Bourguignons
By: Christophe |
1 Comment
As the mid-winter gloom lifts over les Rouge et Noir must now deal with the Auxerrois who are finally showing their rich promise. The Bourguignons are coming off a near perfect February that after three victories was capped with a draw to Toulouse. Jean Fernandez has crafted the right mix and made use of the tremendous talent pool the club develops. The return of Ireneusz Jeleń is at the root of their resurgence and must be met with total resistance by Rennais’ defending unit.
Sunday evening Rennais will need to call up their own recent play and establish not only the compelling energy and tempo that fought for a draw against Lyonnais but the cutting vision that dissected Lorient. With a call for revanche for last years loss in the championnat, Rennais must be careful going forward or they will become the next victim in the Auxerrois contre-attaque. A victory for Guy Lacombe’ Rennais will bring them with striking reach of the top of the table but he will be without Jérôme Leroy, Julián Estéban, Sylvain Marveaux and Asamoah Gyan.
Photo Source / Auteur: Stade Rennais F.C.
Category: Team News
Rouge et Noir confidently advance in Coupe de France
By: Christophe | Add Comments
Les Rouge et Noir confidently advance in Coupe de France with a 3-0 victory over Brittany neighbours Lorient. The lorientais revenge for an earlier loss drifted softly into the evening chill as SRFC controlled the match with ease.
Akin to a training ground workout, Mickaël Pagis and Elderson Echiéjilé worked the ball up to Romain Danzé throughout the match and mid of the half Rennais set Jimmy Briand free with a long pass and the striker set the first nail into les Merlus’ long evening as he delicately flicked the ball over the ‘keeper with the outside of his left boot. Romain Danzé was in fine form showing his capabilities to Guy Lacombe as he doubled the lead six minutes later when he drove the ball in from his inside the box after after re beneficiary of superb back heel from Jimmy Briand.
Showing a calm confident side after the break, SRFC started aggressively but with their opponents clearly unable to break through Guy Lacombe eased back on the throttle and brought Olivier Thomert and Jimmy Briand off for Moussa Sow and Jirès Kembo Ekoko. After missing a chance for third goal with nine minutes left, Moussa Sow orchestrated a superb closer as time was ticking down. Moving into the area, he centreing back to Romain Danzé near the spot, who then headed the back to Jirès Kembo Ekoko who thundered the ball into the corner of the net to make it a perfect 3-0.
With the departure of Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain, les Rouge et Noir edge closer to Coupe de France crown and the chance for the first trophy since 1971.
Photo Source / Auteur: Stade Rennais F.C.
Category: Team NewsLorientais derby
By: Christophe | Add Comments
The Coupe de France match between les Rouge & Noir and Brittany neighbours Lorient today is marked with a hint of revenge for lorientais.
Falling 2-1 to Rennais just before the holiday break, Christian Gourcuff’s les Merlus are one of the best managed clubs in France, balancing the need of local development with budgetary constraints. However their attack, orchestrated by Fabrice Abriel and young striker Kevin Gameiro, have fallen on tough times in the championnat of recent and are without a victory since mid-December when they beat Le Havre AC. While showing a more secure defensive element in play with five successive draws in January and February, they have lost their last two matches with anemic attack the culprit.
While the derby wafts with parfum de revanche, Rennais’ effort to advance to the quarter-finals will be greatly assisted with the return to health of Olivier Thomert and Kader Mangane, albeit without Carlos Bocanegra who is suspended. Confident from Sunday evenings performance at the Gerland, les Rouge & Noir response today will go a long way is establishing their maturity and return to form necessary if they are to challenge the top four of Ligue 1. However beyond the strict numbers, facts and figures, this is a derby that will see the winner through to one of the most important trophy’s in France.
Category: Team NewsLes Rennais ont du coeur !
By: Christophe | 2 Comments
Heart, it is hallmark of a great athlete. The ups and the downs, the trials and tribulations dot a players development and those that can answer the call of adversity are deserving of the highest accolades. As a young player works through their development, they go through countless challenges, each one a building block of the next. Through the looking glass the casual observer might forget the highest level of the game goes through similar tests but as you look closer, like a young child first learning to strike the ball, they too learn the lesson of overcoming adversity. Such is the case of les Rouge & Noir this year and equally Jimmy Briand against Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday evening as they faced challenges head on, dusted off failure and fought straight on towards success and vindication.
Rennais success at at the Gerland as been much talked about and true to form victory for l’OL could not be found as in the dying moments, down by one, Jimmy Briand netted the leveling goal after falling short on a number of occasions. Les Lyonnais started with confidence with the first attempt coming by Kim Källström looking to remind his own club of his prowess but his drive from twenty metres in controlled. Rennais appeared to have found the net four minutes later when Carlos Bocanegra headed Bruno Cheyrou cross in but the goal is called back as the American international fouled John Mensah as he leaped towards the ball. The thirty-second minute brings a sigh of relief for SRFC as Källström’s cross sets up Kader Keïta for what should have been a straight forward strike but he fails to open this body up correctly and sends the ball into the dark night.
SRFC’s confidence after the break has grown noticeably after escaping the opening half level. A Jimmy Briand attempt is quickly denied by John Mensah five minutes after the restart and then on the hour Petter Hansson lifts his shot from the six yard box over the crossbar. The match takes a remarkable turn six minutes past the hour when Jimmy Briand closes in on Lyonnais goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but his drive is saved and bounds off high towards Karim Benzema. The young striker then lobbed a perfectly weighted pass to Miralem Pjanić who crosses to Kim Källström before he drilled the ball into the top corner to give Lyonnais the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later Jimmy Briand had a chance to bring the match even when he is played through and instead of simply chipping the ball over a onrushing Hugo Lloris who is both off-line and went to the ground early, he tries to side-foot the ball in and it drifts wide. With just over ten minutes remaining Guy Lacombe chooses to bring Jirès Kembo Ekoko and Julián Estéban off the bench and the two breathe further life into the Breton side. Finally, one minute into added time a long pass is coyly headed on by Petter Hansson to Jimmy Briand who has broke free on Lloris and this time the young striker is vindicated as he sends the ball into the net and gives les Rouge & Noir a breathtaking draw.
Standing in the corner after scoring, his face said it all. SRFC ont du coeur!
Photo Credit: Stade Rennais
Category: Team Newsune grande source de motivation
By: Christophe | 6 Comments
Like life itself, Football clubs go through trials and tribulations. Some will encounter challenges with gusto while others falter and slowly fade away. It is very obvious that within the Football world Olympique Lyonnais not only understands that edict but has rooted itself on crest of the podium. There are no discussions of championships to be won without the mention of les Lyonnais and every meeting is an opportunity for greatness.
Over the last four years les Rouge & Noir have excelled at the Gerland, squashing l’OL victory hopes and turning them into somewhat of a nemesis, bête noire if you will. And while the les Lyonnais suffered through a number of wintry days that had many question if their championship run was nearing end, with the sight of spring on the horizon the champions have climbed out of the shadows and are on near-perfect form in the new year. As there lead on the table has now expanded to six points, they not only have a chance to silence the critics but exorcise past performances against Rennais.
Guy Lacombe knows his Bretons side will need the same effort as what was showed against les Niçois last week and then some. Motivation is plentiful against l’OL but that alone will not produce a victory and unfortunately for les Rouge & Noir the absences of Sylvain Marveaux, Asamoah Gyan, Kader Mangane, Jérôme Leroy and Olivier Thomert will weigh heavily on tactical play. Young striker Julián Estéban returns to the selection and could be given an opportunity later in the match. Les Lyonnais are coming off a well-played draw against Barcelona and have only modest selection issues and the majority of Claude Puel’s decisions come down to more planning than outright necessity. With a midweek Coupe de France match against Lille and an eye towards the return Champions League match against Barcelona, he could might lean more towards Frédéric Piquionne as the lone striker and give Karim Benzema extra time. Such is the case with a number of choices and the luxury of a well stocked cupboard.
For les Rouge & Noir to be successful they must yes, eschew the highest motivation and be bold enough to attack l’OL. Tactically they must wait patiently at the doorstep of opportunity and they with the slightest opening, seize the chance.
Category: Team NewsVictory in the Côte d’Azur
By: Christophe | Add Comments
The long road of growth for SRFC has taken many turns this year. A triumphant unbeaten streak was off-set with a debilitating period where championship hopes dimmed and it appeared that they would remember the year for missed opportunities. Yet with each challenge in the Football, the futures of a club are either solidified or put into question. Some falter while others soar and ultimately the test is how adversity is met. For SRFC with its mixed group of veteran players and brilliant young artists, the greater test is how the taste of chaos is dealt with.
Since the late November victory over Paris Saint-Germain, the hurdles faced by les Rouge & Noir have taken them to the brink of failure but recently a glimmer of hope has been seen and Saturday evening in the Côte d’Azur against Nice, they answered the call of challenges with a triumphant 1-0 victory.
While much is to be said of the match, the real story is between the lines. A team as Monsieur Lacombe described with “nothing to lose”, played with everything to win. Against the formidable Niçois, les Rouge & Noir had everything stacked against them with the “house” looking confident for a win. Yet that changed within the blink of a eye as the Breton side immediately showed a greater attacking vision and looked to exploit the Niçois exposure to contre-attaque. To no surprise Olivier Thomert, Rod Fanni and Bruno Cheyrou embodied the attacking pulse and shining gem of Jimmy Briand’s talent shone through. Yet marking was perfect in the opening half and while both sides probed for an opening, there was not a mistake to be preyed upon.
With only forty-five minutes to play and with the stakes raised, les Niçois began to slowly ease forward, first with Loïc Rémy testing SRFC and later beginning to link up quality touches. At the hour Julien Sablé threatened from twenty metres but Nicolas Douchez stretched out and denied the ball going into the net. Les Rouge & Noir fought back and with a slow build up of play set the table for the coup d’arrêt. Driving forward, Bruno Cheyrou launches to Jimmy Briand who coyly pulls defenders along before crossing to Olivier Thomert for the finale. A late dalliance by the Niçois fell short and Rennais returned home with the 1-0 victory and now awaits next weeks encounter with l’OL.
Category: Team NewsRennais look for winning edge against Niçois
By: Christophe | Add Comments
With the Carnaval de Nice in the backdrop, Stade du Ray will the setting for a match that will go a long way in deciding SRFC’s chances at winning a berth in European competition. For the Rouge & Noir who were flying on the wings of a long unbeaten streak, the previous four matches have inspired only modest hope that they may return to the form that saw them flicker briefly at the top of the league. Now seventh in the table and level the Niçois, points are needed to stay abreast of l’OM and Toulouse. Complicating things is Frédéric Antonetti’s side who have returned to form after a brief lull in January, staging last gasp victories in successive weeks over Le Mans and Nancy.
Given the situation, Guy Lacombe has promised that there will be no holding back in the trip to the Côte d’Azur and very attacking plan will be used. His Bretons unit will be without Kader Mangane who sustained a late injury in practice but will be replaced by the highly regarded Bira Dembele. However Julián Estéban, Jérôme Leroy, Sylvain Marveaux and Asamoah Gyan will miss to injury with Moussa Sow out to suspension. Judging from the training grounds, a similar lineup of last week is expected with Jirès Kembo Ekoko provided another valuable learning experience across from Olivier Thomert in the attack with Mickaël Pagis and Jimmy Briand.
Photo per the Carnaval web-site, please visit for further information.
Category: Team Newsesprit d’escalier
By: Christophe | 2 Comments
As Rennais approached Saturday’s match against Nancy there were many questions to be answered but oddly many of the true concerns have been a challenge to identify. It is a peculiar twist because while many clubs will suffer through tactical issues or technical weaknesses, there is still the other problem when fortune seems to not fall your way. For much of the year the Rouges &Noirs had skillfully crafted the reputation of a side with a subtle blend of veteran defenders and emerging talents capable to climb to the heights ofLigue 1. Now after stumbling with a single victory to show over the last eight matches, they are walking the razors edge that every team must if they are recover from slumping fortune and need to find the missing ingredient of confidence.
In the absence of Romain Danzé and Jérôme Leroy, Jires Kembo-Ekoko was given a long overdue opportunity. Immediately the Rouges & Noirs went on the attack with Olivier Thomert centering for Mickaël Pagis but his volley flew over Gennaro Bracigliano’s goal. Guy Lacombe allowed the youthful exuberance to drive forward unbridled but Rennais commitment and lack of deception lent them exposed to the contre-attaque. Like a great Fencer, Nancy drew Rennais in before launching forward and in the fifth minute Youssouf Hadji nearly got revenge on his old club but Nicolas Douchez pushed his offering wide. For the rest of the half, the Rouges & Noirs controlled possession with Jires Kembo-Ekoko proving his worthiness with a number of quality touches including Mickaël Pagis’ drive near the whistle.
As the match restarted Guy Lacombe substituted Stéphane Mbia with Bruno Cheyrou in need of more attacking creativity. However by the fiftieth minute Pablo Correa has etched a new tactical plan with Julien Féret opening for Youssouf Hadji but his effort is wide by a smallest of margins. Using the same pattern two minutes before the hour Issiar Dia sets Hadji free but this time his effort rests in the netting providing Nancy the lead. With the lead, Nancy is focused upon eliminating the Rennais’ chances and plays behind the goal. The match is nearing completion and although Rennais has controlled the ball, quality scoring chances are rare. Finally with only three minutes left on the clock Petter Hansson crosses to Jimmy Briand who has shook his mark and sends the ball into the net with care. The Rouges & Noirs are now growing with confidence, a young group of attackers believing, yes believing and search for the winning goal. A late advance strikes the Nancy post but with a quick whistle the match ends with a draw.
Or does it? The late equalizer, is this the story of finding confidence and the point where a club moves forward or just another tale of what might have been?
Category: Team Newspreview of Nancy visit of Rouge & Noir
By: Christophe | 1 Comment
The Rouge & Noir go forth against Nancy tomorrow in a match that will test Guy Lacombe’s vast managerial skills. The young club’s brilliant run that saw them without a set-back from the third week of the season against Grenoble is now without a win in three successive weeks. The cutting vision of the attack has vanished with only a single strike in the four matches of the new year.
Much of the trouble stems from the loss of Olivier Thomert from the left side of the attack. Although a rusty wheel in his return last week against Le Havre, his threat will do wonders in opening up Jimmy Briand and Mickaël Pagis who have been cloaked during his absence as well as re-establish the contre-attaque threat. The only issues for les Rouge & Noir are the losses of Asamoah Gyan and Jérôme Leroy to injury along with Moussa Sow to suspension.
To come out of this slump Guy Lacombe will be looking to expose Nancy’s flanking weaknesses, perfect for the return of Thomert as well as the oppositions very typical slow start to a match. This is the key to the match and the point that observers should focus on.
Category: Team NewsStade Rennais falters in Le Havre
By: Christophe | 2 Comments
From Greek mythology, the story of Icarus tells of Daedalus and his son trying to escape from imprisonment by affixing birds feathers to their arms with wax. Ignoring his fathers warning of not flying to close to sun, lest the wax that binds the feathers together will melt, young Icarus soars high only to find himself flapping his arms in vain, feathers no longer attached and falling into the sea below.
Like Icarus, Stade Rennais has ignored advice and now stands on vista looking out what might have been. Since their victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the end of November they have stumbled and seem to lost track of the task. Were they merely pretenders to the throne who flew too close to the sun or is this a mid winter swoon?
That question may have been answered yesterday as they fell 1-0 to Le Havre, leaving them with only one point in the previous three matches and dropping them to seventh in the table. To reflect on this match it is best to first consider Le Havre, a fine club that has stumbled following promotion but as Rouges & Noirs found out, not about to go back down quietly.
The opening forty-five saw Le Havre defending unable to contain the width and pace of the Rouges & Noir but Christophe Revault continued to deny each attempt, just as he has down for over fifteen years. Guy Lacombe’s side is sowing the seeds of success but the final thrust whether Stéphane Mbia’s early chance or Asamoah Gyan’s were insufficient. At the mid part of the half Gyan is stretchered off and Moussa Sow enters and has his own chance at finding the goal ten minutes before the break but it is to no avail and the match remains scoreless.
The overall pace of the match increased after the break as Monsieur Lacombe see’s his club slipping down the table. Yet Le Havre also seems woken from their slumber and immediately goes forward with confidence. Sensing urgency the small band of Rennes supporters that have made their way to les Normands, urge the club on but clearly the momentum has swung and it is now the Rouges & Noir who are forced to defend. Nicolas Douchez appears to have saved the day stopping Amadou Alassane as regulation time ticked down but he has one more chance in injury time and this time, he does not disappoint the home fans.
Guy Lacombe, now in-charge of Stade Rennais for just over a year, spoke of the disappoint:
“Football is played with 11 men, and it should be simple and effective. We didn’t display these qualities tonight, the same as when we played Lille. Tonight we took some backwards steps, we tarnished our reputation.
“Before you can attack, you need to have the desire to win the ball as a team and then attack intelligently. It’s more easily said than done. Right from the start, we knew Le Havre were out to cause us problems.”
This is the greatest question, do they have a desire to “win the ball as a team” or are they merely a club that flew too close to the sun.
The Rouges & Noir have the talent, now they must learn from the good lesson les Normands taught and have the heart.
Category: Team News
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