Clean house!!!

The wise sage that is Guy Roux has it right when he says everything needs to be reset...the French Federation must look internally and do some house cleaning. How can Laurent Blanc be expected to properly manage this team if those from the federation continue to masquerade in positions of power. Let us start with Escalettes!

Domenech's replacement announced...but for post World Cup

So Escalettes has announced that the successor for Domenech. Too bad it is for after the World Cup instead of immediately...so who are the candidates? Blanc, Deschamps, Boghossian and Tigana. No surprises in the list. In addition Guy Roux and Arsene Wenger were included - both are long shots. Roux had been approached after the 1998 World Cup to run the team but declined. Wenger has always stated he rather stay at the club level and work with players daily - plus he could not go out and buy all the best talent from clubs' academies! What about the other 4 candidates...

Laurent Blanc - the head man for Bordeaux is clearly the darling manager of French football. With rumors of Manchester United in his future as well as the idea of him taking over the French national team on a part time basis (this rumor made the rounds after Domenech was pressured to leave post Ireland match) he being placed on the list is no surprise. Blanc is also part of the 98ers and carries a large amount of cache with the French public and footballing community. He has the credentials for the role, but might not have the length of services as some of the other candidates - having only managed since 2007. However I still think it is his job to lose. Odds - 2 to 1. My favorite Laurent Blanc moment -



Didier Deschamps - he used to be the darling of manager of French football, having managed Monaco to a Champions League final. His personal trophy case is nothing short of amazing - World Cup and European Cup champion, captained both winners, youngest captain to lift the Champions League with Marseilles (he won it again with Juventus), he won domestic titles in France and Italy as well as domestic cups. As a manager he led Monaco to a Champions League finals, won a domestic cup with Monaco and managed Juventus to a Serie B title. He has been managing since 2001 so more experience than his teammate Blanc. The fact he has managed in France and Italy should make him someone worth giving serious consideration, in addition he was the France skipper demonstrating the respect he commands. I think he might be the best candidate for the role - he has expressed strong interest, has the pedigree and the experience. 4 years ago he would be the clear favorite. Odds - 5 to 1

Alain Boghossian - the current assistant national team manager, many thought he was brought in to satisfy the 98ers...oh yeah he too has a World Cup winner's medal from 1998. He was a bit of a surprise when he was tapped to be an assistant manager since he had no previous experience as a manager - somewhat of a safe move for the FFF - bring in a member of the 1998 squad but one that never expressed ambition to manage the national side. It is hard to assess his impact on the squad or his ability as a coach. I think he has been mentioned on the short list...because he has to be...but I think he is the long shot of the 4. Odds - 20 to 1.

Jean Tigana - one of my favorite all time players, he was part of the "Carre Magique" from the 1980s with Platini, Giresse and Fernandez. He has a good managing career having guided Monaco, Lyon, Fulham and currently Besiktas (leading them to a league title in his first season). He has not always made the best talent decisions - Steve Marlet for 11.5m pounds??? Tigana remains a strong option, but with the strong candidates from the 1998 side he will be a distant 3rd in the pecking order. My favorite Tigana moment from the 1984 European Cup 1/2 finals, remember this was in the 120th minute of one of the most competitive and nail biting match -



Wenger would be great, but maybe what France should do is keep him on a retainer for scouting young talent and getting them to Clairefontaine, he could remain the manager for Arsenal but help Les Bleus find up and coming youth. He already turned down the offer, but has kept the door open. Roux would have been a great option 10 years ago, but I think he has lost his "fast ball" based on his showing managing Lens for a brief spell. Some outside options - Giresse who currently manages Gabon, Luis Fernandez who is a fiery manager or Paul Le Guen who manages Cameroon...these are all long long long shots....what about Hiddink? Hmmmm.

I think that in the end Deschamps will be the next manager. Why? I think Blanc will turn down the role. The fact he is strongly considered for the Manchester United job will give him much pause before taking over Les Bleus. Club jobs such as Manchester United come by very rarely in one's career - and coincides with your own rising fortune is the perfect storm. What if Blanc takes over Les Bleus and France do not qualify for the Euros? As quickly as one's stature is elevated so it can be knocked down. I think Blanc would want to be able to potentially take on a role like Manchester United while he can, such a chance might not be seen again for 10 years. As we all know, being a national team manager is not a long term role so Blanc would most likely get a chance to manage Les Bleus down the road. Where as Deschamps has been openly lobbying for the role for a long time...I think he would be a great manager for Les Bleus. He walks in with immediate respect having captained the side to World Cup and European Cup glory. Having managed in France and Italy gives him good insight into different elements of European footie. With the most likely retirement of Henry after the World Cup, France will be without an on field member of the 1998 class. Having the captain of that side manage the side would allow the success from those glory years to be infused in the next generation.

Too bad Deschamps cannot take over in January 2010 rather than August...

The heat is turned up on Domenech!

After the dreaded "vote of confidence" the latest pressure coming on Raymond is from his own captain and team. Read the comments made by Henry after a practice, from a story in the Parisien. For those whose French is not that good, Henry basically stated, that speaking for the team he was frustrated at the manager (who had started by stating he was frustrated with his team for leaving something to be desired in practice). Henry goes on to say no one knows where they are suppose to go, what formation they are running, what to do, and that they are also "annoyed" with the practices. Henry also states that in the 12 years he has played with Les Bleus he has never felt this way...ouch. After the FFF, the last area of support, albeit mild, that Domenech has to count on were his players. Post Euro, players came out to support maintaining Domenech as the manager - including Henry!

The fact that it was Henry that was vocal in his criticism of the coach is telling. Of course Henry has since backed down from his statements, no surprise there! However if what he said was true, and why believe it was not, it is telling that the team is finally feeling what many of us fans have felt since Domenech has taken over the side, as well as many former players such as Pires.

Domenech lacks any vision. Has terrible skills dealing with the personal side (another example of this is what happened on Saturday with Malouda who found out he was not needed on the substitutes' bench because there was no kit set up in his locker, not that the coach had told him prior, according to Yahoo Sport). Does not appear to understand how to manage during the match. Finally Domenech appears lost with this team. At times he resembles a 16 year old with the keys to his parent's Porsche - not sure if he can handle the power and handling, unease with the gear shifts, nervous about being caught by the cops, and overall over matched by what he has to work with.

Does this place added pressure heading into the match in Belgrade, absolutely. Win, lose or draw the French Federation may have to bow to the pressure and sack the manager. Regardless of what happens in Serbia (a loss would surely see Domenech gone), France have two more games to get results to secure the final spot in the group. Realistically they will need 4 points from the Serbia - Austria games to ensure a top 8 second place finish. Assuming that is feasible, they face the tricky 2nd place playoff matches, where they could (if FIFA reseeds the teams) face, potentially an Ireland or Greece, neither team will be easy to defeat in the home-away format. There remains time for France to find a new manager to take them through these final 4 games, and potentially through to South Africa. However that window is closing, the French FA needs to either sh*t or get off the pot after the Serbia match with regards to Domenech. If they sack him quickly, a new manager will have the time to pull something together.

Here is hoping the opt for the former and flushes Raymond down the toilet.

Here is a name that might be a dark horse, a solid care taker if not longer term manager - Guy Roux. He would bring instant credibility with regards to talent evaluation and knowing the team (I am sure he would figure out how to get the most out of his former player Mexes to name one). During his time at Auxerre he was always known for incredible talent evaluation - Cantona, Cisse, Blanc, Mexes, and Boli to name a few of the gems he discovered. Granted he would not be asked to develop new talent, but his understanding of player personnel would be vital for lining up the right team on the pitch. Additionally, he brings a no nonsense way to management, unlike Domenech the players would know exactly what would be expected of them and what formation and style they would be expected to execute. A long shot...but why not...rumor is he almost took over the side after the 1998 World Cup so why not revisit the option?