Toli Sous le Manguier

C,EST VRAI j,ai trouve ceci sur Mathias DOUMBE

MATHIAS Kouo-Doumbe last night described joining Hibernian as the best move of his life, despite confessing to doubts as to whether he would ever get a life in Leith.

The 23-year-old Frenchman has become a bit of a hero amongst the Hibs support with a series of commanding performances at the heart of defence.


I never thought about returning to France, I was too determined to do that- MATHIAS KOUO-DOUMBE



It is almost an unlikely story, given that they had to wait 16 months and lose two managers before they finally caught a glimpse of the 6ft 1 inch centre-back from Paris St. Germain whom Franck Sauzeerecommended to Alex McLeish.

Now, after finally gaining a foothold under Bobby Williamson and refining some of his rougher edges, Doumbe is beginning to show the capabilities which made Hibs sign him back in October 2001.

His renaissance under Williamson was underlined this summer when Dundee United boss Ian McCall offered £70,000 to take him to Tannadice, a move he refused in order to pursue his education at Hibs. It is something over which the pacy player, like a certain songstress of his homeland, has no regrets.

"It took me until February 2002 to make my debut, but now I think the move has been really good for me," he said ahead of today’s clash with Partick Thistle at Firhill.

"Before I was not sure because I did not play a lot of games, but now I have learned so much. I could have closed myself off from the group and become really angry with everyone, but I think I handled it pretty well. I never thought about returning to France, I was too determined to do that."

Doumbe had the opportunity to leave France as a youngster, but was held back by his parents who deemed him too young. He flitted across the Channel to Britain in 2001 as a shy youth on a maiden voyage. Since then he has brushed up on his vocabulary and grammar, which Williamson demands of his foreign players. "My English was alright when I came here, but not quite as good as it is now. I don’t take lessons, I just watch things like Home and Away.

"The manager does not demand we all speak English, but I think we [Doumbe and Yannick Zambernardi] realise it is rude to speak French if no-one else understands what we are saying."

Doumbe admits he was flattered when United moved to sign him after failing in a bid for Marvin Andrews. However, he is glad he remained in Leith. "It is really nice when you know someone else wants you, but I was too focused on the season with Hibs to move elsewhere.

"Edinburgh is a really nice city, but I don’t have a fancy way of life. I go home, sleep after training and maybe go for coffee with friends occasionally."

Bobby Williamson has no injury worries for today’s clash in Maryhill and knows Thistle will be eager to get their first points on the board. "Every game in the SPL is tough. Firhill is always a difficult place to get a result, as Celtic found at the start of the season and I expect no different today", he said.

Gerry Collins, the Partick manager, insists self-belief in his dressing room is not diminishing, despite

the Firhill side being the season’s only Premierleague side yet to win. Collins said: "Every single week when we head into a game we think we are going to win it - and this game is no different. We have been working hard all week and the spirit is still very good."

Collins knows Partick fans are frustrated by their poor start, but believes they will stick by the team until the new players gel. "The fans know that we brought in 14 new players and we have been trying to find the right blend. We know now what our best team is."

Une fois de plus ... on voit les limites de Schaeffer...
Sauf que comme le Cameroon... c'est leCameroon, on attend de tomber dans un ravin avant de l'eviter....

QUE FAUT -IL A CES Dirigeants pour le foutre dehors ...??

Avec lui...nos lions ne jouent plus pour le pays ...mais pour des contrats dans leur clubs (il sert d'intermediaire en Allemagne )
Chacun fait des grands discours ... on s'est bien entrenes...tout s'est bien passe...ET puis quoi encore.

Il nous faut des Lions qui ont des COUILLES...pas des Poules mouillees

les lions sont des inutiles, bons à rien

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