French Soccer League Predictions and Discussion Thread (Ligue 1)

[DanWalker]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

Lens' squad was not very strong. Anyway, they performed incredibly well last season. If they could have  continued their consistency in the last few matches of the season, it would have  been very difficult for PSG to win the Ligue 1 title. But the main problem with these teams is that they perform well at the beginning of the season and their performance becomes very irregular towards the  end. However, if ligue 1 teams had big funds  or rich owners, they would have been  able  to form strong squads. And they would have been able to  compete with PSG for the title.

[7788bitcoin]

Among all the teams that due qualify for Champions League is only Paris Saint-Germain that is always recognized due to the kind of player they have, the reason why other players cannot perform very well in the Champions League is because most of their players can not compete in the Champions League.

Paris Saint-Germain's dominance cannot be easily undermined by anyone, they have the money to sign the best European players and this makes the difference when you have to win the championships, this is necessary if someone wants to win you have to have the best in the teams they have them and they won't have any problems buying others.

There is no debate about their financial muscle and domestic domination. For years, PSG threw hundreds of millions of dollars at superstar players like Messi and Neymar, and yet they were not able to conquer Europe as they lacked team balance. Unless you have a balanced team with a good tactical coach, it is very difficult, having high paid superstars does not guarantee that you will win all the time.

[bangjoe]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

Lens' squad was not very strong. Anyway, they performed incredibly well last season. If they could have  continued their consistency in the last few matches of the season, it would have  been very difficult for PSG to win the Ligue 1 title. But the main problem with these teams is that they perform well at the beginning of the season and their performance becomes very irregular towards the  end. However, if ligue 1 teams had big funds  or rich owners, they would have been  able  to form strong squads. And they would have been able to  compete with PSG for the title.

If compared to PSG lens is not strong but overall Lens from my point of view with what they did last season in the league 1is a form of proof that they are very strong last season, they led the standings for quite a long time and also they can finish runner up in the league standings 1 France, in contrast to the third position even tends to be closer points to PSG as winners last season, do not say it strong I think you need to look back at the data owned by Lens.

But for the next season we are not sure, but if we can be consistent and continue their progress it will be incredible.

[$weetne$$]

I agree. Lens made the title race more interesting, and if they make some good signings, I think they can have another strong season. It won’t be easy because other teams will improve too, but having more clubs compete with PSG makes the league much more enjoyable to watch.

Last season, Lens was actually epic with their chase for the title, they did gave PSG the competition they needed in that season, but even with that they were unable to stop PSG from winning the title, i am believing that they will do better in the new season than they have done in the previous. It may be a tougher season for lens seeing the readiness of other teams, but i do not think it will be the same for PSG.

[martinom]

I agree. Lens made the title race more interesting, and if they make some good signings, I think they can have another strong season. It won?t be easy because other teams will improve too, but having more clubs compete with PSG makes the league much more enjoyable to watch.

I don't think they can repeat a championship like this, every time it's like this there are new teams that almost win but they always come close, but not too close, obviously then there are cases and cases, Arsenal comes to mind who played very well and eventually won the title, so why not.

[len01]

-snip

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

Even if Lens or another club makes a huge investment, there's still a massive financial gap that prevents other teams from investing enough to truly compete with PSG. They would need around 20x the financial backing to match PSG's spending power. Only then could they realistically compete and build a squad with similar depth.

The real question is, how long would it take for another club to secure that level of investment?

[LUCKMCFLY]

I don't think they can repeat a championship like this, every time it's like this there are new teams that almost win but they always come close, but not too close, obviously then there are cases and cases, Arsenal comes to mind who played very well and eventually won the title, so why not.

Arsenal is a great team, they have everything to win, but they need to improve. Like I said, Arsenal's biggest mistake was sitting back and playing defensively. I honestly don't agree with that style of football because it's a losing style. Okay, sit back defensively, but leave two players free, one in midfield and one as a striker. Know that a counter-attack will destroy your offense. Is it difficult? Yes, but not impossible.

[MAAManda]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

The difference in player quality is the deciding factor, Paris Saint-Germain has a superior squad compared to Lens, which is why the latter couldn't beat them. I have said time & again that Paris Saint-Germain & Bayern Munich will always be the favorites in their respective leagues, simply because those leagues are essentially "Farmer" leagues. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

[DiMarxist]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

The difference in player quality is the deciding factor, Paris Saint-Germain has a superior squad compared to Lens, which is why the latter couldn't beat them. I have said time & again that Paris Saint-Germain & Bayern Munich will always be the favorites in their respective leagues, simply because those leagues are essentially "Farmer" leagues. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

That is definitely right, squad dept is one thing that decides the fate of a team, and when it comes to the French ligue 1. Paris Saint German has built their team around quality that it's becoming difficult for other teams to actually compete favorably with them. Looking at the just concluded season, it's clear that PSG wining the league 1 , was greatly contributed by the squad dept of that PSG has over Lens. Because at some point I believe that Lens was at the top of the league but, they could not sustain that lead due to their lack of sufficient quality players. Which could maintain a good and stable form week in and out PSG capitalized, on this weakness and climb back to the top of the table.

[JoyceBTC]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

The difference in player quality is the deciding factor, Paris Saint-Germain has a superior squad compared to Lens, which is why the latter couldn't beat them. I have said time & again that Paris Saint-Germain & Bayern Munich will always be the favorites in their respective leagues, simply because those leagues are essentially "Farmer" leagues. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

That's correct, Lens could have become champions last season if they had the number of quality players like PSG but it's unfortunate that only PSG has that number of quality players. For another team to overcome PSG they will need to invest in big players else they will end up winning the league until they do not have players again I nthe league. Bayern Munich has the same players like PSG that is why they will always dominate their league.

[Bitcoin_Arena]

Even if Lens or another club makes a huge investment, there's still a massive financial gap that prevents other teams from investing enough to truly compete with PSG. They would need around 20x the financial backing to match PSG's spending power. Only then could they realistically compete and build a squad with similar depth.

The real question is, how long would it take for another club to secure that level of investment?

I remember a period when Lyon won it for 7 consecutive seasons, between 2001 to 2008 with no one disrupting them. I think what they failed to do was to keep up with the changing times

PSG has been winning it for 5 consecutive times now, and all the other opponents seem to have not a single clue how to stop the dominance. What can potentially stop this is heavy investment and not selling their star players to PSG.

[$weetne$$]

That's correct, Lens could have become champions last season if they had the number of quality players like PSG but it's unfortunate that only PSG has that number of quality players. For another team to overcome PSG they will need to invest in big players else they will end up winning the league until they do not have players again I nthe league. Bayern Munich has the same players like PSG that is why they will always dominate their league.

Some times it is not only about Big players, remember there was a time PSG did had big players and they were unable to achieve much that season, until they began to look inward and work with that which they had, which have now been groomed to become the big names, Lens too can take it a step at a time and they will get to the point where they will can contend PSG for the title comfortably. Big players does matter but if they cannot afford them now, they can look inward and build.

[Velvet78]

PSG has sold Gonçalo Ramos officially for a really solid amount of money. They didn't make a big profit though. Because they got him for 65 million euros from Benfica 2 years ago and now they have sold him for 74 million. 

But still a profit of course... What now for them? I know Dembélé is their main CF but they will need to sign a backup forward for him as well. You might say there is Kolo Muani who has just returned after the end of his loan spell. But he is close to signing for Juventus.

[Halifat]

Lens is actually a very interesting team, they just lacked the final push to beat Paris Saint-Germain, but at this point i have to say that a team that would have invested more would have had a serious chance of winning the championship against Paris Saint-Germain, so it's not as unbeatable a team as it seems.

Lens' squad was not very strong. Anyway, they performed incredibly well last season. If they could have  continued their consistency in the last few matches of the season, it would have  been very difficult for PSG to win the Ligue 1 title. But the main problem with these teams is that they perform well at the beginning of the season and their performance becomes very irregular towards the  end. However, if ligue 1 teams had big funds  or rich owners, they would have been  able  to form strong squads. And they would have been able to  compete with PSG for the title.

If compared to PSG lens is not strong but overall Lens from my point of view with what they did last season in the league 1is a form of proof that they are very strong last season, they led the standings for quite a long time and also they can finish runner up in the league standings 1 France, in contrast to the third position even tends to be closer points to PSG as winners last season, do not say it strong I think you need to look back at the data owned by Lens.

But for the next season we are not sure, but if we can be consistent and continue their progress it will be incredible.

The issue here is that they find it difficult to maintain the consistency that is why they don't always end the fight, Paris Saint-Germain will continue to dominate the Ligue 1 because no any team that are ready enough to beat down Paris Saint-Germain, last season lens did very well to challenge Paris Saint-Germain they could not be able to end it, just like you are expecting a possible out come this season, that is how I am also waiting to see the result of them, currently Paris Saint-Germain stand to be a very strong team in the league, that is why any team that need to push them away have to be physically and financially fit so that they can be able to send it back Paris Saint-Germain.

[Mame89]

I agree. Lens made the title race more interesting, and if they make some good signings, I think they can have another strong season. It won’t be easy because other teams will improve too, but having more clubs compete with PSG makes the league much more enjoyable to watch.

Last season, Lens was actually epic with their chase for the title, they did gave PSG the competition they needed in that season, but even with that they were unable to stop PSG from winning the title, i am believing that they will do better in the new season than they have done in the previous. It may be a tougher season for lens seeing the readiness of other teams, but i do not think it will be the same for PSG.

In Ligue 1, no team has been consistently successful every season except PSG. Although Lens has performed exceptionally well this season, even overtaking PSG at the top of the standings several times, they simply lack the strength to compete with PSG dominance. This was evident in Lens late season performance as they began to lose concentration easily losing points ultimately resulting in them being runners-up.

Next season, I'm not convinced Lens will be able to compete with PSG this season as teams like Monaco, Lille, Marseille, and Lyon will continue to build new strengths to face the upcoming season. PSG will be difficult to beat because they are strengthening their squad for the UCL, while other teams are strengthening their squads for Ligue 1. The difference in level and quality is already evident.

[AYOBA]

That's correct, Lens could have become champions last season if they had the number of quality players like PSG but it's unfortunate that only PSG has that number of quality players. For another team to overcome PSG they will need to invest in big players else they will end up winning the league until they do not have players again I nthe league. Bayern Munich has the same players like PSG that is why they will always dominate their league.

Some times it is not only about Big players, remember there was a time PSG did had big players and they were unable to achieve much that season, until they began to look inward and work with that which they had, which have now been groomed to become the big names, Lens too can take it a step at a time and they will get to the point where they will can contend PSG for the title comfortably. Big players does matter but if they cannot afford them now, they can look inward and build.

That’s the perfect truth at times it’s not just about having a great players consistent is the matter a lots. Because we see some teams are full of better squads and still not doing well enough to achieve the their goal, but you can seeing a teams with less performances and also lack of big players and still performing norma when ever they meet with a strong teams that’s all about football which is why it’s unpredictable, you may be having hope for  a strong team now and the game will later be the favor of weak team.

[GiftedMAN]

PSG has sold Gonçalo Ramos officially for a really solid amount of money. They didn't make a big profit though. Because they got him for 65 million euros from Benfica 2 years ago and now they have sold him for 74 million. 

But still a profit of course... What now for them? I know Dembélé is their main CF but they will need to sign a backup forward for him as well. You might say there is Kolo Muani who has just returned after the end of his loan spell. But he is close to signing for Juventus.

When I saw the fee AC Milan paid for Goncalo Ramos, I paused for a minute to check if the figures were actually true or my eyes were deceiving me. I know he's a quality player but the truth is he's always been a second choice striker since he arrived Paris Saint Germaine. For a player that couldn't get himself into the regular starting XI of the French champions, paying anything about £50 million I think is too much.
I want to believe that there's something about the Portuguese striker that AC saw and I hope that at the end, he'll make them not regret the decision to sign him.

[LUCKMCFLY]

In Ligue 1, no team has been consistently successful every season except PSG. Although Lens has performed exceptionally well this season, even overtaking PSG at the top of the standings several times, they simply lack the strength to compete with PSG dominance. This was evident in Lens late season performance as they began to lose concentration easily losing points ultimately resulting in them being runners-up.

Next season, I'm not convinced Lens will be able to compete with PSG this season as teams like Monaco, Lille, Marseille, and Lyon will continue to build new strengths to face the upcoming season. PSG will be difficult to beat because they are strengthening their squad for the UCL, while other teams are strengthening their squads for Ligue 1. The difference in level and quality is already evident.

PSG will win next season too, have no doubt about it. As long as there isn't a big investment in the other Ligue 1 teams, they won't be able to do anything. Personally, I've always known that; it's been said here and I think everyone has agreed. That's why in French football, the only team that's way above everyone else is PSG because of the huge investment the sheikh has given them. Money really is something very significant.

[Abu-Naim]

PSG has sold Gonçalo Ramos officially for a really solid amount of money. They didn't make a big profit though. Because they got him for 65 million euros from Benfica 2 years ago and now they have sold him for 74 million. 

But still a profit of course... What now for them? I know Dembélé is their main CF but they will need to sign a backup forward for him as well. You might say there is Kolo Muani who has just returned after the end of his loan spell. But he is close to signing for Juventus.

Selling Gonçalo Ramos is not bad at all at least they have made some profit after using the player for two years unlike some teams and players who depreciate after some time.

I don’t also see Kolo Muani as a striker PSG will rely on, they will definitely sell him out to Juventus if they offer a better bid because they are now the best team in the world and will always want to have the best players in almost all their positions, but I believe Luis Enrique, he is a good coach and knows how to manage the team financially, he will definitely make the right decision concerning striker and for Dembele that is getting old, they need a backup and a replacement as soon as possible.

[Humblevirus]

The issue here is that they find it difficult to maintain the consistency that is why they don't always end the fight, Paris Saint-Germain will continue to dominate the Ligue 1 because no any team that are ready enough to beat down Paris Saint-Germain, last season lens did very well to challenge Paris Saint-Germain they could not be able to end it, just like you are expecting a possible out come this season, that is how I am also waiting to see the result of them, currently Paris Saint-Germain stand to be a very strong team in the league, that is why any team that need to push them away have to be physically and financially fit so that they can be able to send it back Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG will remain the strongest team in Ligue 1 and continue to dominate it, just as you said, because of the inconsistency of the other teams in Ligue 1. They are not really ready to challenge PSG because, if they were, they would not be selling their key players instead of signing more players to strengthen their teams. PSG, on the other hand, are not selling their key players; rather, they are buying more important players.

Lens challenged PSG last season with the average players they had. If care is not taken, and bigger clubs come for their key players, they will sell them and never sign quality replacements. Why wouldn't they face a decline in their performance? It is also possible that they will continue selling more of their key players in the future.Monaco is known as a team that once had many great players, but they ended up selling almost all of them. They are trying hard to rebuild, but it has not been easy for them.If teams want to challenge PSG in Ligue 1, they need to stop selling their key players, even if they do not have enough money to sign more top-quality players.