Many people were sceptical of the nine-time champions of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 to perform so well this season considering the fact that they finished the previous campaign on a lowly tenth place in the league
Things were looking bleak for Les Phoceens before the start of the season after a number of first-team players left Stade Velodrome in order to player for bigger clubs. The likes of Stephane Mbia, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alou-Diarra-c5259 left for the Premier League,
and due to club’s financial troubles, OM failed to make any marquee signing in the summer.
To make things worse, coach, Didier Deschamps resigned from the post after reports of a bust-up with chairman, Vincent Labrune, emerged in the media, leaving the Ligue 1 outfit in a state of chaos and mayhem.
With little resources at their disposal, Marseille failed to attract star players and were forced to invest wisely in the transfer market. However, the Rhone giants managed to appoint an experienced coach in form of Elie Baup.
The witty tactician brought a revolutionary change with him and instead of signing low priced players; the 57-year-old relied on the youth and promoted several academy players to the first-team squad.
However, if we look at some of the clubs in the league and how they have invested this season, Marseille didn’t look like a team capable of challenging for the top honours. But contrary to what was being predicted, Les Phoceens have exceeded expectations
so far, and look like a side capable of troubling any team in the league.
In the first Clasico of the 2012/2013 Ligue 1 campaign, the Rhone giants were seen as relative underdogs as compared to Paris Saint-Germain, in the wake of massive investment the cash-laden club from Paris has carried out this summer. However, Elie Baup’s
side managed to nick a draw in the end, stopping Paris Saint-Germain from creating their hegemony in Ligue 1.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 indeed look a different team this time around, but the most important and notable thing that has changed about the club, is the form of Andre-Pierre Gignac.
The 26-year-old has returned to form this season and has been a revelation for the French club. Because of number of injuries in last couple of years, the Frenchman failed to show his true colours and managed to score only 12 goals in his two-year stay at
Stade Velodrome. However, the scenario is completely different this time around.
The striker is scoring goals for pleasure and has been a constant headache for opponents’ defenders. The 26-year-old is finally proving his worth and looks well on course to rival PSG’s http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029 for the Ligue 1 golden boot.
Another impressive thing about Olympique de Marseille this season is the signing of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/England-c749 exile, Joey Barton. The Rhone giants have signed the former Manchester City player on year-long loan-deal and his presence in the midfield has added much needed stability
to the squad.
Although the Englishman is ineligible to play domestic matches, the on-loan player has featured regularly for Marseille in their UEFA Europa League games, and presence of such an experienced player in the centre of midfield, has given the Ligue 1 outfit
much needed confidence that they lacked dearly last season.
With Gignac in such fine form and Barton raring to go, Marseille look a completely different team from last season, and expect the Rhone giants to rival the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Lille, Lyon and Montpellier for the Ligue 1 crown.
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