SOCHAUX: The Other Lions

By: Sam | July 31st, 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 FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, the team that has the Peugeot lion in their logo, no joke.

The team: Like many, Sochaux were on the sorry end of the transfer tunnel. Although they did acquire the services of a handful of players, none of them have halfway-superstar status. Lionel Mathis and Stéphane Dalmat, from Auxerre and Bordeaux respectively could very well crack the starting eleven. Boukary Dramé and Nicolas Maurice-Belay (who has yet to score in his 75 career Ligue 1 matches, he’s a striker) are likely to ride the bench, at least for a bit. Gone, though, are Anthony Le Tallec and Fousseni Diawara, loaned last season, as well as talismans Karim Ziani (Marseille) and Jérôme Leroy (Rennes).

Do you know Teddy Richert? You should. He’s been Sochaux’s first-choice keeper for five years, and many will agree, among the top 5 in the league. In my opinion, the most underrated for sure. And he’ll have to do well, because his backline isn’t the most intimidating I can think of. Jérémy Bréchet and Stéphane Pichot are a ripe enough pair of fullbacks, but by no means unbeatable. Omar Daf, Rabiu Afolabi and Dusko Tosic are also fairly talented players, but again not great. Thankfully, Sochaux’s midfield is much better. Led by longtime captain Michaël Isabey, they’re stacked with the likes of Romain Pitau, Guirane N’Daw, Mathis, Dalmat, and Badara Séné. Not chock full of big names, but rather efficient ones, and quite a few at that. The same goes for the strikers, who are a bunch of young and promising footballers. Slovenian international Valter Birsa is there, alongisde Santos, Quercia, Dagano and Maurice-Belay. Last but not least, Sébastien Grax is perhaps the best they have to offer, if he can get more games in this time around.

Pains me to say that they’re really hurt by the losses of Leroy and Ziani. And that defense…

The coach: You just may have heard of it, FCSM’s former coach Alain Perrin left for greener (perhaps more golden) pastures at Lyon after they were deserted by Gérard Houllier. The man in charge is now Frédéric Hantz, formerly of Le Mans. He accomplished much in the three years he shared with that club, bringing them up to Ligue 1 and reaching the semifinal of the league cup twice.

The stadium: It was a coming-of-age experience when Stade Auguste Bonal hosted their first France match last season, against the Faroe Islands. That said, the 20,000 seater in Montbéliard is not unlike most stadiums, well constructed, with decent fans with many scarves.

The final say: They had a good time last year, aka winning the Coupe de France, but with their so-so squad, expect them to fight for the top 10.