Un Grande Tale De Woe

So it`s a very acrimonious farewell to Charles N`Zogbia as the little French wastrel heads west to Wigan. Hardly the move that the 'world beater` has been angling for over the last six weeks. We`ve seen Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Arsenal, Spurs, PSG, Lyon, Aston Villa and probably, in his own mind, Barcelona. Now he`s off to the Pie Eaters.

Don`t get me wrong - Steve Bruce has done a fantastic job for the Latics and I`d happily see him in the SJP hotseat at the current time. However to see N`Zogbia running out in front of sub-20,000 crowds in a rugby hotspot really is a reality check for another one of our wantaway Gallic chums. David Ginola remains the sole French player to have gone on to gain any notable success, with his Carling Cup win and PFA Player of the Year award at Spuds. However spare a thought for:

Alain Goma - Ended up at Fulham, won nowt, consistently finished below NUFC in the table. Made 100 appearances then bailed into semi retirement in Qatar.

Didier Domi - Returned to PSG after accusing his teammates of being insensitive for not understanding his Muslim beliefs. Played 27 times in three years for the Parisians before helping relegate Leeds for 12 games. 22 games in 2 years for Espanyol saw him bombed out and at Olympiakos where he has managed 25 games in three years.

Frank Dumas - Played 14 times for Marseille before another 24 at Lens. Then dropped down a division ending up playing the equivalent of Championship football for the rest of his career.

Laurent Robert - Talk about journeyman after leaving. A hero of mine in black and white he consistently failed at Portsmouth, Benfica, Levante, Derby, Toronto FC and Larissa.

Olivier Bernard - Never the same since attempting to N`Zogbia his way into a move to West Ham. Ended up being relegated at Southampton and did nothing with Rangers. Couldn`t get a move to Leeds or Sheffield United and spent the rest of the 2006/07 season with us failing to even survive at reserves level. Gone into obscurity now.

So beware leaving Charles, it`s hardly done your predecessors the world of good has it now...

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