Friday Morning catch-up session…

By: Magnusson | July 4th, 2008

I have been so focused ton the Ben Arfa case the last two weeks that I didn’t even post about everything else that was going on at the Commanderie in the meantime. So I’m going to try and make up for it.

Cédric Carasso finally left. While it was said for a moment that marseille wanted to include Cédric in the Bakary Koné deal and get the ivorian striker for a bargain, it didn’t happen that way. When the negociations started, Nice was very much in a “position de force” and President Cohen declared that the two deals needed to be separate. So José Anigo and Pape Diouf let Cédric talk with both staffs and the keeper chose Toulouse. That deal had the faculty of pissing people off in Nice where it was felt that marseille didn’t hold up to their part of the deal. Which is why the Bakary Koné deal will certainly be a little more difficult to close up than, say, Hatem Ben Arfa’s.

While Cédric Carasso was going to Toulouse, he was followed by his friend and second Sébastien Hamel who was his “understudy” at Marseille for three seasons. Both of them crossed paths with Nicolas Douchez who left for rennes and Rudy Riou who came to Marseille to replace Sébastien Hamel.
This was particularly emotionnal to see Cédric leave. Say what you will, he had the capacity to become one monster of a keeper if it wasn’t for his inconsistency. His only problem was to have been replaced by the type of player who only comes around once in a generation while he was injured. He really didn’t stand a chance.

Eric Gerets doesn’t want to bother himself with unproven players who would take too long, in his mind, to prove efficient in the Ligue 1 so he picked a few players he could use and some others that he thinks are not cut for the highest level. It was the case of 21 year-old Mehdi Benatia. Mehdi signed with Clermont Foot. The truth is, for the longest time, Mehdi has voiced his disappointment in the Marseille staff for not calling him after he tore his ACL this winter. It’s always sad to see a youth product leave and io hope Mehdi the best in his new club. Still injured, Benatia won’t be able to train until the end of August.

Another product of the Youth Academy, Mame Ndiaye will be on loan in Boulogne next season after having finished with Libourne Saint-Seurin. We are really emptying out the academy these days.

As for some higher profile players that Marseille wanted to get rid off, Jacques Faty signed with Sochaux yesterday. The central defender never fully convinced Gerets when he was not injured this year. He only particiapted in 9 games and his future didn’t seem to be that bright with the arivals of Vittorino Hilton and Amine Erbati. The player who came to us free from Rennes will be sold to Sochaux for 2 million euros and will have the arduous task of replacing Jérémy Brechet who left Sochaux for PSV Eindhoven.

Last but not least, marseille lost 3-1 to Istres in the first one of our NINE friendlies that will lead us to the start of the season. Well Marseille did but don’t be worried jut yet, this is the starting lineup we had:
—————– Riou ——————
M’Bow —- Civelli —- Zubar —– Bonnart
————– L. N’Diaye —————-
Dennoun —— Krstic ———– Arrache
——— Ayew —— Begeorgi ——

And, of course, Ronald Zubar had the armband during the whole game. During the second half, Eric gerets put in Cissé, Niang, Grandin, Cheyrou, Zenden, Hilton, Cana, Mango to make them see the sun a little. After an extenuous first week of traning, that game came at a very good moment for the team. Next up will be tomorrow’s game against Bastia in Avignon.