france lost against albania, 3rd loss in the last 4 games
they played with 2 black central defenders, sakho (who barely played at liverpool: 15 starts in PL), and mangala, elected biggest flop of the PL this season
meanwhile it's time to talk about jeremy mathieu's season at barcelona
he was one of the most hated players in the world at the begginning of the season
people said that he didn't deserve to sign for barcelona, that he was bad etc
for example:
http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/07/...my-mathieu-is-bad-business-for-the-blaugrana/
Barcelona have confirmed the
signing of defender Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia for £16million. The move displays the Catalan club’s continued deficit in the quality of defensive footballers compared to their attacking counterparts.
The 30-year-old was a left-back for most of his career but has been moved to center-back due to his pace and quality out wide rescinding with age.
Mathieu in his prime wasn’t even considered a great player as he’s only had two caps for Les Bleus. His first was in 2011 against the United States in a friendly. Barcelona has the audacity to put in his new contract that he has a new buyout clause for €50 million as if any team is stupid enough to pay that for Mathieu. The signing hasn’t had a positive reaction among fans of the club and media in Spain. Former Barcelona defender and Mexican captain Rafael Marquez is baffled by the idea of the acquisition as well.
“I don’t think he has the profile to play for Barcelona and even less so for this price. Hopefully they’ll think well about this and if they’re going to splash out like that, it’s for someone who is actually worthwhile,†said Marquez yesterday on Catalan radio station RAC1.
Mathieu will be a symbol to the lack of quality along their backline and they need to understand how important defense is as Atletico Madrid showcased by winning La Liga this past season.
or:
http://www.squawka.com/news/jeremy-mathieu-is-he-a-good-or-bad-signing-for-barcelona/146668
Barcelona have completed the random and surprising signing of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia for around £15 million. He has become the most expensive defender aged 30 or over in the history of football and represents Barcelona’s first central defensive signing in five years.
A much-needed signing, people will say, but a strange one. Barcelona lost Carles Puyol in the summer and have brought in the 30-year-old Mathieu from Valencia as his replacement.
With Marc Bartra and Gerard Pique already at the club, it is a surprise to see Enrique spend such a vast amount of money on an ageing defender who has never really set the world alight, and one that has never really attracted the attentions of top clubs previously.
then they tell stupid useless stats
but the truth is that mathieu was one of the best defenders of the league with valencia
so it is very logical that barcelona buy him
yes, i know, he's white
and he has only 2 caps for france because of his skin colour but he is one of the best defenders in the league
so in the end, mathieu was one of the most important signings for barcelona with ter steigen
barcelona needed more defenders because last year they were all injured/suspended, and they got one and another one with vermaelen
and he can play in various positions
mathieu started 23 la liga games, and was crucial for the spanish league victory, with 2 goals: one against barcelona for a 2-1 victory, a very important onein the "clasico", and then in the next game, a crucial goal against celta vigo, the only goal of the match
so really he's one of the most obvious examples of a white player who doesn't get the respect he deserves
