Carlo goes to Paris: Ancelotti unveiled at PSG

"Just think how many cigarettes I can buy with all that Arab cash" Earlier today in the crazy world that is Twitter, one of the trending topics worldwide was “Eleanor goes to Paris”. Having done some web-based research, I’ve ascertained that Eleanor is model Eleanor Calder, girlfriend of singer Louis Tomlinson from X-Factor band One Direction. Apparently romantic/sappy (delete as appropriate) Louis whisked his beau off to Paris for a surprise Christmas trip, bless his little cotton socks. Personally I prefer the story “Carlo goes to Paris”, which sees heroic/scheming (delete as appropriate) Brazilian heart-throb Leonardo whisk Carlo Ancelotti off to Paris to persuade him to become Paris St Germain’s...

Read more »

PSG's year in lists

Clinging as I do to a lowly rung of the media ladder, I've come to realise that filling space at this time of year - be it in print, online, or in a television schedule - is a tricky business. Unless you get an unexpected bonus like, I don't know, a member of the royal family being hospitalised, there's very little going on in the world, hence the prevalence of banal end-of-year lists. You know the type: Top 50 songs of the year, top ten reality shows, best door-knobs of 2011, that sort of thing. Of course PSG isn't exactly a news-free zone at present. Indeed the long and drawn out process of changing coach should come to a conclusion in the next few days, given that the internet is awash with grainy photos and videos of...

Read more »

Kombouare on his bike? PSG set to appoint Ancelotti

"There's no way that Italian bloke with the funny eye-brows is sexier than me" AUTUMN CHAMPIONS declares the splash page on the PSG website. It's only when you click past this that you find the statement that points to the demise of the man that took us to top spot. Most French media sources are running the story that Antoine Kombouare was finally dismissed from his position as PSG coach on Thursday morning, and that as of January 1 Carlo Ancelotti will be installed in the hot-seat. Yesterday afternoon this statement arrived from the club, and hardly does much to dispel the swirling maelstrom of rumours. It said: "Paris Saint-Germain and their first-team coach Antoine Kombouare would like to clarify that they are engaged in positive...

Read more »

Player Profile: Sylvain Armand

Name: Sylvain ArmandDOB: August 1 1980Former Clubs: St Etienne, Clermont, NantesSigned: June 2004, undisclosedInternational: Full French internationalOn my second ever visit to the Parc des Princes, in April 2010, PSG were entertaining then Ligue 1 champions Bordeaux.With the score at 0-0 in the 31st minute, visiting keeper Ulrich Rame was sent off for handball giving PSG a free kick outside the box.Up stepped a rugged looking defender going by the name of Sylvain Armand, who proceeded to welly the ball through the wall and into the net to score the opening goal.It was one of nine goals the 31-year-old has scored in his seven years at PSG, during which time he has become a firm fans favourite.Young Sylvain started his career in the academy...

Read more »

Sochaux 0-1 PSG: Tevez talk as we re-take top spot

Neither Britain's coalition government nor PSG boss Antoine Kombouare appear to have a bright long-term future.But while the cracks in the ConDem regime have widened this week following David Cameron's ill-fated appearance at the Eurozone negotiations, AK is probably feeling a bit more secure in his job than he did seven days ago.Yesterday the PSG picked up their second successive win, beating Sochaux 1-0 thanks to Kevin Gameiro's excellent angled finish. Combined with Montpellier's surprise defeat at the hands of AK's old club, Valenciennes, it means Les Rouges-et-Bleu are joint-top of the table once more."Everyone had a great match," said Super Kev afterwards. "The defensive work of the whole team was great. Personally, I had more touches...

Read more »

Rafa Benitez to PSG? Yes, no, maybe

Typical, I go offline for a few hours and miss Rafa Benitez's entire reign as PSG boss. As is the way with PSG these days, what's actually happening isn't particularly clear, but here's how the story broke last night<a href="http://storify.com/PSGTourist/rafa-benitez-to-psg-or-not" target="_blank">View the story "Rafa Benitez to PSG.... or not" on Storify</a&g...

Read more »

Crunch time for PSG (and Kombouare) as they host Auxerre

In about 50 minutes time PSG kick off against Auxerre, looking for a first win in five games.Whether this afternoon's match will be the last time we see Antoine Kombouare on the PdP's home bench remains to be seen. Following Thursday's 2-0 Europa League defeat at Red Bull Salzburg, multiple sources claim that whatever happens this afternoon, the former Valenciennes boss is for the chop, with the untried Claude Makalele reportedly ready to step in as interim boss.Personally I'll believe it when it happens, as these kind of rumours seem to have been floating around all season. A win against an Auxerre side 16th in the table and struggling for form is obviously imperative, and we could probably do with a stylish performance of the sort that hasn't...

Read more »

Broken PSG look for quick fix at Red Bull Salzburg

In the words of Michael Cox of Zonal Marking fame, PSG looked a "broken team" in Sunday's yes-it-really-did-happen-and-yes-it-really-was-that-bad clasico defeat to OM.Ahead of tonight's Europa League clash with Red Bull Salzburg, Antoine Kombouare has not so much made repairs to his flagging as torn it to pieces and started again.AK will be making his customary Europa League changes, meaning starts for Nicky Shower in goal and Mevlut Erding up front. Injuries will deprive him of Jezza Menneza and Diego Lugano, though on Sunday's evidence neither is a great loss, while Javier Pastore has been left at home because he's feeling a bit tired"Let's be clear, this is not a penalty," said AK, which is lucky really as on current form El Flaco would...

Read more »

Olympique Marseille 3-0 PSG: Derby despair

Highlights - OM 3-0 PSGThe PSG players have been in for extra training this morning. “This session is closed to the public” reports the official club site gravely.It was probably a good move for the squad’s protection to keep the fans out, though I would have been interested to know what exactly they were practicing. On the basis of last night’s game they could do with brushing up on a few things: tackling, passing, shooting, little details like that.As you can probably gather, last night’s Clasico was more disastrous than Jeremy Menez’s latest trip to the barbers. Fair play to Marseille, who bossed the match from start to finish and were superior in every department from the moment Loic Remy hung in the air to nod in Cesar Azpilicueta’s long...

Read more »

Know your enemy: Olympique Marseille

PSG's good start to the season has perhaps been made all the more sweet by the struggle of our rivals from the south.After winning the title in 2010, and finishing runners up in 2011, Champions League qualification in 2012 is going to be a big ask for Didier Deschamps' Marseille. Ahead of tonight's Clasico at the Stade Veledrome (9pm), they languish in tenth in the Ligue 1 table, 15 points behind PSG and a hefty 10 behind third-placed Lille, albeit with a game in hand.To make matters worse, a 1-0 midweek defeat to Olympiacos means OM now face a winner takes all clash with Borussia Dortmund to decide who progresses to the knock-out stage.The possible reasons for Marseille's poor form this season are myriad, and explored nicely in this excellent...

Read more »

Player profile: Salvatore Sirigu

Name: Salvatore SiriguDOB: January 12 1987Former clubs: Palermo, Cremonese (loan), Ancona (loan)Signed: July 2011, €3.5millionInternational honours: Full Italian internationalThis is the first PSGT player profile, so perhaps it’s fitting that it concerns the club’s number one. Technically Salvatore Sirigu wears the number 30 shirt, but since his summer arrival the Italian has firmly established himself as PSG’s first choice stopper.Sirigu was born in Sardinia, but moved to a slightly less classy island (sorry Mafioso, but it’s true) to further his footballing career, joining Sicilian side Palermo as a youngster.Though he made his debut in November 2006 against Sampdoria in the Coppa Italia, Sirigu’s first prolonged taste of first team action...

Read more »

Parisiens derailed by Nancy boys

Not AK's funeral, although I'm sure he'd be happy to meet the masked lady Sorry for the lack of blog activity recently. I’ve been hampered by a lack of internet access (thanks Plusnet), which has only just been resolved.The Ligue One season got back up and running this weekend, and PSG hit an unexpected bump in the road when they were beaten 1-0 by Nancy at the Parc yesterday. Jean Calve scored the only goal as Jean Fernandez’s side secured their first away win of the season.For under-pressure boss Antoine Kombouare it was a result which was about as welcome as a Sepp Blatter appearance at the MOBO awards. I say “under-pressure boss” because this is the ridiculous situation we’re in now, whereby every slightly dodgy result sparks speculation...

Read more »

PSG stars go international

With no Ligue 1 action this weekend, they’ll be plenty of people with some extra free time on their hands.Personally I plan to spend my days looking at pictures of cats in sinks, but if international football is more your thing, then check out the PSG players who are in action for their respective countries.France have a match tonight against the USA (8pm), before hosting Belgium on Tuesday (8pm). Mamadou Sakho, Jeremy Menez, and Kevin Gameiro will all be hoping to get some pitch time for Laurent Blanc’s team.The Italy squad features Salvatore Sirigu, who will probably be performing bench-warming duties in their friendlies with Poland (Today) and Uruguay (Tuesday). In Tuesday’s match he’ll probably come face to face with Diego Lugano, who is...

Read more »

Ancelotti rumours not poppy-cock

No doubt what the week’s number one football story has been: Poppies have been everywhere, and I’m not talking about Kettering Town.COMMON SENSE HAS PREVAILED seems to be the mantra of the day after FIFA relented and decided to allow England to wear black armbands with poppies on during their friendly with Spain to mark Remembrance Day.Without wishing to seem disrespectful, I think common sense went out the window several days ago, and some of the behaviour of our public figures (hello David Cameron) has been beyond parody. But there we go, at least now everyone is happy, including the EDL.It’s not clear whether or not Carlo Ancelotti was wearing a poppy during his two day visit to Paris, but what is obvious is that his trip to the capital...

Read more »

Bordeaux 1-1 PSG: Momo on the go-go as attackers falter

“After a thunderous start, Ligue 1 is running out of steam,” declared France Football today, describing the latest round of matches as “boring”.On the basis of last night’s 1-1 draw between Bordeaux and PSG, it’s difficult to argue too much. Les Rouges-et-Bleu’s attacking quartet failed to sparkle, and it was left to Momo Sissoko of all people to head us in front in the tenth minute before Yoan Gouffran grabbed an equaliser for the Girondins three minutes later.Bordeaux had the better chances to take all three points, and it took some good saves from Salvatore Sirigu to preserve our unbeaten run.I may have mentioned before that I’m not a big fan of Sissoko, but the Malian yellow-card machine is beginning to show signs of some decent form, having...

Read more »

Rivals falter as PSG target rare Bordeaux win

One of my few visits to the Parc was for a match between PSG and Bordeaux at the end of 2009/10PSG won 3-1 that day, defeating a Laurent Blanc-managed side who were in the final throws of their stint as league champions, and whose line-up contained the likes of Yoaan Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh"I don't really trust statistics," said AK, ever the killjoy. "Bordeaux's record is two wins, six draws and four defeats and they have yet to win at home. That will obviously happen at some point and I hope that is doesn't happen on Sunday evening."Amen to that, and it's lucky Kombouare is a stat-sceptic as PSG's record in Bordeaux does not make for pretty reading, with just one win there in the last 21 encounters at the Stage Cheban Delmas. But with...

Read more »

PSG 1-0 Slovan Bratislava: Nobody does it better than El Flaco

I love James Bond films, but can't really get excited about the announcement yesterday of 007's latest outing, Skyfall.Firstly because the last Bond, Quantum of Solice, was a confusing, plot-less, mess, and secondly Skyfall is a terrible title - it sounds like a new model of Japanese car: The Suzuki Skyfall, coming to a forecourt near you.The Spy Who Loved Me (with Roger Moore, above) is my favourite Bond movie, and PSG's 1-0 win over Slovan Bratislava in the Europa League brought to mind the wonderful theme song by Carly Simon. Because nobody does it better for the PSG than Javier Pastore, who netted the only goal of the game with a back-post volley from Nene's cross."Against Montpellier I scored the same type of goal," said the ever-modest...

Read more »

PSG brothers prepare for Slovan Bratislava clash

The Waughs. The Charltons. The, er, Nevilles. Siblings in sport are commonplace, and apparently a new pair has popped up in Paris recently."Tonight there will again be more than 30,000 spectators at the Parc des Princes. But to see which PSG?” muses today’s Parisien. “The one bursting with health, flying in the championship? Or it’s twin that remains on two defeats and a draw in the cups (Europa League and the Coupe de Ligue)?”It’s fair to say that the contrast between the PSG’s record breaking, six-wins-in-a-row, league form and their patchy cup record is a stark one, but I think that only highlights what an early stage the Qatari “project” is at. AK has been rotating like a crazed spinning top this season, and at the moment we don’t have...

Read more »

PSG march on as Eden Hazard prepares to march off

(Not my holiday destination)You may have noticed a lack of activity on this blog in the last week. For once this isn’t down to my laziness, but because I have been en vacance. And very nice it was too, apart from a small delay in getting back (thanks Eurotunnel).The hurly-burly world of Ligue 1 allows no time for holidays of course, and in my absence the PSG have been busy strengthening their position at the top of the table.First they proved they can cut the mustard (sorry, but it had to be done) by beating Dijon 2-0 last Sunday. They declined to do so again in a Coupe de Ligue tie played on Wednesday night, which DFCO won 3-2, but got back to winning ways with a comfortable-ish 4-2 victory over Caen on Saturday, making it a club record six...

Read more »

Slovan Bratislava 0-0 PSG: Digging deep as red mist descends

A ban on a group of naughty travelling supporters, and a subsequent boycott by the other, non-naughty travelling supporters meant there was very little Parisien presence in Slovakia last night as PSG ground out a 0-0 stale-mate with Slovan Bratislava in their latest Europa League Group F fixture. Those not present missed a match which turned from two points dropped to a point gained in the blink of a second-half eye, with Clement Chantome and Siaka Tiene sent off in quick succession, meaning Antoine Kombouare's side were reduced to nine men for the last ten minutes but showed good presence of mind to dig in and hold on for a draw. PSG had squandered several good chances to go in front, while at the other end Nicholas Douchez,...

Read more »

AC Ajaccio 1-3 PSG - Gameiro goals gaul-ling for Corsicans

Highlights - PSG stay top as Gameiro guns down AjaccioWhenever I think of Corsica I think of weird little Mediterranean people eating wild boar, which in turn makes me think of Asterix the Gaul.So I was a little disappointed to tune in to yesterday’s match at the Stade Francois Coty and discover that none of the Ajaccio supporters – or indeed players – resembled Asterix, Obelix, Getafix, or any other members of the gang.In fact the only man who might have looked at home in an Goscinny and Uderzo comic strip was Kevin Gameiro, who appeared to have been supping on some magic potion before the game. The striker notched a hat-trick as PSG claimed a victory which takes them three points clear at the top of the table.AK had to shuffle his expensively...

Read more »

Back in the old routine

Like England's rugby World Cup campaign, the international break has finally, thankfully, been put out of it's misery. The French footballers weren't quite as potent as their egg-shaped counterparts, but got the job done and booked their place at Euro 2012 thanks to an edgy 1-1 draw with Bosnia on Tuesday. A summer of expectation followed by crushing disappointment and stroppiness awaits. Jezza Menezza and Kevin Gameiro both featured for Les Bleus, and came through unscathed despite Menez going into the game with a slight injury. The former Roma winger won't be playing for the PSG on Sunday though, as he is suspended after picking up three yellow cards. "After the international break, the squad is approaching the game in serene...

Read more »

PSG 2-0 Lyon: Pastore bosses OL

Highlights: PSG go 3 points clear at top of Ligue 1 thanks to 2-0 win over LyonAs temperatures soared across Europe, PSG turned up the heat on the other title contenders with a 2-0 victory over Lyon in last night’s big match.“Last Sunday it was asked: who is the boss? This Sunday evening, the boss is Paris,” declared L’Equipe as goals from Javier Pastore (standard) and Christophe Jallet (er, not standard) put the Parisiens three points clear at the top. Hopefully we're more Bruce Springsteen than David Brent.Pastore’s goal was a fine finish, but one which owed much to Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris leaving a helpful gap at his near post for El Flaco exploit. And after Bafé Gomis had missed the kind of chance he’d usually put away in his sleep, Jallet...

Read more »

PSG versus OL: The key match-ups

The PSG lost 2-0 in Spain on Thursday, Athletico Bilbao comprehensively outplaying a mix and match Parisien team in the latest Europa League group match.A trademark silly lunge from Momo Sissoko which earned the midfielder a red card on his full debut didn’t help matters, and AK was philosophical afterwards.“We had almost forgotten what it was like to lose and how much we hate defeats,” said the gaffer.“So now I expect a reaction from my players. Today, all the lights were red. And this will allow us to be more focused, more attentive and have a spirit of revenge.”Red lights? Spirit of revenge? Woof. Said spirit will be put to the test tonight when Lyon visit the Parc (9pm BST). With the teams level on points, and indeed goal difference, at...

Read more »

Beckham to PSG? Bullsheee...

A lot of stuff is written about PSG on the internet, and some of it I tend to ignore in the hope/belief that it’s not true.Thus you won’t have seen any mention of the BBC’s OMG D-Beck could join PSG!!!111!1! from a few weeks back on this blog because I was of the opinion that it was, in the immortal words of The Wire’s Clay Davis, a load of sheeeeeeeeeeeiiit.But wait, today’s Parisien is positively bulging with Beckham, who is alleged to have spoken to Leo about a move to the capital.Dubbing Beckham “the Spice Boy” (someone should perhaps tell them he never wore one of those infamous White Armani Suits, or played for Liverpool) the paper quotes a source close to the former England captain who claims he and Leo have had a little tete-a-tete.“Leonardo...

Read more »

PSG gallop on after Montpellier win

Last week a magic square, this week a race-horse. PSG keep winning and the slightly dodgy metaphors keep rolling. Saturday’s 3-0 win at Montpellier lifted Les Rouges-et-Bleu to joint-top of the table, but had France Football’s managing editor Denis Chaumier calling for calm. “There are many obstacles to overcome before we can say PSG have the calibre of champions, it is better to be cautious,” said Chaumier. “They lack something, a commune vie (common life), that their new elite status cannot replace. “Some would want to push them to reach the higher levels quickly, but the ‘horse’ is reluctant. It knows its way and does not like to run into unknown lands. It gallops, though, believe me.” So there you go. I can’t find a fitting translation...

Read more »

Penalties prevelant at the Parc

Maths and football aren't necessarily subjects that fit naturally together. Unless you're a French journalist that is. "The quartet offensive (Menez, Nene, Pastore, Gameiro) of PSG keeps getting better and looking more like a magic square," declared L'Equipe in the wake of the team's 2-1 victory over Nice in midweek. Perhaps the correspondant should've watched the Evian game, because it was certainly hard to discern any shape, magical or otherwise, during that. All the goals in Wednesday's fixture came from the penalty spot, with Nene and Gameiro converting the PSG kicks. I didn't see the game, but from the highlights I've squinted at all three decisions seemed fair enough, and the unbeaten run is now up to a none-too-shabby...

Read more »

Evian 2-2 PSG: Parisiens show they're not Bodd-lers

How many pictures of non-alcoholic beverages can one blog feature you may ask? Well, unless we draw little-known Cypriot side Dr Pepper United in the latter stages of the Europa League, then this will be the last one for a while so make the most of it.PSG continued stretched their unbeaten run to seven games yesterday with a come-from-behind 2-2 draw with Evian in Annecy.It was a match which probably summed up the season so far for Antoine Kombouare’s men, occasionally brilliant going forward, permanently dodgy at the back. AK chose his umpteenth centre-back pairing of the season for the match, selecting fit-again Sylvain Armand alongside Diego Lugano, and one suspects that until we get some continuity in this position defensive uncertainty...

Read more »

Getting to know you... Red Bull Salzburg

PSG have a 100 per cent losing record this season against teams named after energy drinks, and will be looking to put that right this evening when Red Bull Salzburg visit the Parc as part of the first round of games in Europa League Group F.It’s unlikely to be an easy game for AK and the boys, as the Red Bulls currently top the Austrian League with four wins and three draws from seven games.The club enjoyed a good run in the Europa League two years ago, winning all their group games before going out to Standard Liege in the last-32. Last year they stalled at the first hurdle, picking up just two points.Coach Ricardo Moniz said: “PSG are a strong team for sure, but I am not over-awed. There’s definitely a difference to preparing for a match...

Read more »

Pastore is PSG's Brest man

(Joke shamelessly nicked from @_bobeto_)Isn’t Opta great?I mean how else would lazy folk like me notice statistics like the following, posted earlier today by @OptaJean on Twitter:5 - Javier Pastore has delivered four assists and scored one goal in his firstfive competitive appearances for Paris SG. Flaco.Flaco indeed, though the PSG’s points total is looking considerably less skinny after three successive wins, the latest of which came courtesy of Pastore’s goal against Brest at the Parc last night.By all accounts it wasn’t the most fluid performance from the Rouges et Bleus, but AK understandably didn’t care too much.“It's very satisfying. It's the first time since I came to the club that we've won three in a row and it's also our first...

Read more »

International round-up featuring a lot of Parisien substitutes

  Sirigu - Italy's number two. If he's lucky. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds international breaks intensely dull. We've already had two and the season's barely been up and running for a month - is there anyone out there on planet football who gets excited about the prospect of Bulgaria versus England or Moldova versus Hungary (0-2, if you were wondering)? Wake me up when Euro2012 starts please. But several members of the PSG squad were busy in the last few days representing their countries in far flung outposts across the globe. Sadly for them, but perhaps not so sadly for the club's title chances, not many of them saw much action on the pitch. Gameiro, Matuidi and Jezza Menezza were all with Les Bleus for their...

Read more »