Posts Tagged ‘Montpellier’

Africa’s Most Wanted

Posted: June 17, 2012 by Salim Masoud Said in African Football, Africans Abroad
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Salim profiles six African players who could be making a move this summer:

Bruno Ecuele Manga

His all-round ability, particularly his aerial dominance, makes Manga an ideal signing for most English Premier league clubs.

Sometimes sheer numbers do not lie. Laurent Koscielny particularly stood out during his time at Lorient, and alerted the blind-vision of Arsene Wenger, initially because of his impressive statistics: 328 clearances and 159 interceptions -  which were more than any other defender in Ligue 1 in the 2009/2010 season.

The replacement for the Arsenal-bound defender came in the form of Gabon international Bruno Ecuele Manga from Ligue 2 outfit Angers. In the 2011/2012 season, despite Lorient finishing just 1 point above the relegation zone, the Lorient defence conceded only 14 goals at home all season, the 2nd joint least in Ligue 1. Manga has continued the Koscielny legacy, just like he did in his debut season, and was second in clearances stakes in Europe with the 378 clearances in total, behind Stoke great Ryan Shawcross.

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SFG Player of the Week: Taye Taiwo

Posted: April 10, 2012 by Salim Masoud Said in Player of the Week
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The decision has been a tough one to make this week. Morocco’s Younes Belhanda performed brilliantly for Montpellier as they beat a dogged, relegation-threatened Sochaux to maintain their position at the top of Le Championnat. The mesmerising Moroccan was substituted to a standing ovation late in the game thanks to the way he dazzled the crowd with Zizou-esque roulette turns and through-the-keyhole through-balls. Meanwhile, in Spain, Valencia and Algeria’s Sofiane Feghouli looked very mature in possession in Valencia’s 4-0 destruction of AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League. Playing as a right-midfielder, his crossing was a constant problem for the AZ centre-backs  and he showed a simplistic touch of flair when he was on the ball when combining with right-back Antonio Barragan.

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Meet the Potential Stars of the Africa Cup of Nations 2012: Part 2

Posted: January 17, 2012 by Salim Masoud Said in African Cup of Nations 2012, African Football
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A few days ago I, Salim, unveiled the first part of  ‘Meet the Potential Stars of Africa Cup of Nations 2012‘. Here, I bring it all home with the second and final part. Enjoy, ladies and gentlemen. Thank me later.

Bruno Ecuele Manga (23, Lorient & Gabon Centre-Back)

When Laurent Koscielny left Lorient for Arsenal, Lorient’s replacement for him came in the form of Bruce Ecuele Manga. What made Koscielny particularly standout at his time at Lorient, and alert Arsene Wenger, were his impressive statistics: 328 clearances and 159 interceptions -  which were more than any other defender in Ligue 1 in the 2009/2010 season.

Called 'Manga' but he doesn't look like someone from a Japanese comic.

Manga has continued that legacy and is third in the rankings of the defenders with the most clearances with 10 clearances per game this season. Clearances aren’t everything, of course, and Manga’s game isn’t limited to merely clearances – he is aerially very dominant and won’t shirk a battle, his performance in Lorient’s shock 1-0  away win against PSG was outstanding. Lorient, who are 10th in the league at the time of writing, have only conceded 4 goals at home this season – the joint-lowest in the league and Manga has been an ever-present. His backs-to-the-wall defending may very well come in handy, especially if Gabon are to reach the latter stages of the tournament.

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