Rouges & Noirs forever

It is with considerable pride for me to welcome each reader to the new blog for Stade Rennais. For those outside of France, they are typically most aware of Lyon, Bordeaux, l'OM and Paris Saint-Germain, yet the Rouges & Noirs is strong part of Football's cradle in France. Through the course of my writings, I hope that each of you will not only come to appreciate the club but the entire north-west area of France where I reside.

This weekend Guy Lacombe leads the tour bus to the beautiful coastal town of Le Havre. Although a wintry visit my not be in the travel plans of many, they will have the pleasure of going up against a club that needs to start planning for Ligue 2 next year. Unfortunately for the seaside community, after an impressive championship run in Ligue 2 last year, they have lost their form and have one foot in the lower division. Prior to the holiday break, Frédéric Hantz took over as manager but Le Havre has responded with three successive defeats.

Yet the Rouges & Noirs cannot lose track that while Le Havre has been challenged by play in Ligue 1, they were able to squeeze out a draw in the autumn. For Rennes, who sit only five points behind Lyon, the test is not only to beyond their beaten opposition but find the right petrol to get back into gear. While they have went through a tough span of matches against Lille and Toulouse without a victory, those are the matches that need to be won if the season will be capped with a trophy. Now is not the time to suffer "Icarus complex" but instead allez, allez.

Holding Le Havre together is their goalkeeper Christophe Revault. A veteran of over fifteen years, his goal has been littered on a consistent basis and defending is Le Havre greatest challenge. Yet he possess the eye of a veteran, he knows the sun is setting on his career and will fight for his clubs honour. With full knowledge of the Normandes weakness, the Rouges & Noirs must attack.

For those watching the Rouges & Noirs for the first time, the club is a unique mix of veterans and products of the academy. While their is much to be said of the entire mix, cast an eye towards the central midfield of Fabien Lemoine and Stéphane M'Bia and of-course striker Jimmy Briand. All in their early twenty's they have come up through the clubs nurturing process and show unlimited promise.

a solid victory over Le Havre

In another sign of overall play improving, PSG defeated Le Havre 3-1 at cozy Stade Jules Deschaseaux. Following recent use of a 4-3-3, Paul Le Guen reverted to a more traditional set-up with Ludovic Giuly and Guillaume Hoarau paired up top and duo is definitely showing signs of greater production. PSG dictated the ebb and flow of the match and eighteen minutes after the opening whistle, Guillaume Hoarau, fresh after being ignored by Raymond Domenech, netted the first of two goals as he headed Sylvain Armand's cross to the post. The former Le Havre man had threatened twice before but after scoring he displayed a sense of class and respect for his former club that all players could take a lesson from. Sixteen minutes later Jérémy Clément dished off to Ludovic Giuly in the box, who then struck a perfect ball to the far corner to double the lead. The home side fought admirably, testing Mickaël Landreau's considerable talents and were unable to break through till three minutes after the break when Amadou Alassane exposed PSG's weakness to the set piece by heading-in Jean-Michel Lesage's corner to bring the match to a snug 2-1 margin. However the Parisians were able to hold Le Havre at bay and as the match was winding down Péguy Luyindula was brought down in the area and the spot the pointed to. With a climatic ending, the man-of-the-match Guillaume Hoarau completed his evening home, striking his second goal to the back of the net and giving PSG the 3-1 triumph.

PSG welcomes perennial champions Olympique Lyonnais to Parc des Princes in match of epic importance.