Just at the moment when Red Star are looking for a goalscorer to put away all those chances we have been creating, a big thank you goes out to those µ%§!§§ responsible for the arrival and departure of the great Tony Cascarino. Okay, so he may not have been totally "Irish", but what the hell, he will always be a great GOALSCORER. Exactly what Red Star are missing at the moment. No further comment required.
TONY (cont.). Tony has revealed, in a soon-to-be-released book that
he doesn't quite meet all the necessary criteria to represent the Republic of Ireland at football.
Born in sunny Kent, apparently his mother told him in 1996 that he is an adopted child, that his grandfather wasn't his real grandfather and that no Irish blood ran in his veins. Big Tony kept the secret up until the end of his career. The man with 88 caps now risks to lose recognition of his selections for his "adopted country". The president of the Irish Football Federation is said to be shocked by the revelations, but the period under scrutiny should really be the period 1996-1999, because before these dates Tony was unaware of the doubtfulness of his qualification. Whatever his nationality Tony was a great goalscorer, nothing will change that fact.
Perhaps the powers-that-be should concentrate on more serious issues such as doping in football and the trafficking of young players.
AUXERRE TIENT LE RED STAR EN ECHEC EN CFA 2. Second draw of the season for the reserves, against Auxerres' youngsters. Despite falling behind to a penalty, Red Star earned a draw with a magnificently-taken goal by Youssef Sangar. Red Star did however lose Morad El-Othmani (pictured) through injury in the first half.
COUPE DE FRANCE. The match Red Star 93 – Noisy-le-Sec should take place on Sunday 5th November, at 2-30pm CET. Red Star have requested a days' grace in order to have an extra rest day following the League Cup match on November 1st. Confirmation when we get it
BAUER . The 2008 Olympics will be held in either Paris or Peking, decision in June 2001. The Stade de France, Stade Charléty and Créteil have been moted as possible venues for the football competition, but why not renovate the Stade Bauer at Saint-Ouen for the occasion ?
Red Star no favours whatsoever when she drew out the name of Noisy-le-Sec as the next opponents on the road to the Stade de France. The sixth round of the Coupe de France will therefore be a Seine-Saint-Denis derby, on Saturday November 4th.
COUPE DE FRANCE (continued). As well as Dijon and Alès who fell at the first hurdle, another National club made an early exit from the cup. Bayonne, home club of loyal Red Star supporter Jacky thumped Pau 5-2. The Bayonnais, coached by Christian Sarramagna avenged the recent 2-0 defeat of Red Star 93 at Pau. However, Jacky was at Bilbao on Sunday, and saw Athletic, no longer coached by Luis Fernandez lose 3-0 at home to Las Palmas.
GERALD MILTON LIKES CUPS. Last year in the League Cup, Gérald (pictured) helped Red Star on their run with two extra-time goals against Nîmes ans a goal at Saint-Etienne. At Poissy, he came on with six minutes remaining and scored with his first touch of the ball.
POLANIOK . Alain Polaniok, currently coach at Mantes, watched the game from the stand. Former Red Star player commented "The players (of Red Star) haven't got the mentality".
Thirteen hundred spectators gathered for the last rites of the dying club. Die to the injuries of Eo, Madronnet, Amorfini, Colney and Izquierdo, coach Roger Lemerre was struggling to put a side out for the match. The Pisciaçais took the advantage in the seventeenth minute, through Goraguer, but Red Star wanted to go out in style, and two fine goals from Colney, just before the break (44) and Manuel Abreu gave the win to Red Star in the 84th minute. Face to face that day were the brothers Abreu; Manuel (until recently coach at Reims) playing for Red Star and José waring the colours of Poissy. The team from the Yvelines was coached by former international Roger Quenolle, who also wore the colours of the club from Saint-Ouen from 1953 to 1957. Following the loss of professional status of Red Star, Toulouse, 16th in the other group in D2 were reinstated to the detriment of Poissy. Oddly enough, twenty one years previously, Red Star had booked a place in D1 by merging with Toulouse !
RETURN TO SAINT-OUEN. On Sunday at the Ile des Vannes, 3-30pm CET, in the DSR, Red Stars' third team take on Sarcelles. Their opponents could include 37-years old ex-Red Star favourite Karim Bouzidi. Six foot three inches tall, he played under coaches Georges Eo and Roger Lemerre in D2 from 1984-88. His career led him to Saint-Leu then to Sarcelles, his first club. A teacher by trade, he will return to the stadium where he trained under the instructions of Roger Lemerre.
At the foot of the Pyrénées, Kader Ferhaoui & co have an opportunity to finally get their season (part two) underway with a game against a Pau side also experiencing some difficulties. For the trip, Jean-Luc Girard, assisted by Alim Ben Mabrouck will be without Rudy Perron (foot injury) as well as Laurent Castro. Robert Gomis and Dambou Traoré are once again available after suspension. The players leave this morning, by plane, and will return Thursday morning.
GUILHERMO MAURICIO. Former Audonien Guilhermo Mauricio, who has scored four goals so far this season has the pleasure of seeing his team Laval sitting on top of division two after thirteen games played. Will the Lavallois climb back into the top flight after a twelve year absence ? Back in 1976 Laval hit the big time on the first occasion, at the detriment of Red Star. Laval pipped Red Star for promotion during the end-of-season play-off games.
ANTHONY SIRUFO. Anthony has left Red Star 93. He arrived midway through last season, and took part in the great cup runs. He is now playing in Switzerland.
ADIEU EMILE ALBEAU. Sedan will unveil their new stadium, the Stade Louis Dugauguez, named after a former Sedan coach as well as being the national team coach. Red Star 93 will remember their unlikely League Cup win back in February this year at the old Stade Emile Albeau, when they beat their hosts 1-0 in televised game. Also in the series of famous old grounds closing their gates is of course Wembley stadium in London. On this site we'll be bringing you a feature on Wembley, with a close look at Red Star players who have trodden the famous turf. Who knows, one day we may even bring you a feature on the new Stade Bauer !
LE MAUX. The contract of Guénaël Le Maux has been cancelled at the end of last week, and more departures are expected. Thus three "new recruits" have quit the club - Cascarino, Girardot and now Le Maux.
RINGING THE CHANGES. Jean-Luc Girard modified Red Stars' gameplan, and made one or two changes to personnel. In came Natchimie in defence alongside Thiam, Saxemard and Faye. Saragaglia moved up to midfield along with Busuttil, Rangdet making his first start for the club, and play maker Ferhaoui. Up front were Castro and Van Kets. Also included in the group was Rudy Perron.
SATISFIED. Jean-Luc Girard was satisfied with his charges and their comportement during the game. Jean-Claude Bras, also present at the game was also content with the performance, but somewhat unhappy about Van Kets' disallowed goal.
One of the first chnages he has made is to get rid off the pointless weekly "training" matches between "Probables" and "Possibles". One of Lemées ideas, the games of one hour duration only served to cause injuries and to tire the players out unnecessarily before the Saturday matches. Before last Saturdays' game, Jean-Luc Girard told us "In our squad we have several players who are over thirty, these should be the "locomotives" of the team, but in playing these "opposition" matches, the lads wear themselves out. I'm not opposed to the idea in principle, but they should be spaced out more, to allow time for recovery." On the subject of Lemées game plans, he was strongly against the ideas of the ex-coach. "The system of play adopted by Jacky Lemée wasn't suitable for the National, and to the players which make up our squad." It is obvious that there was a gulf between Jacky Lemée, other technical staff members and of course the players. The contra-performance against Pacy only served to accelerate affairs. The players now have a new caretaker-boss, while the club looks for its "rare bird", but who knows, if the results go his way, the caretaker could be permanent. The players have the chance to express themselves, to adopt tactics more suitable for the National, and to give a good account of themselves against Dijon, unbeaten at home.
Gigi thus finds himself once again at the reins during a difficult spell. It has to be said that things are in a perilous state, since mid-July, with the last-minute replacement of Pierre Repellini by Jacky Lemée with just two weeks to go before the big kick-off. Having only just taken his jacket off, Jacky Lemée pushed Tony Cascarino into retirement, depsite the fact that Tony had been recruited as a key piece of the new set-up. Then followed more departures, players cast aside, and new arrivals, with the only result being the horrendous position that Red Star now find themselves in. Whatever, now let's forget the unpleasant past and get on with the future.
What are these projects ?
END OF 100% RECORD. After five straight wins, Red Star reserves were unable to continue "doing a Fulham" and had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw with Poissy. Both coach Christophe Fiatte and his captain Gérald Milton agreed that Red Star wern't very good, but there are just days like that. In goal Charles Itandje was majestic for Red Star, denying Poissy on several occasions. Against the run of play midway through the second half, Rudy Perron (pictured) opened the scoring, only for Poissy to equalise in the last five minutes. Red Star still move one point further ahead of their rivals, who both lost. Moissy-Cramayel are now four points behind.