French Football 2012/13

The second major European League to start (after the esteemed Belgian Pro League of course!) is Ligue 1 tomorrow. The league will also be known as the "By How Many Points will PSG be Champions?" League, but I suppose we may have thought that last year, and look what happened.

Tomorrow's inaugural game is Montpellier vs Toulouse. I'm looking forward to see how Montpellier copes with this year. They've managed to lose one of their stars but hold on to a couple of their others. Giroud's been replaced with Herrera from the Chilean league, I'm not sure how good he is. While I think the UCL demands from this year will be too tough for them (look at Lille last year), I'd still rate them a decent shot of being at the top of the league table by year's end.

Lille to me are the non-PSG team to watch. They sold Hazard, of course, but have invested the money shrewdly on some good buys. If anyone is going to overperform this year like Montpellier did last, my money's on Lille.

The last plot line of note is that the two Corsican clubs are back up, with Bastia earning back-to-back promotions to return to the top flight. Both Bastia and Ajaccio probably won't perform that well, but their fans are pretty ******* passionate. They're the league's anti-PSG. For people who aren't aware, the status of Corsica within France is a bit like the Basques in Spain, so there's a little extra political dimension to their clubs.

Should be interesting just to see if PSG can fail like they did last season, but I just don't see them not walking away with the league this year. Their summer signings have just been too good not to walk all over most other teams in the league.

Ibra and Silva.. 'nuff said.. there is no reason they dont walk the league

Valenciennes!

hope they avoid relegation...once again.

otherwise I really don't see anyone other than psg winning the league. I know montpelier was a surprise last season, but I think psg is planning on overcoming last season's shortcomings with sheer brute goalscoring force. I mean...ibra, thiago, and lucas all joining them? Wouldn't be surprised to see them make a half decent CL run either.

Ibrahimovic will tear the league apart. Hopefully Olympique Marseille will have another bad season.

Going to pay much more attention to Ligue 1 now. Not like I don't in the past though, one of my more favourite leagues outside PL.

I've heard some French journos say Herrera is an ersatz Giroud, so there won't be much difference if true.

Looking forward to watching Lille, I actually think they have it in them to push PSG a bit. The key will be to start well and stay in the race while PSG integrate their new people. After that, it's up to them to show how much they got.

PSG are on ESPN tonight for any UK viewers, will be interesting to see how they play with their new players.

I really don't think the journos could know really. Herrera played in the Chilean league and he didn't play for one of the big two Chilean teams (Colo-Colo and Universidad). It's hard to really know what he's going to be like in Ligue 1; what Montpellier did was scout a league that is relatively untapped in hopes of unearthing a good deal ala Alexis Sanchez and Vidal who came from there.

I sincerely doubt Herrera will have a great year this year, but we'll see; it's just a gut feeling.

PSG are on ESPN tonight for any UK viewers, will be interesting to see how they play with their new players.

Also they're playing Lorient who Arsenal have a bit of relationship with, so I kind of favor them in Ligue 1. Joel Campbell was on loan there last year and their current forwards are former Gunners Gilles Sunu and Jeremie Aliadière.

PSG are on ESPN tonight for any UK viewers, will be interesting to see how they play with their new players.

Also they're playing Lorient who Arsenal have a bit of relationship with, so I kind of favor them in Ligue 1. Joel Campbell was on loan there last year and their current forwards are former Gunners Gilles Sunu and Jeremie Aliadière.

My heart goes out to them

Ha so of course Lorient comes out and goes 1-0 on PSG in the first 5 minutes. Great beginning so far.

Aliadiere makes it 2-0 with a great goal! half time now.

loool aliadiere is raping PSG

Aliadiere's just scored a brilliant goal for lorient. 2-0 deserved. Great game so far.

Lavezzi just missed a sitter.

Looks like going that way, Ibra is such a beast, unluckily off the post.

I can see PSG tying this up soon

Lorient could easily grab a 3rd here, psg defensively all over the place.

Ibra! 2-1, owns the defender! can see them winning this now with all their attacking talent on the pitch.

No pastore too, though nene has made a real difference since coming on.

PSG are missing thiago silva and lucas moura. but i see them winning the Ligue A no team can compete them.

Link?

Link?

http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?mat ... art=sports

What a miss.

Lulz Zlatan

Penalty! looked like he got the ball to me.

Zlatan puts it away, 3mins left.

Penalty to PSG.

Penalty! looked like he got the ball to me.

Nah, he didn't, no where near the ball, just barged into him. Correct decision from the ref. 2-2.

Ibrahimovic, what a player