The R word

Another match, another demoralizing defeat. At the beginning of the month, coach Ricardo called for seven points out of a three match stretch with Grenoble, Lorient, and OM. They managed 4 points. Then they lost at Lille, where they had not lost in 14 years. ASM fans are beginning to consider a drop to L2 as a real possibility. True enough, Monaco is in 12th place and looks safe to the naked eye when one peruses the current L1 table. However, such is the congestion in Ligue 1 that we are only 3 points ahead of the relegation zone (headed up by St. Etienne, who we host next round).

The real reason fans are in fear is the apparent mental weakness in the side at present. The team is very young. Did that monumental collapse vs. Bordeaux shatter their fragile confidence? The apathy is contagious–I haven’t been busy in my social life and I have been to the Offside dozens of times in the last few weeks, I just couldn’t be bothered to write about a team that seems so indifferent about football.

Anyway, enough is enough. Call it karma or superstition or whatever, but I’m going to increase my posting and show my ASM pride in the irrational belief that this will somehow affect what happens on the pitch. Yes, I know that there are many who hate Monaco for having poor home support, but I think that even the most jaded of Ligue 1 fans would have to concede that the relegation of Monaco would be a big, big deal.

As I said earlier, next week we host Les Verts. Perhaps Ricardo will not inexplicably omit our leading scorer from the starting 11 this time. Alonso will miss the match after being sent off for two yellows in two minutes against Lille (if you ask me, this is addition by subtraction). Also, it is unclear whether Pino will play after suffering a thigh injury.

Category: Monaco Team News

Tags: Monaco Team News

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