Meet your future players! (part 1)

By: Richard | July 19th, 2008

I was amused to hear that everyone’s favorite Cockney wideboy gaffer Harry Redknapp took a swipe at Monaco after rejecting the club’s 12 million pound bid for Niko Kranjcar. Something along the lines of “Why would he want to go there? They get about 6000 fans there and everyone’s more interested in going out to dinner than football.” Has he been reading my blog?

Still, fair point Harry. Who in their right mind would choose sunset on the French Riviera over watching two drunken slappers brawling outside the kebab shop? Oh, and attendance isn’t everything. Go ask Sunderland. I think Redders is just trying to get his own back because Monaco rejected Portsmouth’s bid for Jérémy Menez.

Anyway, let me get on with introducing you to some of the young stars of Monaco….

First, let me introduce you to Malaury Martin. He is 19, he’s a defensive midfielder, and he has played for France at every level except the senior side. He looked remarkably composed in a limited run last season and is a key component to Monaco’s success and development this year, especially if Jerko Leko leaves the club for Bagpipeland, as rumored.

Next is Serge Gakpé. He plays as forward or on either wing, often used as a substitute. At this point Serge is more of a speed merchant than a genuine goal threat (a bit like a French Agbonlahor, for you EPL-types), but he’s only 21 and he will get better.

More later…

Category: Monaco Team News

Tags: Malaury Martin, Monaco, Monaco Team News, Serge Gakpé

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• j |  July 19th, 2008 at 8:13 am

  
  
  

  I’ve always had a lot of respect for Harry Redknapp as a Manager but of course that is the only thing he can say. Everyone in the Football business knows that when you attempt to sign a player in many locations, you have to precisely know how to lead them from airport to training facility and focus only upon the game. Just to name a few, in places like places such as Mallorca, Marseille, Monaco, Nice, Sardinia (Cagliari), Vienna or Salzburg you turn the tables and emphasize lifestyle. I often wonder how Hajduk Split would do if older players took a vacation to Split because I know they’d be calling their agents within the day. It is a brilliant part of the business of the game.

  Posted from Germany

  

• steven |  July 19th, 2008 at 11:54 am

  
  
  

  Do you have any long time, loyal players or does basically everyone play for a couple seasons than move on?

  Posted from United States

  

• richard |  July 19th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

  
  
  

  steven: in a word, yes. a big theme of this blog will be how Monaco is increasingly becoming a resort instead of a football club. a feeder club in a feeder league. the team has totally gone stagnant since 2004 and this summer even their captain and stalwart, GK Flavio Roma almost buggered off back to Italy.

  Posted from United States

  

• Sportboy |  July 20th, 2008 at 9:19 pm

  
  
  

  Portsmouth are benefitting from the EPL’s massive tv deal. They arent a large club but can sign big names just because they play in England. They will never have the winning tradition that Monaco has had nor will they win nearly as many trophies.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jon |  July 24th, 2008 at 10:41 am

  
  
  

  Redknapp is a bag of piss. Always has been, always will be.

  Posted from United States

  

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