This summer of 2007 was fruitful on the transfer market. From the departure of Frédéric Piquionne to Monaco to the extensions of Pascal Feindouno and Loïc Perrin, including the arrivals of Blaise Matuidi, the Swede Nilsson, the Brazilian Nivaldo, the Greek Tavlaridis and the Nice defector Cédric Varrault, the movements, despite negotiations with the Bosnian Sasa Papac (Glasgow Rangers) having failed, will have been legion and full of promise. The start of the season bodes well for a bright future. “This team produces lively, lively, attractive football. We no longer carry the ball under the baton of a Landrin at the top, evolving with simplicity and accuracy”, confides, in the columns of “La Tribune”, Robert Herbin, under the charm. And added: “For three years, everything was telephoned. Now, everything seems fluid.”
Christophe Landrin, ace driver
Laurent Roussey confessing to driving “a happy, playful group”, however, remains in three matches without a goal scored and in particular a terribly frustrating and clashing derby, inviting a revolt (1-0) when it comes time to challenge Jean-Marc's Strasbourg Furlan who finds, among others, David Gigliotti, “a Ferrari of football as number 9”, according to the Alsatian coach. The ex-Monegasque, however, is experiencing a terrible ignition delay. Somehow glued to the starting grid, he was called back to the pits in the 20th minute! Bafé Gomis then enters the track. Laurent Roussey, who knows this center forward position on the tip of the crampons, has found the right Formula. And Bayal Sall the key within a Strasbourg team in which a certain Renaud Cohade played who would score, a few years later, the third goal of a magical evening and derby. Aligned in midfield but “having the skills to excel in central defense”, according to the Sphynx, the green giant will play inside before being unbalanced in the area.
The penalty is indisputable, the double sanction to which Guillaume Lacour, asked to return to the paddock prematurely, will be subject, will, however, give rise to more comment. Araujo Ilan will not care and will unlock his counter. In the second half, a slippery and vicious cross from Christophe Landrin, the best on the board, pushed Yacine Abdessadki into error. A model of csc and a saving success obtained at the expense of Racing, third at the start of a Ligue 1 seeing amazing Nancy residents in pole position and the Stéphanois imperceptibly returning to the tailpipes of the leading pack.
Wednesday August 29, 2007
In Saint-Étienne (Stade Geoffroy-Guichard), AS Saint-Étienne beats RC Strasbourg: 2-0 (1-0).
Referee: Hervé Piccirillo; 25,694 spectators.
Goals for Saint-Étienne: Ilan (36th, sp), Abdessadki (69th, csc).
Warnings in Saint-Étienne: Tavlaridis (39th), Douala (64th), Matuidi (81st).
Warnings in Strasbourg: Cohade (76th), Mulenga (86th).
Expulsion to Strasbourg: Lacour (34th).
AXIS. Janot – Dabo (L. Perrin, 51e), Nivaldo, Varrault, Bayal Sall, Tavlaridis – Feindouno (Matuidi, 72e), Landrin (cap.), Douala – Gigliotti (Gomis, 21e), Ilan. Entertainer: Laurent Roussey.
STRASBOURG. Cassard – Bellaid, Paisley, M. Dos Santos, Lacour (cap.) – Rodrigo, Abdessadki, Cohade, Johansen – Mouloungi (Renteria, 76e), Gameiro (Mulenga, 59e). Entraîneur: Jean-Marc Furlan.
