>WINTER BREAK. The CFA 2 is on holiday now until January 11th, when the Red Star have an important trip to the east of France to play Chaumont. The site, however, will still be updated. Anyway, wherever you are and whoever you are, AllezRedStar.com would like to extend seasons' greeting to you all, thank you for your loyalty to the site in 2002, hope to see you all back in 2003. On a personal note, I've written to Santa to ask him for a change of management at Red Star, the departure of those guilty of nearly killing the club and that fortunes take an upturn at Saint-Ouen. Realistically, however, I've more chance of Santa bringing me the Ferrari I asked for... ABSENTS. Missing on Saturday were regular goalkeeper Bousseliou, his place taken by reserve team custodian Bensassi, whilst Delaneuville (injured), Sylla (dropped) also missed the 1-1 draw. This left places for goalscorer Kébé and striker Mongin.
DEPARTURE. Top scorer Lassana Doumbya has quit Red Star, possible direction Italy and the club Modene, where his former team-mate at Red Star Kamara is plying his trade.
Kébé scorer on his debut for Red Star
WATCHING. Interested vistors to Stade Bauer were former players Robert Pintenat, recovering after several operations, and Samuel Michel, on holiday. Two strikers from different generations, but both having left indelible marks on the history of Red Star.
ECHOS. Finally the Faithful had the right to hear the PA system on Saturday, although one still had to strain one's ear in order to hear anything clearly. Still some progress to be made there. To counterbalance this, however, the scoreboard didn't show that the visitors were winning 1-0 until later on in the game. No ballboys, either - meaning that the players often had a long trot to retrieve wayward shots.
Our beloved club produced the usual propaganda sheet, distributed free to the spectators. The Faithful were reassured to know that at last the editorial team of this rag have found the reason behind Red Stars' appalling slide into the depths - yes, the whole reason behind the problems is the press. Of course it is clearly marked in the bulletin that reproduction, of their material is prohibited, and being a nice site we wouldn't dream of breaching this, but translation isn't clearly defined, so to give a summary of more or less what they said, they state that the press must be rubbing their hands at the clubs' current misfortunes, having something to write about. Hmm. Well, this particular branch of the "press" doesn't take any particular pleasure in watching the club slide incompetantly into oblivion. Easy to blindly lash out at "unspecified" target, isn't it ?? Change the record, please !
In fairness to coach Mustapha Ousfane, he gives his viewpoint elsewhere in the bulletin, thanking the supporters for their encouragements at Bauer and on away trips. At least someone appreciates us.
Meanwhile the rival bulletin distributed by the supporters' organisations is just as popular as ever, and gives a more realistic view on events, without resorting to mud slinging.
On the subject of the press, it was noted on Saturday that a gentleman representing the press of Orléans had one or two problems in gaining access to the stadium. He finally got to do his job after a telephone call to one of the club directors of Orléans.
COUPE GAMBARDELLA. End of the road for Red Stars' youngster, going out 2-4 at Thionville.
REIMS v RED STAR. Despite openeing the scoring after twenty seven seconds on Sunday, Red Star went down 3-1 to a stronger Reims reserves side strengthened by one or two first-team players. A lowly turn-out for the game, only 45 paying spectators, of which just one was supporting the visitors. Thanks to Frédéric, a true supporter for the match details. Incidentally, the match took place at the ground of another Reims club, Ecole de Sport Reims Sainte-Anne Carnot Châtillon, who play in the DH, and whose coach is none other than ex-Red Star and Swindon Town man Frédéric Darras.
