The top 5 most marketable Hungarian League players: January 2020.

I decided to put together a list of players from the Hungarian League who are most likely to be successful abroad. This list is certainly not exhaustive, and depending on the success of this one, I may write another post later on during the year. Feel free ask questions!

 

Dávid Sigér – 29 – Ferencvárosi TC – Central Midfielder

A late bloomer, he spent most of his career in the lower leagues of Hungary. Two years ago he captained Balmazújváros’ inaugural campaign in the top flight, only to get relegated on the final day. He was a stand-out performer in an otherwise abysmal side, and was signed by Ferencváros in the summer of 2018. Just like so many other talented Hungarian players at the club, many expected him to become a squad-rotation player. On the contrary, Sigér fought himself into the starting XI, ahead of stars who were signed from abroad to take Ferencváros to the next level.

A deep-lying central midfielder, he was crucial in keeping the scores of opposition teams low in the Europe. Sigér dictates play in the centre of the field, pulling the strings as Ferencváros attempt to build their attacks.  His performances this season – both domestically and the Europa League – have earned him a call up to the Hungarian national team, where he debuted at the age of 28.

Even though Sigér is now 29, moving to a more competitive league could not only benefit his career, but also enhance a team that lacks stability in the middle of the park. Given his style of play, his age would not hinder his ability to improve in the next few years. Sigér would be most effective in slower-paced and tactics-oriented leagues.

 

Dénes Dibusz – 29  – Ferencvárosi TC – Goalkeeper

Arguably the best and most consistent goalkeeper in the league over the past decade, Dénes Dibusz has matured into one of the leaders at Ferencváros. The shot-stopper joined the Hungarian Champions in 2014 and has been their first-choice ever since his debut that year. At the age of 29, this year may be his best opportunity to go abroad. Indeed, it may be the only option to develop his career further.

This year Dibusz was one of the best players during Ferencváros’ European Campaign, having started in all their games. According to UEFA’s official performance database, he was ranked the 9^th best keeper in the Europa League group stages, ahead of household names such as Bernd Leno and Rui Patricio.

Over the years Dibusz has consolidated himself as Hungary’s second choice keeper, only beaten to the Starting XI by RB Leipzig’s vice-captain Péter Gulácsi. Nonetheless, he is ahead of Balázs Megyeri and Ádám Bogdán in the pecking order, both of whom play in arguably more competitive leagues.

Having won all domestic honours and played in the Europa League with Ferencváros, he has achieved everything on offer in Hungary. It is time for him to find new challenges elsewhere.

 

Tokmac Nguen – 26 – Ferencvárosi TC – Winger

Arriving at the club this time last year from Strømsgodset, Tokmac Nguen made an instant impact at Ferencváros. The left-winger scored 4 goals in 12 games last season and was instrumental in securing the club’s 30^th title. He continued to be in the form of his life in the first half of the 2019/2020 season, scoring 9 goals and assisting 5 in 28 games.  Not a player to shy away from big fixtures, he was involved in a large proportion of Ferencváros’ goals during their European campaign.

His exceptional performances are reflected in his market price; in the space of 12 months his Transfermarkt valuation has nearly doubled from €800,000 to €1.5 million.

Primarily a winger, he has also been deployed as an attacking midfielder and a forward at various points during matches. His slick and accurate finishing, combined with his acceleration, has made him deadly in front of goal, especially during counter-attacks. Tokmac’s impressive performances in Europe suggest that the Norwegian has something to offer in a more competitive league, especially when considering he is still only 26.

 

Loïc Négo – 28 – Fehérvár – Full-back/Winger

At Fehérvár (club known as Vidi last since) since 2015, he may be best known for scoring a volley against Chelsea in last season’s Europa League. Originally deployed as a winger, he has primarily been used as a right-back or a wing-back over the past few years.

Having the qualities of both a full back and winger has given Négo the ability to utilise both in matches. In addition to being disciplined defensively, he uses his speed to run past opposition players and initiate deadly counter-attacks, which proved to be effective in the Europa League when facing stronger oppositions.

Négo is also a great crosser of the ball; last season he registered 12 assists in all competitions, including 3 in Europe. Being a former winger, he has retained some essential traits from this position. In addition to being a goal-scoring threat, he is often in space to receive the ball during attacking moves.

Just like Dibusz, at the age of 28 Négo has won and achieved everything possible in the Hungarian League. This January or at the end of this season would be the perfect time for the Frenchman to part ways with Fehérvár and test himself in a more competitive league.

 

Obinna Nwobodo – 23 – Újpest – Winger

When Obinna Nwobodo arrived at Újpest from Nigeria’s Enugu Rangers in 2017, fans had no idea what to expect. However, proving to be a vital addition to the team, he quickly established himself in the starting XI.

Primarily a winger, Nwobodo has been deployed all over the pitch by manager Nebojša Vignjević over since his arrival, including defensive midfielder and outright striker. He is by far the most creative and technical player in an otherwise average Újpest side. Using his bag of tricks and skills, he glides past players and cuts inside to find a team mate or finish the move himself by having a shot at goal. One of his stand-out performances was against Sevilla in the Europa League qualifiers last season, where he was very dangerous on counter attacks and regularly outran and passed opposition players.

 

Year-on-year, Nwobodo has improved his goals and assists statistics from the previous season. Many Újpest fans were expecting him to leave at the end of last season to a better league, however, Újpest have managed to keep hold of him for the time being. Knowing owner Roderick Duchâtelet and his willingness to make a quick sale, clubs may be able to buy him at a price close to his €500,000 Transfermarkt valuation.

 

@tomicserep

 

Featured image: goal.com.

Arsenal’s collapse into mediocrity

Arsenal’s uninspiring defeat at the hands of West Ham over the weekend could be a sign of harrowing things to come for the Gunners.  Since their 4-2 victory over their North London rivals back at the start of December, they have not beaten a side that is not fighting against relegation. With their current transfer policy and pool of players, it is not too pessimistic to predict an imminent decline in the club’s performance.

 

Arsenal lose away to West Ham for the first time since 2006. Is this a sign of worse things to come?

For the first time in decades – par its forwards – it felt as if Arsenal’s players like-for-like are not as good as the ones of a mid-table side; Fabianski could easily start ahead of Leno, Declan Rice and Noble is a better match than Torreira and Guendouzi, Nasri is more dangerous than Xhaka and Felipe Anderson consistently outperforms Iwobi. Arsenal’s high wage policy have left them little room to strengthen the team and are constrained to seek out potential loan deals – not dissimilar to mid-table Premier League clubs. They are set to lose one of their most loyal servants to a team which will value his qualities more, and they are also considering signing Benatia, another over 30 year old defender to add to Sokratis, Koscielny, Lichsteiner and Monreal. Aubameyang – the marquee signing supposed to take Arsenal to the next level – is turning 30 this year, which is considered relatively old for a player who relies on pace and is supposed to change the club’s fortunes in the coming years. There appears to be no coherent framework in place to move the club in a particular direction, both on and off the pitch.

Despite the club’s poor showing over the last few seasons, Wenger’s aura was able to lure in high profile names; Özil, Lacazette and Aubameyang have all stated that he has played a major role in convincing them to sign for the Gunners. However, le Professeur’s absence has drastically reduced Arsenal’s appeal for potential big signings in the future.

While Arsenal are making minimal attempts to better their situation, historically lesser clubs – including Wolves, Watford, West Ham – are making a more concerted effort to accomplish European football in the future. Apart from a couple of exceptions, Arsenal continue to make similar signings to ones they made 10 years ago, meaning their overall squad quality is declining relative to the rest of league. Initially, it wasn’t good enough for the title. Then it wasn’t good enough for the Champions League. Will it not be good enough for the Europa League either?

It may be absurd to consider Arsenal becoming a team fighting over 10^th and 11^th place, but year-by-year they are heading in that direction. Obviously, they have the criminally underutilised funds of Stan Kroenke, however, the Premier League seems to be moving on without Arsenal.

 

@bootbedall @tomicserep

The reasons behind Thierry Henry’s Bordeaux rejection

The chaos that has reigned at Bordeaux since the start of the summer looks set to continue, with last night’s news that potential manager Thierry Henry had walked away from negotiations with the club. The club is now left without a manager with only 3 days to go before a season-defining Europa League tie.

The former Arsenal striker had initially agreed to be Gustavo Poyet’s successor at the end of last week after being sounded out the club’s current owners. Nevertheless, the situation had soured over the weekend, mainly over disagreements regarding his wage and financial backing, according to RMC. Having flown Henry out to New York this week, the club’s future owners, investment fund GAPC, were unable to meet the former striker’s 2 million per year salary demand.

The lack of assurances over reinforcements to the squad – with the transfer window in France closing this Friday – was also cited as one of the reasons for the breakdown in talks. This, coupled with his insistence on having a remit that resembles that of the English-style manager rather than the French head coach role, was incompatible with GAPC’s project and by yesterday afternoon Henry had walked away.

This latest setback is symptomatic of a behind the scenes tug-of-war between current long-time owners M6 and the group headed by Joe daGrosa, set to take over in September. It also, however, lifts the lid on a muddled tangle of disputes and conflict of interest between the key men in this case. According to Goal, the role Henry was angling for would have overshadowed the various agents and intermediaries involved in GAPC’s project.

This network of agents working for daGrosa have even extended their influence so far as to dictate incoming transfers, invariably favouring their own clients over other players. One name that stands out in particular is that of Hugo Varela, one of Joe daGrosa’s advisors, who was amongst those who had reportedly feared that Henry’s network of players would eclipse his own. Other major figures at the club, such as president Stéphane Martin and technical director Ulrich Ramé, have also had tried to impose their influence, while M6’s Nicolas de Tavernost has been clear on wanting to leave the club in good hands and securing the team’s future.

As Bordeaux looks forward to the second leg of their Europa League playoff against Gent on Thursday, the club will be looking at the very least to have found someone to step in for current interim manager Eric Bedouet. At the minute it is unclear who will be chosen, with Claudio Ranieri’s name having already been discarded over the Italian’s salary demands, nor is it clear who will be taking the decision.

 

@rafajuc

Football in the Land of the Rising Sun

On the 15^th of August I attended the J1 League fixture FC Tokyo vs Kashiwa Reysol in Japan. An avid football fan, this was a unique opportunity for me to experience Asian football culture.

Tokyo fans getting ready for the start of the game

Walking from the station to the stadium, it was immediately clear that the culture and mood of Japanese football is very different from a football match played in Britain or the rest of Europe; fans were walking in relative silence towards the ground and there were no local bars or pubs where the Tokyo faithful could enjoy a drink before the fixture.

Games in Japan seem to be a family friendly affair; supporters brought their children along and there were lots of Caucasian tourists dotted around in the stands. Spectators wore a diverse range of jerseys ranging from conventional Tokyo kits to Japanese shirts and even French tops.

Without a doubt the most culturally interesting aspect was outside the entrance. Fans can bring their own alcoholic beverages to matched. At stands by the entrance, spectators can pour their drinks into cups supplied by staff. After this they may pass through security.

Fans pouring their alcoholic beverages into cups supplied by staff

A lot of fans brought along an alcoholic drink brand called Strong Zero. If introduced to the Western world, it would destroy the local alcohol economy. They are fruit flavoured drinks – mix between a cider and a mixer – with 9% alcohol content.

Right before the match the fans sang You Never Walk Alone – which is belted out by Tokyo fans before each home fixture.

Tokyo had a goal disallowed in the early moments of the game. The game was relatively slow paced for the first 20 minutes. Miscommunication between defenders Tokyo and mistakes from the Tokyo goalkeeper led to two open goal chances, which were missed by Kashiwa. Tokyo tried to assert their dominance in the second half and dominated possession. However, against the run of play, Segawa slotted home from close range after a successful counter attack by Kashiwa in the 77^th minute. Apart from the last few minutes, Tokyo were unable to create clear-cut chances despite continuing to have majority of the ball.

The game finished Tokyo 0-1, a real blow for Tokyo’s already slim hopes of winning the league.

Despite the poor showing on the pitch, fans were in full voice throughout the game. The so called ‘ultras’ behind the goal sang various songs, including “Can’t take my eyes off you” by Frankie Valli. The whole sector – around 10000 people – were standing despite having seat allocations. The rest of the stadium was relatively quiet and stayed sat down, even during when times when Tokyo came close to scoring. For them it appeared to be more of a day out than a must win fixture.

The mood in the stadium reminded me very much of the new Premier League, which has seen a drastic decline in the fervour seen in previous decades. While I do prefer a ferocious atmosphere during matches, it is an experience I would recommend to all football fans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Marco Rossi’s appointment as Hungary’s new head coach

A couple of days ago The Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ) appointed Marco Rossi as the new Head coach of Hungary, replacing Georges Leekens at the helm. The move comes after a string of poor performances under the Belgian’s tenure, leading to widespread dissatisfaction amongst fans and players alike.

 

Marco Rossi

 

Georges Leekens was appointed in the autumn of 2017, replacing Euro 2016 head coach Bernd Storck, whose contract was terminated as a result of losing to Andorra and falling at the wrong end of a 5-2 defeat against Switzerland. Leekens – who, prior to his appointment, had been virtually unheard of in Hungary – was brought in to rebuild the national side from scratch for future success. He was widely credited for laying the foundations of the current Belgian national side, although a lack of success and the constant flow of talent from Belgium could put this into question.

 

During his 4 games in charge Hungary lost convincingly against Kazakhstan, Scotland and Australia, and managed to scrape an undeserved draw versus Belarus. He did not introduce young talent into the team; in fact the average age of the squad went up since Euro 2016, including calling up 33 year old Kitchee (Hong Kong league) player Krisztián Vadócz and 32 year old Predrag Bošnjak, the latter who spent the majority of his career in mid-table Hungarian sides and has not played since the embarrassing 2-1 loss against Northern Ireland under Attila Pintér back in 2014. The matches not only lacked quality, but players appeared to be unmotivated, and unlike in previous years, they did not show passion nor motivation on the pitch either. He had several months to come up with a new squad and failed to do so.

 

Marco Rossi’s appointment drew widespread acclaim from players, journalists and the public alike. However, the logistics of the appointment are questionable; Leekens claimed that he was not notified about the MLSZ’s decision to terminate his contract and he only heard about Marco Rossi’s appointment in the media. He is set to return to Hungary next week to discuss his future.

 

The MLSZ’s decision to make Rossi head coach appears to be the right one. Having coached in Hungary between 2012 and 2017 and since 2017 in Dunaszerdahely (Dunajská Streda) – the Hungarian minority’s team in Slovakia – he has a good understanding of Hungarian football culture and its mentality. He will be able to express himself to players better and be more understanding towards them.

 

Rossi is also a builder. However, unlike Leekens, he has a proven track record in the Hungary football environment, taking mid-table Budapest Honvéd to league glory in 2017 by slowly improving the team year by year. Despite a small interval in his Honvéd career – when in May 2014 he resigned, but was rehired later on in the next season when the club were struggling – he has shown dedication to the job and had a great relationship with the fans. He has also demonstrated his ability to have an instant impact, taking qualifying Dunaszerdahely to Europa League qualifiers for the first time in 24 years in a single season. An instant impact at Hungary is necessary more than ever as they prepare to qualify themselves for Euro 2020 on the back of a poor run of performances they have not experienced in decades.

 

Marco Rossi’s role at the national team is more than a new job for him. For Leekens, this was just another new appointment with another national team. He did not plan to live in Hungary, and even when he heard the news of his sacking, he was staying in Belgium. Rossi on the other hand has lived in Hungary for 6 years and has shown his dedication and love for the country during his time at Honvéd and Dunaszerdahely. In interviews, on the news that he was linked with the Hungary job, he responded with words expressing humility such as “honoured” and “humbling”.

 

It is this what sets him apart from Leekens. He will show 100% commitment and will motivate players to show passion on the pitch as he is personally invested in the team. Hopefully he will bring cohesion, which was not seen in performances under Leekens’ tenure. He has no international experience, but all good international managers have to start somewhere and he is the best for Hungary at the moment. He already has that good connection with fans in the country that Leekens could only dream of. Rossi’s time as a lot of uncertainty over it and may not go as planned. However, most fans will agree that they would rather lose under Rossi than Leekens as they know that at least with the Italian’s team they will lose with dignity.

 

@tomicserep

ConIFA World Football Cup 2018 Semi-Finals Round-Up and interview with Béla Fejér

It was in a small local ground nestled behind a row of detached houses, on a Thursday afternoon in the sleepy South London suburb of Carshalton, that the two semi-finals of the ConIFA World Cup would take place. An independent tournament set up for teams representing unrecognised territories and minorities, the competition would first see Northern Cyprus take on Padania, whilst the second match would be a derby pitting together the ethnically Hungarian minorities of Ukraine and Romania – Kárpátalja and Székely Land respectively.

 

The first fixture was a close-run affair, but Northern Cyprus’ quality shone through in the latter stages of the game; goals from Turan and former Ireland U21 international Mehmet turned the match around from 2-1 to 3-2, sealing their qualification to the final. London’s Turkish diaspora were in full voice throughout the match, and just like in previous games, they created a fiery atmosphere.

 

The Kárpátalja and Székely Land fixture was a unique one as both teams represent a Hungarian minority group. Fans found it difficult to choose which side to support, but Székely Land chants became more dominant as Hungarians of this area are more common in London than Hungarians of Kárpátalja, who originate from Ukraine.  Throughout the match Székely Land created a lot more chances, but failed to capitalise. On the other hand, Kárpátalja were patient and much more clinical and by the 75^th minute they were 3-0 up. There was a late resurgence by Székely Land in in the last 15 minutes, scoring two goals in quick succession, but a counter in extra time allowed Peres to slot home, securing a 4-2 victory for Kárpátalja.

 

Kárpátalja vs Székely Land

Amidst the clouds of red, white and green created by the flares, the fans were singing traditional Hungarian folk songs and chants. After the game finished, Székely Land fans congratulated Kárpátalja for their triumph and both teams and fans sang the Hungarian national anthem together. This was a fixture that allowed the Hungarian minority groups to express unity and solidarity for each other.

 

Hungarian supporters during the Kárpátalja – Székely Land match

I was able to carry out a quick post-match interview with Kárpátalja captain and goalkeeper Béla Fejér.

 

How did you experience the world cup so far?

Very good so far. I would not have thought of this even in my wildest dreams. We wanted to win more and more games and get to the final. Thanks to God, we got there. This is team work.

 

What was the goal originally?

I don’t know. Each game I play, whether for club or country, my aim is to win. Everyone else’s goal in the team is the same.

 

The majority of Hungarian fans were supporting Székely Land, how did this make you guys feel?

I cannot contest this. We are from one blood. The way they supported them, in their hearts they supported us well. We are all Hungarian.

 

Do you have any players’ performances which have impressed you?

Well, this is a team sport. I can only say team work. Players start and sit on the bench, but in my opinion the whole process is team work.

 

 

Tom Cserép

@tomicserep

Inside the other World Cup

Regulars on London’s W3 bus service along White Hart Lane will be accustomed to seeing football fans flock on board on Saturday afternoons. Today though, instead of carrying on up to the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, the groups of supporters got off a mile before, at non-league Haringey Borough FC’s Coles Park ground. The 2500-seater, nestled in an industrial estate in North London, was set to play host to its second match of the World Cup group stages. The ConIFA World Cup, that is.

 

The ConIFA World Cup is an international tournament set up for teams who represent minority groups and unrecognised states which are not part of FIFA, with the 2018 edition being hosted by London. Among the participants, Székely Land and Matabeleland would face off in this crucial Group C fixture.

 

Teams and fans standing for the national anthems of Székely Land and Matabeleland

Székely Land (Székelyföld in Hungarian) is an ethnically Hungarian region in the heart of Transylvania. Since the Trianon Treaty signed in 1920 it has been part of Romania. Their team is usually supported by people from the region and Hungarians alike. Matabeleland, on the other hand, is a region of Zimbabwe which is mostly inhabited by the Ndebele people. The football association hopes to promote development through sport in the region, which has been largely been left to its own devices by Mugabe’s regime.

 

Matabeleland fans showcasing their traditional music and dances. 

 

In the run-down rusted stands, rickety seats awaited the Székely and Matabeleland faithful. Most Székely fans chose to stand by the barrier surrounding the pitch, away from the British spectators who are perhaps less-accustomed to Eastern European ultra-groups. Hungarians were wearing their national team’s kit along with the usual fan-favourite black ‘Magyarország’ T-shirts. Matabeleland supporters were present in high numbers as well, with many wearing traditional Ndebele clothing and waving Zimbabwean flags. Throughout the game they created a vibrant atmosphere, showing support through traditional songs and dances. Both Hungarians and neutrals were even tempted and encouraged to take part – there was a mutual respect between both sets of players and fans, showing solidarity for each other’s political situation.

 

Székely Land supporters

 

The Hungarians welcomed kick-off with the customary red, white and green flares as they set about creating the atmosphere the national team’s ultras are so known for. However, it was Matabeleland who got off to a quick start as attacker Sawusani Mudimba came close to finding the opener in the first few seconds of the match. The game was very even until the 24^th minute, when Matabeleland substitute Dude clattered the oncoming striker and was promptly shown red, tipping the balance of the fixture in Székely Land’s direction.

 

The Matabeleland defence eventually cracked soon afterwards in the 30^th minute when a hard challenge by substitute Sidibindi, lucky to escape the same fate as his goalkeeper just six minutes prior, resulted in a penalty, which was converted by DVTK player Fülöp. Székely Land went onto score two more before half time, with a long range free kick from midfielder Györgyi and a simple tap in from a Györgyi cross by the aptly named Magyari. Matabeleland were very vulnerable at the back throughout the match, with long balls over their defensive line often leading to clear-cut chances for the Hungarian outfit.

 

The second half was much more balanced, but Magyari was able to nick another goal capitalising on a mistake by substitute goalkeeper Sithole (4-0). Soon enough, the pace of the game visibly slowed as both sides tired. However, substitute striker László neatly poked the ball past Sithole to make it 5-0.

 

In defence of Matabeleland, there had been a noticeable disparity in skill between the two teams. The Székely Team boasted a team captained and led by centre-back Csaba Csizmadia, who has been capped 14 times for Hungary, as well as various players plying their trade in Romania’s Liga I.

 

Despite their heavy loss, Matabeleland fans were, to their credit, in full voice throughout the match, inspiring both neutral and Hungarian fans alike by sharing their culture. Even renowned Székely-native manager László Bölöni, best known for his stints at Sporting CP and Rennes, was taking photos and videos with the Matabeleland fans.

 

The atmosphere and energy of these games is a stark contrast to the pomp and artifice that will greet fans at the ‘real’ World Cup in a couple of weeks’ time. Despite the undeniable gulf in quality between the two tournaments, the ConIFA World Cup can at least pride itself on being the more authentic football experience. If you are in the London area in the upcoming week and in need of live football, don’t hesitate to check out one of the games.

 

 

@tomicserep    @rafajuc

 

The Demise of Colchester United

11 years ago Colchester United finished 10^th in the Championship, narrowly missing out on a play-off place. Jamie Cureton became the league’s top scorer and they claimed the Pride of Anglia title by finishing above all other East Anglian teams in the football league system, including Norwich City, Ipswich Town and Southend United. The pathways of the town’s and club’s growth trajectory crossed pathways in the neighbourhood of Highwoods, where new homes were being built along with the U’s state of the art new stadium. These projects were meant to display the town’s and Colchester United’s burgeoning to cityhood and rise in the football league respectively. However, just like Colchester’s quest to become a city, the dream was not meant to be. Colchester United’s fall down the divisions is one of the lesser documented events in recent Football League history.

After the success of the 2006-2007 season, Colchester United were hoping to establish themselves as a solid Championship team.  This included the replacement of Layer Road – a ground that had a capacity of 6320 – with the new Colchester Community Stadium, which was planned to house over 10000 fans. Layer Road was the smallest ever stadium to be used in the second tier of English football since its renaming to the Championship.  Colchester’s success could be put down to their ground’s compactness; it enabled players to quickly get the ball back into play and catch the opposition out on the counter. The fans’ proximity to the pitch also made it intimidating for players. There were numerous incidents of supporters holding onto the shirts of the away team’s players to allow the U’s to regroup.

Layer Road

If the 2006-2007 season turned out to be a dream, the following one was a nightmare. Colchester sold Cureton to rivals Norwich for a mere £825,000 and replaced him with a 41 year old Teddy Sheringham. It was hoped that his experience could help lead Colchester into a battle for the play-off positions, but he failed to make any meaningful impact. By the new year he had been relegated to the bench. The U’s finished rock bottom with 38 points, not even close to saving themselves from relegation. The last game at Layer Road was a 1-0 loss against Stoke City. Ironically, the new stadium, built to accommodate Colchester’s Championship ambitions, never saw second tier action.

Colchester Community Stadium

They returned to League One unceremoniously and they failed to make an immediate impact. However, in 2009-10 they showed signs of hope. The appointment of Paul Lambert appeared to be paying dividends, as they thrashed Norwich City 7-1 on the first day of the season, laying the biggest defeat on their East Anglian rivals’ history. What happened next turned out to be the most controversial events in local football. Soon after the game Bryan Gunn was sacked by Norwich and they approached Lambert. Lambert agreed to take over the club and demolished Colchester 5-0 in the Community Stadium later that season, leading Norwich to the League One title. Norwich’s successive promotion from League One to Championship and then to the Premier League was largely down to Lambert’s managerial capabilities. To this day Lambert is the most hated man in Colchester. It is not worth dwelling on what could have been, but could Colchester be playing against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United on a weekly basis? That question will never be answered, but it still perplexes fans today.

Since then Colchester had been slipping closer and closer to relegation year by year. Owner Robbie Cowling has not been interested in investing into the club as he has debts to pay off in addition to running the team. In the 2015-2016 season fans were hopeful of safety after beating Charlton in the FA Cup and setting up a high-profile game against Spurs, which they eventually lost. Nonetheless, the poor showing in the league meant they finished 23^rd with the worst goal difference in the league.

In 2016-2017 Colchester came close to reaching the League Two play-offs, but ultimately failed on the final day of the season. Last season they appeared to be in contention for the play-off places once again, however, towards the end of the season their ambitions tailed off and finished mid table. There appears to be no hope for making any progress and the club is not even a shadow of its former self. 11 years ago the Ipswich-Colchester rivalry experienced a rejuvenation. However, today the club find themselves below even Southend, the team they have ridiculed as the lesser team of Essex. Two seasons ago local outfit Braintree Town came close to getting promoted to League Two, which would have been the ultimate humiliation for Colchester United, playing in a league with a team that many Colchester fans did not even know it existed.

There is no question that Colchester is not moving forwards. Cowling is showing no interest in selling, nor investing in the club. Nonetheless, to move forwards in this situation they need to invest in a young team that has a few experienced players to guide them. The have plenty of promising young players – including midfielders Sammie Szmodics and Craig Slater and striker Mikael Mandron. However, par centre-back Tom Eastman, they lack leadership and experience that could help the club become more successful. Only through acquiring a good mix of young and experienced players coupled with motivation can the club move onto the right path and battle their East Anglian rivals once again.

 

@tomicserep

 

 

 

 

 

On Christophe Dugarry’s time at Birmingham, and what happened next

It’s not often that club legends are made in the space of only four games. Yet Christophe Dugarry will always be remembered at St Andrew’s for his scintillating performances in the back end of the 2002-03 season after signing on loan in January. A five-goal haul, as well as his standout technical ability, in April of that year helped the club stay up when the Blues had looked consigned to relegation, having been promoted only the year before.

Arriving in Birmingham at 31, Christophe Dugarry was leaving behind him a respectable career on the continent, hoping to get a taste of English football before retirement. There were unsuccessful spells at AC Milan and then Barcelona –  a season during which Louis van Gaal had experimented with converting him into a defensive midfielder – a trial that didn’t bear its fruits, to say the least, and led to the Frenchman’s swift exit. Nevertheless, there was also a successful eight years at Bordeaux, who he had helped return to the French top flight as well as mount a famous European run in 1996, the highlight being a 3-0 victory against his future club Milan, in which he scored two of the goals.

In France, not much was made of his spell across the Channel, largely considered a swansong for Dugarry, a taste of English football before retiring. He was arriving in the midst of a wave of French players flooding into England’s top flight, following the example of his colleagues in the French national team in Henry and Pirès. After coming back from Qatar, he went on to remain active in the French footballing world through his media work, first of all as a commentator for the 2006 World Cup and later taking up Ligue 1 games to become one of the country’s most prominent pundits. Dugarry has been praised for being a breath of fresh air in the landscape of French football commentary through his frank approach, although has been criticised by a section of French supporters for what they see as sometimes partisan commentating in favouring Bordeaux. He is, despite a sixteen-year career’s worth of experience behind him, a divisive pundit, but one who rarely resorts to clichés or mince his words. He often criticises current players, sparing not even Neymar as he condemned the Brazilian for staying at home, playing poker, as PSG clinched the Ligue 1 title.

He has also gone on to host his own radio show, Team Duga, as well as appearing on football talk shows on television. In one of these shows, looking back on the reasons for trying his luck in England and his eventual departure, Dugarry recalled that ‘they had told me that Birmingham was England’s second city’. However, after settling in the country, despite his success on the pitch he never really adapted to life – ‘it was night by five o’clock, it was raining, […] there aren’t any mountains or beaches and the food is very average’. Despite signing a two-year permanent deal at the end of that season, it was not long before he was packing his bags. Nevertheless, he often uses English football as a reference in his shows for its physical nature – a common remark among French players – and the spectacle it provides.

For all his obvious talent on the ball, the striker just wasn’t that prolific, and his laidback attitude, overlooked by Blues players and fans, had been one of the reasons why his potential would never be completely fulfilled. Despite a trophy-laden career, he is often remembered for a difficult spell at Marseille at the end of the 1990s, which among fans gave rise to the nickname ‘Dugachis’, a play on the French word for ‘waste’, referring to his frequent misses in front of goal. His reputation had dropped so badly that, after being named in the World Cup squad in 1998, he had been booed by the Stade Vélodrome crowd on coming on for France’s opener against South Africa.  His goal in that game, though, France’s first in the tournament, would come soon afterwards as he wheeled away in celebration, sticking his tongue out at the press box in response to the criticism he had been receiving from the media.

What is certain about Dugarry’s short but sweet spell in the Premier League is that, after a turbulent second half of his career, plagued by injury and bad form, he had rediscovered the scoring instinct that had left him and had returned to rousing crowds with his deft touch and technique. While on paper his period in the West Midlands reads as a rather underwhelming 30 appearances, 6 goals, it’s undeniable that here is where he left arguably the biggest mark, after Bordeaux. Nowadays, as he commentates on the Premier League for French TV, it is easy to wonder what could have been for Birmingham had he not become disenchanted with life in England and stayed in the league for just a while longer. Or possibly that April in 2003 was just a blip in an otherwise wilting career.

How Gus Poyet is bringing change to Bordeaux as potential investors look on

Whatever the outcome of the closing months of the campaign, this season will have been one of inextricable disappointment for Bordeaux. With the fabled new manager effect all but worn off after Poyet’s initial winning run soon after taking charge, the club has receded back into the slump that brought about the crisis and saw the departure of previous manager Gourvennec, and with him captain Jérémy Toulalan. As Bordeaux look to stagger across the finish line in May to put the full stop on what has been – in optimistic terms – a transitional season, the changes Poyet has sought to make as well as the imminent sale of the club seem to be a source of hope for long-suffering Girondins fans.

In the three months since he’s arrived, the Uruguayan has been determined to try instilling several fundamental changes to a side that was all but in ruins. ‘If everything has to change, then everything will change’, he proclaimed following his team’s home loss to Rennes.

For example, true to the typical image of the South American bulldog mentality, he has lamented the relaxed attitude that has prevailed throughout the club. A tough ask, considering the famed climate of lethargy supposedly engrained in all of French football – many a foreign coach coming to France has complained over the workload given to players. Poyet has already evoked drafting in a mental coach to overcome this issue, while it is already clear that his hands-on, passionate approach to management has seen the Bordeaux players on the receiving end of a few earfuls already. Nevertheless, he will hope that a reshuffling and reduction of the coaching staff, which included the drafting in of former Girondins player Fernando Menegazzo and stripping down the personnel to just five men, will help him to implement this change in mentality. This would occur across all areas of the club and provoke a more far reaching and dynamic change to a club that has badly stagnated since its title win in 2009.

With Bordeaux’s European chances – briefly reignited in Poyet’s first month in charge – all but gone, the new manager is well aware of the need to make use of the dead rubbers that remain this season. The remainder of the campaign will see him shake up the squad and make use of younger players with a long term view to next season’s potential team – this has already been seen in 19 year old centre back Jules Koundé’s role as a consistent starter in this second half of the season.

In order to fulfil his ambitions for the club, however, the meagre budget the club is afforded by its owners just won’t do. The TV Channel M6, spearheaded by its CEO Nicolas de Tavernost, have owned the club since 1998 and are currently looking to sell the club. However, de Tavernost has insisted that, despite the rumours of American investors entering into negotiations, he will not simply sell to the highest bidder – claiming that they haven’t stayed 20 years ‘just to give the keys to the club to people who won’t at least commit the minimum’. All arrangements are reportedly being considered in these negotiations, whether M6 remains majority shareholder while another acts as investor, or whether the club is sold outright. The latter would be enticing, given that this opens up the possibility for them to buy out the newly-built stadium the team moved into three years ago, becoming one of the only French teams to have that luxury.

While it’s true that a Frank McCourt-style takeover would give Bordeaux and Poyet some much needed freedom in the transfer market this summer, M6 are right to demand a concrete plan first before handing over the reins. More mismanagement at the top is the last thing the club needs in this transitional period, and the new manager will need time in order to fully introduce his idea into the club. The American consortium – ‘Great American Capital Partners’ – interested in buying the club is only able to bring up ‘5-10 million’ in funds in terms of matching the asking price, and as such have been sounding out potential partners to invest with them. In a document of which the contents were revealed by L’Equipe, the group have set a precise timeline regarding their acquisition of the club, and are hoping to complete this by the 6^th of June.

From pitchside upheaval to a boardroom shakeup, the future looks uncertain for Bordeaux at the moment. Fans will be hoping, nonetheless, that this is exactly the overhaul that is needed to finally breathe life into a club that has sleepwalked through the last nine years, at times teetering dangerously over the edge of relegation. For better or worse, something is finally happening at Bordeaux.

Twitter – @rafajuc