Tag: France

Lucas Pouille punctures Andy Murray’s comeback in Cincinnati.

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The 24-year-old Frenchman defeated the double Wimbledon winner in three sets. 

Andy Murray’s comeback hit another bump in the road after defeat to Lucas Pouille in the first round of the Western & Southern Open.

Cincinnati is well known for being home to the famous Graeter’s Ice Cream, but unfortunately for Murray, his hopes for a decent tournament ahead of the US Open melted quickly in the Ohio sunshine.

It was his first appearance on court since pulling out of the Citi Open two weeks ago and rustiness showed as the former world number one began timidly against a fresher Pouille.

Whether he was still recovering from those titanic matches in Washington, or changed his approach, something wasn’t quite right from the outset. His serving was not up to scratch during the opening set, as he recorded six double-faults. He was broken three times by his French opponent, who closed out a comfortable first set 6-1 within 29 minutes.

The one positive the Scot could take from a lacklustre opening set was that he was winning the majority of points from the long rallies. However, Pouille hadn’t needed to get out of second gear and looked well on course to end the contest quickly.

But where most players would capitulate in such a situation, Murray rallied. His performance levels improved during the second set, and the roles were quickly reversed. The 31-year-old broke the 16th seed, before holding serve to take a 2-0 lead. The former world number one only made three unforced errors, and won more points on his first serve as he raced to take the second set 6-1, as the match went to a decider.

The tables then turned once again. Murray started the final set nervously and double-faulted the opening point, before being broken by a resurgent Pouille desperate to make amends for a poor second set.

Missed chances then cost the 31-year-old the match. He failed to convert a crucial break point before falling 3-1 behind. Despite saving a match point at 5-3, Murray was helpless as his French opponent served out the match to claim a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 win.

Whilst this defeat will disappoint British fans, it was a first victory over Murray for Pouille at the fifth attempt.

The Frenchman has been a regular on the ATP Tour this season, with this being his 17th competition in 2018. Whilst he is gaining more experience on court and slowly climbing up into the world top 20, the 24-year-old can still be a loose canon on the court.

His performance against Murray showed why. His game heavily revolves around speed, and this can sometimes effect the accuracy and precision of his shots. Where he was clinical in the opening set, he lost composure during the second and mistakes began to creep in.

But he held his nerve in the final set, and found his range once again to hit some impressive winners. Pouille hit a total of 40 in the match as he defeated the former world number one in an hour and 53 minutes to book his place in round two.

Murray is not scheduled to play again until the US Open at Flushing Meadows, which begins on the 27th August. He now has four tournaments under his belt after missing a year out with a hip injury, but there is much that needs improving still – especially his serving.

He may take up a wildcard at the Winston-Salem Open next week after this defeat, but it will depend on whether his body can cope with another tournament just one week before the gruelling five-set matches at the final Grand Slam of the year.

 

 

 

 

 

Brighton target Yves Bissouma would help unlock their attacking pedigree.

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The 21-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League over the last few days, and he could be the signing that makes Chris Hughton’s team one to watch in 2018/19.

Brighton and Hove Albion are reportedly closing in on Lille midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The Ligue 1 club want £17.5m for their man’s services, and the 21-year-old looks set to reject Portuguese giants Porto in favour of a move to the Amex stadium, should the Seagulls cough up the money.

Many Albion fans will agree that the Club has been very shrewd in the transfer market this summer – but this big money deal could well be the star signing that makes the Seagulls one of the teams to watch out for in 2018/19. Bissouma would not only bolster the centre of Brighton’s midfield, but also help unlock their attacking pedigree.

The central midfielder broke into the first team at Lille two years ago and made 30 appearances for Les Dogues last season. He has already got 15 international caps for Mali and has scored three goals for his country.

According to whoscored.com, Bissouma recorded his best stats playing as a defensive midfielder – with a rating of 7.62. Should he take up a defensive role within the Albion line-up, it would enable Dale Stephens or Davy Propper to take up a more attacking position next season.

Propper has been used as a number 10 in the Dutch national team, and could now look to support Pascal Gross further up the pitch when the side are threatening in the final third.

Bissouma would hopefully help improve the team’s away record next season, which is one of the aims I’m sure Chris Hughton has for the upcoming campaign.

Brighton finished bottom of the away form table in 2017-18, registering just two wins (against West Ham United and Swansea City) and 11 points away from the Amex. Bissouma would add that extra protection for the backline. His physical presence, with Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk behind him, could provide Brighton with a strong defensive spine that enables them to build a more offensive team around them.

It’s not clear yet how Hughton plans to set his side up next season – with plenty of forward options to choose from: Glenn Murray, Jurgen Locadia, Florin Andone, Tomer Hemed and Sam Baldock.

He could go 5-3-2, with Gross and either Stephens, Propper or Beram Kayal pushing forward to support the two strikers. Jose Izquierdo, Solly March, Bernardo and Bruno could all play as wing backs, leaving Dunk, Duffy and Balogun as a solid back three.

I very much doubt he will continue to use the relatively successful 4-4-1-1 formation which he used predominantly last season, considering who has joined the club since last August.

We must remember that the Bissouma deal hasn’t been finalised yet, but should it happen, Albion fans should get very excited for the season ahead.

MLS 2018: Despite his disastrous tenure at Aston Villa, Remi Garde is still quite a coup for Montreal Impact.

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When Remi Garde left his position as Aston Villa manager in March 2016, his managerial reputation was in tatters. 

The 51-year-old Frenchman won just two of his 20 league matches in charge of the Villans, which culminated a win percentage of just 10%. It’s the lowest of any Aston Villa manager in the club’s history.

Yet, his unveiling as Montreal Impact’s fifth head coach in seven years is still quite a coup for the Canadian outfit and for the MLS in general.

Before his disastrous spell at Villa Park, Garde had worked up a rather impressive CV. As a player he won at least one trophy at every club he played for- including a Premier League title with Arsenal in 1997-98.

The former Lyon, Strasbourg and Gunners midfielder also saw success follow him in his early coaching career.

Garde took over from the dismissed Claude Puel at Lyon in 2011. During his time in charge of Les Gones he won two trophies – the Coupe de France and Trophèe des champions.

This resulted in him being linked to some of the biggest jobs in football – including a possible return to the Emirates to replace his mentor Arsene Wenger.

Whilst his ill-fated tenure at Villa has probably seen that opportunity fade away for Garde, the manager’s job at the Villans was at the time a poisoned chalice.

The club were rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, and the players at the club lacked the desire the 51-year-old demanded. A promise of January signings by Randy Lerner never materialised into nothing more than false pretences. You could therefore say that he had no chance of turning the fortunes of the club around.

It may surprise some that he’s decided to move halfway across the world for his new managerial venture at Montreal, but his appointment may prove to be shrewd bit of business by owner Joey Saputo.

The main issue will be the longevity of this partnership between Garde and Impact.

Montreal have a reputation in the MLS to hire and fire head coaches on a consistent basis. The 51-year-old becomes the franchises’ fifth in just seven seasons, and may need to get off to a strong start in order to keep the board happy.

On the other hand, the temptation and the glamour of European football could sway Garde back across the Atlantic Ocean should he do well in Canada. He only lasted at Lyon for three years before leaving for family reasons. Neither party likes to overstay their welcome.

The Frenchman is another recognisable manager to have joined the MLS in recent seasons as the league’s appeal continues to gradually grow. Former Barcelona and Argentina boss Tata Martino became head coach at Atlanta United last year, with Bob Bradley returning to the league to take charge at new franchise Los Angeles FC.

Garde has had all winter to prepare his team ahead of their opener against Vancouver Whitecaps this weekend. A key signing he has brought in is that of former Inter Milan midfielder Saphir Taïder to help bolster the midfield.

Last year was one to forget for Impact, with a ninth place finish in the Eastern Conference and 17th overall. But if Garde can find that formula that saw him win trophies with Lyon, he could make this Montreal side a real force in the league and regular post-season contenders.

Something that will surely have a positive impact on his dented managerial career and help him recover that early reputation of being one of the best in the business.