Player Focus: Loic Has Been the Remy-d for Marseille

The summer of 2010 saw a young Loic Remy linked with a number of English clubs. Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs all seemed to be interested in bringing the former Lyon forward to the Premier League. Bizarrely Remy actually turned up at Stoke City’s training ground ready to do a deal with the Potters. A fee couldn’t be agreed and Stoke’s interest faded. The pursuit continued and Joe Jordan was spotted at the Stade du Ray keeping tabs on the man turning heads at Nice.

After breaking through at Lyon and spending a loan spell at Lens the young powerful forward made the permanent move south to Nice. He was an instant success scoring 25 league goals in his two full seasons at Les Aiglons. It was easy to see why clubs across the channel were starting to show an interest. Any player with that sort of scoring record will attract attention. Remy was recording these numbers playing mostly in the wide areas, combining his speed, strength and natural ability to constantly find the back of the net.

Two games into the new season and Remy would get his move, although he would not go far. 200km east, local rivals Marseille would parade the 23-year old alongside fellow goal threat Andre-Pierre Gignac. The duo signed to be l’OM’s new deadly strike force. There was a slight blip when Remy’s medical tests showed a possible defect with his heart. Luckily all the cardio tests showed he could continue and play football despite the condition. It took a few weeks for Remy to find his feet, he made his debut at the end of September and by mid-October he had his first goals, scoring the winner in the 1-0 win over Nancy.

Just like his time at Nice the forward was played mostly on the wings, allowed to come inside when play dictated, he again showed his hunger for goals as he scored 15 in the league, completely over-shadowing fellow striker and new boy Gignac. Remy also continued to develop showing a fantastic ability to score headed goals, with 6 of his 15 goals coming from headers - amazing numbers from a winger. Although playing out wide his numbers indicated this was clearly not his natural position. At Nice he only assisted in 5 goals in two seasons, with 3 assists at Marseille and only 16 of his 74 crosses reaching his target, it was clear he was not a provider.

Marseille’s title push inevitably came up short and this summer the rumours again linked Didier Deschamps with bringing in a forward. No marquee signing was forthcoming and the pressure would be on Remy and Gignac as the big money forwards to provide the goals. Gignac’s body obviously couldn’t handle the strain and he would start the season injured and, in fact, this season he has made only one start. Remy on the other hand has been a superstar.

This season Remy has been selected as Marseille’s main striking option and has been able to play a much more central role. This has led to his shots per game increase from 2.2 to 3.3 on average. At the halfway stage he has already equalled last season’s number of assists and has 9 goals to his name. The move inside has seen an already impressive and deadly striker become Marseille’s number one goal threat and favourite of the Velodrome crowd.

Remy himself has documented the improvement he has made since his move to Marseille. Even when the team were struggling at the start of the season Remy had scored five goals:

"Here at OM I've managed to forge an unfailing mental approach to the game,"

"When I arrived here, I lacked the strength of character that prevents you from giving up when the other side scores a goal. Actually, for us, when our opponents score, it just redoubles our motivation. Now that I've had the chance to work with some great players and a competent coach, I'm no longer the Rémy that I was a year and a half ago."

The newfound Remy has been so important for Marseille this year; it is one thing to score goals for your club but it takes a certain kind of player to continuously score important goals for your club. From day one this season Remy has scored vital goals for not just club but also his country.

During the opening day of the season Marseille found themselves 2-1 down to Sochaux but it was Remy that provided the equaliser with 15 minutes to go. Then, without a home win in the league, Remy provided both goals as Marseille saw off Evian 2-0 and stopped the awful start to the season.

As Marseille’s season improved so did the now 25-year old forward. Facing the challenge of league leaders PSG it was the Frenchman that beautifully placed his header past Salvatore Sirigu and inspired OM to a 3-0 win over their bitter rivals from the north. Then in Europe, Les Phocéens had Remy to thank for their superb comeback against Borussia Dortmund. Two goals down away from home and needing a miracle it was the determination of the striker to throw himself at Morgan Amalfitano’s cross to give the away side the lifeline they needed. Marseille would go on to win the game 3-2 and face a glamour tie against Inter Milan in the last 16.

Even for his national side Remy’s importance is starting to become clear to Laurent Blanc. Struggling to find a way past Belarus it was Remy who burst away from the stubborn defence and fired the opening goal past the keeper. Goals against Chile, Albania and the USA have followed and it would be a complete surprise if Remy’s name is not on the 23-man list that Blanc submits for the Euro’s this summer.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp was spotted at the Stade Velodrome on Sunday night as Remy scored twice to see Marseille inflict the first defeat in 17 games to the Champions Lille. Remy was by far the best player on the pitch. Redknapp would have been impressed but after the game Remy quashed rumours of a move stating he would stay until the end of the season.

In the summer there will be a scramble as teams jostle for Remy’s signature. It is inevitable that he will move further than 200km this time. Whoever breaks the bank to secure the move will undoubtedly pick up one of the signings of the summer.