellow cards) the line-up will be:
    
    				MARTINI
    AMOROS		BOLI		BLANC		CASONI
    	ANGLOMA	 		DESCHAMPS	P�REZ
    		CANTONA		SIMBA		VAHIRUA
    
    Subs: Cocard, Durand etc.
    
    "Live" on TF1 at 8:50 pm
    

    
    	The league discipline committee has decided that the match 
    
        ST ETIENNE - MARSEILLE (1-0) will be replayed.
        Reason: Papin was injured (or said injured) by a beer can while
                exiting the bus, and did not play the match which was
                eventually lost by Marseilles
    
        Very bad new for Monaco.
    
        Pierre-Yves
        

    Re-1: In any case he did not play the game and the doctor who first
    examined him declared that he suffered from a slight concussion.
    
    We are now half-way through the season with 19 games played.
    
    Results:
    
    Cannes-Marseille		1:2
    Monaco-Le Havre		0:2
    Montpellier-Nice		2:0
    Lyon-Nantes			0:1
    Lille-Auxerre		1:0
    Paris SG-Lens		1:0
    Rennes-St. Etienne		1:0
    Toulon-Toulouse		1:0
    Caen-Sochaux		1:1
    Metz-N�mes			4:0
    
    Standings:
    
    1. Marseille		28 Pts.
    2. Monaco			24
       Caen			24
       Paris SG	       		24
    5. Le Havre			23
    6. Metz			22
    7. Nantes			21
    8. St. Etienne		19
       Auxerre			19
       Montpellier		19
       Lille			19
       Toulouse			19
    13. Toulon			18
    14. Lens			17
    15. Rennes			16
        N�mes			16
    17. Cannes			15
    18. Lyon			14
    19. Sochaux			13
    20. Nancy			10
    
    Reminder: Win: 2 pts, draw: 1 pt.
    
    Goal scorers:
    
    1. Weah (Monaco)	 13 goals
    2. Papin (Marseille) 13*
    
    * Papin also scored on penalties (4 or 5).
    
    In Division II, Angers and Bordeaux lead their groups, respectively.
    Nice drew 1:1 at Istres and is now in 5th place. Things are looking
    better for the "new" club.
    
    �JF?
                              

    Forgot to mention that I went to see Cannes-Marseille. Marseille is
    really one step beyond and Waddle is magic, no other word. Great show
    byt eh Geordie again. Steven his old self, not very spectacular but
    efficient. Papin scored another of his Big Bertha goals and Pel� was
    everywhere.
    
    No comments on Cannes is the best I can do for that c**p team.
    
    �JF?

    	JF,
    
    	Just a correction about a little mistake on the results:
    I would have been delighted if Nice was still playing in Div. 1
    Unfortunately Nimes was playing versus Montpellier instead of Nice.
    
    Allez Rennes
    
    Pierre-Yves

    Thank you Pierre-Yves. Must have been a Freudian mistake. How I would
    love to see Nice-Rennes in Stade du Ray. I've been to so many
    Rennes-Nice and I enjoyed the trashing the Azur�ens used to suffer
    (Poor Baratelli - Never an enjoyable trip for him!).
    
    Nice will be back next year - Cannes will be relegated, no doubt. I can
    see relegation playoffs and Nice beating the c**p out of Cannes in
    front of a delighted capacity crowd. I will be there.
    
    Latest rumour: Papin to Napoli! The transfer fee would be gigantic! He
    would then join fellow countryman Laurent Blanc. By the way the latter
    distinguished himself the other day. He first brought down a Roma guy
    for a penalty and then scored for Napoli. Great reaction.
    
    James Debbah who comes in for the injured Weah in Monaco is making
    waves. He scored 2 goals the other day at Nancy. He is so quick he
    outpaces Fofana, according to pundit Ken Merrick. Of course, Fofana is
    getting old (close to 22 now). I can imagine the Monaco attack:
    
    			RUI BARROS	DJORKAEFF
               DEBBAH	     WEAH           FOFANA
    
    The most lethal line-up I can think of in the world today.
    
    We have coined a new acronym: TGG = The Great George. I am thinking of
    having a George Weah fan club, the greatest striker on earth today.
    
    �JF McWeah?
                                                         

    Montpellier-Lyon		3-0
    Monaco-Cannes		3-1
    Toulouse-Metz		1-0
    St. Etienne-Sochaux		2-1
    Lens-N�mes			0-0
    Auxerre-Caen		5-1
    Nantes-Toulon		1-2
    Marseille-Rennes		5-1
    Le Havre-Paris SG		1-1
    Nancy-Lille			1-2
    
    Standings:
    ---------
    
    1. Marseille		34 Pts.
    2. Monaco			29
    3. Paris SG			27
    4. Caen			27
    5. Le Havre			26
    .
    .
    .
    17. Rennes			17
    18. Cannes			16
    19. Sochaux			15
    20. Nancy			10
    
    Salient items:
    -------------
    
    J-P Papin scored 3 as Marseille routed Rennes.
    George Weah scored 1 and Cannes continues to slip.
    Auxerre back on the right track. Wingers, crosses, academical football.
    Lyon in the pits.
    
    Leading scorers:
    ---------------
    
    1. J-P Papin 	16 goals
    2. George Weah	14
    
    
    Next Tuesday, Paris SG-Marseille in Paris and a capacity crowd of
    48,500. Guess it's live for the lucky buggers tuned to Canal+.
    
    Marseille has loaned Alen Bokcis to Cannes. He was Hadjuk Split's
    center forward, pre-bought by Marseille in view of next season to
    replace Papin if the latter really leaves Marseille.
    
    Cantona made the news again. He was banned 8 games after throwing the
    ball to the referee. Actually, he was banned 4 games but he verbally
    abused his judges and got 4 games more. The next day, he declared that
    he was retiring from football. The football community is begging him to
    reconsider his decision, in particular his manager and Michel Platini
    who thinks he has a great opportunity to prove his international value
    in Sweden next June.
    
    My bet is that he will come back once again.
    
    �JF?

    Deduct 7 games from the suspension and he'll be back next week.
           
    BTW, Isn't 4 games for throwing the ball at the referee a bit too much?
    Geee. People get alot less punishment for worse blunders.
    
    
    JC
      
    

    You don't know him, JC.
    
    He also punched somebody's face (Kastendeuch) in the corridor to the
    changing rooms. But that incident was hushed by the punched guy.
    
    But you're right. The ban was a wee bit too much. All I hope is that he
    will reconsider his retirement and score a hat-trick in Stockholm next
    July, one a header, one a left-foot volley and one a overhead volley.
    
    �JF?

    Bad luck, Cantona confirmed his retirement.

    
    I find that unbelievably ridiculous. Isn't this guy quite young
    (25-ish?)? He sure is taking this ban like a man, eh ?
    
    More seriously, if the severity of the ban was an attempt by the French
    authorities to bring about greater respect for match officials, then it is
    quite right and long overdue in my opinion. Refereeing is a hard job
    wherever you go, but some of the behaviour I've seen from french
    players towards refs has been disgraceful - they really do intimidate
    the ref, verbally and physically. The refs out here should be on
    danger-money !!  :-)
    
    AJ.

    
    Are there any news about Baltazar and Shala, the 
    players of Rennes "dooped" by an orange juice before
    the match with Marseille?
     

    Results from 21 Dec -
    
    	Nantes	      3-2     Nimes
    	Auxerre       4-0     Sochaux
    	Lens          4-0     Toulouse
    	Cannes        0-0     Lyon
    	Montpellier   0-0     Lille
        Monaco        1-0     Paris St Germain
        Nancy         1-1     Rennes
        Le Harve      3-0     Toulon
        Marseille     5-0     Caen
        St Etienne    2-0     Metz
    
 
        Table
                              P   W   D   L    F   A  Pts   Diff
        1. Marseille         23  13   9   1   43  13   35    +30
        2. Monaco            24  13   5   6   34  21   31    +13
        3. Le Harve          24  10  10   4   22  14   30    + 8
        4. Paris S G         24   8  12   4   24  17   28    + 7
           Caen              24  11   6   7   31  30   28    + 1
        6. Auxerre           24   9   9   6   35  19   27    +16
           Montpellier       24   8  11   5   27  21   27    + 6
           Nantes            24  10   7   7   24  22   27    + 2
        9. Lille             24   8   9   7   16  16   25      0
       10. St Etienne        23   8   8   7   27  18   24    + 9
           Metz              23  10   4   9   32  26   24    + 6
           Lens              24   5  14   5   19  18   24    + 1
       13. Toulouse          24   7   9   8   19  26   23    - 7
       14. Nimes             24   6   9   9   20  35   21    -15
       15. Lyon              24   5  10   9   15  21   20    - 6
           Toulon            24   9   2  13   29  37   20    - 8
       17. Cannes            24   5   8  11   22  30   18    - 8
           Rennes            24   5   8  11   18  30   18    -12
       19. Sochaux           24   4   7  13   21  37   15    -16
       20. Nancy             23   3   5  15   23  50   11    -27
    
    
       The league now takes its mid-season break, back on 18th January.

    We are still hibernating. League resumes on the 18th.
    
    Jean-Pierre Papin will not go to Milan AC next season. Club officials
    declared they already had 5 foreigners: the 3 Dutch plus Boban and
    Savicevic. Papin is rumoured to move to Juventus or even Naples.
    Juventus the most likely candidate. Turin is not too far from France
    and they love the French ever since Platini set foot on their soil a
    few years ago. He will be christened "Papini" I suppose.
    
    Not much happening although I would not know I usually don't buy the
    rags during winter break. Only 14 games to go and Marseille are clear
    favourites although Monaco entertains an outside hope as they will play
    Marseille in Monaco and could then reduce the lead to 2 points. On the
    other hand, as the Mon�gasques are still in the Cup Winners Cup they
    would love to win, to make sure they are the first French side to win a
    European tropy (better than Marseille eh eh), their minds are set to
    Europe.
    
    Fight to avoid relegation will be fierce, with as much as 12 clubs
    still involved, with Nancy, Sochaux, Rennes, Cannes, Toulon, Lyon and
    N�mes the most likely candidates.
    
    Happy new Papin year
    �JF?

    Play resumes this weekend, with Marseille away at N�mes, who are
    fighting to avoid relegation, missing Cantona who is still the youngest
    retired footballer of the earth at age 26.
    
    �JF?

    Sorry, no time etc.
    
    Marseille lost at home to Toulon a week ago while Monaco won at home.
    OM's lead was cut to 2 points. Then Marseille played their replay at
    St.Etienne (game replayed because Papin received a beer bottle on the
    head before the first game, lost 1:0). 1:1 final result with St.
    Etienne equalising at the last minute.
    
    This weekend, Marseille won 2:0 at Toulouse and Monaco drew 1:1 at
    Toulon.
    
    Marseille now 4 points ahead of Monaco.
    
    Cantona somewhere between Sheffield and Leeds.
    
    �JF?

Cantona is now a Leeds United player, on loan till the end of the season, 
and maybe permanently. If there's any trouble from him, he'll be on the 
first bus back home.

jb.

    Sorry not to keep you updated, all ye millions of French football fans.
    
    Ahem, Marseille still on top although they drew 2:2 at home against
    Sochaux, placed 19th in the League. Papin has now scored 22 goals.
    
    Monaco 3 points behind and nobody cares.
    
    Fight for European spots with Auxerre back in the saddle and Paris-SG
    holding thight.
    
    Fight to avoid relegatiom with Cannes worse every day.
    
    Next week, England-France. Probable line-up is:
    
    				ROUSSET
    
    ANGLOMA		CASONI		BLANC	BOLI	
    
    DESCHAMPS         	SAUZ�E        	P�REZ   AMOROS (Cap.)
    
        		PAPIN              CANTONA
    
    Subs: Cocard, Simba.
    
    Martini, #1 keeper, is injured, so is Vahirua, left-wing.
    
    Thanks for your attention.
    
    �JF?
    

    Would anyone be so kind as to enter the coming weekends fixtures in
    France please, Saturday and Sunday games, in particular Monaco and
    Marseilles.
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Stevo

    
    >Monaco 3 points behind and nobody cares
    
    I care! 
    
    Tono (small voice in the wilderness)
    

    re:-2
    Marseille are away to Lens, Monaco are away at Nimes (on Canal+ friday),
    Cannes away at Caen, Toulon home to Lyon. In Div2, Nice home to Ales.

    Re : .46 and .48
    
    > Monaco 3 points behind and nobody cares
    
    Come on JF, you know I DO
    
    BTW thanks to Mr Arnold for not leaving me alone in this case
    
    Philippe

    Sorry Philippe if I hurt your feelings. See my reply in the Monaco
    note.
    
    �JF?
    
    PS/How are things up north? Paris SG?

    JF,
    
    Don't worry ... You didn't hurt my feelings
    
    I've just read your reply in the ASM note and was happy to have the
    opportunity to add a note in that conference, thanks to Lens
    
    About PSG, I don't know more than what everybody can read in L'Equipe:
    They seem to be boring but manage to grasp points here and there
    
    Philippe

    Here are the results of last week-end :
    
    Nimes 0  1 Monaco
    Lens  2  1 Marseille
    Auxerre 2  2 Nantes
    Caen  3  1 Cannes ( Fernandez sent off)
    Rennes 2  3 Lille
    Toulon 1  0 Lyon
    Toulouse 1  0 Nancy
    Metz 0  0 Paris SG
    Sochaux 1  1 Montpellier
    St Etienne 4  0 Le Havre
    
    
    
    Marseille 41 points
    Monaco    40
    Auxerre   35
    Paris SG  35
    Caen      35
    .............
    Cannes    20
    Sochaux   20
    Rennes    20
    Nancy     16

    Highlights
    
    Another defeat for Marseille at the hand of Lens, old mining town,
    before a historic record crowd of 48,801 spectators, all-time record
    for a French League game.
    
    Marseille played well but were surprised twice. The first time, a great
    run by the left fullback who, after 50 metres running on the left,
    delivered a back cross to Roger Boli* who tool Olmeta off-balance.
    Simple, classical football like you would like to see more.
    
    Marseille equalised after Steven crossed to Pel� who headed it back
    superbly to Basile Boli* who scored at the penalty spot.
    
    * They are brothers. Basile plays for France.
    
    
    Lens' keeper Lama made great saves and Lens won the game, on a
    free-kick, with Gillot heading the leather home, totally unmarked.
    
    Crisis in Marseille pending. Monaco won 1:0 in N�mes with a superb
    George Weah cross for a superb Rui Barros open-foot volley. N�mes had
    some interesting chances but to no avail, Ettori surprised me with 2
    magnificent saves (maybe he's getting better with age - 37 now) before
    Sir George blew away a sitter which he created himself. He is simply
    beau-ti-ful to watch.
    
    Auxerre were stopped in their progression by a rejuvanated Nantes with
    Burruchage back and M�lby (younger brother of you-know-who) just signed
    from Vejle.
    
    Paris SG only managed another sad 0:0 at Metz.
    
    Ze fight to avoid relegation is raging, Rennes losing 3:2 to Lille at
    home. For once they scored, but they were done in by lousy defense.
    
    Cannes continue to slide with another loss at Caen. Luis Fernandez was
    sent off yet again, means he will miss the next 2 games. He should pay
    a fine to the club.
    
    Sochaux could do no better than draw 1:1 with Montpellier, which is not
    too bad, and Nancy lost again with a dubious penalty in Toulouse.
    
    Next week is the last 64 of the Cup, with Marseille-Bordeaux,
    Auxerre-Metz and Rennes-Nantes as major games.
    
    And next Wednesday, live on TF1 at 20:50, le big clash with Engerland!
    See the appropriate topic.
    
    Allez les blues,
    �JF?
                                      

    Footie on TV for March - full matches, not highlights:
    
     4 - 18:55 TF1  AS Roma v AS Monaco
         20:50 La5  Genoa v Liverpool
         22:45 C+   Benfica v Sparta Prague
         00:55 TF1  Dynamo Kiev v Barcelona
     6 - 20:00 C+   Toulon v Paris St Germain
    17 - 20:45 TF1  Marseille v AC Milan (amical)
    18 - ????  La5  Sampdoria v Anderlecht
       - 20:50 TF1  AS Monaco v AS Roma
       - ????  C+   Liverpool v Genoa
       - ????? C+   Barcelona v Dynamo Kiev
    20 - 20:00 C+   Montpellier v Nantes
    25 - 20:50 TF1  France v Belgium (amical)

    The French FA, or is it the League body, denied TF1 the right to
    broadcast the Marseille-AC Milan "firendly" because there will be a game
    on that same evening. Bad news for Tapie, lots of money lost.
    
    We had the last 32 of La Coupe de France over the weekend.
    
    Live on TF1 ("tout-�-fait, JF") we had a superb game, Caen-Lens, 5:4 to
    Caen in 90 minutes. a game � la English.
    
    Marseille breezed past Div. II Istres 2:1 with a Papin double.
    
    Monaco edged Auxerre away. After being 2:0 up at half-time they allowed
    les Bourguignons to equalize at the last minute with peach-skin gloves
    for Ettori. Penalties settled the game, even Lucky Luke Sonor scored
    his (he later admitted to closing his eyes). George Weah was quoted as
    saying, "I missed those 2 sitters 'cos I knew Ettori would stop
    penalties". Indeed, he stopped 2. Says he has a trick.
    
    Paris SG lost 3:2 in Nancy.
    
    Cannes beat Div. II leaders Angers 3:1. Nice beat Massy 2:1. Vive la
    C�te-d'Azur!
    
    Pau (Div. III) beat N�mes 3:3 (penalties).
    
    Next round: Valenciennes-Marseille, St Omer-Monaco.

    Allez, some news for you.
    
    Marseille beat Le Havre 2:0, Waddle on a Papin cross and Papin,
    powerful shot from 20 yards, another beauty which brings his total to
    25 goals in the League.
    
    Monaco won 1:0 in Lens on a Rui Barros-Passi-Djorkaeff combination
    which showed their collective spirit and their game of movement. 2
    points behind Marseille still. The Monaco-Marseille game (18th or 19th
    of April depending on Monaco's fate in the Winners Cup) could prove
    decisive.
    
    At the bottom, Rennes scraped a point in Metz and Cannes lost at St.
    Etienne.
    
    Rough standings:
    ---------------
    
    1. Marseille
    2. Monaco
    3. Paris SG
    4. Auxerre
    .
    .
    .
    18. Cannes
    19. Rennes
    20. Nancy
    
    Strikers:
    --------
    
    Papin 	25
    Weah	17
    
    Last 16 of the Cup this weekend. Easy games for Marseille and Monaco,
    although away (Marseille at Valenciennes, perhaps a surprise).
    
     �JF?
                                                                  

    What's happening in France, I hear you SHOUT?
    
    The big showdown was last Saturday in Monaco.
    
    Monaco was 1 point behind Marseille, 2 games remaining. Chance to go
    ahead of Marseille.
    
    And Marseille won 3:0 in Monaco (Boli, Papin [pen.], Pel�). They are
    now 3 points ahead. The League is sealed.
    
    For Europe, Paris SG clinched 3rd place. Caen, Auxerre and Montpellier
    fighting for the remaining spot.
    
    At bottom, we have:
    
    18. Cannes 	28 pts.
    19. Rennes	27 pts.
    20. Nancy	26 pts.
    
    Cannes travel to Marseille next Saturday... and entertain Nancy next!
    My hope is that they annihilate each other and Rennes scrapes the
    necessary 2 points to clinch position 18th, which means play-offs.
    
    Misc.: The Finance Committee is looking at 9 clubs to investigate
    irregularities during transfers, signings etc. Also looking at the
    books for several clubs. Some may be relegated outright (which, like
    last year, could save Rennes).
    
    On the transfer front, Papin should announce Staurday that he is going
    to AC Milan to join forces with Van Basten-Gullit-Rijkaard. Boban would
    sign to Marseille. Waddle could go to Monaco. Paris SG may buy big,
    perhaps Sauz�e, etc.
    
    La Cup:
    
    Caen-Marseille
    Cannes-Red Star (Paris)
    Ajaccio-Monaco (Live today TF1 5 pm)
    Bastia-Nancy
    
    �JF?

    Hello, fellow French enthususiasts - long time no speak ...
    
    I heard that the semi finalists are Monaco, Marseille, Bastia and
    Cannes - is this right ???   Has the draw been made yet ???
    Has the prince washed his raincoat in preparation for the final yet ??
    
    Ray

Hello Ray, howsitgoin?

The semis are:

Bastia v Marsilles

Cannes v Monaco

    Fine thanks Gordon - Basingstoke Town v. Monaco - no comparison
    really ..
    
    I'll be routing for the boys on 6th May - I think I'll have to ask
    elsewhere in this Notes file - but I think it's only Sky that's
    transmitting the final live .. oh to be in Thierry-land ..
    
    McR

    TRAGEDY IN CORSICA - AT LEAST 16 DIE WHEN TUBULAR STANDS COLLAPSE
    
    Yesterday, May 5th, as Bastia and Marseille were going to play the
    semi-final of the French Cup in the Northern Corsican town of Bastia, a
    stand which had been built a week before to sit 8,000 additional
    spectators, suddenly collapsed and had people thrown to the ground from
    20 metres.
    
    The stand, a tubular structure akin to that used in the last Olympic
    Winter games and to be used in Barcelona this summer, was OKeyed by the
    security people.
    
    The speaker asked the fans not to thump with their feet. 10 minutes
    before the game (8:20 pm) the stand collapsed. No panic followed.
    Players, officials, everybody helped people escape the stand through
    the ground. As the venue is difficult to access/exit, the ambulances had
    difficulty making it to hospitals. Soon they were no beds available, as
    the number of injured was more than 600. Airplanes flew from
    continental France to get the get to Marseille and
    Nice hospitals.
    
    An investigation committee has been set up by the French Interior
    Minister.
    
    There are speculations that too many people were allowed to enter the
    venue and pack the stand.
    
    The match itself could be written off, the French Cup will perhaps be
    abandoned in mourning and no winner declared this year.
                                     

    Not that it matters that much, but the number of deceased is apparently
    10 as of today. It may be that there was double counting. But about 70
    are seriously injured, while another 500 are suffering from various
    minor injuries.
    
    The first items of the investigation indicate that the stand, which was
    sold, but not mounted, by the people supplying the Winter and Summer
    Olympic games, was mounted in less than a week by a mixed team of
    technicians and "volunteer workers". It could be that the assembling of
    the stand was not done properly.
    
    Bastia has withdrawn from the competition. Technically speaking, it
    means Marseille qualifies for the final against Monaco. Morally, I
    believe it would be a good thing to stop the competition at this point
    and declare no winner this year. As Marseille has a spot in the Euro
    Champions Cup, the Cup Winners Cup spot would go to Monaco. Caen would
    then take the EUFA spot left vacant by Monaco who finished runner-ups
    in the League.
    
    Last night, Monaco lost 2:0 to Bremen in the Cup Winners Cup final.
    They dominated the whole game but created no chances (well, a couple
    half-chances). Bremen converted their 2 chances amidst poor defense by
    Val�ry and, not surprisingly, Sonor. Val�ry "forgot" to follow Klaus
    Allofs after a Rufert header caught Petit and Mendy off-guard and Sonor
    lagged behind Rufert and the latter was not off-side to score
    unchallenged. On both occasions, Ettori was hopeless.
    
    JF
                                     

    From where I was watching the Bremen captain appeared to lift the
    trophy from a podium bearing an uncanny resemblance to a washing 
    machine. Anyone else notice that?
    
    barry.                           

    Tonight sees the last episode of the season live on Antenne 2 at 8:30.
    
    Strasbourg-Rennes in the second leg of the final play-off games. They
    drew 0:0 in the first leg. 40,000 shouting Alsatians (I mean people)
    will probably aphrodisize* their favourite team to victory and Rennes
    will go back where they belong, ie Division II. Sad night tonight.
    
    Ah, let's hope... O:0, overtime, penalties, Rousseau saves the last
    Strasbourg kick, RENNES IN DIVISION I! That's the spirit!
    
    �JF?
    
    * � JF Champollion, 1992.

	JF,

> will probably aphrodisize* their favourite team to victory 
	Strasbourg - Rennes  4 - 1 (3 - 1 at half time)

	The first time since long that one could see (on french TV) a lively
	football game, without loads of fouls (less than 30 over 90 minutes),
	without tackling from the back, and with 5 (nice) goals all scored
	by defenders...
	Well done Gilbert GRESS (the manager). He came back to Strasbourg
	this season with the goal to get them back to division 1.
	He had already won the league (12 or 13 years ago) with Strasbourg
	and had been sacked a couple months later by the board director...

> ... and Rennes will go back where they belong, ie Division II.
	There is still hope! All depends on what the clubs finance control
	by the french football association uncovers in the coming weeks...
	It saved you once, in the current climite it will probably save
	you a second time if your finacial situation does not make you a
	victim...

							.Andre.

    
    * � JF Champollion, 1992.

    Eh oui, tout � fait.
    
    No discussion. Strasbourg were the better team. 40,000 in the venue,
    they deserve Division I. Rennes was incapable of creating chances, they
    always played with their backs against the goal, and that guy Shala
    reminded me of Klinsmann... 
    
    Great goals, classical play by Strasbourg with wingers, crosses etc.
    
    As you say, there is still hope for salvation. I hear Toulon, Lille and
    Nantes are in trouble. But it is also rumoured Rennes city council did
    not really like the idea of Division I. Too costly. As most clubs are
    subsidised locally in France you understand why. But then, they will be
    no Breton clubs in Division I next year (No, Nantes is not in
    Brittany!).
    
    Looking forward for a Cannes-Rennes game!
    
    Allez les Rouge et Noir! (pas les m�mes que Nice !)
    
    �JF?
                                              

    JF - any chance of posting an ups/downs table for the French league
    please ???   Is it four seasons in a row that the 1-2 have been
    Marseille-Monaco ???
    
    Ray

    Is there anyone out there who could tell me whether French TV will
    broadcast all EC Matches ??
    
    Bart
    

    Yes - TF1, A2 and FR3 have divided the games up between themselves so
    that all are shown.
    
    Ken

    Hello hello.
    
    Transfer news:
    -------------
    
    Cald�raro from Metz to Paris SG. Scored 18 goals last season.
    P�rez from Paris SG to Monaco. Int'l left midfield.
    Blanc from Napoli to Marseille (� 2.3 m).
    Waddle available for � 1 m.
    
      �JF?

    Any more news from the French league?
    Did it started last week-end?
    What happened?
    
    Jacques

    Brief details were in VNS monday.
    
    Marseille bt Toulouse 2-1
    Monaco bt Toulon 4-0
    Lens lost at home 3-0 Auxerre
    Paris St Germain won at St Etienne 2-1
    
    that's aboutall I can remember.

       I saw the Highlights of the weekend games on TV last night and I must
admit there were some amazing goals scored, at least five of them would have 
been contenders for "goal of the season"

                                                                 -dave-

    2nd week results:
    
    Le Harve 	  0	Bordeaux      1
    Lille	  1	Caen          0
    Valenciennes  1	Strasbourg    2
    Paris S.G.	  2	Sochaux	      0
    Toulouse 	  1     Montpellier   3
    Metz	  2     St Etienne    2
    Lyon 	  0     Nantes        2
    Toulon        0     Marseille     0
    Auxerre       4     Monaco        1
    Nimes         1     Lens          1

    And the early leaders are:
    
    Auxerre, Montpellier, Paris SG and Strasbourg.
    
    Leading strikers:
    ----------------
    
    Baticle (Auxerre) and Pickeu (Montpellier)	3 goals.
                                                        
    Marseille are struggling to put a decent team together. The days of
    manager Fernandez (Jean) may be counted already.
    
    �JF?

    Tomorrow Wednesday, France are hosts to mighty Brazil in Paris.
    Kick-off at 20:45, live on Toutafait TF1.
    
    The Brazil squad will incorporate all players currently in Europe
    (Taffarel, Valdo, Ricardo, Mozer, Careca, Dunga etc.) plus the
    "natives" (Bebeto, Charles...). Should be very competitive, although
    lacking in collective fluidity.
    
    The "new" French squad has been announced by G�rard Houllier, who
    replaced a resigning Platini after last Euro disaster.
    
    Line-up should be close to the following:
    
    				MARTINI
    		FOURNIER	CASONI	BOLI	AMOROS
    		DESCHAMPS 	BLANC   SAUZ�E  P�REZ
    				PAPIN   GINOLA
    
    Cantona plays tonight for Leeds. He will travel to Paris and sit on the
    bench, perhaps play the second half. Papin is the new captain.
                                   

    5th round of matches:
    
    Caen	3	Lyon            2
    Lille 	0	Paris SG        0
    Monaco	2	Lens 		1
    Nantes	5	Le Harve 	2		
    Marseille	2	Auxerre 	0
    St Etienne 	2	Toulon		0
    Sochaux  	1	Toulouse	0
    Strasbourg  1	Metz		1
    Montpellier 1	Valenciennes	3
    
    [Bordeaux v Nimes 4 Sept]
    
    
    1. Paris SG 	P5 Pts 9
    2. Nantes		P5 Pts 8
       Marseille
    4. Monaco		P5 Pts 7
    
    
    No Div 1 this weekend as the French squad (sans Cantona) prepare for
    the trip to Sofia,

    Matches on TV this week:
    
    Tues: Caen v Real Saragoose     TF1  20.45 live
    Wed : Miedz Legnika v Monaco    C+   14.55 live
          Plovdiv v Auxerre         TF1  16.25 live
          Paris SG v Salonika       C+   20.30 live
          Glentoran v Marseille     C+   21.00 duplex 
          VfB Stuttgart v Leeds     C+   22.45 highlights

Another round gone by...

Salient items:

Marseille were held to a 1:1 draw at home against Le Havre.
Nantes continued their surprise run beating Lens 3:2
Paris SG keep strolling along with a goalles draw at Montpellier. No goal conceded 
for the last 6 games.

Standings look like this:

1. Paris SG	11
   Nantes	10
3. Marseille	 9
.
.
.
20. Toulouse

Cantona said YES for the National Squad. Is this a joke? He is injured, is he
not? Please Leeds fans give me the news - Someone mentioned that a harmstring 
injury would keep him out for the next 8 weeks. Easy to say YES indeed.

�JF?

    I don't know how long he will be out, but he definately wasn't in the
    Leeds team on Saturday.
    
    Keith.

Some news for hungry French fans around the world.

Results I remember are:

Lens-Marseille	2:2
Auxerre-Lille	2:0
Toulon-Caen	0:1
Toulouse-Paris 	2:2
Metz-VA		0:0
Lyon-Strasbourg	2:1
N�mes-Sochaux	1:1
Le Havre-St.Etienne	0:1


Paris still top of the league, 1 point ahead of Nantes and Marseille, 
Auxerre around there too.

Story of the week: In Toulouse, the players got together and held a secret ballot
for or against their manager. 15 players voted against him, 1 for him. In the
end, the chairman was forced to sack the manager although he was against it.
The following game saw Toulouse entertain leaders Paris SG and they were 2 up at
half-time. Funny 2nd goal too. A cross from the left, a Paris defender DEFLECTS 
the ball and the goal-keeper HANDLES it. The ref blows and awards a free-kick 
where the goal-keeper took the ball (New rule). And Toulouse scored!

Bizarre? Well the ref was both right and wrong. It is true that the deflection
turned into a backpass but it was not what the defender wanted to do in the
first place. So the ref made the right decision as far as the rule goes but
not in spirit.

Xavier Gravelaine of Caen is the new star. He has scored 5 goals in 3 games, 2 of
those in front of a national TV audience playing Spanish Zaragoza in Europe.
Strong possibility of him fielded for the next France-Austria game.

Laurent Blanc back to France, on loan from Napoli to� N�mes.

Cheers
�JF?

    
    22 goals this week-end for the 9th championship day, and 12 in only two
    matches.
    Here are the results I remember
    
    Marseille-Monaco	1:0    40000 Spec.
    St-Etienne-Lyon	0:0    43000 Spec.
    Paris-Metz		5:1
    Caen-Le Havre	3:3
    Montpellier-Auxerre 1:0
    Sochaux-Toulon	2:1
    Lille-Lens		0:0
    Strasbourg_Nimes	1:1
    Nantes-Bordeaux	1:0
    Valenciennes-Toulouse 1:1
    
    Clas.
    1 - Paris		15
    2 - Nantes		14
    3 - Marseille	14
    4 - Auxerre		12
    5 - St Etienne	11
    6 - Monaco		10
    7 - ......
    .....
    20 - Toulouse	4
    
    10th championship day on wednesday 07, with Nimes-Montpellier on TV
    tonight
    
    					Allez Les Verts
    
    					FRED.

    That's NOTHING! compared to the Italian league....
    
    	49 goals in 9 games.... (18 in just 2 games)
    
    And Italy was famous for the CATENACCIO!
    
    Ciao - Nick

    
    I've specified the number of goals just to show how boring french
    league becomes...
    CATENACCIO in Italy stopped around 5 years ago, and still active in 
    France !
    By the way, yesterday NIMES/MONTPELLIER on TV (very boring match) and
    the score is....
    
    		0 - 0
    
    the rest of the 10Th day is this evening with BORDEAUX/MARSEILLE and
    ST ETIENNE/MONACO.
    
    					Allez les VERTS.
    
    					FRED.

    
    	I agree with you, except about 1 point:
    
        ALLEZ MONACO !
    
        Regards
        Pierre-Yves

Make up your mind!


AAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZZ RRRRREEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNEEEEEEESSSSSS !

�JF?

	Results...
	
	Bordeaux - Marseille	1 - 0
	Lyon - PSG		1 - 1
	Monaco - St Etienne	1 - 0
	Auxerre - Caen		3 - 2
	Nantes - Lille		4 - 0
	.....
	
	1)	PSG		16 points
	2)	Nantes		16   "
	3)	Auxerre		14   "
	4)	Marseille	14   "
	5)	Monaco		12   "
	6)	Bordeaux	12   "
	....
	20)	Toulouse	 5   "

    
    only 21 goals yeterday for 10 matches...Poor french football.
    
    By the way, I had good and bad news :
    
    GOOD : MARSEILLE lost versus BORDEAUX (1-0)
    BAD  : The short unlucky defeat of ST ETIENNE versus MONACO (The only
    goal of the match was scored by a ST ETIENNE player !)
    
    11Th french league day on October 17TH with a big match :
    		
    		MARSEILLE/NANTES
    
    FRED(who thinks MONACO is the luckiest club in french league)
    
    
    P.S. :   DON'T FORGET FRANCE/AUSTRIA NEXT WEDNESDAY !

    Hello all,
    
    It's been quite a long time since you had no new from french league.
    
    Well, here are the resultd of the last few weeks
    
    11nd day (17 Oct.)
    
    The only importants results were :
    
    Marseille - nantes   0-1   
    paris sg - lens      1-1
    
    Nantes reached the head of french league one point before Paris sg
    Marseille is far behind !
    
    European Cups : (21 Oct)
    
c1    Dynamo Bucarest - marseille  0-0   
c2    monaco - olympiakos          0-1   
c3    napoli - paris sg            0-2   (Great performance !)
c3    auxerre - copenhagen         5-0   (already qualified !)
    
     
    12nd day :  (24 OCT)
    
    Nantes - montpellier 	6-0   Fantastic match with the birth of a
    				      new great team (Less than 23 years
    				      old mean age players)
    marseille - st etienne 	1-0
    monaco - strasbourg 	2-1
    lyon-metz 			1-1
    toulon - paris sg           0-2
    lens - caen                 0-3
    nimes - valenciennes        2-1
    bordeaux - sochaux		3-0
    le havre - lille            1-0
    auxerre - toulouse          0-0 
    
    1 Nantes     20
    2 Paris sg   19
    3 auxerre    16
      monaco     16
      marseille  16
    6 bordeaux   15
    7 st etienne 14
      montpellier14
    .....
    20 toulon     6
    
    Next day on Friday 30 Oct .
    One BIG MATCH on thursday on french TV (Canal +)
    		
    			SAINT-ETIENNE/NANTES
    
    Nantes seems unbeatable since 2 months, but ST etienne is always very 
    difficult to beat on their ground.
    
    ALLEZ LES VERTS !
    
    FRED.

		From BBC Ceefax:

		PSG		2  3 	Nimes
		Valenciennes	3  3	Auzerre
		Caen		1  0	Monaco
		Sochaux		2  2	Marseille
		Montpellier	2  0	Bordeaux
		Metz		0  0	Toulon
		Toulouse	1  0	Le Havre
		Strasbourg	4  1	Lens
		Lille		1  1	Lyon

		Table:

		Nantes		13	20
		PSG		13	19
		Auxerre		13	17
		Marseille	13	17
		Monaco		13	17

    		From BBC Ceefax:
    
    		Auxerre		4  0	Metz
    		Bordeaux	2  0	Caen
    		Le Havre	1  1	PSG
    		Lens		2  1	Valenciennes
    		Marseille	1  1	Montpellier
    		Monaco		3  0	Lille
    		Nantes		1  1	Sochaux
    		Nimes		1  1	Toulouse
    		St Etienne	1  2	Strasbourg
    		Toulon		0  0	Lyon
    
    
    		Top of the league table:
    
    		Nantes		14  21
    		PSG		14  20
    		Auxerre		14  19
    		Monaco		14  18
    		Marseille	14  18

    
    	Hi,
    
    	Any information on the Cannes/Caen player Nicolae Todorov ?
    
    	Middlesbrough are interested in him ?
    
    	Bill

    
    	Until now, he was not playing very well, and often on the bench.
    
    However, he woke up the last match versus Perpignan and scored two 
    nice goals, allowing Cannes to win 2-0.
    
    Pierre-Yves

    
    Last results (20/11/1992)
    
    CAEN - NANTES	   1-1
    PARIS SG - AUXERRE     2-0
    STRASBOURG - MARSEILLE 2-2
    VALENCIENNES - MONACO  1-1
    LILLE - BORDEAUX	   0-2
    MONTPELLIER - LENS     1-2
    SOCHAUX - SAINT ETIENNE1-0
    LYON - LE HAVRE        1-1
    TOULOUSE - TOULON      1-1
    METZ-NIMES             3-0
    
    1 NANTES	22
      PARIS SG  22
    3 AUXERRE   19
      MONACO    19
      MARSEILLE 19
    6 BORDEAUX  18
    ETC...

    
    DAY 16TH played this Week-end :
    
    NANTES - STRASBOURG		2-2
    MONACO - PARIS SG		3-1
    MARSEILLE - CAEN		2-1
    BORDEAUX - VALENCIENNES	3-0
    AUXERRE - TOULON		2-1
    SAINT ETIENNE - MONTPELLIER 1-0
    LENS - TOULOUSE		0-2
    NIMES - LYON		2-3
    LE HAVRE - METZ		2-1
    SOCHAUX - LILLE		1-0
    
    1 - NANTES		23
    2 - PARIS SG	22
    3 - AUXERRE		21
    4 - MONACO		21
    5 - MARSEILLE	21
    6 - BORDEAUX	20
    7 - ST ETIENNE	17
    ....
    20 TOULON		 9

    
    Last French Results :
    
    DAY 17TH
    
    PARIS SG - BORDEAUX		5-0
    STRASBOURG - SOCHAUX	6-1
    TOULOUSE - MONACO		0-2
    LILLE - MARSEILLE		NOT PLAYED 
    CAEN - SAINT ETIENNE	0-0
    VALENCIENNES - NANTES	1-1
    METZ - LENS			1-2
    LYON - AUXERRE		1-1
    TOULON - NIMES		1-0
    MONTPELLIER - LE HAVRE	2-0
    
    
    DAY 18TH (12-DEC-1992)
    
    NANTES - PARIS SG 		1-0 (MATCH BETWEEN THE LEADERS)
    MONACO - METZ		2-0
    MARSEILLE - VALENCIENNES    2-1
    NIMES - AUXERRE		1-2
    STRASBOURG - MONTPELLIER	3-1 (STRASBOURG HAS SCORED 15 GOALS IN LAST
    				     4 MATCHES ON THEIR FIELD)
    SAINT ETIENNE - LILLE	0-0
    LE HAVRE - TOULON		2-1
    LENS - LYON	    		0-3
    BORDEAUX - TOULOUSE		1-0 (TEMPORARY RESULT)
    SOCHAUX - CAEN		1-0
    
    
    1 NANTES	  26
    2 MONACO	  25
    3 PARIS SG	  24
      AUXERRE	  24
    5 MARSEILLE   23
    6 BORDEAUX    22
    7 STRASBOURG  21
    8 ST ETIENNE  19
    9 MONTPELLIER 18
    10 LYON	  18
    ...
    20 TOULON     11

Well it's Christmas time and the winter break. No football until early February.

The League is sill very open,with 3 clubs at the top (Nantes, Monaco, Auxerre), 
Marseille behind with a game in hand and Paris SG.

Nantes was the surprise team of the first half, with young kigs coming of age 
together, they've been playing together since they were teenagers.

Monaco always there after a sluggish start and Auxerre, well, what can you
say, French Nottingham Forest (well, not this year...).

Paris SG a bit tired after 6 weeks duelling weeks with a major game every 3 days.
The break is welcome for them. Royal Madrid in the EUFA quarterfinals.

Marseille back on track with future mega-star Boksic and newly-arrived
Dobrovolski and the great Pel�. Set to reach the Champions Cup final. A win
over Moscow in Germany in March should clinch it.

Lille, Lens and Toulon at bottom fighting it out.

Merry Christmas, happy Boxing day (thoese derbies!)

JF

    
    JF,
    	A group of friends and i are coming over to Marseille in April
    for the game against Rangers,but we will be struggling to get tickets
    over here before we travel.What are the chances of getting tickets
    over there? If you could supply me with any info it would be much
    appreciated.
    		Thanks in advance,
    				 Iain.

Gosh!

To think that reply .100 was written by a Hun makes me sick! :-)

Tickets for Marseille! My poor friend! If they are not already all gone they will
be the first day they are on sale!

I will ask around anyway but I don't know anybody in Marseille with an interest
in football. Another potential problem is if I do get tickets they would be
Marseille fans tickets and in that case you might be in trouble, even if you keep your 
your blue mouth shut!

Do you still want me to try?

JF

    
    Thanks for the curteous reply JF. 
    
    Help ma boab,even the Froggies have a chip on their shoulders! Is this just
    because we're going to knock you out the Champions Cup? ;>)
    
    Have the Marseille fans got a bit of a reputation then?
    Do they only fill their ground when the Better teams come-a-visiting?
    I can recall you saying before that they average 30,000,and that their
    stadium held about 50,000.
    
    	I'll keep in touch regarding the tickets.
    		Thank you once again.
    					Iain.
    
    

    I will be in Paris between April 14 and April 19. Can anyone tell me if
    I will be able to see any games "au Parc des princes" between those
    dates?
    I have not been able to put my hands on the French Championship
    schedule.
    
    Thanks in advance.
    
    Jacques

    
    	Last championship result (for the Rangers's fans)
    
        Lille - Marseille 2:0
    
        (match to be played in december and differed for bad weather 
         conditions)
    
        The match was live on Canal +. Marseille missed some sitters at 
        the beginning of the match and produced a poor football afterwards.
        
        
        Pierre-Yves
    

    
    DAY 20TH THIS WEEK END
    
    MARSEILLE - TOULON		5-2
    SOCHAUX - PARIS SG		1-3
    MONACO - AUXERRE		4-0
    NANTES-LYON			1-0
    CAEN - LILLE		4-3
    ST ETIENNE - METZ		2-0
    BORDEAUX - LE HAVRE		3-0
    MONTPELLIER - TOULOUSE	0-1
    LENS - NIMES		0-0
    STRASBOURG - VALENCIENNES   0-0
    
    1 - MONACO 		28
    2 - NANTES		28
    3 - MARSEILLE	27
    4 - PARIS SG	26
    5 - AUXERRE		26
    6 - BORDEAUX	23
    7 - ST ETIENNE	22
    8 - STRASBOURG	22
    ETC...
    20- TOULON		12

    
    DAY 21 RESULTS
    
    NIMES - MONACO		0-1(MONACO is on the right way to win this year)
    METZ-MARSEILLE		2-1
    AUXERRE-NANTES		1-1
    PARIS SG - STRASBOURG	1-1
    TOULON - BORDEAUX		0-0
    TOULOUSE - ST ETIENNE	0-0
    LILLE - MONTPELLIER		0-0
    LYON - SOCHAUX		3-1
    LE HAVRE - LENS		0-1
    VALENCIENNES - CAEN		3-2
    
    1 MONACO		30
    2 NANTES		29
    3 PARIS SG		27
      MARSEILLE		27
      AUXERRE		27
    6 BORDEAUX		24
    7 ST ETIENNE	23
    ...

This week's results from BBC Ceefax:

	Bordeaux    1-0 Auxerre
	Lille       1-2 Valenciennes
	Marseille   2-1 Lyon
	Monaco      2-0 Le Havre
	Montpellier 1-1 Toulon
	Nantes      2-0 Nimes
	Socheaux    2-0 Metz
	St Etienne  0-0 Lens
	Strasbourg  0-0 Toulouse
	Caen        0-2 PSG

	Top:

	Monaco      22  32
	Nantes      22  31
	PSG         22  29
	Marseille   22  29
	Auxerre     22  27

This week's results from BBC Ceefax:

	Lens	     0-0 Monaco
	Le Havre     2-0 Nantes
	PSG          3-0 Lille
	Auxerre      0-2 Marseille
	Nimes        0-0 Bordeaux
	Toulon       0-0 St Etienne
	Valenciennes 1-3 Montpellier
	Lyon         1-0 Caen
	Toulouse     1-0 Sochaux

	Top:

	Monaco      23  33
	PSG         23  31
	Nantes      23  31
	Marseille   23  31
	Auxerre     23  27

The League goes on.

Marseille won convincingly 2:0 away at Auxerre, goals by Angloma and Boksic.
They seem to pull together for big games and loose concentration for minor
ones.

Monaco quietly took command over the last few weeks and are two points clear of
Paris, Nantes and Marseille.

Nantes has faded a bit. Injuries and bookings have depleted the team of
youngsters. Their bench shows their weaknesses.

It looks all set for a battle between Monaco, Paris and Marseille. Monaco
have the advantage of not playing an European Cup and could well be crowned.
Klinsmann has recaptured his old form and the rest of the team now plays
well together, with P�rez back in the organizer role.

Decisive games will be Monaco-Marseille and Marseille-Paris.

Somehow I feel Marseille will make it as their motivation for a fifth title
in a row is growing everyday. It will depend on their performance on the
European front. On paper, they have a 75% chance to qualify for the Euro
final against AC Milan. Van Basten-Papin-Gullit-Rijkaard against V�ller-Boksic
and al would make for a great final with no clear favorite. The French are
usually better when they are not favorites, so...

At the bottom, Toulon and Lille are in a bad shape. Toulon facing financial
trouble (a �5 million debt). Relegation is almost certain in any case (the
FA Financial Committee can relegate any team with a deficit).

In Division II, Rennes and Martigues are on top. Next year, Div.II and III will be
reshuffled with the creation of one Division II (currently 2 groups of 18) to
make it more competitive. Only the top ten of each current group will be in that
Super Division II. Only fully professional teams can apply.

And we are getting near to very important qualifying games for the National team,
the first in Isra�l in a couple weeks. Papin scored a goal for Milan last
Sunday and Cantona on his way to Cantonamania in Manchester, although he has
not scored for a while.

Cheers -
JF

Ah ah...

Marseille is back on the track... getting ready for March... roll on Rangers.


		MARSEILLE  6   -  1 N�MES

	Goals:  V�ller (2)
		Sauz�e (2)
		Dobrovolski 
		Pabois (og)

Nantes out of breath

		NANTES  0  -  0  TOULON


Paris SG, solid

		VALENCIENNES  1  -  1  PARIS SG

		Burruchaga (pen.)	Weah  (his 14th)


Monaco, difficult but still hanging on

		MONTPELLIER  0  -  0  MONACO

Standings:
---------

1. Monaco
2. Marseille (-1)
3. Paris SG, Nantes (-2)

Scorers:
-------

1. Gravelaine (Caen)	16
2. Weah (Paris)		14
   Klinsmann (Monaco)	14

NANTES 1-0 MONACO
MARSEILLE 2-0 LENS
PARIS SG 0-0 TOULOUSE
STRASBOURG 0-1 BORDEAUX
MONTPELLIER 0-2 LYON
SAINT ETIENNE 0-0 LE HAVRE
LILLE 1-0 AUXERRE
SOCHAUX 1-1 NIMES
VALENCIENNES 0-2 METZ
CAEN 2-1 TOULON

1 - MARSEILLE 		37 
2 - MONACO 		35
3 - NANTES/PARIS SG 	34
5 - BORDEAUX 		33
6 - ST ETIENNE 		29 
...

Yesterday MONACO defeated MARSEILLE (Watched on Canal +)

MONACO reaches MARSEILLE at the Top.

Other matches tonight 19:30 : BORDEAUX/NANTES will be 
interesting because both teams are on Top and BORDEAUX
goalkeeper (HUARD) can beat an invicibility record (10
matchs without goals).

fred.

PS : Well, this record seems easy to beat nowadays, there
are less and less goals in French Championship !

    I think this is the first time Monaco have beaten Marseille at home
    since the match I saw in 1988 when it was 3-0 (Hoddle scored in the
    4th minute).   Does this seem correct ??
    
    Ray

 RE -1: I'm sorry I can't tell ya, but I know the last 2
years MARSEILLE won easily (3-1,3-0). It was nearly during the
same period (10 days before the end).

Here are the results of the 27Th Championship day (You'll see some 
results are surprising and 31 goals were scored - best of the Year).

Monaco 1-0 Marseille
Metz 2-1 Paris sg
Bordeaux 3-0 Nantes
Lyon 0-2 St Etienne
Nimes 2-6 Strasbourg
Toulon 0-4 Sochaux
Le Havre 2-3 Caen
Auxerre 2-0 Montpellier
Lens 0-0 Lille
Toulouse 1-2 Valenciennes

1 Monaco	37
  Marseille	37
3 Paris SG	35
  Bordeaux 	35
5 Nantes	34
6 St Etienne	31
7 Strasbourg	30
...
...
18 Le Havre	20
19 Nimes	17
20 Toulon	16

Here are the results for last week end :

ST ETIENNE - MONACO		0-0
MARSEILLE - BORDEAUX		0-0
PARIS SG - LYON			1-1
LILLE - NANTES			1-1
STRASBOURG - LE HAVRE		3-1
VALENCIENNES - TOULON		3-1
MONTPELLIER - NIMES		1-0
CAEN - AUXERRE			2-1
TOULOUSE - METZ			0-0
SOCHAUX - LENS			1-1

1 MONACO	38
  MARSEILLE	38
3 BORDEAUX	36
  PARIS SG	36
5 NANTES	35
6 STRASBOURG	32
  ST ETIENNE	32
8 AUXERRE	29
  SOCHAUX	29
...
18 LE HAVRE	20
19 NIMES	17
20 TOULON	16

    Quick question: which leagues are Cannes and Nice in these days ??
    And how are they doing ??   Does Nice still exist or did they sell
    their ground to Supermarche ??
    
    Ray

    
    As an OGC Nice supporter, thanks to give me a chance to tell about
    them.
    
    OGC Nice and AS Cannes play in the same group, group A of the second 
    division. 
    
     Nice is no longer financially supported by the Town Council as it used
     to be (huge debt), and therefore does not own the budget the 5th town
     of France should have.
     After a mediocre start, Nice seems to recover with 3 wins in the three
     last games, reaching the 5 th place in the table. If they continue 
     like this, they have a chance to play the barrages (play off) for the 
     accession (9 matches to play).
    
     As Cannes had more or less the same faith as Nice, starting poorly and
     finishing much better, with the 4 th place. 
     This is the least to expect as Cannes owns a strong budget, with better 
     players on the paper. They are now coached by ... Luis Fernandez.
    
     Note that at the end of the season, the 2 groups of 2nd division will
     be merged in one group. Consequently, not less than 9 clubs in each
     group will be relegated. Hope Nice and Cannes will not be among them.
    
     Allez le Gym !
     Pierre-Yves
    
     Ah, I forgot the ground: With the political change in Nice, it was 
     decided to keep the "Stade du Ray". Thus, the GYM will continue to
     play there, except if a new stadium is built for the World Cup, which 
     is unlikely considering the town finances at the moment. 
    
     
    

    Thanks for the info.   Does this mean that there will be a 2nd and
    3rd division rather than a 2nd A and a 2nd B ??   -Ray

    
    	It's a bit complicated. Let's try to summary.
    1)There will be a "super Division 2" with 22 clubs, the 18 coming from
      the former Div.2 + the 2 relegated + 2 coming from div 3
      All the clubs of this division must have an 100% professional status.
    
    2) The other inferior divisions are also scrapped.
       thus, there will be:
       - National Div 1 with 2 groups (the 18 relegated + the best clubs of
         the former division 3) 
       - National div 2 with 4 groups
       - National div 3 with 8 groups
    
       PYV
       

Monaco - Sochaux	1-0
Nantes - Marseille	0-2
Bordeaux - St Etienne	0-0
Lens - Paris SG		2-1
Auxerre - Strasbourg	2-0
Metz - Montpellier	1-1
Havre - Valenciennes	0-0
Toulon - Lille		1-0
Lyon - Toulouse		1-0
Nimes - Caen		1-2


1 - Monaco	40
    Marseille	40
3 - Bordeaux	37
4 - Paris SG	36
5 - Nantes	35
6 - St Etienne	33
7 - Strasbourg	32
....
18- Le Havre	21
19- Toulon	19
20- Nimes	18



FRED.

I'm a Portuguese football supporter.

Could  anyone give me notices about Rui Barros, 
playing in Monaco ? Are he playing right now ?


Tks,

\Rui

    
    	Rui was severely injured from the beginning of the championship,
    and just came back, for some matches.
     Of course, after such a stop, he is missing competition, and has not
    recovered his excellent skills yet.
     This partly explains why Monaco, while still at the top of the league
    does not score: 2 goals in 6 matches. With a 100% Barros and Klinsmann
    who is now in good shape, it should be must better.
    
    Pierre-Yves
    
    

    L'Equipe has been starting its usual transfer rumours... but some moves
    seem to have been sorted out already, and all involve Marseille.
    
    Marseille changes..
    Completed (allegedly)                                        
     Out are Boksic (Juventus for a large fee)
     In are Scifo (from Torino), Julio Cesar (Juventus) and Graveline (Caen)
    Rumoured (allegedly) 
     Out are Sauzee (Atalanta), Voller (unamed Spanish club) and a host of
     players whose contract expires.
     In are Van Vossen (Anderlecht)
    
    If the "completed" Scifo deal falls through, then Platt is the rumoured
    second choice.
    
    According to my usual unreliable source at Monaco, ASM are hopeful of
    signing Abedi Pele, while Rui Barros is set to leave at the end of his 
    contract (next season) to return to Porto.

    Results from weekend 3/4 April (BBC Ceefax):
    
    	Lille		2 1 Le Havre
    	Caen		0 1 Lens
    	Strasbourg	3 0 Monaco
    	Sochaux		0 1 Bordeaux
    	Montpellier	1 0 Nantes
    	St Etienne	0 2 Marseille
    	Metz		2 0 Lyon
    	PSG		2 0 Toulon
    	Toulouse	1 1 Auxerre
    	Valenciennes	1 1 Nimes
    
    	1 Marseille	30 42
    	2 Monaco	30 40
    	3 Bordeaux	30 39
    	4 PSG		30 38
    	5 Nantes	30 35

Are programmes sold at French football matches? Someone I know went to the
Marseilles V Rangers game and I was hoping he would get me a programme for 
my young cousin, but he reported no sign of anybody selling them.

Maybe programmes are not a French football tradition. What do you say JF?

Gordon.

    
    Gordon,
    
    	Try contacting Ibrox, the Champions League programs are printed
    as part of the sponsership (I think) and there should be English and
    French versions of the Marseille V Rangers program.
    
    	Gordon... 

    
    There was no programme issued for Marseille v Glentoran in this first
    so it's quite likely that they didn't issue for Rangers either.  If
    there is a special champions league programme the Rangers shop should
    have it.
    
    French clubs normally do issue programmes but Marseille prefer to issue
    a monthly magazine.
    
    Gary. 

    Well, I've only got Rennes, Paris and Cannes experience. French clubs
    do not, on the whole, issue programmes such as the ones you see in
    Britain, that is, they are not game-specific, more like an info
    bulletin on the club and, if printing schedules allow, would cover the
    game you are attending, it's more like a monthly or a 2-weekly thing.
    For example, for a cup tie, there would not be a specific issue. They
    are not organized that way.
    
    I would have thought Marseille would be an exception as their support
    is bigger and more loyal but apparently it's not the case.
    
    JF

    Programs were on sale, I got one {only one so sorry not for sale}.
    Can anyone with contacts in Marseille get others ?

    This week's results from BBC Ceefax:
    
    		Auxerre	1-2 PSG
    	       Bordeaux 3-0 Lille
    	       Le Havre 2-0 Lyon
                   Lens 2-0 Montpellier
              Marseille 5-0 Strasbourg
                 Monaco 2-1 Valenciennes
    		 Nantes 1-1 Caen
    		  Nimes 2-2 Metz
             St Etienne 2-0 Sochaux
    		 Toulon 2-0 Toulouse
    
    	Marseille   33  47
        Monaco      33  45
        PSG         33  44
        Bordeaux    33  43
        Nantes      33  39

    
    St. Etienne deservedly beat Marseille in the � finals of the French cup
    last night (2 - 1).  The game went top extra time having finished one
    each after ninety minutes.  St. Etienne had had several chances to
    finish it before then.  They were on top for most of the game, apart
    from a brief spell in the second half when I thought OM might sneak the
    win.
    
    Good game, average ref, cynical fouls by OM.
    
    Ian

                       <<< Note 17.131 by MOEUR1::IAN >>>
                            -< French Cup � Final >-

>>    Good game, average ref, cynical fouls by OM.
    
	This just about sums it up, I thought it was a very entertaining
	match with lots of goal mouth incident. How St. Etienne missed
	some of the chances they had is beyond me, they really should
	have won by more. Some of the skill they showed, the flicks,
	passes and ball control was a joy to watch. There were also
	two perfectly good goals disallowed for offside, one for
	each team, but admitedly they were tight decisions.
	Lots of diving and play acting going on as well.

	Regards

	Ian
	

What are the other results ?

I think there was a PSG against Monaco match ?

Is Marseille still on top of the league?

Thanks

	St Etienne - OM was for the 1/4 final of the cup...

>I think there was a PSG against Monaco match ?
	This was for 1/8th, PSG won 1-0 in Monaco...

>Is Marseille still on top of the league?
	They are top, PSG second at -3 points, Monaco at -4, Bordeaux, Nantes...

								.Andre.

More information: 

A few days after PSG beat Monaco 1-0 in the cup, they beat 
them again by the same score in the league, while on the same day Marseilles 
won away 3-2 at Caen. That was the end of Manaco's dreams of the championship.

Gordon.

Thanks for the info, so who is left for the semi PSG and St Etienne and ...
When is Marseille playing the European cup final ?

Le bonjour a Valbonne, Thierry

    
    	Bonjour from Valbonne !
    
    	Thierry,
    
    	Marseilles will play the final May the 26 th.
        
        About the cup, the two other quarters are not played yet.
    
        By the way, about the National Team, a good new:
    
        Bulgaria and Israel drew 2-2 (in Bulgaria) 
        As yesterday, Finland defeated Austria 3-1, the best chances are
        now in our hands, as well as the Swedish ones to go to the USA.
    
        Pierre-Yves
        (who apologises not to give enough results...lack of time)

>so who is left for the semi PSG and St Etienne and ...
	Only St Etienne is yet qualified for the semi, other quater finals
	to be played next week:
		PSG         - Bordeaux
		Toulouse    - Laval (D2)
		Montpellier - xxxxx

>When is Marseille playing the European cup final ?
	25 May in Munich...

							.Andre.

Andre, I think Pierre-Yves was correct when he replied that the final
is on Wednesday 26th May.

Gordon.

    From yesterdays L'Equipe, it seems that the transfer merry-go-round
    will be in top gear this season. While acknowledging L'Equipe is as
    accuarte as the Sunday Sport, some of what  they had to say should be
    of interest to UK readers. 
    
    Stephan Paille, ex-international and friend of Cantonna, wants to play
    in England. In an interview he stated that three clubs had shown an
    interest, but it looks like Everton are the front-runners. 
    
    Marseille will be looking for a new striker if Boksic does leave. Top
    of their list is Ian Wright of Arsenal. Sauzee is set to join Atalanta,
    while Monaco are hoping to lure Pele and Weah to join Klinnsman in a
    promising forward line. Graveline is the new interest for Paris SG,
    which will help their local content for next seasons European campaign.
    
    Set to move from Monaco are Dib (to Montpelier) and Sonor (at last the
    tribune have raised enough cash!).
     
    

Hum Weah back to Monaco ... interesting.
Are there still rumours of Papin coming to PSG ?

Thierry

	Qualification for the 1/2 final of the Cup:
	
		    
		PSG		Bordeaux
		   2		   0

		
		Toulouse	Laval (2nd division)
		   0		   1

		
		Montpellier	Nantes
		   1		   1
		after extra time, Nantes qualified on penaltys (5-4)
		
	
	Draw for the semi-final will take place next sunday (Telefoot)
	Qualified: St Etienne, PSG, Laval and Nantes
	
							.Andre.

The semi are rather unexpected...
If they don't paly each other in the semi I wish to see PSG against
StEtienne in the Final...

    PSG v Laval, St Etienne v Nantes. Matches to be played on either 4/5/6
    June. TV showing both -  St Etienne on TF1, PSG on Canal+
    

    Marseille won the league on Saturday thanks to a 3-1 win over Paris
    St. Germain (who scored first incidentally).   News courtesy of The
    Independent On Sunday.
    
    Ray

    
    	The decisive goal was a sumptuous header from .......Boli !
    
        PYV

So now that Marseille is champion and has won the European cup, is the team
finishing second going to play the European champion cup ?

Thierry

	I wouldnt think so. In England I know that it would made no difference	
	as only one team will play ie the champions and if they won the
	european cup, well good luck to them but is has no bearing

    
    Re .147, No.  Only league champions or European Cup winners can play in
    the champions cup.
    
    Gary.

Hum, I seem to remember 2 years ago there were 2 Italian clubs in the Champions
club. May be it was that Milan won the cup but not the National title.

Thierry

    
    Thierry,
    	   yes,that is the only way you could have two representitves from
    the same country in the Champions Cup.

		Transfer news:
	
	Enzo SCIFO from Torino(?) to Monaco...
	
	Youssouf FOFANA from Monaco to Bordeaux

							.Andre.

I heard that Cannes was going to play "les barrages" ?
Is that right ?
When is the game ?

Thierry

    
    	Cannes already played the barrages versus two other Div 2 sides.
    
        Cannes - Caen   2-1  (one match)
        Rennes - Cannes 0-1
        Cannes - Rennes 3-0
    
        Cannes is now qualified to play versus the team coming from the 
        1 st division, i.e. Valenciennes.
    
        Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact days and time.
        It seems to me that it will be next saturday afternoon for the 
        away match in Valenciennes and next wednesday evening in Cannes
    
        Pierre-Yves

    
>        Cannes - Caen   2-1  (one match)
 	That should have read:
        Cannes - Rouen   2-1  (one match)

	The second barrage play off was:
	Rennes - Nice    1-0  (aet)

>        Unfortunately, I don't remember the exact days and time.
	Nor do I, but be assured it will all happen in due time...
		
							.Andre.

    
    	Ouuuups !!
    
        Sorry for the nit. Caen is in Div 1.
        Thanks Andr�
    
        PYV
    
        P.S. Antenne 2 will give live the return match in Cannes
    

So who is going from first to second division ?

Who is playing the UEFA cup next year ?

Thierry

>So who is going from first to second division ?
	Up from D2 to D1 are Angers and Martigues
	
	Barrage first leg result:
	Valencienne 0 - 2 Cannes
	Second leg scheduled next Wednesday, good prospects for Cannes
	to get back to D1...
	
	French cup semi-final (played yesterday):
	St-Etienne 0 - 1 Nantes
	PSG        1 - 0 Laval
	Final (PSG - Nantes) to be played next Saturday...

>Who is playing the UEFA cup next year ?
	C1 - Marseille
	C2 - PSG or Nantes
	C3 - PSG or Nantes, Monaco, Bordeaux

							.Andre.

Really sad that Auxerre did not qualify for a European cup. I have doubt wether
Nantes can do anything at the European level.

Thierry

    Reply 158
    
    
    Hi,
    
    please could you provide me the minute of the goal (more or less) in 
    
    Paris S.G. - Laval?
    
    Thanks
    
    Pino

>  please could you provide me the minute of the goal (more or less) in  
>  Paris S.G. - Laval?
	Unfortunately, I have no monday paper to confirm, but I seem to 
	remember something about 60th minute.

								.Andre.

    It's enough for me
    
    Thanks a lot
    
    Pino

	Play-off return game:
	
	Cannes 1 - 1 Valencienne
	
	Cannes gets back to D1
	
						.Andre.

    Good news for La cote d'azur.

    
    What a game!  After no final last year (the Bastia incident is still
    remembered with sadness) this years second half goes down in the
    history books as one of the most disgraceful ever!
    
    3 goals (for Paris) and 3 sendings-off (for Nantes)!  YES   THREE!!!
    
    The game?  Reasonably exciting first half, the second just got dirtier!
    
    Any Frenchmen out there care to comment?
    
    Ian - I was fortunate enough to be able to watch this on a cross
    channel ferry, how's about that for no atmosphere.

    
    This cup's final was the worst one I have seen for .... don't remind.
    
    The first half time was just acceptable with Paris dominating with an
    average level, and no imagination, while Nantes was only defending with
    no occasions.
       At the beginning of the second half, the referee spoiled the game by
    deciding a quite dubious penalty and by sending off Karambeu. 
    The second sent off was justified, but can be explained by the despair
    state of Nantes at this time. 
       In summary, two tired teams playing a very end-of-season game.
    I could have played as the Paris goolie, as Nantes did'nt have ANY 
    occasions. They were hundred miles away from the team we could see 4/5 
    monthes ago...
       A final to forget...
    
    PYV  
     

    
    >   At the beginning of the second half, the referee spoiled the game by
    >   deciding a quite dubious penalty and by sending off Karambeu. 
    
    True, it did spoil the game, but the sending off WAS justified, the
    player manhandling the referee while protesting, and he had already
    been booked.
    
    The third sending off was also justified, a scythe from behind!
    
    Ian

    
>    True, it did spoil the game, but the sending off WAS justified, the
>    player manhandling the referee while protesting, and he had already
>    been booked.
	It has to be noted that the first yellow card awarded to Karembeu
	was in fact for a foul committed by Ferri!!! Poor Karembeu was
	not involved in the incident other than being there... Two dubious
	decisions against you can trip some other players fuses...
	
	Also it was quite interesting to see two similar fouls committed
	by Vullic against Ginola which ended in a second yellow = red for
	Vullic, and then 10 minutes later Ginola did it on some Nantes
	player (Le Diset??) without any consequence! Double standard?
	Home team advantage in refereeing??? 

								.Andre.

    re .166
    
    > I could play as the Paris goolie
    
    This just had me in tears, you weren't the French policeman in "Allo
    Allo" were you ??
    
    		Brian

    Re The final.
    
    I don't see anything wrong in the referee's decisions.
    
    The first half was OK, no major fouling.
    
    The first yellow card to Karembeu was actually a great piece of
    refereeing: there was a double foul on the Paris player, first by
    Karembeu, second by Ferri. The ref awarded the free-kick to Paris and
    booked Karembeu for the first foul. Of course, everybody thought he'd
    made a mistake (including me) but he did not.
    
    Then, in the second half, Karembeu goes for the ball but his leg
    obstruct with Fournier's. The latter realizes it's a good opportunity
    and tries the penalty, which he gets. On the spur of the moment, who
    can be judge? Anyway, Karembeu loses his head and looks like he wants
    to physically abuse the ref. He gets the red card. Anything wrong in
    that?
    Vulic, who was not in top form, gets booked twice and is sent off.
    Anything wrong? Lima does the backheel scissors's dance and gets the
    red card too. Anything wrong in that too?
    
    The game: Nantes played defensively, it's not in their habits, they
    don't know how to do it. They should have played their usual game and
    we could have had a great final. I really think they spoiled the
    evening from A to Z. Paris SG cannot be blamed, their played their
    usual efficient game.
    
    The more organized and experienced team of the two won in one of the 
    poorest finals ever. That's all.
    
    A recap on the season:
    
    Champions: Marseille (also Euroean Champions)
    Runner-up: Paris SG
    Cup Winners: Paris SG
    Leading Scorer: Alen Boksic (Marseille) 23 goals.
    UEFA: Monaco, Bordeaux, Nantes
    Relegated: N�mes, Toulon, Valenciennes
    Promoted: Cannes, Martigues, Angers
    
    �JF?
    

    
    Excellent summary, well said.

    Richard Witschge has signed a 5-yr deal with Bordeaux. His transfer
    from Barcelona was for 20M Ffr.
    
    Daniel Dutuel is expected to sign for Marseille from Auxerre,
    
    First home game for newly promoted Cannes is against Marseille. Monaco
    start the season away to Nantes while Bordeaux meet Paris SG.
    
    Finally, the Nice-Matin reports that a horse called "Ooh Ah Cantona"
    won at Redcar (12-1) yesterday.

    I'm after a PSG fixture list or thr Minitel code which will tell me it,
    Thanks,
    Dave

>    I'm after a PSG fixture list or thr Minitel code which will tell me it,
>    Thanks,

I would like to get all games of next season, so I can use it for the Interna-
tional Predictions. Obviously our French friends don't have the time always 
and the more games we've the better.


Patrick

    Televised matches for July/August on Canal + :
    
    Friday 23 July    : Nantes v Monaco
    Sunday 1 August   : Cannes v Marseille
    Tuesday 10 August : Monaco v Bordeaux
    Sunday 15 August  : Olympic Marseille v Paris St Germain
    Friday 27 August  : Monaco v Olympic Marseille

    France play a friendly against Russia tonight at Caen. Live on TF1
    sometime after the commercials (8:45 pm).
    
    I will not watch.
    
    �JF?

    JF,
    
    are you boycotting the game because it is broadcasted by TF1 or because
    probably no player from Rennes has made the team ?
    
    Jacques

    re -1: Both!
    
    	FRANCE  3 -- 1 RUSSIA
    
    Goals: Cantona, Papin, Sauz�e, Blanc (og). Did not watch the game but
    heard that they had a lot of fun playing together, with some nice
    moves. The formidable Cantona-Papin duet scored again. Good warm-up.
    The evening before, the reserves beat the Russian reserves 5:1.
    
    �JF?

    Highlights of last weekend's games:
    
    Marseille lost 2:1 at Cannes, newly-promoted.
    Paris beat Lille 2:1 with 2 dubious penalties.
    Nantes edged Saint-Etienne 1:0
    Bordeaux crushed Le Havre away 3:0.
    Lyon dominated ?? 2:1.
    
    Bordeaux, Nantes and Cannes lead the table.
    
    In Super Divi.II, Rennes and Nice drew 1:1 in front of a capacity
    crowd.
    
    The League Body announced sanctions for this week, regarding the
    Marseille scandal. Heads will roll.
    
    Stay tuned - I am away for 3 weeks.
    
    �JF?

    Cannes fully justified my season-ticket by the purchase of the Isreali
    international Banin. An excellent win for them against Marseille,
    who seemed to lose shape after Futre was replaced by Voller.
    
    Next week they meet Bordeaux...

    Todays newpaper told that Olympic is interested in Munich's 
    Labbadia as the new partner for Voeller. Has anybody more
    facts about that transfer ?
    
    christian_BVB_Support_Munich

    There was nothing in the French sports paper L'Equipe. As Voeller was
    only a sub on sunday, I shouldn't place too much truth in this. Once
    Futre is match-fit I can't see Voeller starting many matches. However,
    if Marseille fail to qualify for the C1 or are eliminated early, it
    seems efinite that Boksic will go to Lazio this season, instead of
    next. So, who knows...
    
    Ken 

    Week 3 results, courtesy of BBC Ceefax:
    
    		Bordeaux 0 Cannes 0
    		Toulouse 0 Nantes 3
    		Sochaux 2 Metz 1
    		Caen 1 Auxerre 0
    		Angers 3 Lyon 1
    		St Etienne 2 Monaco 0
    		Marseille 1 Le Havre 1
    		Montpellier 1 Martigues 0
    		Strasbourg 2 PSG 2
    		Lille 0 Lens 0
    
    Top of League:
    
    		Nantes     3  6
    		Sochaux    3  5
    		Bordeaux   3  5
    		Cannes     3  5
    		Metz	   3  3
    
    How unusual for neither Marseille nor Monaco not to be in the Top5 !!
    
    Ray

    
    Has any kind soul in France got a spent/used copy of France Football
    from last week. Its Seriel No. is 2469....
    
    Regards,
    
    Dezzz.

    
    going on my hols commencing 19/8/93 for 2 weeks, and touring a bit down 
    the west coast of France. 
    
    Main areas we are staying at are La Rochelle and Biaritz... 
    
    Are there any matchs on in those areas????
    
    regards
    
    Mac

    can anyone explain the circumstances for the violence that occurred at
    the Paris St. Germain - Caen match? I saw the scenes on a Spanish news
    programme. One poor guy, (a policeman, I think) almost got his head 
    completely kicked off when he became seperated from his
    colleagues....
    
    The roughest scenes that I've seen in a while!!
    
    rgs,    Ray

    
    Ten policemen (CRS) were injured. 2 of them still are in the hospital,
    one being seriously injured.
    
    The incidents occur when a supporter went on the field to... take his
    shoe which was thrown there. They don't know what exactly happen at
    this moment (may be the police wanted to get out this guy), but the 
    (few) policemen present in the rows were suddenly attacked by the same
    kernel (about 50) of hooligans who already spoiled the PSG image in 
    Marseille and Bordeaux. They had to use lacrymogene gas. Consequences:
    the players had to leave the field for 20 minutes, being unable to play 
    in tears. 
       After this unexpected break, the match could 'normally' finish, with
    incidentally a PSG win over CAN 2:0 (with a fantastic goal from Bravo).
    
    The police is now asking for testimonies, and looking at the tapes in
    order to prosecute these idiots, as incredibly noone was arrested !!!
    
    PYV

    
    A small mistake : PSG was playing versus Caen, not Can.
    
    Not to be confused with Cannes, which are currently brilliantly leading
    the league. 
    
    PYV

    Inasmuch as it is worth knowing that PSG won the game could anybody
    post the rest of the results as well as the league standings? 
    How's Tigana doing and is l'OL on the come-back trail?
    
    Jacques

    Hi there,
    
    I will try to post a full results and table tomorrow (when I buy France
    Football).
    
    A few that stick to memory are:
    
    St Etienne-Bordeaux 0:0
    Cannes-Sochaux 1:1
    Monaco-Marseille 0:0
    Auxerre-Lyon 3:2 (Baticle hat-trick)
    
    Rough standings are:
    
    1. Cannes
    2. Bordeaux
    3. Monaco, Marseille
    
    Scorers: Vercruysse (Bordeaux), Ginola (Paris SG)   4 goals
    
    JF

    
    The other results:
    
    Martigues - Metz :       1-1
    Le Havre - Strasbourg:   0-1
    Nantes - Montpellier:    0-0
    Toulouse - Lille:        1-1
    Lens-Angers:             0-1
    
    
    PYV                 

    Cannes-Sochaux 1:1
    Banin	Vos               7,000
    
    St. Etienne-Bordeaux 0:0      21,000
    
    Nantes-Montpellier 0:0        18,000
    
    Martigues-Metz 1:1             5,000
    Benarbia	S�chet
    
    Monaco-Marseille 0:0          20,000
    
    Auxerre-Lyon 3:2              12,000
    Baticle (3)  Gava, Rivenet
    
    Paris Sg-Caen 2:0             21,000
    Bravo, Ginola
    
    Le Havre-Strasbourg 0:1        7,500
    		Baills
    
    Lens-Angers 0:1               18,000
    	  Daury
    
    Toulouse-Lille 1:1             7,000
    Ferrer	Andersson
    
    
    Team		Points	Diff
    ------------------------------------
    1. Cannes		9	+3
    2. Boreaux		8	+5
    3. Nantes		8	+3
    4. Martigues	7	+4
    5. Monaco		7	+4
    6. Lyon		7	+2
    8. Paris SG		7	+2
    9. Strasbourg	7	+2
    10. Marseille	7	+1
    11. Sochaux		6	+2
    12. St. Etienne	5	0
    13. Metz		5	-1
    14. Angers		5	-4
    15. Caen		5	-5
    16. Lille		4	-2
    17. Lens		4	-2
    18. Le Havre	4	-4
    19. Montpellier	4	-5
    20. Toulouse	4	-6
    
    
    Next round:  September 1st
    ----------
    
    Bordeaux-Toulouse
    Marseille-St.Etienne
    Lille-Nantes
    Strasbourg-Monaco
    Montpellier-Le Havre
    Lyon-Martigues
    Caen-Cannes
    Metz-Lens
    Sochaux-Auxerre
    Angers-Paris SG
    
    �JF?
    

    
    Morning all...
    
    Can someone please post the fixtures for any French teams playing in or
    near Paris, i.e. travelling distance of Evry (40km south of Paris
    centre on the A6), for the next week.  We have a visitor from the
    English subsidiary working here for the next few days who would like to
    take in a game.  The teams don't have to be just premier, and Paris St.
    G are probably excluded on the grounds of needing riot control gear
    before getting close!!    :-)
    
    Cheers,
    Ian

    Hey come on, Le Parc des Princes is big enough to avoid the battle.
    
    THURSDAY 24th is PARIS SG-AUXERRE at 8 pm. Don't miss it, an opposition
    of style, watch the Roux boys (Guy Roux is the equivalent of Brian
    Clough, only he never played football at high level). You'll see the
    difference between talent-packed Paris with their Brasilians etc. (Valdo,
    Ricardo, Rai, Ginola, Weah, Le Guen, Lama, Roche) and
    homefarm Auxerre with 4-3-3 line-up, academic football. 
    
    Crowd should reach the 30,000 mark. Get in early, like 7pm, if you're
    broke get a ticket at Auteuil Rouge (about 30 FF) or if you really fear
    for your safety, pay 100 FF and enjoy the view. It's an all-seater but
    you can see really well from anywhere you sit.
    
    Give us a match report please -
    
    Cheers
    JF
    
    PS/Parc des Princes is either Porte de Versailles or Exelmans metro
    station. Just follow the crowd. You can get pissed outside or inside,
    they sell beer in plastic glasses in the venue (they did when I last
    went).

    Let's see if I remember some of the scores from this weekend:
    
    Marseille-Bordeaux 3:1
    Sochaux-Monaco 2:0
    Lyon-Paris SG 1:3
    Montpellier-Cannes 2:1
    Angers-Nantes 0:0
    Auxerre-Lens 0:0
    Metz-?  2:0
    
    Standings:
    
    1. Bordeaux, Cannes, Paris, Marseille
    5. Nantes, Auxerre
    
    Strikers:
    
    1. Ginola, Zitelli  6 goals

    From French news I received from the Washington French Ambassy :
    
          --- FOOTBALL: Paris Saint-Germain est desormais seul en  tete
      du  Championnat  de  France de football de premiere division avec
      deux points d'avance, a l'issue de sa victoire a Metz (1-0), lors
      de la treizieme journee.  Bordeaux a ete battu a  Caen  (1-0)  et
      Cannes,  reduit a dix apres l'expulsion de Marquet (40-eme),  de-
      fait a Lens (2-1).  Domine et mene 2-0 a Montpellier,  le  Croate
      Boksic  manquant un penalty,  Marseille a ete sauve de la defaite
      par l'arret definitif de la rencontre a la mi-temps en raison des
      tres mauvaises conditions meteorologiques a Montpellier.  Monaco,
      lui, a fait naufrage en Bourgogne en s'inclinant 4-0 a Auxerre.
           +  Hier Nantes est alle partager les points a Sochaux sur le
      score de 1 a 1,  score qui fut celui de quatre autres  rencontres
      de cette journee.  Ainsi, Strasbourg a ete tenu en echec chez lui
      par Lille tout comme Lyon revenus score apres avoir  ete  mene  a
      domicile par Le Havre.  Saint-Etienne, en visite a Angers, Marti-
      gues et Toulouse, ont egalement fait match nul.
                                                       

re last.

  Thats easy for you to say.

  Stuart

    > Thats easy for you to say.
    
    What do you mean ?

                        <<< Note 17.198 by VIA::CIOT >>>

>    > Thats easy for you to say.
    
>    What do you mean ?



It was meant to be a joke. I do not read French.

au revoir,


Stuart

    Has the French league stopped in order to prepare the do-or-die match
    with Bulgaria?
    
    JF,
    drop us a note...I have only been able to find out that Lyon won
    against St Etienne 1-0.... and that made my day!
    
    What else? Are Bordeaux, PSG and Monaco through on the European front?
    How do you assess our chance against Stoichkov and Co.?
    
    Come on Les Bleus...I already have my tickets for US94... don't let me
    down!             
    
    Jacques

    
    	Jacques,
    
    	Sorry, it's not JF..but let's try to remind some scores.
    
    The league did not stop.
      PSG - Nantes          1-0   (Weah 90 th)
      Lens Monaco           3-3
      Angers - Marseille    0-1
      Sochaux - Bordeaux    2-2
      Lyon- St Etienne      1-0
      Auxerre - Cannes      0-0
      Caen - Lille          2-3  (Caen was leading 2-0 14 minutes from end)
      Montpellier - Strasb. 4-0
      
    
      Eur Cups results:
    
      Univ. Craiova - Paris St Germain      0-2     PSG Qualified
      Steaua Bucarest - AS Monaco           1-0     Monaco Qualified
      Servette Geneve - G. Bordeaux         0-1     Bordeaux Qualified
    
      Not that bad.
    
      Cheers 
      Pierre-Yves
    

    Means that Paris SG is leading by 3 points. They look unbeatable this
    season.
    
    Bordeaux, Monaco and Marseille are behind. Auxerre very close, so
    nothing really new there.
    
    Lyon bought a Brazilian sweeper (Marcelo).
    
    Djorkaeff is maturing well. He scored 4 the other day and is the
    leading scorer with 9 goals.
    
    Cannes is the surprise team.

    
    Found 5 minutes to give the last league results:
    
    Martigues - Marseille  0-3
    Strasbourg - Lyon      2-1
    Sochaux - Montpellier  2-1
    Paris SG - St Etienne  1-0
    Angers - Caen 	   2-0
    Lens - Bordeaux        1-0
    Metz - Monaco          1-1
    Cannes - Toulouse      2-1
    Auxerre - Lille        5-0
    Nantes - Le Havre      0-0
    
    As usual, Paris suffered at home, and as usual scored at the last
    minute by Weah, while Marseille easily won in its neighbour Martigues,
    with the first Anderson's goal.
    Monaco outrageously dominated the game at Metz, leading 1-0 by
    Djorkaeff and eventually lost a point with an undeserved equilizer.
    Bordeaux confirmed its small form by logically loosing at Lens with a 
    Roger Boli's goal. Auxerre contines to ge good at home, with 5 goals.
    
    Paris is now 4 points clear on Bordeaux, and six on Marseille (with a 
    match left to play) and Monaco. Although the fact that they do not 
    prove anything at home, they seem to win the league easily this year.
    
    PYV  
    

    Thanks, Thierry

    
    Jean Fournet-Fayard, the French league President just announced 
    his resignation.
    
    The elimination for the WC continues to make strong waves.
    A temp commitee with old horses (Georges, Sastre, Hidalgo..) is now
    charged to assign a new trainer.
    
    Several names are mentioned: Fernandez, Giresse, Tigana, and even 
    Hidalgo. Platini, who denied the offer, in still under strong 
    pressure to accept it anyway.
    
    PYV

    There is talk of Graham Taylor or Bobby Robson for the job to settle
    all local feuding.
    
    �JF?

    
    May be we could swap, take Taylor and send them Houillier.
    
    But Guy Roux already threatened: no foreigner !!! ......
    ................. They don't have the diplomas !!!
    
    
    PYV
    

    Gang,
    
    any news on who will replace Houillier? I receive news through
    France-Football but usually two weeks late... The latest I was able to
    find out was that Gilbert Gress was one of the leading contender. Is
    this true ? If it is, is this good news or bad news ?
    I know of Gress successfull track record in the Bundesliga as a player
    but do you think he is fit for the top job?
    
    Is the league on hold? Last I have heard was when "l'OL" lost to Caen
    on the road 1-0.... anyhting "exciting" happened since then?
                                           
    Jacques

Gress did a really good job for Neuch�tel Xamax (twice League Champions of
Switzerland), and seems to be acheiving good results with Strasbourg.

He's a bit of a emotional character on the sidelines - always jumping up and
down. However, he gets the job done.

-Steve

    Extracted from : LE SERVICE DE PRESSE DE L'AMBASSADE DE FRANCE A WASHINGTON. 
    
            --- EN SPORT
    
            --- FOOTBALL, en  match en  retard de la  13eme journee  du
      championnat de France de 1ere division, l'OM  a battu Montpellier
      2 a 0. Marseille  a ainsi confirme  son renouveau en  signant son
      quatrieme succes consecutivement,  hier a  Montpellier. Ce  match
      permet aux  Marseillais  de se  rapprocher  sensiblement du  PSG,
      actuellement en tete du championnat.
                                                           

    Same source as before (17-Dec-93)
    
            --- FOOTBALL: Le nom du selectionneur  national, l'etude du
      projet  de  reforme  des  structures  du  football  francais,  la
      participation de l'Olympique  de Marseille a  la Coupe de  France
      seront les  principaux  points  a  l'ordre  du  jour  du  Conseil
      federal, ce  vendredi matin  a Paris.  Le president  de la  Ligue
      nationale, Noel Le  Graet, proposera  un nom, probablement  celui
      d'Aime Jacquet, pour succeder a Gerard Houllier. Jacquet, 52 ans,
      ancien entraineur  notamment de  Montpellier  et Bordeaux,  etait
      l'adjoint du selectionneur demissionnaire.

    
    bl**dy 'ell that beer must have been strong at lunchtime - I can't
    understand a word of that.
    
    Paul

    something about the french national team coach and also about
    Marseilles not being allowed to do something in the French Cup.
    
    They didn't teach footie terms in O level french then?
    
    An english translation would be nice though
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.wicks

    
    Aime Jacquet, who was already belonging to the France team, has been 
    officially appointed as the new France trainer....until june 94.
    
    The results of the friendlies will decide afterwards.
    
    Jacquet already trained clubs such as Bordeaux and Montpellier, with 
    mixed successes.
    
    I fear Jacquet being an Houllier clone.
    
    
    PYV  

    What's up on the French front? Has Marseille narrowed the gap with PSG?
     
    Any news would be welcome....
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jacques

Both Paris SG and Marseille were riding five-game winning streaks before
the winter break.

              ?						 ?               
Paris SG     1-0   ? 			Montpellier 	0-2 	Marseille    
Lille	     0-2   Paris SG		Marseille	3-1	Martigues (?)
Paris SG     1-0   St Etienne	        Le Havre	1-3 	Marseille
Sochaux      1-2   Paris SG		Marseille 	3-1 	Nantes 

However, Paris-SG still has a five-point lead on Marseille and Bordeaux, with
Auxerre @ 4th (If my memory serves well...).

The team has received a lot of help from 2 players who had started the year
poorly (Rai and Gravelaine). It's business as usual for Valdo who is the best
player in our league (this is of course my biased opinion :-) ).

The league resumes on Jan. 14th with (what else...) Marseille @ Paris-SG

Happy New Year to everyone  (hopefully, this will be OUR year)
	
	Eric

Marcel Dessailly (Team France & former Marseille) scored his first goal with
AC Milan yesterday. It turned out to be the only goal in a 1-0 win @ Reggiana.

Oh yeah, Papin recieved a red card.

also:

Canal+'s Sunday Night Sportsline announced that Eric Cantona could be an easy
winner of England's "Player of the Year" Award. 

Any "Definetly ! / Give me a break !" reaction or confirmation from you 
British guys would be welcome...


	Eric

So what are the results for "la reprise" ?
I saw that Marseille gets the null to Paris, but what about the others ?

Thanks to keep us updated, Thierry

Hi Thierry,
    
    Full results for round #23:

Paris SG	1-1 	Marseille
Nantes		4-1	Bordeaux  (Wow !)
Auxerre		2-0	Metz
Toulouse	1-2	St Etienne
Monaco		1-2	Montpellier
Martigues	0-0	Angers
Cannes 		1-1	Strasbourg
Lyon		1-0	Sochaux
Lens		2-0	Caen
Le Havre	1-0	Lille
    
    
    1-  PSG		36 Pts
    2-  OM      	32 Pts
    3-  Bordeaux 	29 Pts
    4-  Auxerre		27 Pts
    5-  Nantes  	26 Pts
    --------------------------
    18- Martigues	18 Pts
    19- Angers		15 Pts
    20- Toulouse	15 Pts
    
    
    I think positions 2-5 qualify for UEFA cup this year, but I'm not
    sure...
    
	Eric.

Interesting results, Monaco is starting "en petite forme"...

Thanks very much, here in the US it's hard to get soccer results, so I 
appreciate your inputs.

Thierry

    Thierry, 
    
    I don't know if you're a Monaco fan, but they said that Monaco had 3 losses 
    and 3 ties in their last 6 games.
    
    Also, their next one is at Marseille, so not a easy one...
    
    Well, they still are in the Champions League's race to the 1/2 finals
    
    Cheers, Eric

    I like Monaco game in general, but I am not a fan (not a fan of any
    club actually).
    Marseille - Monaco this week end, hum I see another draw, 1 - 1
    
    Thierry

    
    The 32 th of the Cup last week-end with a lot of surprises with 
    not less than 7 first division clubs eliminated by lower level clubs !
    
    The ones out:
    St Etienne (by Pau N1)  1-1 + Penalties
    Martigues  (By Bastia D2) 0-2
    Angers     (by ..forgot N1) 0-1
    Le Havre   (By Beauvais D2) 2-3
    Cannes     (By Gingamp D2)  2-3  (The 3rd Gingamp goal by "the hand of 
                                      God" everybody seen except referee)
    Lille      (By Rennes D2) 2-1
    Caen       (By ?      N1) 1-0
    
    To mention: Marseille had to go to the penalties to qualify versus...... 
                Brive, a N1 Club (0-0)
    
    Pierre-Yves

    One more thing
    
    In the only game between DI teams, Bordeaux eliminated Strasbourg after
    the penalty shootout. (Score was 1-1 after extra time). The game was in 
    Strasbourg.
    
    Eric.

    
    Yeah, but PSG were a bit lucky were they not ???!!!???
    
     

    Pierr-Yves,
    
    since l'OL did not make your list does this mean that they took care of
    Nimes? If yes by what margin?
    
    Also could you post the results of teams like Cote-Chaude and Vaulx en
    Velin ? I think that they were playing PSG and Nantes respectively. In
    my youth I have played against both clubs and I was puzzled to see
    them still involved at that stage.... Any details would be appreciated.
    
    Jacques

    RE: -1, -2

    PSG played La C�te Chaude, a team playing 7 levels behind us and won 10-0 !
    
    That's the way draws are, we might just have played Marseille in
    Marseille !!! (and maybe that will happen next round)
    
    In case you're wondering, the atmosphere around PSG's game was
    excellent, with both teams exchanging snowballs before kickoff, players
    from LCC asking autographs to our superstars and a 30 000 crowd at
    Geoffroy-Guichard (best crowd of the weekend).

    I think Vaux-en-Velin was beaten 2-0 by Nantes.
    
    Eric (an Un-impartial Parisian) ;^)

    Do any teams play in the Cherbourg area? And if so will they be home on
    the 19th Feb? i should be in the area for a little while and would like
    to catch a match whilst I'm there if poss.
    Cheers
    
    	Rich

    RE: Last few
    
    Jacques, 
    
    	Just in case you haven't been able to see it elsewhere:
    
    			Lyon 2-0 N�mes   (Gava, Morice)
    
    Rich,
    
    	The 2 local teams are Caen and Le Havre. Caen is an overall better
    	side (jmo) and have a new stadium. I'll try to look for schedules 
    	during the weekend.
    
    
    Eric

    Jacques,
    
    Sorry not to have answered more quickly, but I was travelling (for
    DEC). Thanks Eric to have answered.
    
    About the teams "near" Cherbourg, you also can account Rennes, closer
    than Le Havre, but still 200 kms away... But they are in Div 2.
    
    Another point you might be interested with (who knows)
    
    In a friendly (of Course), my team, OGCNice (Div 2) defeated....
    ........ the Bayern Munich  3-2 !
    
    Cheers
    Pierre-Yves 
    

Draw for 1/16th of The Cup yesterday (Games will be played Feb 12th):

Main games are:	 	Toulouse - Monaco
               		Sochaux  - Marseille

Could have been worse for Auxerre, Bordeaux and Nantes:
Auxerre will be at home against a D2 club, Bordeaux will play at Le Mans (D2)
and Nantes faces a N1(=D3) team.

Jacques, I think Lyon will play at Laval. Definitely not an easy one.

Paris-SG were lucky again drawing CS Avion, the "smallest" team involved. 
Players & coaches from Avion are delighted to face PSG however. Game will 
probably be played at Lens' Felix Bollaert stadium to accomodate another 
crowd in the 30 000s

(Dezzz, if you want to save yourself some time, you can just extract 17.225 
and put it right here 8-) )

	Eric.
      	

    
    Marseille - Monaco     2-1
    Caen - Paris SG        0-2
    Bordeaux - St Etienne  1-2
    Lyon - Auxerre         1-0
    Strasbourg - Le havre  0-3
    Lille - Toulouse       3-0
    Angers - Lens          1-2
    Metz - Martogues       0-0
    Sochaux - Cannes       1-1
    Montpellier - Nantes   1-0
    
    No real change, except that Montpellier is now 4th in the table.
    
    PYV
       

    In Division II, Rennes is leading the pack, followed by Nice.
    
    Should this remain, we will at long last get some decent football on
    the Riviera next season, with Cannes and Nice playing host to Rennes.
    
    At least I will  have a good reason to watch 2 games per season.
    
    JF

    
    I fully support you with these wishes JF !
    Don't care if Rennes or Nice will be Div 2 champs, providing they will
    be among the three elected (along with Bastia ?).
    
    Allez les rouge et Noir !
    
    PYV
    

    What happened last week-end ? Is Lyon still one step ahead of
    Saint-Etienne... If I recall "les verts" were playing l'OM so hopefully
    this should spell good news for Lyon...
    
    Is there an Italy-France game coming up ? I am anxious to find out who
    makes the squad under Jacquet... although I don't have much illusions. 
    I expect a strong emphasis on defense and physical play under his
    direction. That's what I remember of Bordeaux when he was coaching
    there....
    
    Jacques

    results I remember, will try to come up with more tomorrow:
    
    Paris SG 	3-0    Angers (see 179.something)
    St Etienne  0-0    Marseille
    Le Havre    0-0    Montpellier
    Lens	2-0    Metz
    Martigues   0-1    Lyon  (3 game winning streak for Lyon)
    Toulouse    0-0    Bordeaux
    Cannes      2-0    Caen
    Auxerre     1-0    Sochaux  (Correct if I'm wrong)
    Nantes	2-0    Lille
    Monaco wins at home vs Strasbourg, score unknown
    
    Italy-France is Feb 16th. Papin, Sauzee, Blanc and Cantona are not 
    scheduled to play. I'd like to see Martins at midfield. The best
    players we have at this time are Desailly and Ginola (jmo).
    
    Cheers, Eric 
                                  

>    Monaco wins at home vs Strasbourg, score unknown
	Monaco	2-1  Strasbourg
    
>    The best players we have at this time are Desailly and Ginola (jmo).
	According to Nice Matin, Desailly has settled very well in the
	Milan team, he seems to be one of their strong points at the
	moment...
                                  
								.Andre.

    
    The French squad is not known yet, but as Jacques feared, Jacquet 
    mentioned that versus Italy, he will need players ...made of concrete. 
    
    Cantona might play, as he just informed that he was ready 200 %.
    Jacquet also told that Blanc is still the best libero (despite the 
    mistakes you know) and that the main problem is on the lateral
    defenders.
    
    PYV

Laurent Blanc has not been picked for the France-Italy game.

This is probably due to the fact that Desailly told Jacquet that if he was picked
for France he wanted to play stopper or libero(sweeper) and not in Midfield as
he does for Milan. Desaiily is definitely a 'made of concrete type of player'.

I often seen Milan games on the TV and its true that Desailly does a good(but
restricted) job winning the Ball in front of Baresi. This saves Barasi running
about too much now he's getting old!

In a recent interview Marcel was asked whether he has been well received in the 
Milan team. He replied,'well Baraesi says I've been doing the business' and that's
what counts!


Nick

I, for one, have a good opinion on Jacquet, based on his 1984-1987 years with
Bordeaux. Then again, maybe that was due to the likes of Giresse, Tigana and 
Battiston rather than Jacquet himself.

On French team, I would go with, considering we need to develop young players
and say 'Goodbye and Thanks' to the likes of Papin, Blanc and Sauzee:

Goalie:	Bernard Lama 	 - Paris SG  (if OK from injury)
Backs : Vicente Lizarazu - Bordeaux
	Basile Boli 	 - Marseille
	Alain Roche 	 - Paris SG   (Team captain)
        William Prunier  - Marseille       
Midfield: Vincent Guerin - Paris SG
	  Marcel Desailly  - AC Milan
	  Zinnedine Zidane - Bordeaux or Reynald Pedros - Nantes 
	  Corentin Martins - Auxerre	
Forwards: Eric Cantona     - Manchester United
	  David Ginola     - Paris SG

Well, I don't know how Ginola and Cantona would fare together and none of them 
is a Papin-type striker, but...

Also deserve a chance: Roger Boli of Lens, Nicolas Ouedec of Nantes

BTW, what was the result of Caen-Le Havre ???

Eric

		Caen  1 - 1  Le Havre
	Le Havre equalized in the last minute(s).

							.Andre.

    
    The results: (correct me if my memory fails)
    
    Montpellier - Paris SG   0-0
    Marseille - Toulouse     4-1
    Lyon - Lens              1-2
    Strasbourg - Nantes      0-3
    Metz - Bordeaux          1-0
    Sochaux - St Etienne     3-2
    Angers - Cannes          1-1
    Lille - Monaco           1-1
    Auxerre - Martigues      3-0
    Caen - Le Havre          1-1
    
    The gap Paris-Marseille comes back to 4 points clear.
    Angers, Martigues and Toulouse are in very bad shape
    Cannes and Monaco now have again a chance to be European
    
    PYV
    
     

>    Marseille - Toulouse     4-1
	I think the result was 5-1, 2 for Stojkovic, 2 for Andersson and
	1 for Bogossian.

						.Andre.
     

re: 17.228

	Rich, only Normandy game this weekend is: 

		Le Havre - Metz

	Let us know if you need more information.
    
	Also, Pierre-Yves must be on holiday because he hasn't mentioned
    	yet that 2nd-place Nice has beaten 4rth-place Nimes 3-1 this
    	weekend :-). 
    
    	So the chances to see Les Aiglons in D1 again next year are pretty fair.
    
    	Eric  
	

    
    	No, I am not on holidays ! (next week by the way)
    
        You're perfectly right, Eric, Nice was the only leading team 
    to win last week. 
    To comment a bit, the last results of Nimes were impressing:
    last 10 matches: 8 wins and 2 (away) draws ! They went back from
    the 17th place to the 4 th, 3 points away from Nice.
    
    OGCN had absolutely to win, and they did it brilliantly, after a 
    range of very bad matches. Things seem to get better. 
    Next match: Nice plays Bastia at Bastia.
                Tough considering that for the Corsicans, it 's always 
                a question of pride to win versus Nice.
    If we beat Bastia, JF might be a bit anxious, as Rennes is playing
    Nimes (at Nimes) at the same time.
    
    See you soon in D1 !
    
    PYV
    

    I heard through the grapevine that Lyon tied PSG in Paris... and almost
    won. Any truth to this ? League standings ?
    
     I've also heard that we are out of the Cup, falling to Laval after
     extra-time. I am afraid this also true...
    
    Last but not least, did we really beat La Squadra Azzura in Napoli? The
    New York Times was reporting a French victory by the score of 1-0.
    
    Thanks in advance.
    
    Jacques 
    Jacques

Yes all true

>    I heard through the grapevine that Lyon tied PSG in Paris... and almost
>    won. Any truth to this ? League standings ?
    
	As much as it costs me, I've got to admit it's true  8-)
    	Attented the game and wrote report in 179.last
	Lyon still in the race to UEFA cup. Will go down to the wire this
    	year.
    
>     I've also heard that we are out of the Cup, falling to Laval after
>     extra-time. I am afraid this also true...
    
	Yeah. From the D1 teams, only the cream survived this round:
    	PSG, OM, Nantes, Auxerre, Monaco, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Lens
    	That's all...
    	    
    
>    Last but not least, did we really beat La Squadra Azzura in Napoli? The
>    New York Times was reporting a French victory by the score of 1-0.
    
	Djorkaeff scored after 44 min on a Ginola pass, who intercepted a
    bad Baresi pass. Desailly was great.
    
    	Eric

While I'm at it, I might as well mention the draw for cup 1/8th:

	Nantes		-v-	Bordeaux

	(Now, if you thought that was tough, how about:)

	Monaco		-v-	Marseille

	Other games:

	Guingamp	-v-	Paris SG  
	Laval		-v-	Montpellier
        Charleville 	-v-	Lens
	Sete		-v-	Auxerre
	Valenciennes	-v-	Ales
	Chatellerault   -v-	Racing 92

Eric 

What about this week end results ?

Thanks, Thierry

	The few I remember...
	
		Metz        0 - 0  Marseille
		Auxerre     0 - 0  PSG
		Strasbourg  2 - 0  St Etienne
		Angers      1 - 1  Monaco
		Sochaux     4 - 2  ?????
	PSG still leading, 5 points behind there is Marseille, ....
	Goal scorers: Ouedec and Djorkaeff both with 17 (?)


		Nice	    1 - 1  Charleville
		Rennes      1 - 2  Bastia
	Rennes and Nice joint first at the moment...

							.Andre.

    	A few more from memory:
    
    	Sochaux		4-2	Le Havre
    	Martigues	1-2	Lens
    	Lyon		2-2	Cannes
    	Caen		0-0	Nantes  (unsure)
    	Lille		1-1	Bordeaux
    
    So, we need only Montpellier - Toulouse
    
    Eric

thanks...

French games for weekend of March 5th:

	Paris SG	2 - 2	Martigues
	Marseille	3 - 2	Lille
	Toulouse	0 - 0	Auxerre
	Nantes		1 - 0	Lyon
	Bordeaux	2 - 0 	Strasbourg
	Monaco		3 - 0	Caen
	Le Havre	2 - 1   Angers (unsure)
	Lens 		2 - 0 	Sochaux  (unsure)
	St Etienne      2 - 0 	Montpellier
	Cannes		2 - 0	Metz (unsure)

Marseille picks up a point as PSG struggles at home. They're 4 behind.

Nantes, Bordeaux, Auxerre strengthen their UEFA-qualifying positions.
                                      
Lyon, Strasbourg and Montpellier lose important games in this context.

Lens is red-hot (5 wins, 1 tie in 6 games since winter break). They host PSG
next Friday while OM will be in Strasbourg. The race goes on...

Eric

What are the chances that Monaco becomes champion this year ?
Is it already too late ?
Do they play PSG at home ?

Thanks, Thierry

    
    It's (unfortunately) far too late for Monaco to be Champions this year.
    
    They still are in three competitions, Champions League, French league 
    and Cup) and they do not have reserrves enough to play well the three.
    By the way, they lost last Friday versus Lyon (1-0) after a bad match.
    In fact, several players have been missing (Klinsmann several months
    for instance) or long to be in (Scifo). The defense is still missing a 
    great libero. Fortunately, Monaco had Djorkaeff.
    But IMO, the main weakness of Monaco is the lack of supporters and also
    the lack of risk (Don't forget that there are only 25000 inhabitants in 
    Monaco, while they are financed by the Prince). This causes a lack of
    pressure resulting in out-of-form periods. 
    
    However, on one match, they can be brilliant. They are still in the 
    course for the Champions League. Wednesday, they play Galatasaray in
    Istanbul for a place in semi-final (not bad for a team being now 7th in
    the French League).
    
    Pierre-Yves
    

    Thierry, 
    
    	Chances that Monaco are champions this year are ...rather thin.
    
    	PSG won at Lens this weekend, has 5 point lead with about 8 rounds
    	to go.
    
    	Monaco has lost again last Friday and a even an UEFA-qualification
    	isn't certain. They still have to come to Paris, in about a month
        
    	They should concentrate on cups (both French & Champions League)
    	for the rest of the season...
    	
    	Eric 

    

    If Lyon won against Monaco what happened to teams like Montpellier,
    Strasbourg who were in the same vicinity? and about Saint Etienne since
    like always I root for l'OL ... and whoever is playing agaisnts ASSE
    ;-)
    
    Jacques
           

    Jacques, 
    
    	Good news for you as Caen beats St Etienne 1-0. Unfortunately for 
    	Lyon, Montpellier won too 1-0 vs Bordeaux.
    
    	From memory, I would say that there are at least the following
    	teams above Lyon.
    
    	PSG	Marseille	Auxerre		Nantes		Bordeaux
    	Montpellier 	(Cannes, Monaco ??)
    
    	cheers, Eric
    	
    	 

May be Monaco can win the euro cup... that would be a good surprise...

Anyone for last week end results ?

Thierry

    
    Don't remember all scores, but
    
    Lens - PSG              0-1
    Strasbourg - Marseille  0-0
    Metz - Nantes           2-0
    Lyon - Monaco           1-0
    Martigues - Cannes      4-0 (yes !)
    Montpellier - Bordeaux  1-0
    Caen - St-Etienne       1-0
    
    Dear other noters, can you add the missing ones ?
    Thanks a lot
    
    PYV

Any results from this past week end ... Thanks Thierry

    
    "La Coupe" was played this week-end !
    
    Monaco - Marseille 0-0   Marseille qualified after penalties (4-3)
    Gingamp - Paris    0-1   Paris severely shakened by a third div team,
                             but could manage to pass through (Weah)
    Nantes - Bordeaux  1-0   tough match
    
    Other qualified:
    
    Montpellier
    Auxerre
    Racing Paris I
    Valenciennes
    .... Oh, my memory refuses to deliver the last one. I'll come back
    later with the draw.
    
    Pierre-Yves 
    

>    .... Oh, my memory refuses to deliver the last one.
	It's Lens.

	Draw (if memory serves well):
		Marseille      - Montpellier
		PSG            - Lens
		Racing Paris I - Auxerre
		Nantes         - Valenciennes

							.Andre.

    So what about last week end results ? Monaco lost at home, but what
    about the others ?
    
    Thanks, Thierry

    
    Sorry, I am a bit busy these times, at work ...and at home to watch
    seriously the results.
    
    Some of them, anyway
    
    PSG - Metz              1-0  Another 1-0, but sufficient to be 6 pts clear
    Marseille - Montpellier 1-1  
    Monaco - Auxerre        0-1
    Nantes - ?              2-0 
    Cannes - Lens           3-1
    Toulouse - Martigues    2-2
    Lille - Lyon            0-1
    Bordeaux - St Etienne   1-0
    Don't remember for le Havre, Caen, Angers...
    
    In Div 2, a true catastrophe for me, as Rennes, Bastia and Nimes won,
    while Nice was defeated by Geugnon (2-0) (Keeper sent off, penalty
    missed, ...)
    Nice is now third, with only 2 points clear versus Nimes. It'll be
    tough.
    
    PYV
    
    
    

>    Lille - Lyon            0-1
>    Bordeaux - St Etienne   1-0
	Replace previous games/scores with what follows:
	Lille - Strasbourg   1-1
	St Etienne - Angers  2-0

	Sorry, I don't remenber the missing results...

								.Andre.

    Ouuuups !!
    
    Thanks, Andr�, my memory was really failing.
    Must take some medecines.
    
    PYV

Can somebody confirm us today before 18.00 if this weekend they play for the 
championship or is it cup-weekend? I need a game for the International 
Predictions!

CUP: Marseille - Montpellier
Competition: Auxerre - Nantes


Paddy

    
    So what ended up being the score for Lyon ? I understand that they were
    playing at Le Havre... if they won and Montpellier tied they made up
    some grounds. Standings?
    
    Jacques

    
    The things are getting better and better for Lyon. Last saturday's
    results: (Please Andre, correct me if something wrong)
    
    Lyon - Toulouse         1-0
    Montpellier - Lille     1-3  (surprise)
    PSG - Cannes            2-1  (with PSG suffering a lot at home as
                                  usual)
    Sochaux - Marseille     1-1  (the title is now over for OM)
    Angers - Bordeaux       1-3
    Auxerre - Nantes        3-1  
    Martigues - Monaco      1-3  (At last a win for ASM, but still 9th)
    Lens - Le Havre         5-1
    Metz - St Etienne       0-1
    Caen - Strasbourg       2-0
    
    Several teams are fighting for an European place, i.e. Nantes, Auxerre,
    Bordeaux, Lyon, Monaco, Lens, Montpellier, Cannes. 
    
    PYV
    

>           <<< Note 17.272 by BONNET::VISCIGLIO "Allez O.G.C.N. !" >>>
>                               -< last results >-

>    PSG - Cannes            2-1  (with PSG suffering a lot at home as
>                                  usual)
>    Sochaux - Marseille     1-1  (the title is now over for OM)

Yesterday:

Nantes - PSG		3-0
Marseille - Angers	2-1

It's a funny old game in France as well!

The rest:

Cannes - Auxerre	2-1
Bordeaux - Sochaux	4-1
Strasbourg - Montpellier 0-1
Monaco - Lens		0-0
Toulouse - Metz		2-2
Lille - Caen		3-1
Le Havre - Martigues	2-0

g

    Thanks for the results, where does Cannes stands now ?
    Thierry

    
    Cannes stands now at the 7th place, 2 points behind the 5th (European).
    Note that the 6th might also be European providing one of the top teams
    win the Cup.
    
    BTW, yesterday, St Etienne - Lyon 3-0
    
    
    RE: -2  What's wrong in my results ?
    
    PYV

>           <<< Note 17.275 by BONNET::VISCIGLIO "Allez O.G.C.N. !" >>>
>
    
>    RE: -2  What's wrong in my results ?
    
Nothing wrong in the results, but it does seem a bit early to be writing off 
OM. As someone said recently "It's not over yet"!

grahame

    
    You're right, it's not over yet.
    
    However, 5 points clear with 5 matches to play...
    The interview of Bourrier (The OM's coach) clearly demonstrated that OM
    has now drawn its attention to the Cup.
    
    PYV (Not an OM fan.. neither PSG)

    Any news from this week end ?
    
    Thierry

    
    Let's try to give some answers
    
    PSG - Monaco was postponed due to Eur. Cups preparation
    Caen - Marseille       1-0   
    Cannes - Le Havre      2-1
    Lyon - ?               victory
    Angers, Toulouse and Martigues defeated
    Auxerre - victory
    Montpellier draw
    Nantes - win
    
    Sorry not to give more precise results, but I was away this week-end
    and did not find time to seriously see the results
    
    In div 2 , Rennes won, Bastia defeated home by Sedan, Nice drew at 
    Bourges and Nimes defeated at Dunkerque.
    Nice is now second with 4 pts clear over Nimes, which is the most 
    important.
    
    PYV
    

    
    Last match played yesterday:
    
    Paris SG - AS Monaco  1-1 (see Monaco entry)
    
    In Div 2, a great step for Nice to Div 1, after a victory over Red Star
    (4-1), while Bastia won too, and Rennes and Nimes lost at home !
    Now we have Rennes 47 pts, Nice 46, Bastia 45... Nimes 40, with 6
    matches left.
    
    PYV 

    Any update on the "Espoirs" final tournament ... France-Italy and
    Portugal-X if my memory serves me right.....
    
    Jacques

                     <<< Note 17.281 by GLDOA::BOSSONNEY >>>
                              -< Under-23 semis >-

>    Any update on the "Espoirs" final tournament ... France-Italy and
>    Portugal-X if my memory serves me right.....

		France   0 - 0 Italy aet (Italy won 5-3 on penaltys)
    		Portugal 2 - 0 Spain

	To be played one of those days (this evening???)
	Final:  Italy      -   Portugal 
	3rd     France     -   Spain
					
								.Andre.

>	To be played one of those days (this evening???)
	Both games were played yesterday

	Final:  Italy   1  - 0 Portugal (0-0 after 90 mins, then sudden death) 
	3rd     France  1  - 2 Spain

								.Andre.

	Last week-end was Cup quarter-final

	PSG     1 - 2  Lens
	Nantes  2 - 0  Valenciennes
	
	Auxerre won against Racing Paris (mid-week)
	
	Marseille - Montpellier was postponed (no date set yet) by the
	French football authority which did deliver their final ruling
	on the "bribing incident" (Valenciennes - OM). In their full
	wisdom, they decided:
		1) OM is forced down to 2nd division for next season...
		2) Tapie won't be allowed to run any football club
		   for an undetermined period of time...
		3) OM will be allowed to play the European competition
		   it does qualify for next year (subject to acceptance
		   from both UEFA and FIFA)...

								.Andre.

    Andre,
    
    Is it true that Marseilles have also changed 2 letters of their motto?
    
    	"Straight to goal"
    
    now becomes
    
    
    	"Straight to gaol"
    
    Peter
    

    So what are the repercussions from the Marseille sanctions... and most
     of all what's happening to the players ? I understand that players like
    Boli,Deschamps and Anderson won't look too kindly to the prospect of being
    hammered in Divison 2 next year...Are they gone already ?
    
    Is Marseillle still in the race for the Cup ? What's up with the
    league ?
    
    Jacques
    

    
    Hum, .... some answers:
    
    1. The league. 
       . Paris SG is now mathematically champion, having defeated
       (1-0) Toulouse, the last in the table and very likely relegated.
       . Marseille draw at Auxerre: 2-2
       . Monaco is now out of the run for an European place: defeat 1-0 at 
         Le Havre (what a waste !)
       . Cannes, who defeated Nantes (4-0 !) & Montpellier still have a
         chance to get the 6th place giving a chance to be European
       . Lyon, defeated in the previous turn by Marseille 3-0 seems to be
         out
       . The end of the table seem to give the following
         - Toulouse &  Angers relegated
         - Martigues saved. Why ? Of couse because Marseille will be 
           relegated insted of the 18 th.
       . 2 fixtures are to be played. 
    
      2. The Cup
         Marseille can win the cup, being still qualified.
    
      3. The sanctions are not 100 % sure, because according to the French 
         law (a 1992 modification), a member of a federation can ask for
         the arbitrage of the CNOSF (French Olympic Committee) if any 
         disagreement with its federation, and further go to Court.
         The dossier is now in the hands of the juridic commission of the
         CNOSF...  A Suivre
         
      4. The OM Players.
         - Boli & Deschamps will certainly leave probably to Italian Clubs,
    	   while Voller should come back to Germany.
         - Total uncertainty for most others, Anderson still belonging to 
           Servette Geneve. 
         - Di Meco, Angloma Prunier and Stojkovic have accepted to play in 
           Div 2, where their wages must be at least 20 % less than in Div1
             
       Hope this addresses some questions.
       
       PYV
    
    
    
    
    
      

    Pierre _Yves,
    
    thanks.... right on the money!
    
    Jacques

    
    Marseille were knocked out of the French cup last night by Montpelier,
    0-0 at full time, 0-0 after extra time, penalties did them!
    
    � final stage...

    
    Semi-final draw:
    
      Lens - Montpellier
      Auxerre - Nantes
    
    
      

    heard very quickly on BBC news that Auxerre will play Montpellier in
    the final.  What were the semi scores ?
    
    Thierry

    
    Auzerre went through with a 1-0 victory, and I think the other result
    was 2-0 with both goals coming during 'prolongation'!
    
    Ian

    Montpellier's two goals at Lens were during normal time (68 and 80
    minutes)
    
    Auxerre scored after a corner (the Nantes keeper misjudged the cross
    and Auxerre's Dutch defender (name?) scored at the far post);
    Nantes then had what seemed like a legitimite goal following a free
    kick disallowed for offside during injury time. Two Nantes' players
    were then sent off (remember last year's final?) for (a) pushing the
    linesman and (b) ungentlemanly verbal behaviour....

    John,
    
    The goal was disallowed for offside. It was not the "scorer" who was
    offside, but a player out on the left wing, who was a bit slow in
    getting back.
    
    At least that's how it looked to me!
    
    peter

    
    Auxerre deserved to win the Cup, with a flattering score though : 3-0
    
    In fact, it is a similar scenario as Monaco versus Milan: Montpellier
    dominated, i.e. had the ball more often, but failed to score in front of
    a more mature team who mainly played counter attack and profited of the 
    (enormous) defensive errors of Montpellier to easily score.
    
    Auxerre will play the Cup's Cup 
    This leaves a place in UEFA for the league's sixth, Cannes or.........
    .....Montpellier.
    
    PYV
    
    

    
    I think Montpellier should perhaps be thinking about a replacement
    goalkeeper. Horrendous errors.
    A very scrappy game but a well deserved win for Auxerre....
    
    Dezzz. 

    
    You're right, not a nice game. The Montpellier's goalkeeper is used to
    such horrendous errors....as he is also used to wonderful saves...
    But you can't rely on him.  
    
    On the other hand, the second goal was a Rezeau's incredible mistake, 
    which killed the match. 
    
    I 'll forget very soon this final.
    
    PYV  

    Who's getting the Euro places from France please ??  I don't know how
    the top of the league looks at the moment ..
    
    Thanks - Ray

    
    Champions: Paris SG    Champions league
    Cup:       Auxerre     Cup's Cup
    2 nd       Marseille   UEFA Cup
    3 rd       Nantes      UEFA Cup
    5 th       Bordeaux    UEFA Cup
    6 th       Cannes or Montpellier for UEFA Cup. Will be decided by the 
               last match of the league, next saturday.
    
    Relegated:  Angers
                Toulouse
                The 18th will not be relegated due to the forced relegation
                of Marseille in Div 2.
    
    Accession:  2 matches to play in Div 2. Best chances for
                Rennes
                Nice
     	  	Bastia
    
    PYV

    
    
    After this week-end, the things are a bit clarified.
    
    The last place for UEFA comes to Cannes who drew versus St Etienne,
    while Montpellier was defeated by Lyon 3-2
    It was the last game of the championship
    PSG Bordeaux    4-1
    Lens Marseille  2-3
    
    In Div. 2, I am very proud to announce that OGC Nice, my team comes
    back to Div 1, after a win versus Rouen 2-0.  
    
    Congratulations also to Jean-Francois, as Rennes also comes back to D1.
    The last place will be assigned at the last day, very likely to Bastia.
    
    PYV 

    Could someone post the final standing, at elast for the top ten ?
    Where does Lyon finish? If my computations are right they should be 8th?
    Did we at least finish in front of St Etienne ;-).....?
    
    Any early transfer rumors ?
    
    Jacques  
    
    
    

          
                       Pld  	W   	D   	L     	GF   	GA   	Pts
     1. Paris_SG        38     	24  	11   	 3    	54    	22    	59
     2. Marseille       38     	19  	13   	 6    	56    	33    	51
     3. Auxerre         38     	18  	10  	10    	54    	29    	46
     4. Bordeaux        38     	19   	 8  	11    	54    	37    	46
     5. Nantes          38     	17  	11  	10    	47    	32    	45
     6. Cannes          38     	16  	12  	10    	50    	43    	44
     7. Montpellier     38     	15  	13  	10    	41    	37    	43
     8. Lyon            38     	17   	 8  	13    	38    	40    	42
     9. Monaco          38     	14  	13  	11    	52    	36    	41
    10. Lens            38     	13  	13  	12    	49    	40    	39
    11. St.Etienne      38     	12  	13  	13    	38    	36    	37
    12. Metz            38     	12  	13  	13    	36    	35    	37
    13. Strasbourg      38     	10  	14  	14    	43    	47    	34
    14. Sochaux         38     	10  	13  	15    	39    	48    	33
    15. Lille           38       8  	16  	14    	41    	52    	32
    16. Caen            38     	12   	 7  	19    	29    	54    	31
    17. Le_Havre        38       7  	15  	16    	29    	48    	29
    18. Martigues       38     	 5  	17  	16    	37    	58    	27
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    19. Toulouse        38     	 4  	15  	19    	26    	60    	23
    20. Angers          38     	 4  	13  	21    	37    	63    	21
                                                

    John,
    
    thanks for the table..
    
    Jacques

Great news that Cannes have made the UEFA Cup . . . I'll be after our VBO 
noters to get me a ticket when they draw Newcastle !

grahame

    >                     <<< Note 17.303 by GLDOA::BOSSONNEY >>>
    >                              -< Let's move on.. >-
    >
    >    John,
    >
    >    thanks for the table..
    >
    >    Jacques
    
    
    	No problemo Jacques, 
    
    	regards,
    
    	John "alias Se�n"
    

    Grahame,
    
    Looks like we'll be having a get together in the sunshine. I'd quite
    like Marselle or Bordeaux as well.
    
    Peter

    Grahame,
    
    So are the geordies in UEFA for sure or are you guys just hoping out loud ?
    
    Personally, I've already arranged a September visit to see my sister 
    who lives between Nantes and Bordeaux. (Auxerre is not too bad, Cannes
    is a bit of a drag.)
    
    Now if the Blackburn draw comes out right I'm sorted, if not I could 
    be upsetting the wife, the kids, the sister and the Bank Manager (not
    all of whom I really care about).
    
    Cheers, 
    
    Andy
                                     

Just wishful thinking. The decision isn't until July, presumably the draw will 
be after that - but gotta keep warm during the summer haven't we?!

g

    G,
    
    i'll be bloody warm if I have to leave the family in France while
    I clear off to watch Blackburn away in bloody Oslo or some such place !
    
    We have been working hard establishing a Rovers supporters club in my
    sisters football-crazy village for a few years now, if Blackburn could 
    draw Nantes the Rovers would actually have a good French following.
    
    Are there any Digital offices in western France ? 
                                                   
    cheers,
    
    Andy

    Andy,
    
    Bordeaux is probably the closest ;-}
    
    peter 

    
    In the Great Western France area, there are DEC offices in Nantes, Rouen, 
    Toulouse, Bordeaux, Tours 
    
    Make your choice
    
    PYV
    
    	

    
    Could anybody tell me why the French League was suspended for 4/5
    years in the late 1920's early 1930''s ???
    
    Dezzz.

    
    Hi,
    
    Can anyone tell me to what extent French Television will cover the
    World Cup? Will it be the on the regular channels or satellite/cable?
    
    My wife has tricked me into going on vacation in France during the
    World Cup :-(
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    	Stefan

    
>    Can anyone tell me to what extent French Television will cover the
>    World Cup? Will it be the on the regular channels or satellite/cable?
	The 2 main TV organizations (TF1 = private and A2+F3 = public)
	have split up the whole cake between themselves... All of the 52
	games will be shown on any of those 3 channels.
	On top of that depending on whether you can pick up Canal+ (coded)
	or satellites, you may be able to select alternate language and/or
	commentators (Tout a fait Jean Michel...)

								.Andre.

    
    Interesting Andre...
    
    I've a D2MAC decoder (required for BBC) and of course Canal+ is in this
    encryption. Are Canal + going to hard encrypt the World Cup matches.
    This will be the first instance of the World Cup being on Pay TV.
    
    Dezzz.

    
    Games are only on TF1 and A2/F3.
    
    Olivier.

    
    	Salut Olivier,
    
    	Heureux de savoir que tu pratiques cette note.
    	Au fait, quelle �quipe supportes-tu ?
    
    	Pierre-Yves
    

    
    Thanks for the info.
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Stefan

    
>    Are Canal + going to hard encrypt the World Cup matches.
	For the casual viewer, Canal+ is encrypted. They rent you their
	own decoder upon subscription. So there is nothing special about
	world cup games, just business as usual (If you decode Canal+
	today, you'll see games with that same equipment/setup).
	But as was mentioned already, non encrypted channels will show
	all games...
	
								.Andre.

    
    Dezzz,
    
    	I couldn't help but notice that you're picking up the Beeb. Can you
    please help me with the following:
    
    	What sat is it on.
    	Do I need a special decoder.
    	Where can I apply for subscription.
    	How expensive is it?
    
    Thanks    Jon.

    
    Jon,
    	What sat is it on.			Intelsat 27.5 West
    	Do I need a special decoder.            A D2MAC decoder (c 200 Stg)
    	Where can I apply for subscription.     TV Extra Sweden
    						Tel +46 141 355 12
    	How expensive is it?                    70 Sterling per year
    						(+ initial 19 Stg for
    						card).
    
    To be honest I was rightly peaved when they didn't show the FA Cup
    Final but were showing every other event. Reason they sold it to most
    countries so if you have the BBC WSTV you are not a UK resident
    therfore should be able to pick it up on a local channel. Problem there
    was that Premiere in Germany also needs a special decoder.
    
    I will say however that the standard of news coverage is superior to
    Sky or/and CNN or/and ITN on NBC Superchannel.
    
    Dezzz.
    
    

    Dezzz,
    
    A friend here in Bern rang the BBC WS to ask them if they were going to
    show the FA Cup live. The lady responded by saying "Oh, we couldn't
    possibly afford to show that." The explanation which she proceeded to
    give was that, in order to boradcast the match on the WS, they would
    have to buy the European rights, which would obviously be somewhat more
    expensive than rights for an individual country. Apparently, the same
    applies to Wimbledon.
    
    We ended up looking at the match on Swiss TV, with BBC WS radio
    commentary, and plenty of beer to make up for our dissapointment ;-)
    
    Jerry.

    
    But surely that would only apply if the WS was in the clear. I actually
    saw the game with an hours preview from some company that the BBC sold
    the rights to on the Eutel 13 satellite on a Telecom transponder so no
    problem. Anyone with a 1 meter dish in Europe can watch on a Saturday
    Premier's live uplink to Eutel 13, BBC link for the Scandinavians and 
    Dutch TV's uplink to Eutel 16. On a Saturday evening the Spanish game
    is also shown live on Eutel 13.
    
    I've yet to work out where the Italian game is uplinked to. I've seen a
    strange feed which seems to be a camera constantly following one player
    around the field 'close up' so you can't see the game. I suspect the
    full game is on Intelsat at around 63 East but this angle is beyond the
    line of vision...
          
    Dezzz.

    Pierre-Yves,
    
    I do not support any team... I support only genious players like Eric
    CANTONA...
    
    Cheers.
    
    Olivier.

    
    AS Monaco just hired the (very good) Brazilian ANDERSON (5 years
    contract)
    
    This means that KLINSMANN will certainly go.
    
    According to the local press, he god proposals from AJAX, EINDHOVEN and
    EVERTON, and refused them, willing to play only in Italy or Spain.
                   
    It seems that he is now likely to join SAMPDORIA
    
    PYV

    
    Oh, Nice-Matin also mentions that NICHOLAS, a Scottish player, is on test 
    by AS CANNES.
    
      A question to our Scottish friends: what's the Nicholas value today ?
    
      Thanks a lot
      PYV 

    about 100-150K I would say. He is 31 or 32.
    
    
    Kev...

    re  100-150K
    
    Francs or lire ???
    
    Aa

    Re. Last few
    
    Around 100-150k Serb/Croation dinars  ( worth around 10 quid ) more
    like ..........
    
    
    Seriously though, Nicholas was a class finisher is his early days with
    Glasgow Celik ( about ten years ago ), but lost from/confidence soon
    after joining Arsenal. Since then he's played for Aberdeen and back 
    at Celik. He stil show s the odd flash of skill occasionally, but has
    lost all of his pace ( did he ever have any ?) and probably has only
    a season or so left to play ........ He may do well in France where the
    speed of the game is not so frantic as it is here in Scotland.
    
    
    .Sandman

    Any update for this week end ?
    
    Thanks, Thierry

From an English paper:

Lyon 1 Metz 0
Lille 1 Nantes 2
Rennes 2 Bordeaux 0
Nice 2 Cannes 1
PSG 1 Sochaux 1
St Etienne 2 Strasbourg 0
Martigues 2 Le Havre 1
Montpellier 1 Lens 2
Auxerre 2 Bastia 1

and I THINK Monaco won earlier in the weekend.

grahame

    Thanks,
    
    Hum, it looks like Rennes are doing fine. Jean francois, anything to
    say ?
    
    Thierry

    Are we still in first place ?
    
    Looking forward to get an update on the standings....
    
    Jacques

    YES! If I remember well, Lyon beat Metz 1:0 at home the other day,
    while Bordeaux was defeated 2:0 at Rennes.
    
    Les Gones are doing well. St Etienne also scored twice and follow Lyon
    closely.
    
    In Div. II, Cascarino scored again for Marseille for a 1:1 draw in
    Nancy.
    
    Cheers
    /JF
    
    PS: Tonight, France-Czech Republic, a friendly warm-up for the opening
    qualifying game for Euro '96, Slovakia-France early in September.
    Starting line-up: 
    
    			Lama
    
    Angloma	Blanc	Thuram		DiMeco
    
        Desailly     Cantona 	 Martins
    
      	  Dugarry		Ginola
    
    Papin is injured. N'Gotty (Lyon) should play the second half.

    France  	2 -2 	Czech Republic
    

    Did not watch, but according to l'Equipe, we were pretty bleak. Two goals 
    by Zidane (85', 87') saved the day.
    
    What looked like a promising offensive line (Martins, Dugarry, Cantona,
    Ginola) was totally useless.
    
	Eric

    Eric,
    
    Not worth watching at all! I switched the sound off so I could really
    have an objective viewing.
    
    84 minutes of pure rubbish by an amateur side. Idiot tactics, no
    play-making, lots of running around, no ball control, no chances, no
    shots at goal, incoherent football. Two well-taken goals by the Czechs
    just before half-time (bad marking by N'Gotty and Blanc).
    
    A couple substitutions later and no improvement after half-time.
    Cantona and Angloma tried to shake it a bit. Dugarry was useless and
    was duly substituted with 10 minutes to go. And Mister ZZ, Zinedine
    Zidane came on. Now you're talking of a world class player. He's got
    the touch and was the only one with Eric the Red to look like a decent
    player.
    
    84': gets the ball from Blanc at full speed, does the double-legged
    trick on one defender, goes around another and blasts a left-footer
    into the net.
    
    87': Corner, ZZ jumps higher and heads it home for the undeserved
    equaliser.
    
    Unfortunately, the result looks OK for a friendly when the performance
    was piss-poor. Anybody could beat that French team I suppose. True, it
    was an experimental side but I don't understand how the French have
    lost that great ball control they had a few years ago.
    
    Line-up was:
    
    		Lama
    Angloma	Blanc	N'Gotty	DiMeco
    Desailly (Thuram) Martins (Lizarazu) Cantona
    Dugarry (Zidane) Ginola (Loko)
    
    My ratings:  (0: abysmal, 10: world-class)
    ----------
    Lama	6
    Angloma     6
    Blanc       4
    N'Gotty     4
    DiMeco      5
    Desailly    6
    Martins     4
    Cantona     7
    Dugarry     2
    Ginola      4
    Lizarazu    6
    Thuram      7
    Zidane      10
    Loko        5
                 

    	
    Fully agree with your comment, JF (except may be the Angloma and
    cantona ratings which seem too high IMO).
    
    Have you listened the Jacquet's comment ?!!�
    
    "In a very difficult context, my team has found the resources to react
     quite well, with a very enthousiastic mindset".
    
    Properly unbelievable ! But politics....
    
    PYV  
     
    

    Well, once upon a time the French time was beating almost anyone in a
    friendly but could not confirm during competition. Maybe this time it
    will be the other way around :)
    
    Thierry

    
    Hope so, but they have to hurry up to improve their game as the first
    
    official game is within 3 weeks.
    
    PYV

	Can anyone let me know the French fixture list for the weekend of 
17th Sept. 

Many thanks.

	Hope 'France Football' didn't make any errors..

	Saturday, Sept 17th (Home team mentioned first)

	Lens 		-v-	Le Havre
	Sochaux		-v-	Bordeaux
	Strasbourg	-v-	Caen
	Auxerre		-v- 	Lille
	Nantes		-v-	St. Etienne
	Lyon		-v-	Paris SG
	Monaco		-v-	Rennes
	Metz		-v-	Nice
	Cannes		-v-	Martigues
	Bastia		-v-	Montpellier

	also worth mentioning, in D2
	
	Marseille	-v-	Dunkerque

	One (or more) of these will be moved to either Friday/Sunday because 
	of TV and/or Euro Cup. So if you want to go, just make sure...

    
    Some last week end result coming back to my memory:
    
    Nantes - PSG      1-0 (Wonderful goal)
    Cannes - Lyon     5-1 (Yes, Jacques, sorry 5-1 !)
    Sochaux - Rennes  1-3 (Yes, JF and bravo)
    Strasbourg - Nice 3-2 (shame !)
    Bordeaux - St Etienne 1-0 (another goal from ZZ Zidane)
    Lens - Martigues  2-1
    Bastia - Caen     1-0 (Caen: fifth defeat despite presence of K Andersson)
    Le Havre - Montpellier 1-2 
    Monaco - Lille    2-0  (despite the absences of Scifo and Andersson)
    Metz - Auxerre    1-1  
    
    Nantes is now leading, PSG is 15 th (sorry my friend Lafontaine)
    Monaco slowly comes back.
    
    In Div 2, Marseille hardly wins versus Al�s 1-0 (Cascarino again, fifth 
    goal, all from the ....foot)
    
    PYV 

    
    
    Bordeaux 2 - 0 Saint-etienne
    Valdeir
    Zidane

	In fact, and to close the topic:    
    
    Bordeaux 2 - 1 Saint-etienne
    Valdeir	   Wolfhart
    Zidane

						.Andre.

>>    Nantes is now leading, PSG is 15 th (sorry my friend Lafontaine)
    
	No offense taken, Pierre-Yves.

	I'm confident this week will bring us a qualification for Champions
	League and that we will beat Monaco au Parc on Saturday (altough
	it could be a unpretty 1-0; Header by Ricardo after a corner kick).

	By the way, call me pessimistic, but I don't really see Nantes keeping 
	at this pace all season long. If neither Monaco nor PSG improve, 
	the name 'Girondins de Bordeaux' comes to mind for the championship...
	what do others think ?

	Eric
                                        
    

    This is a very open League for a change. With Marseille in Division II,
    a lot of average sides think they can have a shot at the title, not
    meaning they really believe the can WIN the League but that they can
    approach it very close.
    
    Sides like Nantes, Bordeaux, Auxerre (YES!), Lyon and even Cannes
    (YES!) could do well.
    
    My prediction is actually that Auxerre will be champions. Remember
    Strasbourg in 1978...
    
    Although I do believe Paris, once on the right track, will be hard to
    beat. Will they have the necessary resources to play the League, the
    Cup and the Champions Cup? Maybe not!
    
    See you in June -
    /JF

    
    - 2:   Eric, no offense intended, obviously.
    	   Only joking a bit with a true PSG supporter
    
    all:   The championship should very exciting this time, much more open.
    	   However, the teams have only played 5 matches, and it is quite
           hazardous to conclude that the favorite, PSG will not be
           champion, as well as that Monaco will not be present.
    
    	   This topic will also be much more interesting with:
    	   Eric     Paris St Germain fan
           J.F.     Stade Rennes fan
           Jacques  Olympic Lyonnais fan
     	   PYV      OGC Nice fan
           Who else .. subscribe please ... (Olivier ?)
    
           PYV
    
    	  

    Talk about a wake-up call ! 
    
    I knew that the 2 upcoming away games at Cannes and Auxerre were going
    to be the real acid tests... but I was not counting on such a drubbing!
    
    I tell you what.. from I have heard and read from you guys If l'OL has
    to take a spanking it might as well come from Cannes who plays a rather
    entertaining game.
    
    Jacques
    
    P.S: the joke around twon when I was a kid was that Lyon was always
         "champion du mois d'aout" i.e. "leading the league at the end of
         August and then they would go down hil from there ... winning the
         cup sometime.... struggling to avoid being relegated most of the 
         times.
    
    Well, I guess we can't hang on to traditions anymore;-(
    

    
    
    Olivier ?   Nantes for ever !!! and Lens for the fans !!!

    Being a Valbonne local, I cheer for Cannes...

    By the way, did you notice a change in refereing in the league and in
    the first Euro matches ? are the rules applied during the world cup
    still followed ?
    
    Thierry

    Well, we have a record number of red and yellow cards...
    
    /JF

    
    The average is 5 red and 45 yellow cards each play day, which is
    enormous compared with the last season.
    
    PYV
    
     

    
    And there I was, blaming Leeds for teaching Eric his bad habits ;-)
    
    Jerry.

    
    Wait a minute....
    
    Many red/yellow cards (not to say most) have been awarded, not for
    violence, but for discussing referee decisions or even less serious 
    purposes.
    
    An example: I attended Nice-Cannes and the Cannes's centre forward,
    Priou was sent off. 
    Reason: 
    - 1st yellow: referee decision discussion
    - red carded: after the Cannes goal, he went close to the Cannes fan
    		  and climed a bit on the fence...
    
    He was suspended 4 matches (!) after that...
    
    Then, I think that, amongst all these cards, one should distinguish
    those awarded for genuine violence and the other ones, which are the
    most numerous.
    
    PYV
    

    ... and we all know Cantona wanted to play the National Squad friendly
    against the Czechs so the best way was to get the red with MU!
    
    "Ouais, tu vois, c'est des mecs, quoi, ils sont l� pour jouer, quoi".
    
    "Yeah, you see, they're guys, well, they're there to play, see".
    
    In "World Cup Best Commentary", � Cantona & France2 Television.

	One other instance of a yellow 'new type' card:
	
	Cannes - Lyon : one young Cannes player scores his first goal in Div
	1, gets all over excited, runs towards the fan's, removes his shirt,
	drops it on the floor, celebrates his achievement with his colleagues,
	gets his shirt back on and sees a yellow card!!!!!
	What a load of violence there was in that one...

								.Andre.

    To be fair - I was shocked to see so much dissent in French football
    during the three years I supported Telefoot.   Not only does it
    undermine authority (most unusual for a French person) it wastes
    an awful lot of time.   I personally want to watch football - not
    a load of guys arguing with a referee.
    
    Now where was I ??  Oh yes - "Allez Monaco" ..
    
    Ray

Nothing to do with French football, but shocking nonetheless. We had our league
AGM last night, and the chief referee told us that the FIFA directives say
players who start to take a throw-in and then pass it to a colleague should be
booked. If we want to fetch the ball for a colleague to take a throw we are
supposed to make sure the ref knows we have no intention of taking it ourselves.
8-(

Mike

    I have no problem with the referee giving a yellow card for a player
    arguing with the ref. But back to the point, is refereing more protective 
    for the forwards ?
    
    Thierry

    Re .347
    
    Don't forget me : MONACO for ever
    
    Philippe

    How can we forget you, Philippe...
    
    BTW, below are my favourite teams to set the record straight:
    
    1. Rennes for ever  ("home" team)
    2. Paris SG (well I was born there after all, seen so many good & crap
       games)
    3. Nice (same colours as Rennes and well, I like the town)
    4. Cannes (so much fun and excitement lately)
    
    I should not state Nice and Cannes together, I must be the only one to
    like both, they're cats and dogs or Rangers/Celtic like.
    
    Anyway, who cares anyway?
    
    Allez les Rouge et Noir !
    
    Salut
    /JF

    By the way. Nicholas did not sign with Cannes. Kozniku (Croat) signed
    instead and started by scoring 3 goals for Cannes in their trashing of
    Monaco.
    
    /JF

>    started by scoring 3 goals for Cannes in their trashing of Monaco.
	Wishful thinking or forward planning? It was against LYON, not
	MONACO.

								.Andre.

    Ooops, sorry, I've GONE mad :-)
    
     �JF?

    Cascarino has now scored 5 goals for Marseille in Division II. Rumour
    has it he used his feet.
    
    /JF

    re 366
    
    The wait is over.
    
    I saw the goals from Marseille-Juventus yesterday and his second one is a
    header. (Yeah, so what if it's only a friendly)
    
	Eric

    Anybody got the fixtures for this weekend? Who is playing Nice?
    
    Tchirzz
    �JF?

    This weekend (27 August) - Nice v. Lens - sounds like a thriller !!
    
    Ray
    
    PS On Wednesday 31 August - Monaco v. Nice - much better don't you
       think ?!?   (Also on 30 Aug, Cannes v. Auxerre - on TV ??)

    A couple results I remember:
    
    PSG-Monaco 1:0
    Montpellier-Nantes 1:1
    Rennes-Strasbourg 1:1
    Caen-Metz 2:0
    Bordeaux-Cannes 0:2
    Nice-Lens 1:1
    St. Etienne-Le Havre 4:1
    Martigues-Sochaux 2:0
    
    Standings:
    ---------
    1. Nantes
    2. Cannes
    3. Martigues
    .
    .
    .
    11. Paris SG
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    19. Monaco
    20. Caen
    
    Strikers
    --------
    
    Quite a few guys with 4 goals, such as Loko (Nantes), Caveglia (Le
    Havre-3 pens.) and Denis (Rennes-1 og).
    
    Team for Slovakia-France announced this week. There is a League day
    this Wednesday.
    
    �JF?

    
    Montpellier - Nantes  2:2
    
    Auxerre - Lyon        0:0
    
    Lille - Bastia        3:0
    
    
    re: - 1  Come on, JF... You have to seek back 24 years ago to find
    	     a significant victory for Rennes versus Nice ?
    
    Let's also give my preferences
    
    1. OGC Nice (always)
    
    2. AS Monaco (Neighbour, nice play)
    
    3. SC Bastia 
    
    4. Rennes (Same shirt as Nice, and sympathic team)
    
    5. Some interest for Auxerre, Nantes, PSG and even Cannes despite the
       fact that Cannes is more a subsidiary of the Mairie than a Club)
    
    PYV 
    

    Well done Cannes !!!

    
    
    Cannes 3 - 1 Auxerre !!!
    
    My dear Philippe... where is Monaco ???

    Re -1 
    
    Just wait a little bit, Olivier. The season will be long; no need to
    hurry
    
    Re .370
    Another wishful thinking from JF :
    > 19 Monaco and 20 Caen
    Caen is 19th since another team (I can't remember who succeds in being
    more crap than Caen) has the same number of points but a worse
    goal-average .
    As to Monaco, they've got 7 points so far and Montpellier, at least, is
    behind them with 4 points.
    Note .37O by noter JF should have been set hidden by moderator JF
                                                                        
    Allez les rouges et blancs
    
    Philippe

    
    JF,
    
    I agree with -1. Don't confuse wishes and reality. ASM is in a
    mid-table place.
    
    I like ASM, but TONIGHT, I really hope they will be defeated by 
    l'Olympique Gymnaste Club de Nice.
    
    Allez lo Gym !
    
    
    PYV 
    

    re. 375
    
    >>                 -< Monaco is not that far (from PSG) >-
    
	Talk about clutching at straws...   =|:^)
    
   BTW, who is Nantes playing tonight ???  

    Philippe,
    
    "Allez les rouges et blancs"... fine !!!
    
    But Cannes is not playing anymore in yellow !!
    
    I am not sure that the colors of my tv set are so good... Could you
    tell me what are the new colors for Cannes ???
    
    Cheers,
    
    Olivier.
    

    Olivier,
    
    Cannes is back to its traditional shirt, i.e. "rouge et blanc", on 
    vertical stripes. 
    
    Then, Monaco and Cannes are both "rouge et blanc". Philippe is
    supporting his rouge et blanc, ASM.
    
    About the yellow shirts, the Cannes move makes one less in the league.
    At least your team FCN and Sochaux are playing in canari shirts.
    
    PYV
    

    RE -2:  Nantes v. Rennes ...

    
    
    My TV set is good... Yesterday, Cannes had red and white suits.
    
    AS Monaco is a team of poets... like my friend Philippe !!
    
    Cheers,
    
    Olivier.

    
    
    
    
    Cannes   3 - 0 Auxerre (tuesday night)
    Nantes   2 - 0 Rennes
    Monaco   0 - 2 Nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Bastia   1 - 2 PSG
    Metz     1 - 1 Lille
    Lens     0 - 0 Saint Etienne
    Sochaux  2 - 0 Montpellier
    Martigue 0 - 5 Strasbourg
    Le Havre 1 - 1 Bordeaux
    Lyon     1 - 0 Caen

    
    Come on, Olivier ! It's not that a surprise.
    
    Yes, Nice is coming (back) from Div. 2, but is playing quite well this
    year. To be fair, I have to mention that Monaco was playing without 
    Scifo, Petersen, Andersson, Viaud, Puel...
    
    But, It's good that teams such as Monaco, PSG or Nantes are
    underestimating OGCN. They will have some bitter surprises...
    
    PYV
    
    P.S. Also seen the highlights of Nantes-Rennes (2:0).
    	 Nantes has been shakened the whole match by Rennes, but won. 
    	 
    

    any update this week ?
    
    Thanks, Thierry

    Nope!
    
    
    'cos
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    there were no games!
    
    [We are playing Slovakia tomorrow night, or is it tonite. Boli is out.]
    
    �JF?

    [We are playing Slovakia tomorrow night, or is it tonite. Boli is out.]
    
    I think it's tomorrow.
    
    Probable line-up according to l'Equipe:
    
    				1. Lama
                                 (PSG)
    
    2. Angloma		4. Roche		5. Blanc	3. DiMeco
      (Torino)           (PSG)                  (St Etienne)    (Monaco)
    
    6. LeGuen		7. Deschamps		8. Djorkaeff	10. Cantona
       (PSG)             (Juventus)             (Monaco)         (Man Utd)
    
    			9. Dugarry		11. Ginola
    			 (Bordeaux)               (PSG)
    
    

    It is hard to really explain why but I am not impressed by this line 
    up... Most of you noters who saw the last outing against The Czech 
    Republic were raving about Zidane... why isn't he in ?
    
    It looks like Jacquet is going the safe way; I would have not been
    surprised if Houillier had come up with such a team.
    
    What would it take for creative players like Corentin Martins to get a
    shot at running the show ? I don't see us being able to take control of
    the pace of the game and impose our style of play (if we do have one...) 
    like we used to...Maybe we don't have the players anymore ? 
    Although the gang at Nantes seems O.K to me (Loko,Ouedec,Ferri,Peros...).
    
    My forecast: 0-0.. and it might even be optimistic.
    
    My 2 cents...                                       
    
    Jacques

    
    Is this match on the TF1/2   or  the private Canal Plus....
    
    Dezzz.
    
    

    
    The match will be on TF1 or A2 (don't remember).
    
    About the selection, I am also a bit puzzled by Blanc. This guy is
    good... as attacker. He proved many times to be good in front of the
    opposite goal, but crap on the defensive side.
    
    Don't want to reopen pleas, but he is in my mind the main culprit of
    the non-qualification for the USA.
    
    PYv
     
    
    
    

	Re: .386    Probable line-up according to l'Equipe:

	The announced team is exactly what you (L'Equipe) indicated apart
	from Dugarry which is replaced by Pedros...
	
	I hope they'll do the bizz, but I can't help thinking of their 
	recent disillusions (Israel, Bulgaria, ...) If you take the same
	players, you can hardly expect them to change from bad/poor to
	excellent for no other reason than "They are able to do better..."
    
	I'm none too impressed with (as already mentioned) Blanc at the
	back, as well as with the midfield (LeGuen, Deschamps, Djorkaeff).
	There is a lack of creativity there, both Deschamps and LeGuen
	are best as defensive midfielders, who is gonna provide good
	balls to the forwards? Remember last game when Cantona spent most
	of the game playing midfield so that eventually a ball could roll
	from Lama to the front line without being lost in between???

								.Andre.

Gentlemen,
	
Can anyone get me the number of Lyon Football club. This is an urgent request 
if anyone has it to hand. Much appreciated.

Andy

    Olympique Lyonnais Football Club: 78 74 65 18
    
    The game is on tonight on TF1 at 8:30 PM.
    
    There is no striker in the line-up...
    
    /JF

    
    The JF pronostic was good: a good old 0:0 !
    
    After a strong Slovakian pressure the 15 first minutes, and a light 
    problem delaying the match, France comfortably controled the match,
    with only some occasions missed by Ginola and Cantona. The striker's 
    absence was a real problem.
    
    The French did not push enough to win, and lost 2 points....
    Disappointing, but expectable with such a defensive/solid but not
    creative selection.
    
    The key match will be France - Romania in October, played at 
    St Etienne.  
    
    PYV

    > lost 2 points
    
    IS there a new rule where a win is 3 points instead of 2 ?
    
    Thierry

    
    Re.-2
    
    Pierre-Yves, check your sources.. I forecasted the 0-0 tie !..;-)
    
    What did Jacquet had to say for his defense ?
    
    Jacques

    re 394
    
    I think they're applying the same point count as during the World Cup.
    (ie 3 pts for win)
    
    re 395 
    
     >> What did Jacquet had to say for his defense ?
    
    The defense was about OK I guess, especially Roche and Deschamps.
    What struck me was the lack of leadership & creativity of midfield
    and forwards. Some very few touches of class (Cantona, Ginola,
    Pedros...) and nobody to play the No 10 position...
    
    IMO, this team is not a single inch better than the one who failed to
    qualify for USWC.
    
    	Eric
    

    Whooooooooooooooooooooooffffffffffff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
    A record 37 goals scored for 10 games! 8 wins and 2 draws. 25% more
    wins than last year! Bigger crowds!
    
    Highlights from this weekend:
    
    Paris 3:0 Metz
    Getting in shape. Rai scored on a diving header
    
    Rennes 3:1 Cannes
    Rennes back to their roots!
    
    Nice 1:2 Bastia 
    2 goals disallowed for Nice. Nobody knows why - off-side and whistle
    not blown? Some incidents at Le Ray
    
    Martigues 3:3 Nantes 
    Nantes 3:0 up with 27 minutes left!
    
    Caen-Auxerre 1:5
    1:4 at half-time! Prediction: manager fired today!
    
    Le Havre 1:0 Monaco
    Monaco in deep mud - Unable to score
    
    Lille 1:4 Lyon
    Well done Les Gones - 1st goal by Paille
    
    St. Etienne 4:0  Sochaux
    Allez les Verts!
    
    Bordeaux 1:2 Lens
    Well... I am happy!
    
    Montpellier 1:1 Strasbourg
    
    
    Standings  (roughly)
    --------
    
    1. Nantes
    2. Lyon
    3. Cannes
    .
    .
    6. Paris
    .
    8. Rennes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    19. Monaco
    20. Caen
    
    Strikers
    --------
    
    Loko and Wohlfart 6 goals, a heap of boys with 5.
    

    
    I was at "Le Ray", and, as usual, Nice-Bastia was a hot derby.
    
    Despite serious checks, the Corsican supporters used ver noisy "agricol
    bombs" (the rumor stands that they were brought in the stadium by a
    player), while the "Nicois" used (and burned) a lot of white paper
    ribbons.
    
    I hav'nt noticed any serious incident outside the stadium, but...
    
    About the match, Nice cumulated all the possible lack of luck and 
    scandalous referee decisions.
    1) In no way, the Mangione header was off side
    2) The Nagbe's goal was superb. The Nice players were allowed to shoot
    it, and did it. The referee first allowed the goal, and eventually 
    bizarely disallowed it.
    
    It was too much for Nice, who missed several goals "by miracle" and who
    had to change the libero Bafoe at half time, as this guy was
    responsible of the 2 Corsican goals, and more than crap.
    
    This is a good example of a match played quite well, with a dominating
    side (except 15 minutes in 1st half) scoring, but losing.
    
    That's life.
    PYV
      
    
       

    TV Schedule for the coming days:
    
    Date/time	Game				Channel		Competition
    
    Tuesday
    5.00pm	Volvograd-Nantes		TF1		UEFA Cup
    6.40pm	Bordeaux-Lillestroem		Canal+		UEFA Cup
    8.40pm	Olympiakos-Marseille		Canal+		UEFA Cup
    10.15pm	Cannes-Fenherbace    		Canal+		UEFA Cup
    
    Wednesday
    8.30pm	Paris SG-Bayern Munchen      	TF1		Champions
    
    Thursday
    6.00pm	Croatia Zagreb-Auxerre		TF1   		Cup Winners
    
	Eric

    I will try my memory...
    
    First, a recap on Europe:
    
    Volgograd-Nantes  3:2  looks good for the return leg
    Bordeaux-Lillestroem 3:1 looks good too
    Paris SG-Bayern M�nchen 2:0 3 pts.
    Olympiakos-Marseille 1:2 Amazing!
    Cannes-Fenherbace 4:0  Breezing...
    Croatia Zagreb-Auxerre 3:1 Exciting second leg.
    
    Good performance overall.
    
    League:
    ------
    
    Nantes-St. Etienne 3:0 	Loko, Ou�dec, Makal�l�, all in 14 minutes
    Lyon-Paris SG 2:0	Debbah, Paille. Paris played better but (once
    			again) unable to score
    Cannes-Martigues 0:1  Surprise. Cannes tired
    Metz-Nice 0:0	Good point for Les Aiglons
    Monaco-Rennes 0:0 Rennes should have won it but blew up their chances
    Strasbourg-Caen 1:0
    Lens-Le Havre 1:1 Ti�hy - Daury
    Sochaux-Bordeaux 1:4   Valdeir (3), Dugarry
    
    Can't remember Montpellier, Lille and Auxerre.
    
    Nantes still on top, with Lyon close second.
    
    News: Ars�ne Wenger, Monaco's manager, fired last Friday for "poor
    results". Jean Petit and JL Ettori named as caretakers. Wenger has
    several offers abroad (Portugal, Greece, Germany, the latter likely,
    the guy in fluent in German).
    
    Vercruysse joined Metz last week.
    
    In Div. II, Marseille tore Dunkerque apart 5:1, with Tony Cascarino
    scoring 3 and setting up another. Tony scored at least 12 already.
    
    �JF?

>    Can't remember Montpellier, Lille and Auxerre.
    
Auxerre - Lille 2-0
Bastia - Montpellier 1-1

Top:
	Nantes	9-21
	Lyon	9-20
	Lens	9-16

grahame

    How about them "Les Gones" ? What was the atttendance at Gerland for
    the game ? I think this was Paille first goal wasn't it ?
    
    And now let's go the Geoffroy Guichard and set the record straight !
    
    Allez l'OL !
    
    Jacques

    Attendance was about 30,000 +.
    
    It was Paille's second goal of the season.
    
    All tickets sold out at St. Etienne, means a crowd of 39,000 minimum.
    
    Even with Marseille out, gate average is rising, with a lot of derbies
    such as Lyon-St.Etienne, Rennes-Nantes, Cannes-Nice, Lille-Lens.
    
    Last night, Montpellier-Monaco 2:2. Not too good according to my direct
    reports, bad defence-play and awful goal-keeping.
    
    Roll on tonight. The pitch in Nice will be soaked, it's raining chats
    et chiens.
    
    Cheers
    /JF

    This is my Monday morning try at guessing the results (comments from
    watching T�l�Foot):
    
    St. Etienne-Lyon 1:1       40,000
    Gava, Wohlfart
    
    Capacity crowd and rain throughout. Hard-fought battle, Camara missed a
    couple sitters. Fair result it seems although St. Etienne had the best
    chances.
    
    Paris SG-Auxerre 1:1    30,000
    Lamouchi, Weah
    
    Good game and Paris unable to score once more. Solid Auxerre.
    
    Martigues-Bastia 5:2     5,000
    
    Tholot hat-trick. I still do not understand how those 2 teams can be in
    Division I but there you are Martigues are in 4th place!
    
    Rennes-Metz 1:2		12,000
    Andr�, ?, Lang
    
    Argh. And Marco Grassi hit the bar.
    
    Lille-Caen 1:1		7,000
    
    Dunker, Simba. Caen on the road to recovery. Kenneth Anderson sent off
    for bad temper.
    
    Bordeaux-Strasbourg 2:0	16,000
    
    Valde�r, Dugarry. No comment. A strong Bordeaux.
    
    Le Havre-Sochaux 2:0	9,000
    
    Cav�glia, Daury.
    
    Lens-Cannes 0:2		23,000
    
    Priou (2). They did it again. How long can they keep it up?
    
    Nice-Nantes 1:3	10,000
    
    Ipouah, Pignol, Loko, N'Doram
    Nice completely outclassed by the future (?) champions. What can you do
    against the French Barcelona?
    
    Montpellier-Monaco 2:2   7,000
    
    Sanchez-Divert, Madar (2). Hmmm. Fumble of the season. Barrb�,
    Montpellier's goalie, gets a pass from a defender and gets stuck with
    the ball on his right foot and does not see Madar who slides at full
    speed and tackles home! 
    
    Standings:
    ----------
    
    1. Nantes     24
    2. Lyon       21
    3. Cannes	  19
    4. Martigues  18
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    9. Paris SG
    .
    .
    .
    12. Rennes
    13. Nice
    .
    16. Monaco
    .
    .
    .
    20. Caen
    
    Strikers
    --------
    
    Tholot (Martigues), Loko (Nantes)  8 goals
    
    
    DIVISION II
    -----------
    
    Al�s-Guingamp 1:1
    
    Marseille-Laval 5:0  (Cascarino scored 3. That's 15 in 12 games).
    
    Marseille back on top. 5 goals is the price to pay when you travel to
    Marseille these days.
    
    /JF
    
    

    
    The French Barcelona ? Huh ? Wait some time to actually compare.
    
    OK, Nantes has a good style and scores.
    But, if I take the Nice match, even if I am biased, I don't follow the
    media comments about Nantes outclassing Nice.
    
    - Nice dominated the first 20 minutes and could have score without bad
      finishing
    - Nantes scored against the game trends, with an "average" free kick   
      wich slipped in the hands of the Nice's keeper.
    - At this moments, Nice began to offer many free spaces to Nantes, and 
      got 2 other goals on counter attacks, .. exactly like in the previous
      matches in Nice versus Bastia. 
    - The end of the match was a Nice domination, with a deserved goal.
    
      OK, no reason to really complain, but the so-called class difference
      was not obvious.
       
      PYV
    

    
    
    But... the most important thing is the final result at the end of the
    season..!!

    thanks, JF for you complete report...

    Incredible! Marvellous! Fantastic!
    
    MARSEILLE  3  : 0  OLYMPIAKOS ATHENS (Agg.: 5:1)
    NANTES     3  : 0  VOLGOGRAD         (Agg.: 5:3)
    FENHERBACE 1  : 5  CANNES            (Agg.: 1:9)
    LILLESTROM 0  : 2  BORDEAUX          (Agg.: 1:5)
    
    Absolutely no comment!
    Reminder: Marseille is in Divi. II. Capacity crowd! Great attacking!
    Looked even better than in the Papin/Boli/Desailly/Deschamps/Boksic
    days! Great fervour! Tears in the eyes! Best game since
    Argentina-Romania!
    
    YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!
    
    /JF

    
    JF...This MUST be the first time there has been 4 French clubs in the
    2nd round of the UEFA cup ????
    
    Looks like France, Germany and Italy will have their full compliment in
    the next round.
    
    All this with Auxerre and PSG to come bodes well for French Football.
    Maybe NOW they'll actually win something this season....
    
    Dezzz.
    
    

How did Cascarino do in the Marseille game ? That's if he was playing.

    Cascarino had an excellent game, scored the first after a good Ferrer
    pass and a chip over Greek goalie. Scored the third after an
    excellent Ferreri run on left wing, backpass, first shot, ball comes
    back to him and he volleys home.
    
    MOTM was Marcel Dib, his best game of his career. 2nd MOTM was the
    Greek goalie who saved (at least) 4 goals. That gives you the level at
    which Marseille played. I mean, Olympiakos lead the Greek League and
    had one shot at goal in the entire game! The funniest was when Lina
    who came on as a substitute in the Greek side dribbled past 4
    Marseillais and was tackled (!) in front of the open goal by a fellow
    player!
    
    I heard Nantes had an impressive game, they were all over Volgograd.
    
    Bordeaux was solid as usual and Cannes did another festival! Paris
    tonight in Moscow, tough job, and Auxerre tomorrow at home against
    Zagreb (3:1). Furia expected as the only alternative is win win win,
    2:0 being the best scenario. I would not be surprised to see goal
    galore, like 5:2.
    
    Allez, feels good! A boost for next week's game, France-Romania. Bring
    on Marcel Dib in the squad!
    
    Cheers
    /JF                               

    
    Spartak Moscow 1 - 2 Paris St Germain. 

    
    To complete the picture, in the winners cup:
    
    Auxerre - Croatia Zagreb  3:0  (4-3 on aggr.)
    
    This makes 6 wins for 6 matches for the French Clubs.
    
    PYV
     

    Yeah! Let's calm down, we are on a cloud.
    
    First: 4 French clubs in UEFA Cup (Nantes, Bordeaux, Cannes, Auxerre)
    First: 4 French clubs go through in UEFA Cup (ditto)
    First: All 6 French clubs won their games in Europe - Could be a
    Guinness record? With 3 away wins too.
    
    Lillestrom-Bordeaux 0:2
    Marseille-Olympiakos 3:0
    Fenherbace-Cannes 1-5
    Spartak Moscow-Paris SG 1:2
    Nantes-Volgograd 3:0
    Auxerre-Croatia Zagreb 3:0
    
    Goal difference is: 18-2
    
    What next?
    
    Ahhh
    /JF

    Well, it certainly looks like the French are on top of Europe at the
    moment. I don't think any other country got through the first round of
    matches unscathed.
    
    Then again, I sometimes ask myself how it is that the French have won
    so little over the years. They've produced some excellent teams and
    some of Europe's top players, but they haven't won anything like the
    amount of trophies they should have (just Marseille in EC1 in 1993?).
    
    Dom

    
    I do believe all the German teams got through the KO matches...
    
    Dezzz.

    re: .416
    
    And with a club in second division, that's probably where the 
    Guinness record is...
    
    ThierryZ

    
    RE: .417
    
    One of the possible explanations of the lack of French trophies 
    probably lays in their unability to keep the same level of form along
    the season.
     They generally are very good and impressive at the first round, say 
    before Christmas. At the end of the season, they are generally 
    exhausted. This have been obvious in most of the finals where French
    Clubs were involved: the football they produced then had nothing to do 
    with the one seen at the first rounds.
    
    Why ? dunno. Several causes probably. May be the trainers are reluctant
    to organise a turnover and use the substitutes. 
    
    I hope to be wrong, but I predict no French clubs in final this year
    too.
    
    PYV  
      

Tony Cascarino has inspired it all .-)

Ren�

    
    Monaco - Martigues    2:0
    Cannes - Lille        0:0
    Lyon - Nice           1:1
    Bastia - Rennes       1:2
    Caen - Paris          1:2
    Nantes - Bordeaux     3:3
    Lens - Montpellier    0:0
    Auxerre - St Etienne  3:0
    Strasbourg - Le Havre 3:0
    Metz - Le Havre       ???
    
    PYV

    You can discuss France - Romania (0:0) in topic 341. Excellent game.
    
    /JF

    
    Lens        1:0 Strasbourg
    PSG         3:0 Lille
    Bordeaux    0:3 Monaco (first goal for Anderson)
    Rennes      2:2 Auxerre
    St Etienne  0:1 Bastia 
    Montpellier 2:2 Lyon
    Le Havre    0:0 Nantes
    Nice        0:1 Caen
    
    Can't remember all games....
    

    
    Sochaux - Cannes 2:1
    Martigues - Metz 1:1
    
    
    PYV

    Can't remember everything:
    
    Lille-Nice 1:0
    Lyon-Rennes 3:0
    Cannes-Paris SG 3:2
    Nantes-Lens 3:0
    Auxerre-..... 3:0
    Strasbourg-.... 3:0
    Caen-Montpellier 1:0
    Monaco-St. Etienne 0:0
    
    Standings
    ---------
    
    1. Nantes
    2. Lyon
    3. Cannes
    4. Auxerre?
    5. Bordeaux?
    6. Paris?.
    .
    .
    .
    10. Monaco?
    11. Rennes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    18. Nice
    19. Caen
    20. Montpellier
    
    
    Top scorer: Loko (Nantes, something like 10 goals).
    
    Anybody got more?
    
    /JF

    
    Yes, Nice is 16 th... not 18 th.
    
    PYV
    

    How is Tony 'Rat Face' Cascarino getting on over there ?
    
    
    Ian

    I think I read yesterday that Mr. Cascarino has scored 18 goals in 10
    (or was it 12) matches. A pretty respectable scoring rate.
    

    Last night performance by French sides:
    
    Katowice 1:0 Bordeaux  Late goal. Looks OK for return
    
    Sion 2:0 Marseille 
    
    Ouch! There's a Brazilian at Sion which makes you
    wonder how they can have so many talended players in Brazil that he has
    to play for a second-rate team. Won't stay long. Marseille tried very
    hard but blew up their chances (about 8). Interesting return, to be
    sure!
    
    Admira Wacker 1:1 Cannes
    
    Terrible penalty decision for the Wackers. Then Cannes were all over
    but could only score one despite a mouthful of chances. Pretty safe for
    the return.
    
    Nantes-Kymashin (sp.) 2:0
    
    Ou�dec double.
    
    Tonight: Dynamo Kiev-Paris SG. Hmmmm, tough one, watch that Leonenko
    chap.
    
    Tomorrow: Bestiksas Istanbul-Auxerre.
    
    
    Another possibility of getting six out of six.
    
    Regards
    /JF
    
    

    
    Champions league result:
    
    Dynamo Kiev - Paris S.G   1:2
    
    Paris should qualify, with 3 wins over 3 matches.
    
    PYV
    

    
    Some week-end results:
    
    Nantes - Sochaux       0:0
    Auxerre - Montpellier  1:1
    Bordeaux - Metz        4:2
    Lens - Lyon            4:0
    Nice - Paris SG        0:4
    Strasbourg - Monaco    1:0
    St Etienne - Cannes    1:0
    
    Not sure about the others.
    
    Attended the match Nice - PSG:   OGC Nice has been outstandingly....
                                     crap, and incredibly passive. 
                                     Too easy for Paris.
    				     (A frustrated OGCN fan)
    BTW, the results were bad for all the Azurean teams, with Monaco and 
    Cannes defeated.
    
    PYV
    

    
    Montpellier 1:1 Auxerre
    Martigues   4:1 Caen

    EURO RESULTS SO FAR:
    
    Kamyshin 1:2 Nantes	Safely through - Ou�dec scored twice
    
    Bordeaux 1:1 Katowice - Shock.
    
    Marseille 3:1 Sion - Well done OM but for a stupid goal which deprived
    them of advancing. Back to Div. II football and thanks for the
    excitement.
    
    And the greatest results of them all:
    
    Cannes 2- Admira Wacker 4	(3-5 agg.)
    
    
    I was at Cannes's ground last night and what disastrous tactics it was,
    playing attacking football when all they had to do was wait for the
    Austrians and go on counter-attacks. I missed the first 20 minutes (!) and
    could not believe the scoreboard (0:3).
    
    And then I watched an excellent game, with Cannes getting 10 clear
    chances at least and only scoring 2. One of those games when nothing
    works!
    
    Well done the Austrians but they should never have been allowed to come
    close to Cannes's goal!
    
    Manager Susic clearly in trouble!
    
    TONIGHT:
    -------
    
    Champions League: Paris SG-Dynamo Kiev
    
    TOMORROW:
    --------
    
    Auxerre-Besiktas	(2:2 1st leg)
    
    Cheers
    /JF
    

    So, JF tell us what did PSG do yesterday night ?
    
    Thanks, Thierry

    
    
    PSG 1:0 Dynamo Kiev (Rai and Weah were excellent)
    
    For me PSG is playing well without.... Ginola !!

    Who is Ginola anyway?
    
    Solid game. Paris would not allow the Ukranians to come too close and
    the attacking pair of Rai and Weah was outstanding. Rai is coming of
    age at last and a pleasure to watch, a gentleman too.  He suffered all
    last year, was dropped from the Brazilian side consequently and did not
    utter a single word.
    
    Mind you, at an estimated �100,000 a month I would do same!
    
    Standings:
    ----------
    
    Paris SG	8
    Bayern	4
    Etc.
    
    Paris sure to qualify and almost certainly 1st place and will face
    either Barca, the Mancs or Gothenburg depending on how well Cantona
    plays the next games, eh?
    
    Salut                  
    /JF

    thanks

    AUXERRE 2:0 BESIKTAS ISTANBUL (4:2 agg.)
    
    Auxerre advance to the next round. Did not see the game so no comment.
    
    Wrap-up
    -------
    
    Champions League: Paris SG qualified for quarter-finals
    Cup Winners Cup: Auxerre qualified for quarter-finals
    EUFA: - Nantes qualified for the last 16. Next round this month.
          - Cannes, Bordeaux eliminated.
    
    Not too bad but really, Bordeaux and Cannes blew it.
    
    /JF

    Forgot Marseille, sorry. eliminated, 3:3 agg. but one away goal for
    Sion. That goal was an utter disgrace and Barthez admitted it was
    entirely his fault. Too bad really it would have been nice for
    Marseille but there you go, their main objective is direct promotion to
    Division I.
    
    /JF

    Some League results, from memory:
    
    Martigues 1: 1 Paris SG   Bouquet-M'Boma
    
    Sochaux 1:3 Bastia
    
    Rennes 3:1 Nice
    
    Nantes 3:1 Metz  Ou�dec, Cauet, og   Zitelli
    
    Strasbourg 1:2 Cannes  Garde-Kozniku, Viera
    
    Montpellier 1:0 Lille Divert
    
    Lens 0:0 Monaco
    
    Le Havre 2:0 Lyon
    
    Bordeaux 3:1 Auxerre
    
    St Etienne 2:0 Lille 
    
    Standings:
    ---------
    
    1. Nantes	36
    2. Paris SG 28
    3. Cannes, Bordeaux etc.
    ...
    11. Rennes
    ...
    
    Next League day this Wednesday. Then a rest to prepare Poland-France.
    
    Cheers
    /JF
    18. Caen
    19. Montpellier
    20. Nice
    
    Leading scorers:
    ---------------
    
    1. Ou�dec, Caveglia	10
    
    

    I will test my memory once again. Games played last Wednesday and
    Thursday.
    
    Paris SG 2:1 Rennes
    Rai (2)      Gourvennec. (Also missed a penalty, well Lama saved it)
    
    Monaco 2:2 Nantes
    Ipkeba (2) - Loko, Ou�dec
    
    Cannes 3:0 Montpellier
    Kozniku, Horlaville, Durix
    
    Caen 4:2 Bordeaux
    K. Andersson (3), Simba   Valdeir, ?
    
    Lyon 4:0 Sochaux
    Roche (3), Paille
    
    Nice 1:1 Martigues
    Chaouch - Tholot
    
    Bastia 0:1 Strasbourg
               Farina
    
    Auxerre 1:1 Le Havre
    Verlaat     Ba
    
    Lille 1:0 St Etienne
    
    Lens 1:3 Metz
    Wallemme   Zitelli (2), ?
    
    Table:
    -----
    
    1. Nantes 37
    2. Paris SG 31
    3. Cannes 30
    4. Lyon
    .
    .
    .
    10. Monaco
    11. Rennes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    20. Nice
    
    
    Leading scorers
    ---------------
    
    1. Loko, Ou�dec (Nantes) 11
    
    JP Papin scored his first goal for Bayern M�nchen Saturday.
    
    
    Probable line-up for Poland-France (pseudo-live TF1 at 18:00. Game
    starts at 17:30), this Wednesday:
    
    		     LAMA
    
    ANGLOMA	ROCHE	BLANC	 DI M�CO
    
    DESAILLY	CANTONA	(cap.)   LE GUEN
    
    DJORKAEFF        OU�DEC       PEDROS
    
    Loko is injured. Subs: Lizarazu, Zidane, Dugarry...
    
    
    Division II:
    -----------
    
    Guingamp 1:0 Laval (last minute!)
    Gueugnon 0:0 Marseille
    
    1. Guingamp
    2. Marseille
    
    Cheers
    /JF

>                        -< Memory is improving, thanks >-
>    Bastia 0:1 Strasbourg
>               Farina
	Isn't Farina playing for Lille those days? I think he was the one
	who scored against St Etienne.
	Sorry I don't know who else scored...

								.Andre.

    
    Just a little correction about the table:
    
    Nice is      19 th with 14 pts
    Montpellier  20         13 pts
    
    Cheers
    PYV

    OK. I will really try and stop smoking!
    
    :-)
    
    /JF

    Nantes 0:0 Bastia                   
    
    St. Etienne 1:3 Paris SG  
    Moreau       : Le Guen, Roche, S�chet
    
    Monaco 0:0 Cannes
    
    Strasbourg 1:0 Lyon
    Billong (og)
    
    Sochaux 4:2 Metz
    Prat (3), Vos : ??
    
    Martigues 1:0 Rennes
    Rabat
    
    Montpellier 0:0 Nice
    
    Lens 1:1 Le Havre
    
    Lille 0:0 Auxerre    |
                         |  A bit mixed up about those 2 games. Draws all
    Bordeaux 1:1 Caen    |  right but teams wrong maybe. PY?
    
    Standings
    ---------
    
    1. Nantes
    2. Paris SG   4 points behind
    3. Cannes	  7   "      "
    4. Lyon
    5. Strasbourg
    .
    .
    .
    .
    11. Rennes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    18. Caen
    19. Montpellier
    20. Nice
    
    Division II
    -----------
    
    Marseille won 3:0 (tony scored one, his 21st in the League).
    Guingamp won 1:0
    
    1. Guingamp
    2. Marseille  2 pts. beghind

    
    JF,
    
    You persist and sign in leaving Nice in the last position. But I am
    sure it's not on purpose.
    Nice is 19th whereas Montpellier is last.
    
    BTW, Gerard Gilli, the Montpellier's coach has been fired Yesterday, by
    Nicollin.
    
    BTW also, it seems to me that Bordeaux won 1:0, not drew.
    
    

    At least somebody is reading my notes! Thanks PY.
    
    Allez les Aiglons!
    
    BTW I learnt the other day that Daniel Bravo was born near Toulouse and
    is not a Nice local, which I always believed to be the case. True, he
    started his career in Nice. He deserves to play for France with the
    sort of form he has shown recently. He would not do worse than some of
    the donkeys we have at the moment. He is getting ready to be a manager
    after his playing days are over (he is only 31). He has 4 kids.
    
    Salut
    /JF

    
    Yes, I ve seen him playing when he was a junior, and was miles over
    the other ones.
    
    I still wonder how he could blow up most of his career.
    He was recruited by Nice when he was something like 15 yesrs old.
    
    PYV

    I saw Bravo play in the very first match I saw in France in 1988.
    A beautiful balmy evening in Nice - they were playing Bordeaux
    who had Clive Allen at that time.   Can't remember the score -
    1-1 perhaps - but Bravo was good, and the 1664 even better ...
    
    Ray

    
    Some results I remind:
    
    Paris SG   - G. Bordeaux    0:0
    AS Cannes  - FC Nantes      0:1
    AJ Auxerre - FC Sochaux     4:0
    St Rennes  - Montpellier H. 1:1
    OGC Nice   - AS St Etienne  3:0  Yaouu !!
    O. Lyon    ... won
    
    Nantes is "Champion d'Automne".
    
    PYV   

    Paris SG    - G. Bordeaux    0:0
    AS Cannes   - FC Nantes      0:1
    AJ Auxerre  - FC Sochaux     4:0
    St Rennais  - Montpellier H. 2:2
    OGC Nice    - AS St Etienne  3:0  Yaouu !!
    O. Lyon     - Caen (?)       4:0
    Metz        - Strasbourg     3:2
    Bastia      - Monaco         2:2
    Le Havre    - Lens (?)       0:0  (?)
    
    Standings
    ---------
    
    1. Nantes
    2.  Paris SG    6 pts behind
    3. Auxerre, Lyon  7 pts behind
    5. Cannes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    .
    12. Rennes
    .
    .
    .
    .
    17. Nice (?)
    18. Caen (?)
    19. Lille (?)
    20. Montpellier (?)
    
    Leading scorers:
    ----------------
    
    1. Loko (Nantes) 12
    2. Ou�dec (Nantes) 11
    
    Division II
    -----------
    
    Toulouse - Guingamp  1:1
    ? - Marseille        1:1
    
    1. Guingamp
    2. Marseille 3 pts behind
    
    /JF

    A few weeks ago, Gerard Gili, manger of Montpellier, was sacked. Michel
    Mezy replaced him.
    
    Last night, after Marseille's defeat against Niort in the new League
    Cup, Marc Bourrier was sacked also.
    
    Rumour has it that Gili will come back to Marseille (He was a manager
    there in the late 80's/early 90's.
    
    Arsene Wener, sacked by Monaco a couple months ago, has signed a
    contract for Japan's Nagoya. I wish him � and success.
    
    �JF?

    
>    Arsene Wener, sacked by Monaco a couple months ago, has signed a
>    contract for Japan's Nagoya. I wish him � and success.
	He said a few days ago that nothing was signed yet, a final decision
	was to be expected around the 10th of December... 

								.Andre.

    
    Confirmed: 
          Gilli will train Marseille again, while Bourrier will be in
    charge of the Formation Centre.
    
    PYV 

    
    Last Week-end results
    
    Lens - PSG              1:2
    Nantes - Auxerre        0:0
    Bordeaux - Montpellier  2:0
    Sochaux - Nice          0:1  Yaou again !
    Bastia - Metz           Postponed cause the troubles of last match
                            Bastia pitch suspended 1 match (again!)
    Cannes - Caen (French)  1:0
    Strasbourg - Lille      1:1
    Monaco - Lyon           1:1
    Le Havre - Rennes       4:0  Oh, JF !
    St Etienne - Martigues  3:0
    
    
    PYV            
     

    When does the French season end for Christmas ??  I hope to persuade
    by brother-in-law to tape the last Telefoot so we can watch Thierry
    on Christmas Day - well it beats the Queen I suppose ..
    
    Thanks - Ray

    
    The nest day will be December the 17 th, and the last one before the
    Christmas "treve" (pause)
    
    Next matches in January (I believe).
    
    PYV 
    
    

    RE .456
    
    Nantes tired ?! but still leading French League...
    
    Olivier.

	Talks are on (again) between Arsene Wenger and Bayern Munich...
	Bayern tried to convince him to join last summer, but it did not
	come true, so they hired Trappatoni. It looks like Giovanni will
	get the boot very soon...
	
								.Andre.

	Talks are on (again) between Arsene Wenger and Bayern Munich...
                                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    
        Is that French for a bad player who wears the No 7 or No 11 
        Jersey ??????
    
        8*))
    
        colin

	Re: .-1

>        Is that French for a bad player who wears the No 7 or No 11 
>        Jersey ??????
	I'm afraid not... Arsene is the former manager of Monaco (not to
	be confused with Monaco di Baviera) and he was given the boot a
	month ago (refer to .453 and .454 for futher details...)

								.Andre.

    Those of us that used to actively support Monaco, knew him simply
    as "Arsie" ...
    
    Ray

    
    Errrm....meant as a bit of 'slang'.........
    
    sorry for the confusion....
    
    Arsene = "Arsie" as the previous noter mentions......
    
    Wenger = Sounds like "Winger", as in usually wears No 7 or No 11
             shirt.
    
    Arsene Wenger = Ar*e Winger = crap player
    
    8*))
    
    colin
    

    Sad .......

    Couple results for you:
    
    Paris SG  1:0 Strasbourg
    Ginola (dubious pen.)
    
    Caen 0:Nantes 2
    
    Metz 3:2 Cannes
    
    Lyon 0:0 Bastia
    
    Nice 0:2 Le Havre
    
    Rennes 0:1 Lens
    
    Montpellier 3:2 St Etienne
    
    Lille 1:0 Sochaux
    
    Martigues 1:0 Bordeaux
    
    Auxerre 2:2 Monaco
    
    Nantes and Paris SG lead the pack. Winter break now, back late January
    or early Feb. (I think).
    
    Merry Christmas and a Happy New year
    
    �JF?
    

    
    The summit of the season, PSG- Nantes was played yesterday and saw 
    the Nantes's victory in Paris 3:0.
    
    Nantes is now leading with 10 points clear (Paris has a postponed match
    to play though), and are now the favourites for the title.
    
    Nantes dominated the match, helped by the Bravo's sending off in first 
    half and the Colleter one in the second half.
    
    The "great" Euro Cup quarter final will be amazing, with Barcelona 
    recently defeated 5:0 and PSG 3:0 at home.
    
    PYV 

    When was the last time that Nantes won the league ??   I seem to
    recall they won a couple of championships in the mid-80's .. anyone ??
    
    Ray

RE: -.1

12 years ago.

    We had a round of the FA Cup over the weekend but not too many
    surprises. T
    
    Results:
    -------
    
    Montpellier 2 - 0 St. Etienne
    Paris SG 3 - 1 Rennes
    Sochaux 0 - 0 Marseille (Marseille on penalties)
    Metz 2- 0 Dunkerque
    Martigues 1 - 0 Le Mans
    Caen 1 - 3 St. Brieuc
    S�te 0 - 2 Lille
    Pau 1 - 2 Nice
    Dijon 0 - 1 Bastia
    Louhans-Cuiseaux 3 - 4 Strasbourg
    La Roche/Yon 0 - 2 Auxerre
    Ch�teau-Thierry 0 - 2 Le Havre
    Tr�lissac 0 - 4 Lyon
    Vitrolles 0 - 1 Lens
    Forbach 2 - 4 Bordeaux
    Cluses 1 - 2 Nantes
    Saint-Louisienne 0 - 2 Cannes
    Vitr� 0 - 5 Monaco
    Rouen 0 - 0 Ch�teauroux (Ch�teauroux on pen.)
    Red Star 0 - 1 Poitiers
    Cherbourg 3 - 1 Laval
    Montauban 1 - 2 Beauvais
    Ch�teaubriant 1 - 1 Angers (Angers on pen.)
    Ambert 0 - 1 Nancy
    Cagnes/Mer 1 - 3 Mulhouse
    Schiltigheim 0 - 3 Aubervilliers
    Noisy-le-sec 2 - 0 St. Priest
    Saint-Leu 3 - 0 Vaulx-en-Velin
    Wasquehal 0 - 0 F�camp (F�camp on pen.)
    Thouars 0 - 0 Vannes (Thouars on pen.)
    Saint-L� 2 - 1 Brest
    Niort St. Liguaire 1 - 3 Mont-de-Marsan

    
    Last day: some results
    
    Lyon - Cannes       	3:1
    Lille - Monaco      	1:0
    Nice - Strasbourg   	3:4
    Montpellier - Le Havre  	2:1
    St Etienne - Bordeaux   	2:1
    Martigues - Lens            0:0
    Rennes - Sochaux (Delayed for bad weather conditions)
    PSG - Nantes                0:3  (played a week ago)
    Caen - Bastia               2:1
    Metz - Auxerre              0:0 ? (not sure)
    
    
    France - Wales             21:9   (ouuups, wrong note, sorry !)

    
    Auxerre - Metz              1:1
    
    Nantes at the Top... French Riviera is cloudy.... isn't it ???
    
    Olivier.

    
    Well, the French Riviera'f football is cloudy at the moment...
    However, the weather is not, and quite nice.
    
    Up North, it's the contrary.
    That's life. It's difficult to have both.
    
    Pierre-Yves
    
    PS               Olivier, thanks for the correction.
    
     
    
    

    Table:
    
    	1 Nantes  23 51
    	2 PSG     22 41
    	3 Lyon    22 38
    	4 Cannes  23 37
    	5 Auxerre 23 36

    
    Some results of the last day. Several matches postponed due to flood
    conditions in the North of France.
    
    Monaco - PSG       2-1  Seems the title is lost for PSG
    Cannes - Bordeaux  2-0  Last match for Durix joining Wenger in Nagoya
    Lens - Nice        2-1  Worse & worse
    Bastia - Lille     3-1  
    Lyon - Auxerre     3-0  Lyon takes the second place 
    
    PYV

    Strasbourg-Rennes	2:2
    Metz-Caen	4:0

    
    The Cup this week-end with GIGANTIC surprises.
    Some results:
    (National 1 is the former Division 3)
    
    St Leu (National 1) - Nantes         1:1     St Leu qualified
    Poitiers (Nat. 1)   - Monaco         2:1     Poitiers qual.
    Lyon 	        - Angers (D2)    1:3     Angers qualified
    Bastia              - Cannes         3:0     Bastia  "
    Nice                - Marseille (D2) 0:1     Marseille qual. 
    Martigues           - PSG            0:1     PSG qual.
    
    Nantes, never defeated this season in the championship, and not
    discussed leader, thrown out by a third div. team !
    Monaco was leading 1:0 15 mn from the end, got 2 (deserved) goals in 
    10 minutes by a D3 team !
    Lyon, very brilliant these last matches, dominated at home by Angers,
    an average D2 team !
    And last, but not the least, Nice defeated by Marseille. Knowing the
    antagonism to say the least between Nice and Marseille supporters, 800
    policemen have been assigned for the event, and could not prevent riots
    at the end of the match, which seen Marseille dominating the first
    half, and scoring by...Cascarino, and Nice dominating the second half,
    and only being able to score a goal which was disallowed due to a
    firework piece thrown to Barthez at the very second when Nice scored !
    
    PYV  
    a third div                 
       

Surely there' nothing in the rules about external influences cancelling out
a goal?  If the 'offence' was a firework on the pitch surely the goal should
stand then the French FA decide what should happen - either throw Nice out or
replay the match behind closed doors?

    
    The FA did'nt take any other action than fining Nice & Marseille for 
    their supoorters's behaviour. 
    I guess that if the goal had been cancelled in Marseille due to the 
    Marseille's supporters, and Nice eliminated due to this, a complaint
    wouls have been instructed. Nice being eliminated 9partially) due to his 
    supporters's supidity, did'nt complain.
    
    PYV
    
    

    
    Some results of the last day:
    
    Rennes - Nantes       1:1
    PSG - Bastia          3:0 (2 Ginola's goals)
    Nice - Monaco         3:1
    Montpellier - Sochaux 2:1
    Caen - Lyon           0:1
    Auxerre - Cannes      3:0
    Bordeaux - Le Havre   0:1 
    
    

    
    Another one, last saturday. Some results I happen to remember:
    
    Metz - Paris SG    2:0    Title is lost for PSG
    Martigues - Nantes        Delayed 
    Monaco - Le Havre  1:2    Le Havre's 17 last matches: 10 wins, 7 draws
    Bastia - Nice      1:1    
    Sochaux - St Etienne 2:0
    Auxerre - Caen     1:1
    Strasbourg - Montpellier 0:0
    Lens - Bordeaux    1:0 
    Cannes - Rennes    0:1
    Lyon - Lille       3:0
    
    PYV

  Week-end's Cup results

  Marseille (D2) - Beauvais (D2)    1:0    Marseille  qual.
  Auxerre (D1)   - Bordeaux (D1)    1:2    Bordeaux
  Bastia (D1)    - Nancy (D2)       0:1    Nancy
  Montpellier (D1) - Metz (D1)      1:2    Metz
  Le Havre (D1)  - PSG (D1)         Delayed (weather conditions)
  Mulhouse (D2)  - Angers (D2)      1:0    Mulhouse
  St Leu (Nat 1) - Strasbourg (D1)  1:3    Strasbourg
  
  Euh, one's missing (Poitiers ?) 

  Seems that the North East of France is working well in the Cup.

  PYV 
    

Chateauroux - Poitiers also postponed.

g

    
    2 matches played in advance:
    
    St Etienne  - Nantes   1:1
    Paris St G. - Lyon     4:1
    
    PYV
    

    
    Some results
    
    Auxerre - PSG         1:1    PSG still average in the championship
    Monaco - Montpellier  2:0    A cracker from Djorkaeff
    Nantes - Nice         2:1    2 scandalous penalties offered to Nantes
    Cannes - Lens         2:0    Cannes still has a chance for Europe
    Caen - Lille          2:0    
    Bastia - ?            1:0
    
    Just back from holidays, my memory already fails....
    
    PYV

    
    The Cup quarter-finals:
    
    Marseille (D2) - Chateauroux (D2)  2:0 (Cascarino,.....Cantona...Joel) 
    Nancy (D2)     - Paris SG (D1)     0:2 (Ricardo twice)
    Strasbourg (D1) - Bordeaux (D1)    2:0 (Mostovoi, Gravelaine)
    Metz (D1)       - Mulhouse (D1)    2:0 (Pouget, Kastendeusch)
    
    
    Draw:
    
       Paris SG   - Marseille   (Yes, fans trouble in perspective)
       Strasbourg - Metz        (The North East derby)
    
     
    PYV
    

    
    Are they showing the PSG v Marseille game live on TV ???
    
    Dezzz.

    
    Dunno yet.
    
    Keep you informed.
    
    PYV

    
    PSG - Cannes         2:1
    Lens - Nantes        1:1
    St Etienne - Monaco  1:0
    Nice - Lille         1:0
    Montpellier - Caen   3:2
    Le Havre - Metz      0:2
    Bordeaux - Bastia    1:0
    Martigues - Auxerre  2:1
    Sochaux - Strasbourg 0:1
    Rennes - Lyon        1:1
    
    
    Nantes Virtually Champion
    Hard fight for the UEFA places with Lyon, Lens, Cannes, Auxerre 
    having the best chances, while Bordeaux and Monaco virtually out of the
    game.
    The fight is also hard to avoid relegation. Sochaux is virtually 
    relegated. Caen, Nice, Montpellier, Lille, Bastia and St Etienne are in
    danger.
    This week, again 2 coached fired:
    - Toni (Bordeaux), and Jeandupeux (Strasbourg), replaced until the end
      of the season by retired players.
    
    PYV
     

>    This week, again 2 coached fired:
>    - Toni (Bordeaux), and Jeandupeux (Strasbourg), replaced until the end

were they fired before or after their teams won at the weekend?!

g

    
    Before.
    
    One might think about the psychologic shock.
    However, Bordeaux have been cr*p and very lucky to win, while 
    Strasbourg was playing the last one and scored with a penalty at the
    latest minute of the game, ... after having been dominated.
    
    PYV 

    
    To-morrow - tuesday - 
    
    
    PSG - Marseille  Cup semis  at 8:30   live TF1   !!!
    
    

    
    Last week-end so far:
    
    Nantes - Sochaux       2:0      Nantes is... 12 points clear
    Paris S.G. - Nice      2:3      Yes, Yes, Yes !!!  We've got it !
    Monaco - Strasbourg    3:1      All the Azurean Clubs won
    Cannes - St Etienne    4:1      Still in the race for UEFA
    Auxerre - Montpellier  0:1      Mr Guy Roux must be upset
    Caen - Martigues       0:1      Caen is in bad shape
    Bastia - Le Havre      3:2      Bastia scored the third at the 92 th
    Lyon - Lens            1:1      They are both happy
    Lille - Rennes         1:0      Rennes is now 18 th
    Metz - Bordeaux        2:3      Slight chance for Bdx in UEFA
    
    To be fair, I have to mention that many of the players aligned by 
    the PSG were substitutes, except Kombouar�, Roche, Colleter, Valdo and
    Rai. PSG have been accused by the media to "drop" the championship.
    
    O. Marseille has been declared "En reglement judiciaire" (under 
    Court management) by the Tribunal de commerce de Marseille, as having
    a debt of... 240 Millions francs (22 Millions pounds). Consequently,
    Marseille will remain in Div.2 if in the first 3 of the D2 (and go to
    the 3rd div. - National 1 - if not). 
    Another consequence: only the 2 last of the D1 will be relegated.
    
    PYV 
    

    
    The Cup semis's results:
    
    PSG - Marseille      2:0
    Strasbourg - Metz    1:0
    
    Final:  PSG - Strasbourg 
    

    
    Week-end results
    
    Montpellier - Paris SG   0:3          The same next Wednesday ?
    Le Havre - Cannes        1:0          Cannes still in the race for UEFA
    Sochaux - Monaco         0:5          Monaco's come back - Now six th
    Rennes - Caen            5:0          Caen almost in D2
    Nice - Auxerre           1:3          First Auxerre win for 2 months
    Bordeaux - Lyon          1:1          Lyon still 2nd
    Strasbourg - Nantes      2:0          First defeat for Nantes - Logical
    St Etienne - Metz        0:1          St Etienne in slippery grounds
    Lens - Bastia            3:0          Lens virtually in UEFA
    Martigues - Lille        1:0          Lille also in danger
    
    
     

    
    League Cup Final   PSG - Bastia   2:0
    
    A lucky win for PSG, with many occasions for BAstia, including the 
    equaliser disallowed for an offside coming only from the referree's 
    imagination.
    
    BTW, there also have been 2 matches days, but I have no time to give
    everything:
    
    Some results though
    
    Rennes - PSG     4:0   Yes (JF must be delighted)
    Nantes - Monaco  3:3   Wonderful come back from Monaco. They have a
                           good chance to be European now if PSG wins the
                           Cup
    Lyon is European while Lens, Monaco, Cannes, Auxerre still fighting
    Downstairs, Sochaux is relegated, Caen in very very bad shape.
    St Etienne is in danger if Marseille does not finish in the 3 first
    ones in D2.
    
    PYV

    
    Cup Final:
    
      Paris St Germain - Strasbourg   1:0   (Le Guen)
    
      Not a very technical game, but a fight with teams closer than
    expected with (a few) chances for both sides. A mistake by Remy Garde, 
    The Strasbourg central defender, who lost the ball to Le Guen at 25
    meters from the goal, in the axis, allowed Le Guen to put a pure beauty
    shoot in the Vencel's window.
    
    The, the things are set up for the trophies, with Nantes Champion, and
    Paris with the 2 cups.
    
    However, this match confirms the poor Paris's present form. It's likely
    due to the transfers's rumours spreading out. There will certainly be
    many changes, although NO Paris's player is on contract completion.
    
    About Weah, it seems that he will NOT go to AC Milan. 
    In fact, Paris and Milan made a deal about him several monthes (if not 
    a year) ago and agreed on a (very high) price. During the meantime, the 
    lira went down dramatically, and now the agreed price would be
    absolutely outrageous for the Italians.... This lira problem might 
    impact seriously all the transfers to Italy this season.
    
    PYV
       

    
    What an awful game!
    
    I got two tickets at the last moment, an air steward friend of mine had
    flown in from Strasbourg with the Mayor and all the 'important people'
    and had been given two tickets on the flight.  He called me at 2:30pm
    Saturday, I picked up the tickets 45 mins later, and 2 hours after that
    was on my way to the game.
    
    Not much atmosphere in the bars near the ground, had an 'interesting'
    discussion with a Paris fan wearing an AC Milan scarf about how Arsenal
    'couldn't be considered to be European class' [aside, how did they get
    to the final?].
    
    Inside the ground was disappointing, no much atmosphere despite the
    'co-ordinated colours' of the PSG fans behind the goal.  I was in the
    opposite corner with the Strasbourg lot.
    
    The most entertain was watching the security staff attempt to put out
    several small fires (mostly burning paper - but one plastic advertising
    hoarding) with inadequate buckets of water, whilst avoiding being hit
    by torn up seating!
    
    Worst part of all was that they locked the gates 10 minutes before the
    end, you *HAD* to watch the presentations and lap of honour.  The
    neutrals and PSG fans were then let out.  The Strasbourg fans had to
    wait anothher 45 minutes, terribly boring, and it didn't do much for
    the mood of the crowd.
    
    Having said all that, I enjoyed my evening out, a couple of beers
    before and after the game, and a Whopper.
    
    And I've never been to Wembley for an FA Cup Final!
    
    Ian
    
    P.S. PSG just about deserved the win.

    
    Ian,
    
    You confirmed my impressions from the TV, there was no passion behind
    this match, with Paris playing at home, and fans "sure" to win and 
    Strasbourg fans not known to be that hot.
    
    It would have been totally different with a match between, say Marseille 
    versus Bastia !
    
    PYV 

Swiss paper reporting that Weah has signed for Milan - so what's the truth?

g

>Swiss paper reporting that Weah has signed for Milan - so what's the truth?
    
    Italian press reporting much the same thing, so...
    
    Dom

     re: -1
    
    How much is that in �'s, or $'s?
    
    Choppers

    >How much is that in �'s, or $'s?
    
    Even after 11 years here, I hate it when people ask me that ;-)
    
    OK, there are about 2,750 lire to the pound...
                      
    Dom

    
     �5,454,545,454???
    
    Whatever, it's alot of money :-))
    
    Choppers

    And I heard it on French radio this morning. I think they said
    45million FF but I was still half asleep so could be wrong.
    He's from Libya, he's 27, he's one of Europes best goalscorers,
    and he was seen posing for pictures wearing a Milan shirt 
    months ago according to an Italian source...
    Dave WOOD

>    He's from Libya, he's 27, he's one of Europes best goalscorers,
	Sorry he is from LIBERIA, and I think he is 29...

>    and he was seen posing for pictures wearing a Milan shirt 
>    months ago according to an Italian source...
	It seems that the decision to let Sir Georges move to Milan was
	agreed between all parties close to 1 year ago... But with the
	recent downfall of the Lira, the numbers agreed some 10 months
	ago did indeed look ridiculous, reason why all parties met again
	(yesterday in Cannes) to adjust the definite numbers...

								.Andre.

                       <<< Note 17.505 by PRSIS4::WOOD >>>
                        -< And Ginola to Barcelona ?? >-

>    and he was seen posing for pictures wearing a Milan shirt 


     Does he use the same P.R. company as Paul Ince?

     
     Stuart

    
    
    Don't know if it's been mentioned before but Bernard
    Tapie was sentenced to a year in prison for his
    bribing scam.......
    
    So in what state does this leave Marseille.
    
    
    
    
    Pete

    
    Yes, I just heared that Weah signed for Milan.
    
    I was wrong in my assumptions based on L'"Equipe" infos. However, it
    seems that he signed for an amount by far less than the one agreed long
    ago, due to this lira issue.
    
    PYV
    
    

    News last night said Weah had signed for 30million FF not the 45 I
    first thought. This is about 4 million pounds. Sorry about the 
    Libya/Liberia confusion too.
    Back to sleep,
    Dave WOOD

    
    One day left before the end of the championship, but it's all set now.
    
    Champion:     Nantes
    Winners Cup:  Paris SG
    UEFA:         Lyon
                  Lens
    		  Auxerre
                  Monaco
    Relegated:    Caen
                  Sochaux
    
    BTW, the last results:
    
    Nantes - Cannes        2:1
    Lens - Caen            2:0
    Sochaux - Auxerre      0:1
    Monaco - Bastia        2:1
    St Etienne - Nice      3:3
    Strasbourg - Metz      1:0
    Le Havre - Lille       0:1
    Bordeaux - Paris SG    3:0
    Montpellier - Rennes   0:1
    Martigues - Lyon       2:0     
    
    To finish, a (true) story. Last saturday, the passers-by could see a
    fat boy training with the Rapid of Menton (close to Monaco), an amateur
    team, play a match at the end of the training, and then continue to 
    play with the ball on the beach. 
    No, No, not Gazza, .... but Maradona.
    I don't really appreciate the boy's behaviour, but I must admit that
    he loves the game.
    
    PYV
    

    After the yesterday's last Championship round, the names of the teams
    climbing up in Div. 1 are known.
    
    What a surprise !
    Gingamp and Gueugnon !
    
    No Toulouse, Nancy nor Angers not to peak about Marseille.
    
    The big issue is the size of these towns.
    - Guingamp is a 9000 inhabitants town in Britanny, with a 16000 places
    stadium though, and overall the advantage that the Guingamp President
    is also the League's President.
    - Gueugnon is a 8000 inhabitants town, in the center of France, lost
    between Burgundy and the central mountaind (Massif Central).
    
    Some years ago, the possibility that these towns go up would have been 
    close to nil (20 years ago, Gueugnon had already to refuse to  climb
    up). However, now the income of the Clubs are only 20 % by the
    spectators entries, and 80 % by town and Private sponsoring, and by 
    TV rights fees.
    
    We now have a lot of small towns in Div. 1:
    Auxerre, Bastia, Monaco, Martigues, Cannes, Gueugnon, Guingamp...
    
    PYV 
    
    
     

    
    Nice is not a small town ??
    
    Cheers,
    
    Olivier.

    
    Ah, Olivier, glad to see you still in this notesfile !
    
    Nice might be a small town (400 K inhab. though), but larger than
    Nantes. 
    
    Anyway, congratulations for the title. I prefer Nantes to Paris.
    Nantes had a much more enjoyable football than Paris.
    Hope Nantes will be better in Europe than last season. They have some
    chances as this year Milan, Barcelona, PSG etc... will not be there.
    
    PYV  

    
    Portuguese super cup ( Champion v Cup Winner  season 93/94) is going to
    be played today at Paris. Both teams agreed to play there ( there are
    about 600 000 portuguese people living and working around Paris ).
    Porto and Benfica will play at Parque des Princes at 20.30.
    
    Luis.

    French league 95/96 started 2 weeks ago already !
    
    I don't know the results yet, but I heard that after Day 2, 3 teams
    have won their 2 games : Nantes, Bordeaux and Monaco.
    Paris SG drew twice so they're already 4 pts behind !
                  
    Fred.

    
    and Friday we will have Nantes - Paris SG (on Canal+) !!
    
    Olivier.

    Results of Day 3 (Played on saturday 05th)
    
    Nantes 1 - 2 Paris SG
    Bastia 2 - 0 Bordeaux
    Monaco 2 - 2 Auxerre
    St Etienne 1 - 1 Lille
    Martigues 0 - 0 Gueugnon
    Guingamp 0 - 0 Nice
    Lens 0 - 0 Strasbourg
    Cannes 1 - 2 Metz
    Montpellier 3 - 1 Rennes (?)
    Havre 2 - 1 Lyon  (?)
    
    Cla
    1 Bastia 	7 pts
      Monaco	7
      Metz	7
    4 Nantes	6
      Bordeaux  6
    6 Paris SG  5.....
    
    We should have a very tight championship this year, many teams can win
    it: Nantes, Paris SG, Monaco, Bordeaux, St Etienne (hum !!! No, not St
    Etienne...), Auxerre,...
         

    
    It should be indeed a tight championship, mainly because the 2 leading
    teams, PSG and Nantes are not as strong as last year, and also because
    some other teams improved their skills, Bordeaux, Monaco and Strasbourg
    in particular.
    
    It should be (despite the victory over Nantes) a transition year for 
    Paris, as they lost Ginola, Weah, Valdo and Ricardo.. the backbone of
    the team....
    As for Nantes, they lost their striker Loko, and also Karembeu (gone to
    Italy).
    
    About Loko, he signed for Paris, but has a serious mental problem 
    recently (breaking cars, fighting with the Police, etc...) and is now 
    under care in a Psychiatric clinic (some people might think it's
    obvious for someone whose name is ..Loko).
    
    PYV
    

    
    PYV, still an OGCN fan ??
    
    Cheers,
    
    Olivier.

    
    Olivier !
    
    What a pleasure to read you from time to time.
    I am a genuine OGCN fan, indeed. Why would I change ?
    
    Don't tell me you're no longer support FC Nantes, after their
    (undeserved) defeat versus PSG !  
    
    See you in Valbonne (or Evry).
    
    PYV
    

    UI Semi-finals :
    Karlsruhe	0-2	Bordeaux  (Well done Bordeaux ! I remember them
    			losing 0-3 a few years back against the same team)
    FC Tyrol	1-1	Strasbourg
    
    
    Day 4 results :
    Bastia	2-1	Monaco
    Metz	1-0 	Montpellier
    Martigues	2-1	Cannes
    Nice	3-1	Gueugnon 	(re -1: You must enjoy it !)
    Lille	0-3	Guingamp
    Rennes	1-0	Havre
    Paris SG	4-0	St Etienne
    Auxerre	0-1	Lens
    Bordeaux	 -	Nantes    	Postponed (UI Cup)
    Lyon	 - 	Strasbourg      Postponed (UI Cup)
    
    Top Table looks as follow:
    1 Bastia	10
      Metz	10
    3 Guingamp	 8
      PSG	 8
    5 Lens	 7.....
    
    
    	10 days break now, for next wednesday's France-Poland.
    
    Fred.

    What's the UI cup ?
    
    Bastia is on a very good start.
    What does the team look like ? Young/old team ? Did they buy a lot of
    players ?
    
    Thanks in advance, Thierry

UI Cup:  see note 490

    RE -2:
    
    Well, I'm sorry I don't know much about Bastia ! I guess the team is
    built with local young players and a few experienced ones.
    
    AIP reported yesterday this is the 1st time since december '76 that
    Bastia is on top of the league. Metz was already #1 after 4 rounds in
    1991.
    
    Fred.
    

    Results day 4:
    
    St Etienne	3 - 0 Bastia
    Gueugnon	1 - 3 Paris SG
    Nantes 	1 - 0 Nice
    Le Havre	0 - 0 Metz
    Monaco	0 - 1 Martigues
    Guingamp	1 - 0 Bordeaux
    Montpellier	3 - 1 Auxerre         
    Strasbourg	3 - 1 Rennes
    Cannes	1 - 0 Lille
    
    Lens/Lyon played sunday evening. Haven't got the result yet.
    
    			Pts 	Pld
    1 Paris SG		11       5
      Guingamp 		11	 5
      Metz		11	 5
    4 Bastia		10	 5....

    
    Lens: 2 - Lyon: 2
    
    Lyon equilized at the last minutes, with a strong participation of the
    goal keeper, Olmeta, who went in the Lens area and passed a ball which 
    eventually drove to a penalty.
    
    About Bastia, I don't think they will stay that long in the top of the
    league, as they play more on their energy than on skills. However, they
    have a good mix of Corsican players and continental ones, the younger
    coach of the league, and a very effective croatian striker, Drobnjak.
    
    PYV  
     

    
    Intertoto Cup:
    
    Strasbourg - Insbruk  6:1
    Bordeaux - Karlsruhe  2-2
    
    Bordeaux and Strasbourg are qualified.
    This means there will be 8 French Clubs in the Euro Cups.
    
    PYV

    Last results:
    
    Lille - Nantes            0:0
    Bastia - Gueugnon         1:2
    Auxerre - Cannes          4:1
    Bordeaux - Monaco         2:4
    Nice - Lens               1:1
    Metz - Strasbourg         3:2
    Rennes - Lyon             1:0
    Martigues - Montpellier   0:1
    St Etienne - Guingamp     4:1
    Paris SG - Le Havre       2:0
    
    PSG takes the lead
    Monaco is crap at home and good away
    Bordeaux is exhausted by the UI Cup
    Bastia had 5 players missing
    Cannes victim of a biased refeering at Auxerre
    Nantes is average this year (Sorry Olivier !)
    
    PYV

    
    Minor corrections:
    Auxerre - Cannes          5:1  
    St Etienne - Guingamp     4:0 (St Etienne scored 7-0 in their last 2
    				   games. Is this a revival?)
    
    Day 7 tonite with 	Cannes - PSG (1st)
    			Lyon - Metz  (2nd)
    			Nantes - St Etienne (For those like me who miss '70s)
    
    Fred.			
    
    

    
    Fred,
    
    	Thanks for the corrections.
    	I was in hurry mode this morning and did it from memory.
    
    	Ciao
    	PYV

    Day 7 Result:
    
    Cannes - Paris SG		0-2
    Lyon - Metz			1-1
    Nantes - St Etienne 	2-2
    Monaco - Lille		2-1
    Strasbourg - Martigues      2-0
    Le Havre - Auxerre		0-4
    Montpellier - Nice		0-1
    Gueugnon - Bordeaux		2-2
    Lens - Rennes		1-0
    Guingamp - Bastia		Today
    
    Table	        Pts    Pld
    1 Paris SG		17	7
    2 Metz		15      7
    3 Monaco		13      7
    4 Lens		12      7
    5 Strasbourg	11	6
    6 Nantes		11	6
    7 Guingamp		11	6...
    
    Bordeaux-Nantes and Lyon-Strasbourg will be played next Friday.
    
    Fred.

    Good to see Auxerre having 2 good results in a raw.
    Il also looks like St Etienne maybe on a come back.
    Th

    
    Two postponed matches were played this week-end:
    
    Bordeaux - Nantes  3:0
    Lyon - Strasbourg  1:1 
    
    Apparently, Nantes is far to be at the same playing level as last year.
    If they continue like that, the Champions league risks to be a
    nightmare. Olivier, what's going on ? The Karembeu/Loko tandem was so
    influent last year on the team ?
    
    By the way, Karembeu asked not to be selected for the France's match
    versus Azerbaidjan, officially for family reasons. Some newspapers
    think that the actual reason would rather be the nuclear testings...
    
    PYV

    8th day results:
    
    Paris SG	2-1	Monaco		
    St Etienne  2-0	Gueugnon
    Auxerre	1-0	Strasbourg	
    Guingamp	0-0	Montpellier
    Bastia	4-1	Nantes		
    Martigues	1-2	Lyon
    Lille	1-3	Lens
    Metz	0-0	Rennes
    Bordeaux	2-1	Cannes
    Nice	1-2	Le Havre
    
    Top Table (All 8 games)
                        Pts
    1	Paris SG	20
    2	Metz		16
    3	Lens		15
    	Guingamp	15
    5   Auxerre		13
    	Monaco		13
    	Bastia		13
    	Bordeaux	13
    9   Strasbourg	12
    	St Etienne	12
    11	Montpellier	11
    	Nantes		11
    13  Rennes		10
    14  Nice		 9
    	Lyon		 9
    16	Martigues	 7
    	Le Havre	 7
    18  Cannes		 6
    	Gueugnon	 6
    20	Lille		 2
    
    * 6th consecutive victory for Paris SG (Monaco deserved at last a
    draw, but Paris had a little help from the ref)
    * Paris SG and Metz still unbeaten
    * Nantes has conceaded 9 goals in the last 3 games...Not very
    comforting before Champion's league open game against Porto.
    
    Next saturday/sunday top games:
    - Montpellier - Paris SG
    - Monaco - Metz
    
    Fred.

    
    UEFA results:
    
    Strasbourg - Ujpest   3:0
    Stavanger - Auxerre   1:1
    Monaco - Leeds        0:3
    
    Watches the Monaco's match. 
    As in the Championship, Monaco suffered at home. It this case, it was
    even worse, as several players were missing, in particular in midfield
    where 2 youngers (Dos Santos and Legwinski) were put in.
    They were psychologically killed by the first (stupid) goal, due to a 
    misunderstanding between Thuram and Piveteau (the goalie substitute of
    Barthez, injured).
    Then Monaco began to play, but Anderson, who could pass several times
    the defense, unexpectedly could not put the ball home. Nice second
    goal. The third was also a defense mistake, with a Boli far away from
    the player he used to be.
    Anyway, Monaco was not consistent enough in defense, versus a not 
    impressive, but solid Leeds team.
    
    Hope they will be more realistic in the second leg.
    
    Tonight, Nantes plays Porto. Great fears after the 0:3 versus Bordeaux
    and the 1:4 versus Bastia, and knowing that not less that 6 players 
    are injured or suspended....
    
    Pierre-Yves
     

    
    Champions league:  Nantes - Porto  0:0
    UEFA:              Farense - Lyon  0:1
    
    We did not expect a good Nantes yesterday, after the desastrous last
    results in championship, and the numerous absences. In fact, Porto 
    dominated the first 30 minutes, without being really dangerous. Then, 
    Nantes began to play and dominated the game until the end, with several
    serious chances, but a bad finishing. IMO, the best player was N'Doram.
    Porto was disappointing, looking like pleased to come back with a draw.
    However, not a boring match.
    
    PYV
    
     
    

    
    Day #9 Results (Last weekend):
    
    Montpellier	1-0	Paris SG   (1st defeat for Paris this year)
    Monaco	0-1	Metz       (Metz still unbeaten)
    Nantes	0-0	Guingamp
    Lyon	0-1	Auxerre
    Cannes	2-0	St Etienne
    Rennes	1-3	Martigues
    Strasbourg	1-1	Nice
    Gueugnon	3-1	Lille
    Lens	3-1	Bastia
    Le Havre	1-0	Bordeaux
    
    Table (all 9 games)
    1	Paris SG	20
    2	Metz		19
    3	Lens		18
    4	Auxerre		16
    	Guingamp	16
    6	Montpellier	14
    ......
    18	Lyon		9
     	Gueugnon	9
    20	Lille		2
    
    Day #10 tonight :	Paris SG - Strasbourg
    			Martigues - Metz
    			Nantes - Lens
    			Auxerre - Rennes
    			St Etienne - Monaco (Played yesterday...don't know
    					     the final score)
    
    
    Fred.

>    			St Etienne - Monaco (Played yesterday...don't know
>    					     the final score)
    

    
    Saint-Etienne 2 - 4 Monaco
    Paris SG      2 - 0 Strasbourg
    Nantes        1 - 1 Lens
    Bordeaux      3 - 0 Montpellier
    Martigues     0 - 1 Metz
    Nice          1 - 0 Lyon
    Geugnon       0 - 0 Gingamp
    Bastia        2 - 1 Cannes
    
    Can't remember the others...

                         
    Metz	  3-1	Auxerre
    Lens	  3-1	Paris SG
    Monaco	  1-0	Guingamp
    Rennes	  2-0	Bastia
    Montpellier	  0-0	Lille
    Cannes	  1-3	Nice
    Gueugnon	  0-1	Nantes
    Le Havre	  1-0	Martigues
    Lyon	  2-1	St Etienne
    Strasbourg	  3-0	Bordeaux
    
    Table (all 11 Games)
    1 Metz	25
    2 Paris SG	23
    3 Lens	22
    4 Auxerre	19
      Monaco	19
    6 Guingamp  17
    7 Strasbourg16
      Nice	16
      Bordeaux	16
      Bastia	16
      Nantes	16
    12 Montpellier 15
    13 Rennes	13
       Le Havre 13
    15 St Etienne 12
       Lyon	12
    17 Gueugnon 10
       Martigues10
    19 Cannes    9
    20 Lille	 6

    
    
    Last night...
    
    Nantes 2 - 2 Monaco

    Can someone post yesterday's results (Day #12) ? I totally missed them.
    
    thks, Fred.

    
    Metz won, PSG drew!
    
    Ian

Bastia - Le Havre	1-0
Bordeaux - Lyon		1-1
Gueugnon - Lens		0-1
Guincamp - Cannes	2-0
Lille - Strasbourg	2-0
Martigues - Auxerre	1-2
Nice - Metz		0-1
PSG - Rennes		1-1
St Etienne - Montpellier 0-2

Metz	28
Lens 	25
PSG	24
Auxerre 22

g

    
    French football results on the Web (NOS Dutch teletext) :
    
    Results : http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/tt/nos/page/682-1
    Table   : http://www.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/tt/nos/page/682-2

    Back after 3 weeks off (not holidays, but Telecom 95).
    
    Saturday's results:
    
    PSG - Lyon            0:0
    Cannes - Nantes       0:1
    Monaco - Geugnon      0:0
    Montpellier - Bastia  4:3
    Metz - Bordeaux       2:0
    Rennes - Lille        3:1
    St Etienne - Le Havre 0:0
    Auxerre - Nice        2:1
    Lens- Martigues       1:0
    Strasbourg - Guingamp 0:0
    
    
    Metz, against all expectations, is still easily leading the league.
    Paris is in a very weak period, unable to score and creating a few 
    occasions. 
    
    PYV 
    
    

	First UEFA result:
	
	Odessa - Lens	0-0
	
	If that is the worst result for french teams this evening,
	I'll be	more than pleased :-)

							.Andre.

    Not very good results:
    
    Odessa - Lens          0:0
    Auxerre - Nothingham   0:1
    Strasbourg - Milan AC  0:1
    Bordeaux - Volvograd   2:1
    Lyon - Lazio Roma      2:1
    
    
    Watched The Auxerre and Strasbourg matches.
    Auxerre had exactly the same match as versus Arsenal last year. A
    constant domination (not a single Forest attack the 2nd half), but
    a strong inability to score: 4 times the ball passed the Forest goalie,
    but was cleared on the line (actually in the goal once, but the ref did
    not allow the goal)
    An enormous mistake from West left Stone (who was very good) alone for 
    the goal in the first half.
    
    Strasbourg,.. well.. was not ridiculous versus Milan, and even 
    dominated in the second half, without being dangerous. Keller was very 
    close to score though in the second half, 2 times, but missed the goal.
    (if you respect too much your oponent, you re dead)
    Then, the Weah's class payed. He embarked the Strasb. defense left to 
    back pass to Simone alone for the goal.... 
    
    Tonight Nantes plays Aalborg. But Nantes is cr*p at the moment.
    
    PYV

    
    I saw most, if not all, of the Lyon match.  Lyon played very well,
    resisting the cynicisms (is that a word?) of the Italians who deserved
    all the multi-coloured paper they were shown many times over...
    
    [Aside - Aren't referees supposed to send people off who man handle
    them? - If so, Lazio could've/should've been down to about 4 players]
    
    Its a shame that Lyon didn't manage one more goal to fairly reflect
    their superiority in the 2nd half (played with 11 against 10).  However
    the Lazio keeper made two superb saves.
    
    Ian

    
    Nantes played well (on the whole) last night.  Some of their attacking
    moves were fast, slick and decisive.  They were also prepared to be
    patient and pass the ball around waiting for the openings, this is not
    always easy, especially when 'pressed' as they were by the Danes last
    night.
    
    The downside of the Nantes performance was their lapses in
    concentration, and some stupid errors.  However, maybe they're
    beginning to get back to last seasons standard.

    
    To be honest, I was very worried by the Nantes's defence, which did
    not appeared as reliable. 
    If they don't improve this sector, they won't go through...
    
    PYV
    
    

                     
    Paris SG - Auxerre		3-1
    Lille - Metz		0-0
    St Etienne - Lens		1-1
    Guingamp - Le Havre		2-2
    Bordeaux - Rennes		0-0
    Nantes - Lyon		0-0
    Bastia - strasbourg		1-1
    Monaco - Montpellier	3-1
    Cannes - Gueugnon		1-1
    Nice - Martigues		1-0
    
    1 Metz	32
    2 Lens	29
    3 PSG	28
    4 Auxerre	25
    5 Monaco	24
    6 Guingamp  22...

    
    Day #15 
                                    
    Metz  0-3 PSG
    1st       3rd
              (Guerin,Rai(2))
    
	Very impressive away win for PSG against a team undefeated in 14
    games ! 
    Metz still leader, PSG 1 pt behind.
    
    Lens can take the lead tonite; They play home to Guingamp.
    
    Fred.

With PSG playing Celtic in the return leg of the ECWC next week, does this suggest a return
to form?

If Mr McAteer would like the rest of us to read his notes, he might like to 
ensure they don't have more than 80 chars on each line. On the other hand . .!

g

Err.. sorry about that I'm using decwindows with wid set
to 132, so it's a bit difficult to judge where to end the
line. 

I promise to do better in future, so hopefully you'll be able to read this message without too many problems....



:-))))))))))

    
    Full results, day #15 
    
    Metz	0-3	PSG
    Lens	0-1	Guingamp
    Martigues	3-1	Bordeaux
    Lyon  	1-1	Bastia
    Rennes	1-0	Nice
    Cannes	1-1	Monaco
    Auxerre	1-2	Lille
    Montpellier	2-2	Gueugnon
    Strasbourg	3-1	St Etienne
    Le Havre	0-1	Nantes
    
    
    Top Table:
    1 Metz	32
    2 PSG	31
    3 Lens	29
    4 Auxerre	25
      Guingamp	25
      Monaco	25
    ......

	First UEFA results:

	Rotor Volgograd   0-1  BORDEAUX
	Lazzio Roma       0-2  LYON
	NOTTINGAM FOREST  0-0  Auxerre

	Lyon scored the first (Florian MAURICE 21'), the SIGNORI missed a
	penalty. In the second half LYON scored a second through ASSADOURIAN.
	
	Auxerre is sayed to have played a very good game at the City ground
	and were only let down by their (poor) finishing in both games. For
	this game, Auxerre supposedly created 7-8 clear opportunities in the
	1st half alone but still failed to score, while it took 40 minutes
	before Forrest first threatened Auxerre's goalie.
	
	All comments from a 1 minute report I got from the radio so it may
	all look bol***ks to whoever saw the games and feels different...

Signori joins the club of idiots who think it's easier to fool the keeper if 
they don't take a run-up. Just one step,hit it so sweetly along the ground 
with his left foot - a foot past the post. Certainly fooled the keeper though.

From the highlights I saw, Lyon deserved the win. They always looked solid and 
took every opportunity to attack. meanwhile Juventus must be wondering how 
Lazio managed to score 4 past them on Sunday - they were completely lacking in 
ideas, and apart from Casiraghi who,strangely,. always looked dangerous, posed 
no threat at all.

grahame

    Quite right, Grahame...I've been waiting for Signori to miss one of
    those! To be fair, he doesn't miss many, but I always get the
    impression he does it because he thinks he's setting some sort of
    trend.
    
    Lyon looked dead relaxed (they also hit a post at 1-0) and Lazio never
    looked like getting back into the game. The very fact that a team with
    some notoriously volatile players had no bookings/sendings off
    suggests that they probably gave up the ghost at 2-0.
    
    Dom
    

    
    Last UEFA results: (not bad)
    
    Lens - Odessa     4:0
    
    
    Champions league:
    Allborg - Nantes  0:2
    
    
    
    PYV

    
    Winners Cup:  
    Celtic Glasgow - Paris St germain  0:3
    
    UEFA:
    Milan AC - R.Strasbourg  2:1
    
    PYV

	16th day

	Saturday
Bordeaux - Auxerre	0 - 1
Bastia - Metz		1 - 0
St Etienne - Rennes	0 - 0
Gingamp - Lyon		1 - 0
Nantes - Montpellier	1 - 0
Gueugnon - Le Havre	0 - 1
Monaco - Lens		1 - 1
Lille - Martigues	0 - 0
	(7 goals for 8 games!!!)
	
	Sunday
Cannes - Strasbourg	0 - 3
PSG - Nice		3 - 2


	Table
1)  PSG		34
2)  Metz	32
3)  Lens	31
4)  Auxerre	28
    Gingamp	28
6)  Nantes	27
7)  Monaco	26
8)  Strasbourg	24
    Bastia	24
....
17) Lille	14
    Martigues	14
19) Gueugnon	13
20) Cannes	11


	I was dragged into seeing Cannes - Strasbourg live yesterday evening!
	As a simple summary, I fail to understand what would motivate 3000
	people to go and watch/support Cannes (for 400 of them it was probably
	the fact that they were young footballers who got a free entry...).

	To make it simple, Cannes needs just 1 thing to stay (and perform) in
	the 1rst division: A TEAM!!!! The 2 players worth keeping were Francois
	Lemasson the goalie (made a brilliant save on an attempt by Keller)
	and Ardian Kozniku for his constant fighting and involvement. The rest
	of the team couldn't be bothered. Micoud had a chance to score from the
	spot, and when you see what he made of it... Later in the second half
	the same Micoud was ideally placed to shoot at the goal (15 meters
	away, no hindrance in front of him apart the goalie on his line), but
	he preferred to visit the area, walk some more around the place, wait
	for some support, and finally lost the ball. I wonder what his garden
	must look like (reference to the Marseille-Valenciennes debacle)... 

								.Andre.

P.S:	I'm sorry, but you wont get any further match reports from Cannes, I
	can't find a single reason why I would spend money to go and watch them
	get torn apart by whatever opposition... 

    
    Rennes - Guingamp		3-0
    Martigues - Paris SG	2-4
    Metz - St Etienne		1-2  (3rd successive lost for Metz !!!)
    Lens - Bordeaux		0-0
    Montpellier - Cannes	3-1
    Auxerre - Bastia		3-0
    Nice - Lille		2-1
    Le Havre - Monaco		2-1
    Lyon - Gueugnon		0-0
    Strasbourg - Nantes		1-1
    
    Table:
    
    1  Paris SG		37
    2  Metz		32
    3  Auxerre		31
    4  Lens		31
    5  Nantes		28
    .......
    .......
    17 Gueugnon		14
    18 Lille		14
    19 Martigues	14
    20 Cannes		11

    A few results I can remember:
    
    Lille - Paris SG		0-0
    Montpellier - Lens		0-0
    St Etienne - Auxerre	0-5
    Monaco - Lyon		0-2
    Nantes - Rennes		2-2
    Bordeaux - Nice		4-1
    
    
    1 Paris SG		38
    2 Auxerre		34
    3 Metz		33
    4 Lens		32
    5 Nantes		29
    .....
    
    

    
    UEFA: French results:
    
    Slavia Prag - Lens          0:0
    Bordeaux - Betis Seville    2:0
    Notthingham - Lyon          1:0
    
    Average results, with a solid match of Lens at Prag, with Prag
    dominating, but Lens having the best chances in conter-attacks.
    Bordeaux was shaken by Betis, but could manage, under heavy rains, to
    score twice nice goals. Lyon was not really dominated by Forest, but
    did not push enough its conter-attacks. An Olmeta stupid mistake before
    the end led to a penalty and the 1:0.
    
    Today, Nantes has a chance to qualify with a win at Porto.
    
    PYV
     

    
    
    for Nantes it is not a chance, it is reality....
    
    Cheers,
    
    Olivier.

    
    Olivier,
    
    
    Almost... Let's tell to the other readers that 
    Nantes drew 2:2 at Porto last night, thanks to a penalty missed by
    Porto 7 minutes from then end. 
    
    Nantes now needs a draw at home versus Panathinaikos to go through.
    Yes, Olivier, I know, Pedros was outstanding, the Nantes's defense was
    not.
    
    Cheers
    PYV
    

    
    Some results of the last day (my memory fails)
    
    Strasbourg - Monaco    2:0        Strasbourg very lucky
    Lens - Cannes          1:1        Last second equalizer for Cannes
    Paris - Bordeaux       3:0        Confortable for PSG
    Nice - Bastia          3:1        Good match
    Lyon - Lille           1:1        Last second equalizer for Lille
    Auxerre - Guinguamp    1:2        Yes !
    Rennes - Gueugnon      2:1        Last second defeat for G. as usual
    Metz - Nantes          0:0        Nantes Lucky
    
    PSG is now Fall champion 7 points clear

    
    Really quite boring, not many clear opportunities at goal.  Auxerre hit
    the post once, but I expected more from the 2nd best attack
    (statistically) in the French League.
    
    The Gueugnon manager said after the game that he considered it a good
    result for his team!
    
    It was bitterly cold though.
    
    Ian