NICE: Near-Relegation? What Near-Relegation?

By: Sam | July 28th, 2007

As the start of the season looms, it’s time for the France Offside to give you an in-depth look at each of the 20 teams vying for Hexagoal. Today, we meet OGC Nice, the team that always barely stay in the top flight.

The team: You hear about Marseille and Lyon doing this and that as far as transfers, but I’ll bet all of you haven’t been following what Nice has been up to. They’ve been up to a lot, actually. Bringing in David Hellebuyck from Paris, Vincent Hognon from Saint-Étienne and Habib Bamogo from Marseille (on loan) will make things better. However, losing the much-loved Marama Vahirua, as well as Cédric Varrault, David Bellion and Rod Fanni, won’t.

First off, if you haven’t heard of Hugo Lloris, you will this season. He’s Nice’s 20-year old goalkeeper, considered to be the national team’s starter in a few years. And if he’s not feeling up, there’s always veteran Lionel Letizi to back him up. On defense, there’s not much to say in Nice’s defence (ha-ha). With the departures of Varrault and Fanni, there’s not much more than Hognon, Jacques Abardonado and Cedric Kanté to mind the line. To a lesser extent, there’s young Nigerian Apam, but that’s really just about it. The midfield is a tad better. Cyril Rool and Florent Balmont are among the most consistent players in the league today, and Olivier Echouafni is also a savvy player. Add David Hellebuyck and the excellent (and I do mean excellent) Ederson, and you’ve got yourself one hell of a midfield crew. Their attack force is also nothing to sneeze at. You’ve got Lilian Laslandes, the experienced but aging force (399 career Ligue 1 matches). You’ve got Matt Moussilou and Habib Bamogo, a pair of very talented but irregular finishers. Above all, however, there’s Bakary Koné, the Ivoiran spark plug (I know you remember his goal against Holland in the World Cup) that’s going to carry the team this year.

Strong keeper, decent attack, weak defense. Sound familiar?

The coach: If you know your French culture, you’ll know that people from the south, particularly Corsica are one of a kind. Case in point: Frédéric Antonetti, Nice’s hilarious and outspoken mastermind. Longtime SC Bastia player cum coach, he’s been at his current post since 2005. He’s known for his intense passage at Saint-Étienne at the turn of the millenium.

The stadium: Stade du Ray looks like one of those GI Joe fortresses, very crude, unstable and not particularly intimidating when you really look at it. But the fans (typical southerners, I’m telling you. Take notes, Monaco) are really something else. Brigade Sud is one of the most feared firms in the country. Half of the club’s revenues are sent over to the league because of all the flares that attract fines. Bravo, I say. Stick it to the man.

The final say: No 16th-place finish this time, but rather a lower-midtable. 13th sounds about right. I like Nice. They’re nice (laugh, damn you).