PSG Fail To Flatter

With all of Europe's major leagues now up and running for the 2012/13 campaign I felt I should have a look at the league that has caught my eye the most over the sports packed summer, thanks primarily to one team. 

A financially crippled Spanish La Liga has seen a large amount of players depart the league, with very few coming in the opposite direction. Italy's Serie A is yet again recovering from another match fixing educed hangover. Turin's Old Lady have spent the biggest compared to their Italian rivals, as they look to cement their position back at the helm of the Scudetto. A rather conservative close season in the Bundesliga in terms of expenditure, has seen less than €150 million spent on new arrivals. And the English Premiership has been dominated by the European Champions, who have spent large sums of money on rising talents from across the globe, as they look to cut the enormous gap that separated them and their two Manchester rivals in the league last season.

That just leaves Le Championnat. France's premier football division has lay in the shadow of Europe's other elite leagues for the last few decades. Lyon's dominance between 2002 and 2008, which saw them win seven consecutive titles, had an almost 'Old Firm' effect on French football. Just as Celtic and Rangers had created an ominous two horse race in Scottish football, resulting in other clubs finding success in what others may view as mediocrity, Lyon created the same effect in France. It ultimately took the competitiveness out of French football, making it less attractive for Europe's finest players. Like Celtic and Rangers, the situation was made worse by their inability to compete on the European stage.

However in 2011, Nasser Al-Khelaifi joined the ever increasing list of Qatari prominents to invest in a European football club, when he bought a major stake in Paris Saint-Germain. It came at the perfect time for French football. Coinsiding with Lyon's demise, it meant that a new era for French football was brewing, an era led by PSG, who with a seemingly unlimited transfer budget, could potentially compete with Europe's big guns.

Since the dizzying highs of the mid 90s, when PSG flirted with European success in the 1996 Cup Winners Cup and their second league title in 1994, they have struggled to compete not only abroad but also at home. Lowly 15th and 16th league finishes were not uncommon and the managerial merry-go-round was in full force.They lacked stability, backing and direction. So when Al-Khelaifi vowed to make the club the best in Europe, the Kop of Boulogne stood up with anticipation and excitement.

Last season, PSG splashed almost €100 million on new recruits such as Javier Pastore, Jeremy Menez and Thiago Motta. Accompanied by new manager Carlo Ancelotti, the men from Paris were expected to romp to a third French league title. However much to everyone's surprise, Montpellier failed to read the script, as they sealed their first league title.

The disappointment of last season did, however, give PSG a platform on which to build from. It was apparent that they were a couple of players away from success, which led to another €100 million being spent on four more new commodities this close season. Mr Ancelotti turned to his native Italy for players. Much sought after Marco Verratti was brought in from Pescara for a modest €12 million. He was followed by the three musketeers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Ezequiel Lavezzi for a combined total of €92 million. It mean that for the first time in a long time, the eyes of Europe's top football enthusiasts would be on France.

As the fixture list was drawn gifting PSG fixtures against Lorient, Ajaccio and Bordeaux in their first three games, many were expecting to see the floodgates open. But the second coming of PSG seems to have started even worse than the first.

In all honesty, Lorient and Ajaccio should have been cannon fodder for PSG. However, after two games the Parisians found themselves with just two points and two goals. Against Lorient they were 2-0 down at half time, and had to rely on new boy Ibrahimovic to save them with a last minute penalty that ensured a 2-2 draw. Matchday two saw them play out a dour 0-0 draw with potential strugglers Ajaccio. Other new boy Ezequiel Lavezzi saw red after a two footed tackle and was soon followed off the pitch by his manager who was dismissed for kicking a water bottle. Just two games in, and the pressure was starting to become to much for Europe's most talked about club of the last year.

This weekend they faced a Bordeaux side enviable of PSG's riches. Bordeaux coach Francis Gillot raised a few eyebrows by resting several first team players, most likely with key European ties on the horizon. However, PSG found it to be another hard day at the office. Again their multi-million euro marksmen were firing blanks and PSG were made to settle for another draw.

Three games in and PSG, with an embarrassment of riches at their disposal, sit 12th in the league table, six points off leaders Marseille. Ancelotti may argue that they are still undefeated and that the season is a marathon and not a race, but it is clear to all that PSG have had a somewhat false start.

Their next task comes in the shape of Lille, who themselves have not exactly started as expected. They lost the instrumental Eden Hazard, who I'm surprised slipped under the radar of Barcelona, as his style of play would fit right into their blueprint. The importance of Hazard to Lille has been highlighted by the fact that he has took to the English Premier League like a duck to water. Although, they must move on and have done so with the additions of Salomon Kalou and Marvin Martin. They will be looking to challenge for the title this year, making the clash between Lille and PSG all the more important for both sides, as neither will want to slip further off the pace.

PSG aside, French activity in the transfer market has been almost none existent. With UEFA's proposed caps on spending imminent and the economic financial crisis, clubs have opted to put faith in their existing squads. The only problem with this noble but risky tactic, is that the existing squads of those challenging PSG are undoubtedly weak, none more so than current champions Montpellier, who look like they could be struggling to maintain a top half league position.

Given this I still believe that the Ancelotti ensemble will go on to lift the league crown come May. They will sit and wait in anticipation for Thursdays Champions League draw, which surely cannot come quick enough for Ancelotti. He will use Europe's maiden competition as evidence that PSG are indeed becoming one of Europe's elite and are not just a gathering of once successful misfits. Indeed, Ancelotti may turn to compatriot Roberto Mancini who has masterminded a similar job at Manchester City, as he seeks to find the formula for success.