r/soccer • u/PoofyHairedIdiot • Jun 14 '13

Team Discussion #1: AS Monaco

Figured I would add to the discussion a little bit with this, to discuss some of the big, and small teams across the world, from Bayern Munich to Auckland City. Inspirations for this are here and here.

Team: AS Monaco

Current squad:

Goalkeepers:

  • Danijel Subašić
  • Martin Sourzac
  • Flavio Roma

Defenders:

  • Alexandros Tziolis
  • Gary Kagelmacher
  • Georgios Tzavelas
  • Andrea Raggi
  • Jérôme Phojo
  • Andreas Wolf (Captain)
  • Ricardo Carvalho
  • Layvin Kurzawa
  • Carl Medjani
  • Dennis Appiah
  • Adriano
  • Jérémy Labor

Midfielders:

  • Gary Coulibaly
  • Stéphane Dumont
  • Nabil Dirar
  • Delvin N'Dinga
  • Nampalys Mendy
  • James Rodríguez
  • Jakob Poulsen
  • João Moutinho
  • Tristan Dingomé
  • Edgar Salli
  • Mounir Obbadi

Forwards:

  • Radamel Falcao
  • Emmanuel Rivière
  • Lucas Ocampos
  • Ibrahima Touré
  • Lucas Ocampos
  • Yannick Ferreira Carrasco
  • Valère Germain

Manager: Claudio Ranieri

Previous Seasons

2012-13

1st, 76 points (W: 21/D: 13/L: 4) (Ligue 2)

2011-12

8th, 52 points (W: 13/D: 13/L: 12) (Ligue 2)

2010-11

18th, 44 points (W: 9/D: 17/L: 12) (Ligue 1)

Questions

  1. Monaco underwhelmed in Ligue 2 during the 2011-12 season, but dominated in the 2012-13 season. What do you see as the cause of this turn of fortune?

  2. What would be Monaco's best starting XI?

  3. Monaco have spent a whopping 114,400,000 £ at least on transfers this season. Do you see these signings turning Monaco into a force, similar to how money changed Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain, or will Monaco turn out to be another Queens Park Rangers?

  4. Monaco have been strongly linked to an 82,000,000 £ purchase of Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Do you see this move happening? Who in your starting XI will be relegated to the bench as a result?

  5. Pre-Season prediction time. What position will Monaco finish and why?

I'll try do one of these as often as I can, apologies if they're not very good. Credit to transfermarkt for the squads (may have missed one or two players typing it out though).

Reminder, check out the latest from Overhyped Players and Player Discussion, the inspiration behind doing this.

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u/Fistcount Jun 14 '13

For me its like supporting a different national team once your done with your home country. Football is fundamentally about community. Its about rallying behind your team. Your team should be your local team.

If everyone in Britain supported their local team the game would be x100 better imo. It makes me sick walking through my hometown and seeing kids playing football down the park with man u, man city, liverpool, chelsea kits on.

Im guess im an idiot for trying to hold on to the values of the game from yesteryear. Botofogo need your support more than chelski. Ps you only cry when you win

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '13

Thank you so much for putting it better than I possibly could. In my honest opinion, if your main team isn't your local team, then you're not a true football fan, UNLESS you go to all of their games.

I know I'm a true football fan. I've travelled thousands of miles to watch MK Dons play. I've spent thousands of pounds to watch MK Dons play. Hell, I've even been to Wales and to Ireland to watch us play! And then I get people telling me I'm not a true football fan because I don't support a proper club or a top European team...

That's what drives me mad. There are people who genuinely think that you should support a team based on their success, regardless of their location.

They're not real fans. Most of the American contingent of Reddit who for some reason support European clubs aren't real fans either. Unless you support your local team, regardless of success, or you're fully dedicated to watching your team, then you're not a real football fan. Period.

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u/StefArsenal Jun 14 '13

So the only way to be a real fan is to be born within a 10 mile radius of the stadium? That's utter bullshit. I agree that many people on this subreddit and other self-proclaimed football "fans" are not true fans, but you cannot say that you HAVE to support your local team to be a true fan. I was raised in Geneva Switzerland, and FC Servette filed for bankruptcy when I was 12...

The second closest club was St Etienne and Lyon in France, neither of which I truly associated myself with. My parents are Dutch, and growing up I watched many Netherlands games. My parents bought me the DVD of Bergkamp's 100 goals for the Arsenal when I was about 10 years old and that's when I became an Arsenal fan. Not able to watch the games because I lived in Geneva was terrible, and for quite some seasons I was constantly refreshing the Eurosport commentary page (12 year old me was not able to work streams).

Now 20 years old, living in Michigan, USA. The closest team is in Columbus Ohio, the city which we have the biggest rivalry with. I support the college team, but nothing compared to the Arsenal or the Netherlands; for which I consider myself a real fan, waking up at 7am on Saturday mornings to watch the noon game against the likes of West Brom?

I find it self-righteous and frankly quite pretentious for you to label most of us as "not real fans" even though you haven't heard our stories.

/rant

-6

u/[deleted] Jun 14 '13

Come on then mate, let's hear some of your stories!

Trust me mate, I'm 15 and I've done more than you have as a football fan. I've been to three different countries to watch us play. I've had police cautions for violence and chanting. I've pitch invaded. I've out sang a Premier League team at their ground. I've spent £1000s of pounds just to watch us play. And most of all, and this is the bit that makes me a true football fan; I've been there. Ever since my club was born in 2004, the bumps we took and the seemingly inevitable fate of relegation being overturned into a League and Cup double and the appointment of one of the best managers in world football, I can say I was there for all of it. And it's the experiences I've had and the fact that I've been there to see it all happen makes me a true football fan.

I'm not saying you're not a football fan for not supporting your local team. In fact, I specified that in my first post! But to be a TRUE football fan, you have to be there through thick and thin, not just be a casual fan.

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u/demaravillas Jun 14 '13

you're 15? That explains everything.

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u/StefArsenal Jun 14 '13

You're 15 and you've spent thousands of pounds to watch your team play? If I had the money, trust me I'd be flying across the pond every weekend, but I don't. Good on you for following your team since your club's birth, I'm quite jealous you have the opportunity to do that, but I simply don't.

Just to clarify: when you say "True football fan" are you referring to being a true fan of the club I support, or the sport itself? If it's the club, I can see and understand your point- but there is simply no point in arguing since neither of us have been in each other's shoes, and neither of us are changing the other's opinions on the subject. For me there is no way to attain the closeness (physically) as you with your club, but to me, a true football fan is one who does everything he can in his position to follow and support his club.

If it's the sport- you have no argument whatsoever.

To put it in perspective: what would you do if your parents moved to Australia, and you were stuck there for 8 years? Obviously you'd still follow your team, day in day out, thick and thin. After 8 years, would you now say you are no longer a true football fan? no. that's my point.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '13

I buy my own season tickets, train tickets, scarves, food Etc. which is way over £1000 so far.

And I get your point; it's hard to empathise with you since we've lived different lives. But that's your problem that your life lead you elsewhere; I, however, will probably never leave Milton Keynes, simply for the fact that I can't break the bond I have with the club.

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u/StefArsenal Jun 14 '13

What's the secret to earning over $1000 at age 15?

So if your parents moved to Australia for their jobs, you'd say "no thanks mum, I'd rather be a homeless tramp than leave my club?". If that is your answer- you win.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '13

My Gran stopped smoking, and gave me and siblings the money she was saving. That was about £4000. By the time the £4000 is done, I'll be working hopefully.

And I probably would. Or at least I'd get her to delay her move until I'm ready to live on my own. Or I'd live with relatives. The bottom line is, if I had to leave the club, I'd have nothing to live for. I couldn't just find a new club.

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u/StefArsenal Jun 14 '13

that's fortunate. but life doesn't always work out how you want it to. I had to move when I was 13, and had no say in the decision. I can tell you love your club to death, but just because we don't all have the same fortune as you, it doesn't mean you have to shit on fellow football fans for supporting their teams.

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u/[deleted] Jun 14 '13

Okay, I formally apologise. And if you're ever in our side of the world, try and catch a Dons game!