A few questions for our Ligue 1 watching members -
1) What's up with Monaco this season so far? Only 6 points from 6 games, lots of squad rotation and there looks like a lack of clear ideas. I'm aware they've sold a lot of talent but they did spend £115m in the Summer. Have the incoming signings been of a lesser quality than in the Luis Campos era? Are they maybe just taking a while to settle as a team? I very much like Leonardo Jardim but this season and partly last season Monaco haven't been too great so I'm less convinced about him than I was. Not saying it isn't hard to undergo such squad upheaval and lose incredible talents but it seems to me like they've been buying overpriced gambles or players that won't be ready for at least a couple of years.
A lack of quality all over the pitch at the minute. They have a lot of great future talents, but it’s not working yet.
Tielemans, Grandsir, N’doram, Rony Lopes, Pellegri, Diop, Mboula etc... have all shown flashes, but consistency is the issue. Which is normally the case for young players.
Golovin made his debut last night, he looked lively.
The issue is, they will improve with the season, as they gel and players get the experience, but come the summer they will have another high turnover of players.
Losing Lemar, Fabinho, Keita & Moutinho would hurt any team.
Rinse and repeat with Monaco.
2) Nicolas Pepe is gaining a lot of hype. Could he be the next big Ligue 1 export? Potentially United quality?
He’s in a purple patch at the minute, hence the hype, but he is a talent.
Left footed, right winger, young, fast, skilful. Sounds like the player we need, just not sure he has the quality to reach the levels that Dembele etc will.
Similar style to Zaha (not a lazy racial stereotype).
3) Are any exciting young players emerging so far this season? France's production line is sensational.
Enzo Loiodice, 17 started all 5 games at CM for Dijon who are currently 5th.
N’soki, Weah, Nkunku all at PSG will be worth keeping an eye on for progression this season.
Boubacar Kamara, 18, Marseille Defender will have more of a role to play this season. Looks promising.
Ibrahim Sangare, 20, CM. Toulouse have started the season well, he has been one of the main reasons.
Ibrahima Sissoko, 20, CM. Replaced Aholou who moved to Monaco, filled his boots already.
Then there is plenty of players who are more well known who should step it up to the next level this season, Golovin, Ndombele, Aouar, Cyprien, Tousart, Ferland Mendy, Kamano, Kounde, Gelin, Saint-Maximin etc...
Love Ligue 1. So many talents.