1) A Day in the Life of Raymond Domenech (Dirty Tackle)

2) How much does Domenech really hurt France? A Mathematical Take. (Everything French Soccer)

3) Bakari Kone and Wanda Sykes. Notice a resemblance? (OM Offside)

4) Robert Pires says lots of nasty things about Raymond Domenech. (Goal)

5) Lass claims that Ireland players talk to the media to much.  (Yahoo)

6) Interview: Asamoah Gyan (”Rennes-aissance” has got to be the worst pun I’ve ever heard). (Ligue 1)

7) If you’re interested in PSG and/or Football Manager, this is the place for you. (PSG FM Offside)

A bit of a Domenech-tastic week, no?

Also, don’t forget to vote between the ASSE and Lyon jerseys, as the poll closes this week, as well as give your opinion on the biggest club in Ligue 1.

First Place: When asked his thoughts about the schedule changes for small Ligue 1 sides due to the Classico rescheduling, Sochaux manager Francis Gillot  had this to say. “We and Boulogne are considered small. I know that we are taken for farmers. But we understand what’s going on, we’re not as stupid as we look.”

Second Place: When Jeremy Toulalan was confronted by Lyon manager Claude Puel about dribbling to much at halftime against Saint-Etienne, he began to give the typical elementary school response, “Just because you’ve never been able to dribble and don’t know how…” before being dragged away by former captain Sidney Govou.

Links to click while you watch one of the funniest youtube tributes ever (make sure the sound is on)…

1) Montpellier Chief uses Homophobic Slur to describe Benoit Pedretti. (Unprofessional Foul)

2) And the FFF are none to pleased. (Sports Illustrated)

3) Round 12: Africans in Ligue 1 (by former OM blogger Magnusson). (Goal.com)

4) Ligue 1 prepares for Financial Crisis: The repeal of the DIC. (Lens Offside)

5) Ilan is the latest Ligue 1 player to come down with H1n1. (AFP)

Links to click as you watch the lasted Ligue 1 video propaganda…

1) Thierry Henry, Franck Ribery, and Sonia Bompastor will represent France at the FIFA awards. (L’Equipe)

2) Monsieur Henry is the favorite, or so say the FIFA-Castrol rankings. (Castrol)

3) The France jerseys for World Cup 2010 have been leaked. (Football Shirt Culture)

4) Shedding light on OL’s injury problems. (Dirty Tackle)

5) Video Review: OM-PSG Cancellation. (SoccerLens)

6) There’s a new Vieira to go with the new Zidane. (Everything French Soccer)

7) Michel Bastos has FINALLY been called up for the Seleção. (Ligue 1)

1) In case you haven’t heard, the dreaded swine flu has made it’s mark on football. (Ligue 1)

2) Clint Eastwood gives an interesting ceremonial kickoff. (Dirty Tackle)

3) Another interesting take on Ligue 1 vs. EPL.  (Unprofessional Foul)

4) PSG fans clash with police in Marseille. (ESPN)

5) The Ligue 1 magazine is available online. (FootPro)

6) Do upsets show the quality of Ligue 1? (Everything French Soccer)

7) Nike Classico virals are in vein. (Marseille Offside)

1) Let’s start here, on the general Ligue 1 blog. We’ve got two new writers here after a year of inactivity. Sarah and myself have teamed up to make this blog back into the amazing piece of journalism it once was. Corey of the Real Madrid blog will probably continue to contribute sometimes as well.

2) We have two new bloggers at the Marseille Offside, Sarah and Richard, after it went through a brief spell of inactivity.

3) I guess I count myself as new also. I’ve been writing for the PSG Offside since late June.

4) Xavier has been doing a great job bringing us the news about newly promoted RC Lens since July.

5) The Monaco Offside has another blogger! Christoffer has joined Richard to give us more coverage about the principality club.

6) I have information that Dave Trotter will soon start The Offside’s first Toulouse FC blog.

So, what’s going on with the blogs that aren’t so new?

The Lyon Offside is actively covering the seven time champion’s exciting season.

The Bordeaux Offside is giving us updates on Les Girondins amazing run of form.

And LOSC is getting some coverage over at the Lille Offside.

As you can probably see, there are some gaping holes in the coverage of Ligue 1. Are you a fan of Rennes, Saint-Etienne, or Auxerre? Do smaller clubs like Boulogne interest you? Interested in Charlie Davies’s progress at Sochaux? Or is the team you support already accounted for? Cobloggers are generally an option, so write for a Ligue 1 team on The Offside! Read the guidlines here if you want to blog, and than send Daryl an email.

First, we have a couple of new blogs.

It was only a matter of time before Martha was drawn into a French club blog, and we are happy to have her. Welcome the Nice Offside:

The same is true for Jennifer, who will keep us updated on Bordeaux, as they put together a very strong team to challenge Lyon for the title this year (and she will keep us up to date on the life of Henri Saivet!). Welcome the Bordeuax Offside:

Next up is some great coverage of the offseason in Ligue 1.

Julien is celebrating France’s birthday with a post:

Magnusson has a look at the ‘Drogbathon’ that Marseille fans have cooked up in order to get Pape Diouf to listen to them, as well as the pain of loosing Samir Nasri (but gaining a Hatem Ben Arfa):

Inara and John have been dutefully putting up training picks and pre-season match recaps, while also exploring the empty void that is the lose of Hatem Ben Arfa:

It seems Richard of St. Etienne and Shazback of Rennes have taken a summer vacation to be with their WAGs, but they should be back soon enough. We need a PSG and Monaco blogger first and foremost, if you are interested, email me, or skip the middle man and email Daryl@theoffside.com and tell him your interested. Enjoy the week!

Now communications skills I could care less about, as some of my favorite coaches are notorious for not speaking to the press in anything other then cliches. But Domenech refused interviews for not only himself but all his players during the tournament, and was seen pulling Willy Sagnol away from an interview at one point as to keep the shrowd of mystic and astrological secrecy over the French camp. It may have been a smart ploy to shield the squad form outside pressure after being labeled tournament favorites, but it didnt work, and made the France team look ridiculous.

Improving the organization could mean the shuffling of coaches, or just a new approach to assessing players and in how, or more importantly, who he selects. And of course Raymond will need to change the makeup of the team, with the veterans he stuck with until they led him to failure already retiring or looking unlikely to make it to the next World Cup (looking at you Pat). An injection of more young Ligue stars, a change in the formation and tactics and an overall better vibe for the team will be needed if they are to make it to the next World Cup. The talents of Nasri, Benzema, Sagna, Ben Arfa, Briand, Clichy, Diaby, Bodmer and Lloris must be given oppurtunities in the team and more turnover will be needed to establish a core group.

What are your thoughts on the supposive idea to keep Domenech on as the France coach?