Olympique de Marseille

[D-Kin]

Marseille have a better league position though.

Still, I thought they would win tonight.

[D-Kin]

Marseille are interested in Francois Modesto of Monaco.

Clubs eye Modesto - Football - Eurosport

[D-Kin]

Marseille lost 3-1 to Lazio in the Semi-Final of the Dubai Cup. Stefano Mauri, Stephen Makinwa and Pasquale Foggia (pen) with the goals for Lazio, Nasri scored for Marseille.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[skeeta]

As one who Cisse at Auxerre I predicted, he'd be back scoring regularly in France, which says something about the quality of defending there as well as the streaky nature of his performances.

Pretty typical example of the French equivalent of the Third Round. Six Ligue 1 teams already out, four of them falling to lower league opposition. Twelve amateur teams still alive, including Calais, who are always up for la Coupe, and Romorantin of the Third Division, who beat Rennes of Ligue 1.

I am very much in favour of the French system of giving home advantage to teams from the lower divisions. It makes for more competative matches and greater fan interest, as well as giving tv spectators the chance to see grounds they would otherwise never see. The way they include teams from the "DOM-TOM" overseas territories (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion and French Polynesia) is also great. The matches on the "mainland" (usually in St. Ouen or another Parisian "suburb") always have a terrific atmosphere, and the "mainland" teams that are drawn away get a great week out in the sun.

The quarters of the Coppa Italia start tonight, and it is hard to think of a less compelling tournament (or greater contrast with the Coupe de France). The last round featured "crowds" of less than 1,000 at a number of Serie A grounds, and I would expect the same this week.

[Trim]

Marseille is a team I like in France. They're the most successful French team I guess.

They were doing good in the start of the season chasing Lyon, they had just 1 point difference, but then they started to fall, and it sucks. Cuz, looks like Lyon has already won another tropy in row.

Cana and Ribery are two players I admire in Marseille, and in the whole French league.

[SheDevil]

Can someone tell me what have happen to Marseille?What a poor season they have.

[Trim]

^ Indeed. They started so good though..

[SheDevil]

I really thought Cisse would be a hit for Marseille.Only 3 goals on 10 appearances so far this season is not what the fans quite expected I guess.

[Trim]

Well, they can't expect him to score very often.. He's been injuried badly.

[SheDevil]

Have Ribery played good?I think he was great in the World Cup.But I haven't heard much about him since.

[Trim]

He was injuried for some period of time.. Then he came from injury but he couldn't do much.. I'm not sure, but I think I read heard that he's injuried again. He had a great world cup yes.. But he's having a similar form in French league.

[skeeta]

OM continues its tradition of "colorful" presidents. On the heels of the announcement that Louis-Dreyfus had sold the only French team to win the European Cup to non-French speaking Syrian-Armenian-Canadian businessman Jack Kachkar for Euro 115 million (plus "financial guarantees"), there are presss reports that the French authorities responsible for combatting money laundering are seriously investigating the possibility that Kachkar's money may be of dubious provenance, with its origins perhaps being in Russia (Kachkar's wife is Russian). The fact that Kachkar has reportedly reached an agreement with none other than Sven Goran Erikkson to take over OM next season adds some extra interest to the whole story.

[Sundance]

Originally Posted by skeeta

The fact that Kachkar has reportedly reached an agreement with none other than Sven Goran Erikkson to take over OM next season adds some extra interest to the whole story.

It might add some interest to the story, but it certainly won't add any interest to their style of play.

[Trim]

The Nerazzurri could add the French rising star to their already impressive midfield...

The Marseille youngster – he’s 19 years old – has only just been called up to France for the first time, but he’s already hailed as a future super-star. Labelled as “the new Zidane”, Samir Nasri is well placed on Moratti shopping list, at least according to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

Just like Zidane, Nasri was born in Marseille into a family of Algerian extract, but what matters the most is that when he plays football he reminds many of the great Zizou.

His current club, Olympique Marseille, really want to make a huge profit out of his young talent, as they put a prohibitively high price tag on him: 25 million Euros.

Inter, nevertheless, are considering a possible bid, while other Italian teams, notably Fiorentina and Palermo, are also keeping a close eye on the Stade Velodrome’s new idol.

Nasri’s contract with Marseille will expire in 2009, but so far the French club has not offered him a renewal.

French coach Domenech was quite happy with Nasri debut with Les Bleus in the France-Austria game. Many pundits are sure that was only the first of many games to come.

Goal.com - Inter Interested In Nasri

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Sochaux chairman Jean-Claude Plessis has claimed Marseille made an illegal approach for Karim Ziani.

Plessis said in a press conference that l'OM sporting director Jose Anigo had contacted the playmaker, who is seen as a possible replacement for Franck Ribery.

"I am not happy, because I know Marseille has contacted one of my players after the match we played at the Stade Velodrome," Plessis told French media.

"The Marseille officials contact Karim Ziani. You can't do such things. It is even scandalous. I would never allow such behaviour.

"I asked Ziani if it was true, he admitted it. Mr Anigo contacted him. Even if he wants him, Ziani will not join Marseille."

Sochaux and Marseille are set to meet in the French Cup final at the weekend and Plessis also suggested the timing of the approach was an attempt to unsettle Ziani.

However, his l'OM counterpart Pape Diouf immediately reacted by rubbishing the rumours and hitting back at Plessis.

"Telling such an accusation is dirty. But I can understand that Sochaux act this way. It is part of the little war before Saturday," Diouf said.

"The first time I heard about Ziani joining l'OM was in the press. I directly contradicted it.

"Jose Anigo hasn't contacted Ziani. He talked to Ziani and other Sochaux players after our last match, but that is not enough to charge us."

Meanwhile, Sochaux's star striker Alvaro Santos and defender Jeremie Brechet are both unlikely to feature in Saturday's final.

Santos damaged his shoulder against Monaco and was taken to hospital with a possible dislocation while Brechet suffered a recurrence of a groin injury.

Source: Skysports