It has been another fascinating season in Ligue 1. Statisticians have lost count the amount of teams have sat atop the standings, and with impressive team performances there will always be certain individuals that stand out from the crowd. This team has been picked to doff a French beret in the direction of some of the players that have made it a pleasure to be a Ligue 1 fan this season.
In no way is this squad intended to represent the crème de la crème of French football but it would be entertaining to watch. And, of course, any excuse to talk about a certain little Belgian forward cannot be passed up.
Goalkeeper: Jeremie Janot (St Etienne)
What do you want from your goalkeeper? Stability, a clear head, calmness and leadership? Janot is not for you. If it’s spectacular acrobatic saves, amazing shot-stopping and a fiery personality then Jeremie is your man. There is never a dull moment with him between the posts and he loves to wind the opposition up. During a derby match against Lyon he decided to wear a jersey very similar to the AC Milan jersey to celebrate the fact Lyon had been eliminated from the Champions League by the Italian side.
Defender: Mathieu Debuchy (Lille)
Mathieu could be one of the most underrated players in France. He broke through under Claude Puel as a wide midfielder, but under Rudi Garcia he has blossomed as an attacking full back. He has a great engine, allowing him to get up and down the pitch, and hasn’t lost his ability to break forward and pop up with a few goals. The appreciation of what Debuchy does wasn’t really felt by the Lille fans until he was recently moved out of position to accommodate a few injuries. Once moved back to his role as a right back the defence instantly looked more composed and balanced. It is perhaps time that Laurent Blanc gave him a chance to impress on the international stage.
Defender: Raphael Varane (RC Lens)
Remember this name as you will see it plastered all over the gossip columns in the coming months. This 17-year-old centre back has broken into Lens’ first team this season and isn’t looking back. Raphael is a commanding figure standing six feet and three inches tall; dominant in the air and on the ground. He has great positioning and reads the game well. It will be a miracle if Lens can hold onto this future star, and he could even earn his first national team call-up come June. Speaking of which, he has been labelled the next Laurent Blanc.
Defender: Mamadou Sakho (Paris St-Germain)
The rock at the heart of PSG’s defence, Sakho may only be 21 but he is the man commanding the capital side’s back-line. He broke into the team when he was 17 and is now vice-captain behind Claude Makelele. If he decides to stay and honour his new contract, next season will see him take over the captain’s armband and become the leader of his team.
Defender: Franck Tabanou (Toulouse)
Very much still flying under the radar is this 22-year-old left back/midfielder. He loves to bomb down the wing and has a devastating left foot in his locker. In what has been a poor season from Toulouse, Tabanou, Cheikh M’Bengue and Moussa Sissoko have been TFC’s beacons of hope. If his final ball can improve slightly there’s no doubt that Tabanou is one to watch out for.
Midfielder: Benoit Cheyrou (Marseille)
The understated brother of Liverpool flop Bruno, Benoit is enjoying somewhat of an Indian summer. This is his fourth year at Marseille but is widely regarded as one of his best. Since the winter break his form has been superb, scoring important goals and controlling the Marseille midfield, and it has been a joy to watch. All the expectations are on Lucho Gonzalez to be L’OM’s creative force; Benoit has taken it upon himself to show Didier Deschamps how important he is to Marseille’s title hopes.
Midfielder: Marvin Martin (Sochaux)
Although he has been around the league for a number of years now, the French Under-21 star is really enjoying his break-out year. Leading the league with 12 assists, he is a beautiful player to watch. He possesses great vision, superb creativity, and excellent balance. The slender figure and style of Martin is great to watch. Sochaux’s forwards Mobido Maiga and Ideye Brown have benefited greatly from the service of the wide player. The test, though, will be whether he can maintain the same form again next season.
Midfielder: Nene (Paris St-Germain)
The Brazilian made the move from Monaco to the capital in the summer and couldn’t have asked for a better start. With 12 league goals before the winter break, he was the form man in Ligue 1. Then something happened and he has only one league goal since the restart. Thanks to his wonderful skills and howitzer of a left foot, his great form shot PSG up the table; his bad run has coincided with their drop to fourth. Although the goals dried up he has still been playing well. He recently scored in the cup against Angers and the jubilation he shared with his team-mates shows how much of an important player he is to this PSG side.
Forward: Eden Hazard (Lille OSC)
Awareness of Eden has increased by at least 500% this year. Lille’s surge up the Ligue 1 table coincided with Hazard’s purple patch of form. With dazzling skills and breathtaking close control he is the jewel in Lille’s crown. He’s an absolute pleasure to watch and his talents will leave your jaw on the floor. It is likely he will stay in Lille for one more season, but wherever he eventually goes there is no doubt he will be an instant success.
Forward: Yousef El-Arabi (Caen)
When a striker like Moussa Sow scores 20 goals in a season it is hard to look past him when picking a team of the year. However, when a striker scores 17 goals for a team that could end up playing in Ligue 2 next year, the underdog always wins. Youssef El-Arabi is the most efficient striker in France, instantly catching the eye when Caen started the season so well. Where his team have faltered, El-Arabi has carried on. The Moroccan is strong, with good pace, and once in the box he has poacher’s instincts. After a fantastic debut season in Ligue 1 it would be a shame to see him drop down a division.
Forward: Gervinho (Lille OSC)
Gervinho is of the strangest yet most exhilarating players in the league. One moment he is bursting clear of defenders before finding the killer pass to set up his team-mates, the next he is sprinting clear of his opponents before losing all control of the ball and falling over. His final ball is hit and miss and his finishing leaves a lot to be desired. However, he recently missed one game due to a suspension and Lille struggled. Rivals are very wary of his explosive pace, while team-mates struggle to keep up. Gervinho is a very raw player but with the right guidance and development he could be a superstar.
This is a guest post by Andrew Gibney of gibfootballshow.
Tags: Ligue 1
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