SAINT-ÉTIENNE: The Green Machine

By: Sam | July 30th, 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 AS Saint-Étienne, the team that dresses in green. And is good. Admit it, Lyon fans.

The team: Tavlaridis! Payet! Matuidi! Gigliotti! “Sainté” made some good deals this summer, bringing in the Greek defender and the other three, whom I might add are considered to be future Bleus. Also on the arrival block are Nivaldo and Rodolph Douala from Belenenses and Sporting, respectively. Not without their losses, though, les Verts are now Julien Sablé-less, as well as Zoumana Camara-less. Hognon and Ilunga have also departed, and all signs point to Pascal Feindouno making his way out as well.

At the very back, ASSE depend on the dependable and fashion-smart Jérémy Janot, unrivaled starter for the club in the last five years. Just in front of him is a not bad bunch of defenders as well, led mostly by the new signings, Matuidi, Tavlaridis and Varrault. Damien Perquis is also there, with youngsters such as Yohan Benalouane and Fousseni Diawara, back from Sochaux where he was loaned. Sainté’s midfield is their weak point though. A critical lack of offensive contribution (of the remaining players from last year’s squad, Marek Heinz is the only non-striker to have more than one goal) plagues the group, even if the team is among the best-scoring ones in the country. Heinz, the Czech international, provides much of the playmaking, while Loïc Perrin, Christophe Landrin and Geoffrey Dernis are not-too-shabby creators themselves. Throw in a little Mouhmadou Dabo and the young Freddy Guarin, and it’s complete. Not terribly impressive, but it’ll do. Of course, if the mids don’t score, the strikers do. Perhaps the best equipped in the league, among their ranks are Bafé Gomis, one of the revelations of last season, who was one dreadlock away from moving on to a bigger club this season. Also, Araujo Ilan is back, need I say more? Plus Gigliotti and Dimitri Payet, that’s a crazy quatuor of players. Shame they can’t all be on the pitch at the same time. Or can they? A 3-3-4 formation could be worth trying.

The midfield lacks firepower, but otherwise it’s same old Saint-Étienne (aka good).

The coach: After one season, it was decided Ivan Hasek just would not do. Never mind the fact he was manager of the Czech national team for ten years, but a 11th place finish just wasn’t enough somehow. Now in his position is former assistant Laurent Roussey, who played with ASSE for many years. Of note: He has been capped twice, in which he scored a goal in his first against Hungary in 1982.

The stadium: Stade Geoffroy Guichard, aka Le Chaudron is without a doubt one of the best in the league. Sainté’s supporters are up there with Marseille as craziest. The Green Angels and and Magic-fans always have impressive tifos and encouragement in bucketloads for the club. Bravo, I say.

The final say: They’re good! Good enough to shoot for Europe? I don’t know about that, they’re known as underachievers. A UEFA Cup spot is within reach however.