Les Canaris: FC Nantes

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Djidji (Awaziem), Carlos, Lima, Rongier (Krhin), Thomasson, Iloki (Larsson), Xadas, El Ghanassy, Sala

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois (Larsson), Djidji, Carlos (Awaziem), Lima, Rongier (Krhin), Thomasson, Iloki, Xadas, El Ghanassy, Sala

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Djidji (Awaziem), Carlos, Lima, Rongier, Thomasson, Iloki, Xadas (Krhin), El Ghanassy (Larsson), Sala

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Djidji, Carlos (Awaziem), Lima, Thomasson, Rongier, Iloki, Xadas, Kacaniklic (Larsson), Sala (Bammou)

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It has been the start of a journey this month. It was vital that we gained points against Lille and Troyes, as we went in as underdogs against our other opponents. I was impressed with the performances and the results reflected this as we managed to negotiate six points from six.

The Marseille game was thoroughly entertaining and to hold them to a point after ninety minutes shows the talent within the squad. We need to make La Beaujoire-Louis Fonteneau a fortress this season if we wish to improve this campaign and there were plenty of encouraging signs to take here.

Lyon proved to be too strong in the end for us, however to take seven points from a possible twelve to begin the season is fantastic. I strongly believe that we are a force to be reckoned with, as the confidence is flowing despite this result. Emiliano (Sala) has began his campaign magnificently with five goals in four games and to keep hold of him is a major benefit.

Next month we travel to Montpellier, before hosting Caen. We then conclude September with an away trip to Ligue 1 new boys Strasbourg before a clash at home with Metz. It is a huge chance to get points on the board and we will be aiming for nine points, at a minimum - as we look to get ourselves into European contention this season.

Replies:

Justice: The faith shown in giving them reserve football.

As difficult as some of those games were, you really need to be improving your home form if you want anything out of this season. Nevertheless, a good start to the season for the Nonces.

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Nantes assistant manager Georgia Brown has insisted that the club will be active during the final day of the transfer window.

Nantes have brought in two new signings during the Summer, as Xadas joined from S.C. Braga and Johan Larsson completed a move from Danish side Brondby IF. A number of fringe players have departed on loan, however no first-team players have departed, despite heavily interest in forward Emiliano Sala.

Sala, who has scored five goals in four Ligue 1 appearances, has been linked with a move to Premier League side Crystal Palace; as well as links to Italian side Bologna. The Argentine has stated his desire to remain at the club, however offers are expected to be made for his services.

Nantes chairman Waldemar Kita has allocated extra funds to his management duo, after a request from the pair. Moore and Brown have been looking to add fresh faces prior to the closure of the window.

Georgia Brown stated: 'We have been looking at a number of targets for a while. We needed to fully assess our options and explore them. We didn't want to rush into making poor deals and the chairman's investment shows a sense of trust in us to bring in the right players.'

She said that the club will be looking to bring in at least one new player before the window closed. 'Talks are ongoing with clubs to get a few deals over the line. We will be very busy on Deadline Day to ensure those deals are wrapped up in time. It's imperative we don't panic and stick to our shortlist.'

Nantes have spent £1,800,000 this window. This total is only bettered by two clubs; Olympique Lyonnais (£6,500,000) and AS Monaco (£5,750,000).

Replies:

Jack: Behave you, they were tough games, ok. And leave the club name alone, it's not their fault you're harsh, immature and a dick. </3

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FC Nantes have completed a double swoop on Deadline Day as Moroccan winger Oussama Assaidi and youngster Diogo Goncalves put pen to paper.

It was expected to be a busy day for Les Canaris following the announcement made by assistant manager Georgia Brown and the club delivered. Oussama Assaidi joins the club from Dutch side FC Twente for £2,500,000 after spending just a year with the side.

Assaidi, 29, is well known across Europe following spells in the Premier League with Liverpool and Stoke. Following a £3,000,000 move from Heerenveen in 2012, Assaidi failed to make an impact at Anfield and only made four appearances.

During this time, he spent a season out on loan at the Britannia making 19 appearances, scoring four goals. He then returned the following season, however couldn't repeat his previous form and only made nine appearances in the 2014/15 season.

Comfortable on both the left and right, the winger has also been capped for his native Morocco thirteen times, scoring once.

Jordan Moore stated: 'I am delighted to bring Oussama to the club. He is a talented individual who has tremendous ability, in which he has shown during his brief cameos at Twente. It perhaps is a risk, but one we are willing to take as we know the impact he can make.'

He continued, 'We needed experience in the side as we have a lot of youth. We also wanted to strengthen the wide areas of the squad as there were a clear lack of depth; which could have left us exposed at some point throughout the season. We have full faith in Oussama to help take this club in the right direction this year.'

Nantes also completed the loan signing of 20-year-old Diogo Goncalves from SL Benfica. Capped twice at U21 level, the Portuguese winger has been looking to break through the ranks at Benfica after coming through their youth academy and made two starts last season.

The deal does not include any future fees, but Nantes will be paying Benfica around £2,000 per week as part of the loan agreement.

Moore commented, Diogo is someone we have been chasing for a while and I am very happy to announce his arrival. He has a lot of potential and it explains why there has been a lot of clubs seeking his services. We look forward to seeing him on this pitch.'

The club will also be pleased to have retained the services of Emiliano Sala after the transfer window closed. The Argentine had been receiving interest from Crystal Palace and Bologna throughout the window. Scoring five times last month, Sala is off to a fantastic start this season as Nantes currently sit in seventh.

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Djidji (Awaziem), Carlos, Lima, Rongier, Krhin (Bammou), Goncalves (Iloki), Xadas, Assaidi, Sala.

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Carlos, Djidji, Lima, Rongier, Krhin (Awaziem), Goncalves (Iloki), Xadas, Assaidi, Sala (Bammou)

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Djidji (Traore), Carlos, Lima, Rongier, Thomasson, Goncalves, Xadas, Assaidi (El Ghanassy), Sala

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Nantes XI: Tatarusanu, Dubois, Awaziem, Pallois, Lima (Larsson), Rongier, Thomasson, Assaidi, Xadas (Bammou), Goncalves, Sala (Coulibaly)

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We were both fully accustomed to the job coming into September. We had built a squad we were happy with and now looked to push on in the league. It proved to be full of swings and roundabouts and reflected the life of a football manager pretty well.

Each game was winnable. We knew that. We went into every game was a positive mindset and knowing we could easily walk away with all three points. However, it wasn't as simple as that and at times I believe the players' minds' were the obstacle in achieving a flawless month.

Whereas the two middle games were perfect, achieving a 2-0 and 3-0 win respectively, the opening and penultimate game of the month were different. Montpellier were arguably the strongest opponent of the four games we played, so I was willing to accept a defeat as long as we followed it up with a win.

The Metz game however was completely different and highlighted to me that there is still a lot of work to be done if we wish to push into European contention this season. We should have been coasting past Frederic Hantz's side, with all due respect, but instead flopped.

There were no excuse for the shambolic performance despite a rotated squad due to fitness concerns. I believe this result could be one we look back on at the end of the season and live to rue if we fail to achieve our goals this season. However, we need to move on and ensure we maintain a steady run in October.

We play just the three league fixtures next month; as we also begin our Coupe de la Ligue campaign. We have been drawn against league rivals Angers. We clash with Bordeaux, EA Guingamp and Dijon in the league season and we'll be aiming for six points at a minimum. The cup is not a priority, however we do want to progress.

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'Consistency is key.' A well known quote in the field of football management. Results mean everything, if you're not getting those consistent result you are in danger of losing your job. Things were going well for the two of us at Nantes, however the consistency was yet to be found.

Last month saw two wins, back-to-back, but also two losses. Ligue 1 is wide open aside from Paris Saint Germain. Monaco had lost a lot of talent over the course of the Summer and so the champions were much weaker than they were the previous year. Whilst the big clubs such as Marseille and Lyon had also lost talent.

This is seen in the results; anyone can truly beat anyone. Ligue 1 was becoming one of those leagues.

The league was slowly weakening though, as clubs across Europe poached talent at often bargain prices. Yet, there is still a wide pool of talent in the league. Thankfully France had numerous clubs that had blossoming youth academies and the money ploughed into them allowed for players to come through the ranks at a rapid pace.

PSG continually romped to successive titles, before their dominance was ended by another money side last season, however it seemed they would regain their crown again this season. Many blame this for the demise of the league's reputation.

But, as I stated, the league is wide open. That allows Ligue 1 to become interesting and as a club in a position to take advantage, that's what we intend to do. We continue to echo our aims of looking to achieve a finish in the European spots and it certainly is possible.

Many clubs are becoming 'selling clubs' and it's imperative we aim to not fall into this. We need to sell players for the following reasons; A) they are not good enough or B. The price offered is what we see as acceptable and we can use the money to find a better player.

We intend to have a long-term project here at Nantes. The end goal is finally toppling PSG, who we assume will still be top of the pile, whenever this occurs. But, we also want to increase the reputation of the division once again.

Ligue 1 was once a league that thrived. A time before Paris' top club threw money around. Lyon were once champions for seven successive season's, before their dominance was ended by Bordeaux, who are now a shadow of their former selves. Marseille, Lille and Montpellier followed as league champions - before PSG's dominance came.

It's time we bring back an exciting brand of football. That is what we are aiming to do here at Nantes and that has been grabbing the attention of people back at home. The interest is returning and hopefully, PSG can finally be toppled off their perch in the very near future by Les Canaris... Allez!