As a Frenchman, it hurts me to say it but you are right. Since 2018, he’s clearly one of the best if not the best player of internal football but his club career is deceptive. I like watching Ligue 1 because I am attached to it and because my team plays in it but I don’t care if he can score 30+ goals in L1 every season: Last year, multiple players passed the 20 goal mark.

I believe long balls can still be effective but playing out from the back has become way better : Some teams who had ball-playing defenders and keepers decided to play from the back. Especially, tactical choices such as the false 9 or the 4-3-3 who can heavily denfisy the midfield (improving playing out from the back) while loosing an option to play long balls became popular.

Playing out from the back is extremely rewarding if your side and your tactics is built around it while, even if you have excellent hold-up players up front, there’s still an irrevocable element of luck to long balls.

However, long balls can still be effective : Chelsea-Barcelona in 2012 is an example.

It can be a simple thing (such as enjoing a goal or a decent dribble at the stadium ) while having a complex layer with tactics and a link with actual world politics.

History is made ! Just overtaking France-Azerbaidjan(10-0) as the biggest victory in France history

Kombouaré must come to Girona

Feels good

Well, there was Issiaga Sylla but he left last year.

It’s rare for fans of smaller clubs (like me) to see players stay for 5-10 years. If they are good enough, they leave. Older players are more expansive to pay so, if they suck, they leave.

I feel sorry to be the one to ruin a potential lossless matchday. We did our best but Liverpool is strong