French Ligue 1 special: flops of the summer
Almost two months after the end of this summer’s transfer market, bettor.com offers its series of tops and flops of the French Ligue 1 transfer window. With the best buys of the transfer window already discussed, it is now time to talk about players who
have been major disappointments to say the least since joining their respective clubs this summer.
Sidney Govou
Age: 32
Nationality: French
Country: France
Newly-promoted side Evian YG thought they had struck gold when they signed http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sidney-Govou-c33474 from Greek side Panathinaikos. The 32-year-old did not hesitate once to sign for the team located near the Swiss border.
However, his experience of playing at the top level for nearly a decade has so far proven inconclusive. A few veterans including http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Christian-Poulsen-c9114 were signed by Evian this summer in order to help a young Evian side to overcome the difficulties of playing
in their first Ligue 1 campaign.
After four starts, in which Govou never should a sniff of the form that made him such a huge star during his time at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130, he was dropped from the starting XI.
Now, Govou is largely used for 15 minute cameo appearances and the former Lyon midfielder admits that he needs time to come back to his old self. “The form does not come back like that. I did not come here disguised as Zorro. I’m not Superman; it’s been
almost four months since I’ve started playing regularly. I have found the pace of the game again,” says the 49-time France international in September.
However, more than a month later, the winger is still absent on the pitch and is gradually becoming a benchwarmer for Bernard Casoni’s side.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276
Age: 24
Nationality: French
Club: LOSC Lille
The young winger arrived from AS Saint-Etienne at the Stade Metropole this summer in the wake of the departure of Gervinho to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Gervinho-c14755 who had become a fan favourite during his time at Villeneuve
d’Ascq.
The first few weeks of the new campaign clearly showed that Payet does not have the same qualities as his Ivorian predecessor. Wasteful in possession, Payet seems to be taking too long to settle down at a team that has a strong work ethic.
An injury further ruined his start to life with Lille as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AJ-Auxerre-c38247 on October 15. Though the jury is still
out on the youngster, it seems that Payet will be able to return to the form that made him such an asset during his time at Saint-Etienne.
Jeremy Morel
Age: 27
Nationality: French
Club: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127
“I know this early wheezing. I know I’m not ready physically so it can be felt on the pitch,” said Jeremy Morel after he was constantly booed off the pitch by the Marseille faithful. The left-back signed from Lorient this summer and has not yet it top gear.
The 27-year-old however, does not deny the difficulties he and his club are in and should quickly remember the recipe that made him such a big success during his time at Lorient.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect bettor.com’s policy.
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