With the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign set to resume this August, bettor.com takes a look at players who will have a lot to prove to their respective clubs
Yoann Gourcuff
Club: Olympique Lyonnais
Nationality: French
Back in the summer of 2010, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yoann-Gourcuff-c37416. The France international arrived at the Stade de Gerland with a budding reputation as one of the finest young players
in the country.
However, the midfielder’s arrival at the Rhone club has seen him crumble under the heavy weight of expectations. Injuries and inconsistent performances have simply destroyed the player’s morale. Last season, Gourcuff missed a lot of football due to injury.
However, things might be different this time around if the happenings at the Red Bull Arena, New York last night are anything to go by. The 25-year-old was given the nod by Remi Garde in the Trophee des Champions game against Montpellier Herault.
Throughout the game, Gourcuff seemed to be in great shape and put in a great performance which means that the player could be a changed man when the Championnat resumes next month. Furthermore, Remi Garde’s patience will eventually run out so the gifted
playmaker needs to step up next season.
Andre-Pierre Gignac
Club: http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127
Nationality: French
Another player, Olympique de Marseille striker, Andre-Pierre Gignac would be looking to end his nightmarish run of two seasons with the Canebiere club. the striker arrived at the Velodrome with the reputation of being one of the most lethal strikers in the
land.
Les Phoceens paid Toulouse a lot of money for the striker. However, since his arrival, Gignac has barely given the impression of a player who was a wanted man during his time at the Pink City. With the departure of Didier Deschamps, it was thought that Gignac
might have a new leash.
However, in came Elie Baup, a coach who apparently benched Gignac during his time as the Toulouse tactician.
Besieged by financial burden, Les Phoceens might not be able to sell Gignac but might make some use of him especially if Loic Remy finally leaves the club. The upcoming campaign is a make or break one for Gignac and his performances would go a long way in
showing what the future holds for the http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 international.
Dimitri Payet
Club: LOSC Lille
Nationality: French
In the summer of 2011, LOSC Lille paid AS Saint-Etienne 9 million euros for the services of talented winger http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276. The 25-year-old arrived at the northern region with the reputation of one of the brightest stars in the Championnat. However, all such
notions were discarded after the former Nantes man struggled to stay fit over the course of the 2011/2012 campaign.
Last season, Payet had to compete with the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marvin-Martin-c24496 will give the France international a lot of competition for a place in the starting XI
so Payet should be looking to stay fit and focused over the course of the upcoming campaign.
Last season, Payet scored 5 goals and provided three assists in 28 Ligue 1 games for Les Dogues. Though these stats are not that impressive, most of these goals and assists were provided in the final games of the campaign meaning that the winger could come
back strong this season.
Disclaimer: Views and opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect bettor.com’s editorial policy
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