Paris is perhaps the most productive city for player development in the world. But could you beat one of the richest, most global clubs in football using only players from the City of Lights? Martin Vert has been set that challenge.
Continue reading “This is Paris: April ’22”
There’s a quiet hanging over the training ground. The players are dejected, the staff are disappointed, and the board, despite telling us all how proud they are of us, haven’t mustered much of a smile. It’s a difficult time. We took Ligue 1 Troyes as far as we could without winning the tie, and we were magnificent, and it wasn’t enough. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
Continue reading “This is Paris: February ’22”
It’s a new year in Paris, and Red Star are on the march. Promotion is looking more certain by the day, the Coupe de France has yielded an unlikely cup run, and players are beginning to sign for next season. Parisian players, of course. Martin Vert obviously doesn’t understand that compelling stories need tension, not just success…
Continue reading “This is Paris: January ’22”
The Christmas season is upon us. The Champs-Elysees has been transformed into a Christmas market, the streets are decked with Christmas lights, and our red and green badge feels decidedly festive. The players are on a high from the win against Paris FC, and we went through the whole of December with not only a 100% record, but also with no goals conceded. And we’re top of the league. So far, so good.
Continue reading “This is Paris: December ’21”
The heart of Parisian football can be found at Red Star. But when he can only sign Parisian players, how far can Martin Vert take them?
Continue reading “This is Paris: November ’21”
Seven miles north of the Parc des Princes live Red Star FC, the historic heart of Parisian football. Now Martin Vert needs to make them the powerhouse they should have been, signing only players born in Paris.
Continue reading “This is Paris: September ’21”
Record French Open Champion Rafael Nadal trains at the level of intensity that he uses in matches. He’s one of the few who put that much effort into training, with the received wisdom that you need to manage your exhaustion levels, be careful of injuries, and keep some freshness. 75% intensity is usually considered high. But when it comes down to the crunch, when Nadal has to dig deep and find that extra 2%, he knows its there. That’s why he’s won so many titles. It’s also, presumably, why he gets injured so much.
Continue reading “This is Paris: August ’21”
Steve is looking sheepish as I make my way into training. He’s been avoiding me all week, and quickly darts up to the boardroom where I suspect he has locked the door. The youth team debacle means that there are just 23 players in the entire club, and I have almost no resources to add to them. Still, Jose Alcocer comes in to fill the vacant coaches position. He has great all round stats and can make a real difference on the training pitch. I select Charly Paquille from a list of applicants to be my Assistant. His first piece of advice is to switch Damien Durand from his favoured Inverted Winger position to an out and out winger. I may have made a mistake.
Continue reading “This is Paris: Preseason 2021”