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Welcome to Eurotales, where we offer a refreshing change from the same old stories about European football's top clubs.
This week, we're heading to France to catch up with our friend, respected journalist Roy Calley, now based in the beautiful French Riviera.
After years with the BBC, Roy was drawn to OGC Nice, where he's now a season ticket holder and deeply involved in the vibrant French football scene.
OGC Nice is a club often affected by changes in the wind, and its landscape has shifted significantly since Franck Haise took over as manager last summer.
Haise's appointment is a major coup for the club, owned by Manchester United's Jim Ratcliffe.
As the former Lens manager, Haise masterminded the RC Lens fairy tale, using his shrewd management skills to help the team achieve more than expected.
With Haise at the helm, OGC Nice is set to adopt a new philosophy, revamping tactics and team dynamics. The club's ability to adapt to high-profile player departures will test its resilience and ambition.
As OGC Nice navigates this period of change, questions arise about its future direction, identity, and competitive edge in Ligue 1, especially with Monaco, Marseille, and Lille reemerging as strong contenders. Roy Calley's insight sheds light on this transformative
time, combining local expertise with journalistic acumen.
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Serie A beckons once more, fresh from last season's goal-fest. Bologna's fairytale run to Champions League qualification under Motta, led by Zirkzee, reminded us of football's enduring magic. Yet success breeds change, and both have departed.
Now, eyes turn to potential dark horses. Could Torino be this year's Bologna? Their blistering start - unbeaten in five, briefly topping the table - suggests promise. New manager Pablo Fanoli, fresh from guiding Venezia to promotion, brings ambition.
To unravel Torino's surge, we turn to Ruairi Criscuølø , the Italian football sage from the esteemed Anglo-Italian Pod.
His insights may illuminate whether Torino can sustain their early-season form
and challenge the established order in Serie A.
Ruairi blew us away with his knowledge of the beautiful game in Italy check out his podcast The Anglo-Italian Pod follow Ruairi on X @RuairiSC_TAIP
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Celtic's Champions League ambitions face a stark contrast to
their domestic dominance. At home, Brendan Rodgers' side rules supreme, a giant among minnows.
Yet in Europe, they stumble against titans. This disparity highlights a pressing issue: Can the Hoops transcend their "big fish, small pond" status?
The Scottish powerhouse boasts a rich European heritage, but recent campaigns have exposed limitations.
Now, a potential solution emerges. The revamped Champions League format offers Celtic a fresh opportunity to leave their mark on the continental stage and shatter their glass ceiling. Michael McEwan, our Scottish football guru, delves into the latest developments.
Brace yourself for an insightful journey through the beautiful game north of the border.
Michael's website is www.michaelmcewanmedia.com
His X is @mikieboy83
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Today, we talk to French Football Expert John Porter Editor of the renowned French Football publication The Crazy Dribbler about one of the most talked-about teams in Ligue 1, Lyon.
After ending last season with a bang, many believed that they would be a top contender this season.
The summer transfer window was chaotic with comings and goings more frequent than spring showers with John Textor at the wheel there is never a quiet moment (Everton beware). Cherki & Caqueret were pushed towards the door kicking and screaming while superstars like Zaha & Mikautadze were procured.
Last Season’s Performance
But, as we all know, things don't always go as planned. Let’s take a look at their last season’s performance:
From mid-December onwards, Lyon played 20 Ligue 1 games.
They won an impressive 15 of them.
They drew 1 and lost 4.
It was a remarkable surge up the table, with an average of 1.9 goals per game. However, their start to the season was so rough that their run to the top wasted a lot of energy just to get out of relegation trouble.
It wasn't until their 11th Ligue 1 match in mid-November that they registered their first league win. Fast forward to this season, and it seems like history is repeating itself.
Slow Start This Season
Lyon started slow, with a 3-0 defeat against Rennes in the opening match and a 2-0 loss against Monaco.
Before the international break under severe pressure, Lyon reminded everyone of their potential in 11 minutes of chaos football losing 3-1 to Chelsea owned Strasbourg Lyon inspired by two unlikely heroes Gift Orban and Malick Fofana fought back to win 4-3 in a thrilling encounter.
We John just how far can they go this season?
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Exciting Times for RB Leipzig
Last week brought a wave of excitement for Bundesliga team RB Leipzig. They learned about their opponents in the new Champions League format.
On the pitch, Bundesliga Matchday two featured Marco Rose's Leipzig facing Xabi Alonso and his unbeaten Bayern Leverkusen. Leverkusen had a remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak. Leipzig, with their own 12-game unbeaten run, was ready for a thrilling match.
Powered by the clinical Belgian striker Openda, who scored two goals in the second half, Leipzig handed Leverkusen their first Bundesliga defeat since the end of the 2022/23 season. This win was particularly impressive because Leipzig came back after being down 2-0 at halftime.
Being part of the Red Bull sporting group gives them a unique advantage in finding and nurturing young talent.
Expert Insights
This week, we welcome back Bundesliga expert Rune Gjerulff Petersen (Twitter @runegjerulff). He will discuss whether RB Leipzig can be serious title challengers this season. Rune is the owner of the fantastic Bundesliga site Bulinews.com and a Bundesliga Fantasy football expert.
The Rise of RB Leipzig
Before 2009, RB Leipzig did not exist. Red Bull came to town and built the club from the ground up. They transformed the small club, SSV Markranstadt, which was in the 5th division of German football.
Red Bull, which owns clubs in Salzburg and New York, changed Markranstadt’s name, logo, and colors. They bought a ten-year lease on a 43,000-seat stadium, established a training ground, and aimed for the top of German football.
In just 8 seasons, RB Leipzig reached the Bundesliga. By their tenth season, they featured in the Champions League.
Controversial Tactics
Their approach to youth recruitment and high-energy football is hard to resist. However, many German football fans feel uneasy about how they discarded club traditions to start this journey.
In Germany, football holds a special place in the community.
Many clubs are fan-owned and not just businesses for profit. Exceptions exist, like Wolfsburg and Leverkusen, but RB Leipzig’s approach has raised eyebrows. They found ways to navigate football regulations, including the 50-plus-one rule, which aims to keep clubs connected to their supporters.
Leipzig has circumvented many of Germany’s football rules. They found loopholes and controlled who could own shares in the club, thus satisfying the supporter shareholding requirement.
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WE ARE BACK: Welcome back to Eurotales for Season 2, the big kick offs are just just days away now, to get you in the mood and back in the groove, we welcome back our Saints expert Fraser Spinney to dissect Southampton's preparations as they embark on another Premier League campaign.
Fraser is engrained in all things Southampton, he is part of the newly hotly anticipated Saints podcast Daily Southampton and is the prime Saints correspondent for Southampton News Website SouthamptonFC.News
In this episode we discuss:
The Martin Way
How The Saints Timed Their Playoff Run
Exotic Transfer Links
Who Next From The Saints Fertile Academy
And Much More.....
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For All Things Saints Fraser's Handle is: @FraserSpinney21
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Hello everyone and welcome back to Eurotales! This week, we are diving into the trenches of the Serie A relegation battle with a special focus on Udinese. Known for their ability to unearth hidden talents, this club has been a force to be reckoned with in recent years despite their modest resources.
But this season, they find themselves in a precarious position, fourth from bottom and fighting for their spot in the top-flight. To help us understand the situation at Udinese, we have a special guest with us today, world renowned Italian journalist Nima Tavallaey Roodsari.
Nima's career is entrenched in all things Italian football he is the co-host on the magnificent The Italian Football Podcast and founder of one of the world's best Inter Milan focused websites SempreInter.com which brings all the latest Inter news to English speakers.
So can the legendary Fabio Cannavaro save one of Serie A's most intriguing clubs from relegation with five games to play?
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This week we are graced by Ligue 1 fountain of knowledge, THE MAGNIFICENT French football Robin Bairner, a man who oozies Ligue1 after working in French football in excess of 20years, we are going to discuss a club and manager that in many aspects have not been lauded to a level that they perhaps deserve.
We preview the almighty clash of Lille v Aston Villa,.
Lille and Paulo Fonseca have hit their stride at just the right time, pushing for a podium finish in Ligue1 and pushing for a semifinal berth in the UFEA Conference League.
We are going to place Lille under the microscope as they prepare for their eagerly awaited quarter final clash with Aston Villa in the Conference League this week.
Enjoy!
Follow Robin on X for all you French Football Desires - @RBairner
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Want to learn more about Lille's rise under Fonseca checkout our free Ligue1 Newsletter - Read More Here
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As you all know, earlier in the season, ogc Nice was the talk of the town with their impressive defense and their new manager, Francesco Farioli, leading the team to success. But, what happened? How did this team go from being on top of their game to struggling to stay afloat? Well, after three consecutive defeats on their home turf, it's safe to say that things have taken a turn for the worse for Nice. And it's not just any defeats, they lost to relegation strugglers Nantes. Yes, the same team that former manager Antoine Kombouaré has returned to for a second spell in a desperate attempt to avoid relegation.
Here's the kicker, since Kombouaré' left Nantes nearly a year ago, no team in Ligue 1 has lost more games than them. So how did Nice manage to lose to this struggling team? Some shocking revelations from players and the manager himself have come to light, hinting at a lack of effort and dedication from certain players. And it's not like Nice has nothing to play for, they are in a race for the podium in Ligue 1.
But their recent performances have been far from convincing, including a goalless draw against Reims, who are now just four points behind Nice. To get an insider's perspective on what's happening with Nice and Farioli, we caught up with Roy Calley, a former BBC journalist and a Nice season ticket holder. He will give us the lowdown on what's really going on with the team and whether there are any players who have taken their foot off the gas. But, let's not forget the man between the posts, Marcin Bulka. After the recent defeat, he expressed his anger towards certain players' lack of desire on the pitch. Could this be due to their heads being turned by potential summer moves? We'll find out from Roy himself. So join us as we dive deep into the shocking truth... behind OGC Nice's recent performances.
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Just weeks ago, Jose’s love affair in the eternal city with Roma ended, the Mourinho effect on Roma led to the fans of the Italian club falling in love with the cult manager.
A European trophy now dons the hallowed halls of Roma thanks to Jose’s tenure, it would not be a jump to say that Mourinho is the most popular Roma manager in modern times.
With the fans heartbroken and anger building towards the American owners who made the brave decision to sack Jose, Roma needed someone to reunite the troops.
Enter club legend Daniel De Rossi, the former club captain is an iconic figure amongst the passionate Roma faithful and quite possibly the only man that could save the American owners from a PR disaster after ousting Mourinho.
Many onlookers seemed shocked at the appointment of De Rossi, was it too much too soon for the rookie coach or was he just a PR stunt, given De Rossi only secured his first coaching role in October 2022 with second-division SPAL, the club was owned by one of Donald Trump’s lawyers.
With 15 points from 16 games De Rossi’s affair with SPAL was brief and as if by some ironic twist of faith, he was sacked on Valentine’s day 2023.
Fast forward to today and somehow despite a blank CV, De Rossi has realised his dream and become the manager of his club Roma.
When he took the reigns, the club was in ninth position, now they are in the mix for Champions League qualification, how has De Rossi orchestrated this turnaround, we are joined by tactical expert with Edward Stratmann (X- @EdwardStratmann ) Ed is a deeply talented writer and tactician, he has been featured on WyScout, Bundeliga.com, AS Roma.com and more than we have space to mention, checkout Ed's Youtube Channel for insights and tactical analysis Licence To Roam - YouTube
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Today, we're talking about one of the most inspiring underdog tales in European football - the story of RC Lens. with renowned French football expert Robin Bairner (X- @RBairner) . You may have heard about other underdog teams like Brighton and Leverkusen, but do you know about the remarkable journey of this club from the north of France?
The brilliance of Brighton and Leverkusen is well-known, but do RC Lens get the credit they deserve? Maybe their story gets lost in the constant news cycle, but today we're going to shed light on this incredible club.
RC Lens has humble beginnings, coming from a mining town that is infused with a hardworking ethos. The club has strong ties with Polish immigrants who came to France to work in the coal mining sector. And just like any other football club, Lens has a symbiotic relationship with its geographical area and supporters.
Built on hard work, Lens may not have the riches of other French giants like Nice, Monaco, or PSG, but they have proven time and time again that the collective is greater than the individual. Despite facing financial challenges, Lens has managed to hold their own against these wealthy clubs.
In the 90s, Lens even won the Ligue1 title in 1998 and competed in Europe against the likes of Bayern Munich and AC Milan. And although they faced some setbacks in the years that followed, their promotion back to the top division in 2019 marked the start of their gradual progress under the guidance of their fantastic manager, Franch Haise.
What's even more impressive is Lens' ability to challenge the big boys, despite losing key players every transfer window. Last season, they finished just one point behind Kylian Mbappe's PSG and secured a Champions League spot, but unfortunately, they still lost some of their star players.
But the Lens way is shining through once again this season. Their remarkable ability to absorb player departures and adapt is truly remarkable. They pull off player recruitment masterstrokes too often for it to be a fluke there is a reason Liverpool are being linked with the their magnificent manager Franck Haise and former director Florent Ghisolfi.
Can they repeat the trick and qualify for Champions League again?
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Prepare to be amazed by the remarkable story of Como, a once-forgotten football club that has risen from the depths of bankruptcy to become one of the most captivating projects in European football. Brace yourself for a tale of resilience, ambition, and star-studded backing.
Como may have been away from the Serie A spotlight since 2003, but in August 2002, they captured global attention for an entirely different reason. Imagine a football project supported by none other than Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry, and Denis Wise - three household names in the world of football. With such star power behind them, Como quickly became a team to watch.
Backed by significant financial resources and infused with the glamour of footballing celebrities, the Como project is gaining unstoppable momentum. In the recent January transfer window alone, this Serie B outfit flexed their muscle by securing the signature of a talented 26-year-old player, Brazilian winger Gabriel Strefezza from Serie A side Lecce.
Strefezza is already paying back the reported fee of 5m Euro, he’s been the difference in his first two games scoring in both, with Como running out 1-0 winners against their opponents securing a vital 6 points on their promotion quest.
Today with we are joined by Italian football expert Daniele Fisichella from Talksport to explore this celebrity led rise of Como.
Follow Daniele on X @dfisi
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One of Germany’s most famous clubs Werder Bremen are on a crest of a wave, at the weekend the club celebrated their 125th birthday in style with a 1-0 win over Mainz.
Historically, only Bayern and Dortmund are more successful than Bremen.
Since we beckoned in a new year, Werder Bremen have started showing stoic resolve.
Werder’s men have now gone seven straight Bundesliga games without defeat, claiming four wins and three draws , they have not tasted defeat since a 2-0 loss against high-flying Stuttgart way back on the 2nd of December.
It's not just on the pitch where Werder are looking a professional outfit but off it too, funded by new investors they exploded into the transfer market in January hovering up youthful talent from around most notably Isak Hansen-Aaroen from Manchester United.
How far can impressive young manager Ole Werner take this squad?
We welcome back, our brilliant Bundesliga guru, the sensational Rune Gjerulff Petersen, to get the lowdown on why the tide is turning for Werder both on and off the pitch. Follow Rune on X @runegjerulff and checkout his fantastic Bundesliga website for all the stories you need from an English speaking perspective Bulinews.com
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Strikers, goal getters, predators are eulogised and chronicled by great writers, they are admired and treasured when a special one dons your club’s shirt. In modern times, they are becoming harder to come by but perhaps there is one hiding in plain sight in League Two who dons the International colours of Iraq and comes endowed with a scouse accent....
21-year-old Ali Al-Hamadi is already a star at AFC Wimbledon, this season from 23 League Two games this season he’s conjured 13 goals and 6 assists. He comes with electric pace and an penchant for finishing that is few and afar between.
We picked the brain of reporter Edmund Brack (Follow Edmund on twitter for all your football needs @EdmundBrack) from the South London Press to profile this exciting talent who is currently away at the Asian Cup with Iraq, the conquers of the Samurai Blue Japan.
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Last summer Arsenal signed West Ham captain Declan Rice for a whooping reported 105-million -pounds, the fee naturally raised some eyebrows given the player’s contract was in its final year.
The signing of Rice represented a shift in recruitment ethos from an Arsenal standpoint, they shifted their hunger for signing youth to head-hunting some experienced mid-20 players reaching their prime like Rice.
Given Rice an established England international and quite possibly a future England cap counts as a homegrown player for the Premier League and Champions League registration protocols this naturally added to his fee.
So as the sands of time pass is Rice the answer Areta’s Arsenal have been looking for to finally put pay to Pep’s Manchester City’s reign of dominance?
We get the inside scoop from Adam Keys (Adam Keys (@adamkeys_) / X (twitter.com)) from the popular Gooner show the Arsenal Therapy to analyse if Rice is looking like the final piece to the Arsenal puzzle?
Is he their Rodri, the gunpowder their midfield engine room needs to cannon themselves to the title and beyond? Lets get the inside view.
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The first of our Transfer Watch series, join us on a January Bundesliga scouting mission as we profile three shinning lights full of potential but still remarkably sailing below the radar of media attention for now...
Jan Niklas Beste – Heidenham – The Assist King - Winger
Maximillian Beier – Hoffenheim – Rising Star - Striker
Angelo Stiller – Stuttgart - Deep Lying Technical Defensive Midfielder
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There is plenty of underdog stories across the European football landscape so far this season, Aston Villa, Girona and Ipswich Town to name just a few but perhaps one that is not getting enough traction is the incredible story of Thiago Motta and Bologna.
Last weekend they vanquished Jose Mourinho’s Roma 2-0, a win which sees them solidify their position in fourth place.
Their antics continued midweek producing another scintillating display of their new found power, Thiago Motta’s side eliminated an all-conquering Inter outfit from the Coppa Italia to surge through to the Quarter Finals.
Last year’s Champions League’s finalists could not resist the prowess of young Dutch Striker Zirkzee, sprung from the bench the youngster produced two inspired assists to oust the reigning Cup holders from the competition aft6er extra time.
So, can Motta and his band of merry men start to dream of European qualification? And just how has this club and manager initiated their rise up the league to upset the Serie A apple cart?
We welcome Serie A specialist Daniele Fisichella to explore this Bologna renaissance, follow Daniele on twitter/X @dfisi
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Some months ago, amid a tirade of spending fortunes in the transfer market akin to someone on Supermarket Sweep.BlueCo owners of Premier League club Chelsea procured a majority stake in French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg.The French club have smashed their transfer record since and hired a big-name manager in Patrick Vieira, but is all well at this historic French club since joining the Chelsea football pyramid?We caught up with French football expert James Evans (Twitter/X link - @Jevans6799) for the French perspective luckily for us James is also a Strasbourg fan.He wrote an article at the time when the news of the takeover broke which is referenced in the episode check it our here Feature | "Strasbourg isn't Chelsea" - the view from France - Get French Football News (getfootballnewsfrance.com) From displeased Ultras to what players at Strasbourg might cut it at Chelsea this episode is filled with information that is mana from heaven for us English speakers.Enjoy your festive season and follow us on twitter Euro Tales (@Eurotalespod) / X (twitter.com)
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Welcome to Eurotales football podcast, every club, league & fanbase has a story to tell and we aim to tell it. This week we explore the rise of Jobe Bellingham playing at Sunderland, the starlet is surrounded by fellow youngsters. The Black Cats have the youngest side in the Championship.At just 18 Jobe is playing week in and week out in a league where games come thick and fast.The rising talent is more than just the brother of a global superstar, he is starting to become a player in his own right.
He has a sizeable shadow to emerge from given his brother’s meteoric rise but at just 18 he has plenty time to emerge from his brother’s shadows at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
We took advantage of Sunderland expert Stephen Goldsmith’s (@GoldyWMS) time to get the lowdown on Jobe’s development since his summer move from Birmingham City, Stephen is a regular feature on the excellent Wise Men Say Podcast. Enjoy Follow us on twitter - @Eurotalespod
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OGC Nice are in sensational form at the top of Ligue 1, after 11 games the club from the south coast, on the banks of Mediterranean are one point ahead of behemoths of Paris, PSG.
16.5 hours of Ligue 1 football played under their new coach Italian coach Francesco Farioli and incredibly they have not been behind for a single minute of action thus far.
Is this finally the coming of age for the INEOS project, has English billionaire Jim Ratcliffe, timed his Nice renaissance at the perfect time, to win any potential PR race when he rolls into Manchester Utd, his boyhood club?
We welcome back our OGC Nice expert Roy Calley (Twitter - @RoyCalley) a former BBC journalist of over 20 years, Nice are never far from Roy’s mind having captured his loyalty when he moved to France.
When last we spoke to Roy at the start of the season, Nice were ominously quiet in the transfer window and their then little-known Italian manager Farioli had just walked through the door.
Fast forward to today and Nice built on defensive solidity and fortitude are proving to be a potent force again in French football.
In fact, they have the best defence in Europe’s big five leagues conceding just 4 goals in their opening Ligue 1 games, the last team to score on Farioli’s men was PSG way back on the 15th of September another team they beat on this remarkable run.
Let’s get the inside track on this Nice renaissance, enjoy.Follow us on twitter - @EurotalespodSubscribe to our free Ligue1 Newsletter - The Ligue1 Essential | Liam Scahill | Substack
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