Thread: Another french?

Its in America too

Lyon agree deal for Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff - Transfers - ESPN Soccernet


Lyon will sign Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff after the two clubs agreed a fee for the French international believed to be around €22 million.

Gourcuff has been one of the stars of French football in recent years, having failed to make the breakthrough at AC Milan, and has been tipped to fill the shoes of Zinedine Zidane in the national side.

A hugely important figure for Bordeaux last season, he has now decided to continue his career elsewhere - after influential manager Laurent Blanc left to take up the vacant France job - and he was left on the bench at the weekend after handing in a transfer request.

"Clubs Olympique Lyonnais and FC Girondins de Bordeaux have reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Yoann Gourcuff," a press release from Bordeaux read. "This transfer will be effective soon.

"This transfer will take place in preserving the interests of the Bordeaux club, in full agreement with the coach and the coaching staff and in accordance with the contractual commitments of the player.

"The Club will have the opportunity to communicate very soon and to reaffirm its ambitions before the season begins."

Originally Posted by 1990Hotspur

I don't fully agree with what the OP said, but I can see what he's getting at.....

You may have a case that English fans over-rate our own players, but the notion of moving away from a "English based team" to me would make me feel exactly the same as if Harry came out and said we are going to pack the team with 6ft tall brutes and lump the ball up to them from the back....it would rip the heart and soul out of the club.
We may not have won anything for a long time, or had the success that we as fans all crave, but if the choice was have that or win something with a team full of foreign imports, then I wouldn't have it any other way.
I know this is probably a very idealistic view and probably one not shared with most people, but that's the way I see it.

I'm not sure if you are English or not, but as an Englishman I am very proud of the amount of English players in our squad. (However, I am very frustrated that, especially the younger ones don't seem to get enough game time.) The other internationals in our squad, when they play for their countries, I don't really care.

I was so proud when we were the biggest contributor to the England team this year (and the U-19 side as well I think), and I have to admit I am disappointed that only 2 of our kids have been called up to the U-21 squad. This English core is one reaseon why I love Spurs, and IMO, long may it continue.....

Good point here mate.

I would like to say that Levy and Harry do seem to be taking into account the fact that with our progression it is getting harder to give experience to some of the younger lads. They have scrapped the reserve team in favour of sending the youngsters with promise on loan to get constant 1st team action, a move that other clubs seem to be looking to adopt.

I like it as a system and think we will def see the results in the next few years!

Originally Posted by 1990Hotspur

I don't fully agree with what the OP said, but I can see what he's getting at.....

You may have a case that English fans over-rate our own players, but the notion of moving away from a "English based team" to me would make me feel exactly the same as if Harry came out and said we are going to pack the team with 6ft tall brutes and lump the ball up to them from the back....it would rip the heart and soul out of the club.
We may not have won anything for a long time, or had the success that we as fans all crave, but if the choice was have that or win something with a team full of foreign imports, then I wouldn't have it any other way.
I know this is probably a very idealistic view and probably one not shared with most people, but that's the way I see it.

I'm not sure if you are English or not, but as an Englishman I am very proud of the amount of English players in our squad. (However, I am very frustrated that, especially the younger ones don't seem to get enough game time.) The other internationals in our squad, when they play for their countries, I don't really care.

I was so proud when we were the biggest contributor to the England team this year (and the U-19 side as well I think), and I have to admit I am disappointed that only 2 of our kids have been called up to the U-21 squad. This English core is one reaseon why I love Spurs, and IMO, long may it continue.....

First of all I don't like my love for this club questioned because of my views on foreign players and because i'm an American. I've been a Spurs fan for about 20+ years now loving it and keeping faith tough times all along the way.

If the only reason why you love a club is because it has a lot of players that are like you on it then that's unfortunate. Building championship teams no matter the sport in this era we live in calls for management to be color blind and nationality bias neutral. Saying that a win wouldn't matter as much won by foreign imports is just astonishing to me, at last check Spurs haven't won the league in a half century, and by taking that stance you are minimizing the contribution of current non-english player to our current squad IMO. Though I loathe Arsenal the one criticism that english fans have of Wenger that I just don't agree with is that by having so many foreign players he's taking spots away from good english players, as if he got rid of Cesc there would be a Clive just as good to replace him.

There are rules to keep English players on the side and I believe they should be followed, but for those other spots I don't believe we should pick them simply because they're English but because they are or will be the better player. Picking players with bias or an agenda never results in the best product you could possibly put on the field. Harry recognizes this and it's highlighted by his transfer policy, if their was a readily available english player that had the potential of Sandro for a similar price then i'm sure he would've pursued him but for whatever reason he saw more potential in the young Brazilian. I believe he made the right decision and I support our manger and administrators 100% and if they believe that Diarra, Gallas, Remy whoever are the right option then I support it.

I've said my piece and in the end I just want to win, 4th place is alright but being a champion is one thing that truly matters, and history truly remembers.