The Ballad of Charlie McGhee – 2nd Stanza

[Benforest1]

Awesome!!

Loving the story fella !! you have great results as a "underdog" what tactic do you use?

 

[Yeti01]

You are having a fantastic season so far mate! Will be awesome to be playing European football next season (barring a catastrophic disaster).

Shame you couldn't register Caron, he looks a beast at just 19! Hopefully it wont impact your season.

Cheers mate! Well be devastated if we don't make Europe!! Fortunately Caron seems to have improved slightly just playing reserves and training at Nice which means he should be gun come next season.

Loving the story fella !! you have great results as a "underdog" what tactic do you use?

Thanks mate. Its a 4-4-2 narrow diamond but with the fullbacks set as wingbacks. For the TI's I've borrowed heavily from Cleon's Counter attacking article on the SI forums (The Art of Counter Attacking) and use shorter passing and lower tempo but sitting deeper to create counter attacks. I would say half our goals come from counter attacks and the other half from 'working the ball into the box'.

I don't have any PI's. Basically I've found against the bigger sides I need the DM to be an athletic closing down freak (Rafetraniaina for me) whereas against the smaller sides I can use more of a playmaker type DM.

Don't know if its a feature of this version of FM or the fact that this tactic is pretty different to the 4-1-2-2-1 favoured by most modern sides but I find that it takes ages for the team to become proficient in it but once they are it seems to dominate. I do find that I am being exposed at times when the opposition has quick strikers and they too play on the counter so I will be looking at bringing in 1 or 2 central defenders this offseason who have pace.

 

[Yeti01]

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March 2020 – Time for some March madness…



3 months to go, time to separate the men from the boys. First up for Nice in March was Stade de Reims. With their opposition locked in a relegation battle McGhee knew today’s game would be tough. At 2 nil midway through the 2nd half though Charlie was smiling, young Arsenal Loanee Blanchet having scored twice. Shortly after he would be cursing though as de Reims scored 3 late goals to steal all 3 points here. A very disappointing result having lead comfortably and one that could be costly come the end of the season.


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Also there was more bad news to come out of the Stade de Reims match when follow up scans revealed some ankle ligament damage to young Blanchet that will see him miss at least a month.


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It took until the 80th minute for victory to be secured in their 2nd game of the season but Charlie was just happy with the 3 points. After Modeste had put them ahead shortly after half time Dijon had repeatedly threatened on the counter, even after Perez’s red card. Adryan put and doubts to rest though slotting under the Dijon ‘keeper.


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Modeste was Nice’s savior again in their 3rd match of March against Lorient. To be honest this was one Nice got away with as Lorient were probably the better side here but, having seen his side dominate and not pick up full points repeatedly lately, there was no way Charlie was giving the points back!!!


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It was time for another international break then as Australia rounded off their World Cup Qualifiers (Asian) 2nd round group matched with games in Australia against Kuwait and India with a win in either match enough to see the Socceroos through to the next round of World Cup qualifying but also would double up as qualification for the next iteration of the Asian Cup. The performances were good in both and the results were never in doubt but Charlie wasn’t happy with his strikers profligacy in front of goal…


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Up next in World Cup qualifying they face a group including the likes of China, Uzbekistan and the UAE but undoubtedly Australia’s sternest test will come from rivals South Korea. With Asia getting 4 and a half spots though the Aussie’s simply must finish in the top 2 to book their trip to Qatar. A 3rd place finish in the group would see them then playoff for the right to playoff against another conference for the right to play in the World Cup.


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Despite some mixed results then Nice held onto 2nd spot at the end of March. With 7 points separating them and Lyon though European qualification is beginning to look more likely.


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So that the task that faces Nice. The final 6 matches of the season will see them visit both PSG and Monaco but, armed with the knowledge that 4 wins will be enough to earn continental qualification regardless of other team’s results, McGhee will be looking to take the game to his more fancied opponents.


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[Nomadic]

Incredible how 59 shots only returned 3 goals for Australia against what i can only imagine were very average goalkeepers!! At least you got the results, thats the main thing.

 

[Yeti01]

Incredible how 59 shots only returned 3 goals for Australia against what i can only imagine were very average goalkeepers!! At least you got the results, thats the main thing.

Yeah not wrong!! I am trying to utilise the narrow diamond with Australia and they are taking forever to learn the tactic. I think once they become more proficient in it then the goals will start to flow - which is ok as long as that starts to happen in the next round of qualifiers!

 

[Yeti01]

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April 2020 – As they round the final turn…



The stage was set and their goal was clear. 4 wins and Nice would be playing in Europe. They started April off against Lens. Diallo sent them ahead early but Lens dragged one back midway through the 2nd period. The gravity of the occasion wasn’t lost on the fans as the atmosphere grew tense. When Santamaria nipped in to toe poke the winner will a little over 10 minutes to go the relief around the stadium was palpable. They hadn’t been at their best today but they’d go the result – and that’s all that matters right now.


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His strikers were dropping like flies though!! Another injury, this time to Diallo who had played well in the previous match, left McGhee cursing. Thankfully Andone appears to be finally over his complaint and, although short of a gallop, McGhee was hoping he could come in and contribute.


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As they entered the final stretch of the season McGhee promised his troops that he would still ask them to play their natural game – He wanted them to win on their terms. In the trip to PSG however… Well, discretion might have been the better part of valor here…


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There was method in his madness though. Charlie knew all the long that their season would be decided not by the games against PSG and Monaco, but by their other remaining fixtures and he didn’t want to ask too much from his young side in terms of adjusting for each opponent. Evian TG felt the full weight of that decision after, having played quite well in their matchup with Nice, seeing the scoreboard at 3-1 in the favour of Le Gym come the end of the match.


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It is so close he can almost taste it!! Although PSG win in their matchup had seen Marseille jump Nice and PSG gain ground the distance to Lyon is still 6 points. With the differential in goal difference being so heavily in Nice’s favour one win from there remaining 3 matches would almost certainly be enough for at least Europa qualification. More than one win? Well who knows… Nice might just be rubbing shoulders with the elite in the Champions League next season.


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[Nomadic]

Good luck on the season run in mate - hopefully secure that 3rd spot and possibly even 2nd

PSG still look like they have a decent side, surprised to see them struggling!

 

[Yeti01]

Good luck on the season run in mate - hopefully secure that 3rd spot and possibly even 2nd

PSG still look like they have a decent side, surprised to see them struggling!

Cheers mate!

 

[Yeti01]

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May 2020 – The chequered flag…



3rd last match of the season. 3 points was a must. McGhee sent his boys out to attack but they were stonewalled for the first 45 minutes by a resolute AC Ajaccio defene. Right on the hour mark though Nice earned themselves a corner and young central defender Bissafi Dotte rose highest to head them into the lead. With Ajaccio then forced to come out and attack themselves spaces opened up and strikers Modeste and Andone took full advantage, each bagging a goal as Nice ran out 3 nil victors.


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Still somewhat smarting after their humiliation at the hands of PSG McGhee debated internally all week in the lead up how to approach the Monaco match. In the end he wants his team to fear no one and as such persisted with his attacking style and, but for a missed penalty in the 66th minute, might have seen them secure a very different result. Even in the 80th minute at only 3-2 down he made attacking substitutions and really Yanga-Mbiwa’s two late goals meant this scoreline wasn’t a true reflection of what was a tightly contested affair that gave McGhee hope that next season Nice might really be pushing for the title.


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Here it was – the final match of the 19/20 season. Nice went into this one knowing they effectively had 3rd spot sewn up but wanted to send the fans home happy. Bordeaux likewise, could only finish in 6th spot, and as such the game really wasn’t much of a spectacle with Alper Potuk’s goal settling the match in Nice’s favor just before half time. At the full time whistle though the enormity of the result was apparent – Marseille had only managed a draw against relegation threatened Stade Brestois and Nice’s win had seen them jump OM into 2nd spot!


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A fantastic result then for Le Gym as they now don’t have to worry about any playoffs – they will enter the Champions League next season direct at the group stage. The balance of power certainly shifted south in this season of Ligue 1 with the tope 3 sides all coming from the south coast with Nice being sandwiched between Marseille and Monaco – in fact only a little over 200 kilometres separates the 3 cities.


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Following the end of the season the awards period rolled around. Nadir Moumen El Idrissi was named the premiere African player in Ligue 1. The Moroccan international displaced Baysse at right back over the course of this season and figures to be a big part of any Nice success moving forward given he is only 20.


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Despite the couple of injuries he suffered this season Jacques Modeste’s goalscoring exploits were still enough to see him take out 3rd place in the top goal scorers charts. At only 20 years old also he too has his best years ahead of him.


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Nice then had 2 players selected in the team of the season. Crazily enough, both might not even be at Nice next season. Emerson was actually displaced at Left Back by Malang Sarr as the season wore on and Alper Potuk is being chased by some large clubs in Europe and if an offer comes in approaching his reported value McGhee will have a hard time saying no – particularly with so many talented youngster waiting in the wings.


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At Nice’s annual awards ceremony McGhee was struck by the team of the year as voted by fans. In it they selected both Tariq and Adryan although they had split time in the AMC role. By selecting Adryan as a central midfielder they mirrored what McGhee was planning should Potuk be sold as McGhee plans on using Ardyan more in the middle of the park should that happen. Otherwise the bulk of McGhee’s squad will be returning. Blanchet is one who wont as Arsenal don’t seem willing to allow him to stay on loan without charging Nice some exorbitant fees while at the back Romain Thomas is off contract and will be allowed to leave. McGhee will look to bring in a veteran replacement though to provide some more stability at the back. Otherwise, any replacements figure to be internal as Nice still don’t have the funds to really purchase established quality players.


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Given their stated objective to start the season was to finish in the top half a 2nd place finish can only be seen as a serious overachievement for Nice. The plus side is though that his side is still extremely youthful and figures to be even better next season without substantial transfer outlay. The difficulty will come from navigating the additional pressures that will come from playing in Europe and ensuring they have enough depth in the squad to deal with that.


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[Meehar]

Top work fella! Congrats on the accomplishments

 

[ninjaskill]

Great end to the season finishing second and making the Champions League

 

[Yeti01]

Top work fella! Congrats on the accomplishments

Great end to the season finishing second and making the Champions League

Thanks for the kind words gents. Am looking forward to seeing how we handle the Champions League!

 

[kolas79]

Amazing job my friend ! You did it great! Looking forward for the next season !!

 

[AndySams10]

Well done mate, a superb season. Looking forward to your Champions League journey.

 

[Yeti01]

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June 2020 – Offseason Summary



Central Defender Romain Thomas had been an integral part of the Nice side in season 19/20 but with father time quickly catching up with him and his contract up Charlie allowed him to search for more football elsewhere. The problem was though that this left McGhee with Borges (24), Dotte (20) and Abah (19) as his central defenders - a young crew by any measure. As such he wanted to bring in some veteran help to bridge them over until those 3 are firmly established in the first team. Not wanting to spend much on a transfer Charlie was limited to scouring the potential Bosmans but fortunately he found a good one in Ramiro Funes Mori. The former Everton man will become Nice’s highest paid player but at 29 should anchor the defence for 3-4 years.


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In the French Football Review’s annual Ligue 1 report Charlie was pleased to see his side named as the overachievers for the season. Thinking more about it however Charlie can’t wait till the day when a top 2 finish is seen as ‘meets expectations’ for Nice.


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With a little spare time seeing as there wasn’t a whole lot of wheeling and dealing happening McGhee took the opportunity to make a request of the Board that has been in the back of his mind for a little while. With developing youth seemingly the way forward for Le Gym Charlie asked the Board to consider extending the youth recruitment networking budget to allow more varied and better youngsters to join in each intake – thankfully the Board was in agreement.


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At the end of June the lack of transfer activity was quite apparent. In addition to Funes Mori Nice had only added one player – 15 year old Ali Mohamed Mhouzoiri in a transfer negotiated by Nices Head of Youth Development Abdel Bouhazama. On the out side there was a few free transfers, although they were predominately reserves players who hadn’t made the grade, whilst Mandrea, with his opportunities limited by the arrival of Sylla, has signed with AC ostensibly to be the backup goalkeeper.


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[Yeti01]

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July 2020 – Preppin…



With Arsenal loanee Blanchet not joining McGhee began scouring for a striker to essentially be 4th choice for Nice in the upcoming season. Unfortunately anyone with any real potential was quickly priced out of Nice’s market. That was until one of Nice’s scouts unearthed young Taha Tarfi. At only 15 he is obviously one for the future but McGhee hasn’t completely ruled out including the youngster in some first team squads this season.


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McGhee’s desire to see a top of the table finish an expectation for Nice seemed to arrive quicker than he expected. Upon receiving an email from Sky Bet he saw that Nice have actually been instilled as 5th favourites with odds of 25 to 1 only behind established giants PSG, Monaco, Lyon and Marseille.


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Ah the pitfalls of a youthful side… McGhee was advised early in July he would be without young stars Modeste and Caron for almost the entire first month of the season as they would be with the French under 23 side at the Olympics in Tokyo.


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As last season wound up McGhee began to become the subject of speculation for a number of job openings – the vast majority of which baffled McGhee as he didn’t perceive them to be any more prestigious, if at all, than his current Nice posting. During that time he met with his agent and advised him that the only way he could see himself leaving Nice would be for an established giant club with a worldwide reputation. Well in July such and opportunity arose when Juventus came knocking. A chance to manage in a new country and lead a club with a squad including Paul Pogba in his prime – only a fool would say no surely?? Well call Charlie a fool! For the first time in his career he really feels that his ambitions are being matched by the club and with Nice in the Champions League the only place for them to go is up.


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There were games played too! Nice played another strongish preseason slate but performed much better than the previous season. Probably the worst result was the draw with Chamois Niorais FC and they actually lead at the Nou Camp before a raft of changes after half time allowed Barcelona to come back and win. The team seems to be up for it from the get-go this season however.


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To counter balance the Tarfi purchase Charlie allowed Armine Kheche his desire to leave and chase more first team football in a more to Ajaccio for around the same fee paid for Tarfi. Other than that there was a few loan moves arranged and also another youngster brought in by Head of Youth Development Abdel Bouhazama.


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[Yeti01]

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August 2020 – Meh…



McGhee was ready and raring as the season rolled around. Despite being without Caron and Modeste through Olympics duty and Andone through injury he felt confidence about his side’s chances and they opened up the season at home to Montpellier. WRONG!!! Nice were slow and lethargic here – despite dominating possession and shots generally they failed to create good chances as the replacements drafted in just didn’t seem to be on the same page. Disappointing start to what Charlie was hoping would be a season of celebration…


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A bit of good news though after the Montpellier disappointment when Charlie found out that the Socceroos had climbed to 24th in the world rankings. This struck Charlie as a bit odd as, although they were on a long undefeated run, they had really only be playing minnows in the scheme of things…


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With ten minutes remaining in their second league match of the season McGhee was starting to worry that he would be witnessing the same result as their first. They’d probably shaded things but found themselves down one nil. Thankfully goals in Emerson in the 82nd and then Seri in injury time saved Nice blushes and they recorded their first win of season 20/21.


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They kept the good times rolling in their third match of the season against Evian. Early goals to Tariq and Funes Mori got them off to a good start but then Mori undid his good work earning himself and early bath just before half time. Down to ten men Charlie asked them to tighten up in the 2nd and although Evian did get on the board midday through the half Nice were always the better side and actually threatened more than their opponents. Fining Funes Mori the regular one week’s wage for a send off didn’t go down so well though after the match!! The new signing not taking well to Charlie’s discipline policy – oh well, if he cries too much Nice can always ship him off for a profit in the January window…


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With Mori out suspended things went from bad to worse and Bissafi Dotte, who would have started in Mori’s place, picked up and injury in training. Bad timing for the 21 year old.


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When it rains it pours!! Alper Potuk stuck around despite some interest over the offseason as a realistic bid never emerged. He’s not a world beater be any stretch but he is a good player for this level so to miss him for 2 months will be a material loss for Nice.


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McGhee had an early morning late in August watching some of his players play in the Olympics final. It would be hard to imagine 2 more contrasting individual performances though! Whilst Caron saw red shortly after France’s 2nd goal, allowing the USA in with a sniff, Modeste was the hero as he sealed the victory late on! McGhee really didn’t care too much about it – he just wants them both back fit and healthy!


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Before they returned however he troops had a visit to the Stade Velodrome for the derby match with Marseille to navigate. They were never really at the races here and the scoreline was only this close thanks to Omerou’s moment of madness late on.


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Nice then found out who they’ll be facing in the Champions League – whilst there were a couple of slighty easier groups around, being in pot 4, Nice can’t really complain too much and will look to cause a few upsets here and see if they can make the knockout rounds.


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When you have 2 thirds possession and outshoot your opponent by and over 3 to 1 ratio you should never lose – but that’s exactly what Nice did in their final match of the month against Lens. A real coach-killer here…


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10th place then to finish August – not exactly ideal but far from the end of the world. Charlie will be looking to the next couple of months to really integrate his new signings and get his side all back on the same page. With his Champions League managerial debut on the horizon McGhee is really looking forward to September – first though he had some World Cup qualifiers to navigate with the Aussies.


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[kolas79]

Wow your group in the champions league could easily be named the "Gates of ****" my friend ha ha !

 

[Yeti01]

Wow your group in the champions league could easily be named the "Gates of ****" my friend ha ha !

Call me crazy but I'm actually somewhat confident we might rock the boat a little in the Champions league this season!

I think at the very least we'll finish 3rd and make the Europa knockouts.

 

[Yeti01]

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September 2020 – Yeah boy!!!



First up in September the Socceroos kicked off their World Cups Qualifiers (Asia) Final Stage Group B matches with games in the UAE and at home against China. A pair of 3 nil victories got them off to a perfect start but it was the improved performances against higher quality opposition that really impressed Charlie.


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Back at Nice Charlie then had to get ready for a match against newly promoted Nancy Lorriane. With Modeste back on deck the attack has steadily improved and today his partnership with Diallo bore real fruit with the strikers sharing all 3 goals between themselves. Thankfully at the other end the defensive effort was also there in this match and Nice ran out easy 3-1 winners.


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Another World Rankings announcement and another few spots gained for the Aussies. McGhee now has the team into the top 20 and has thus ticked off one of his goals when he first took over as Socceroos boss.


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Here it was McGhee managerial bow in the Champions League and what a place to do it – Santiago Bernabeu against the most successful club side in history Real Madrid. It literally doesn’t get any bigger than this but if you thought Nice would be overawed you’d be dead wrong. After Ronaldo fired Madrid into the lead on 39 minutes the upstarts from the South Coast of France turned the match on its head with 3 goals. Madrid were scrambling and based away at the Nice defence and, thanks to goals from Depay and Varane, managed to earn a share of the spoils. After the match though all the attention was on Nice and their cavalier approach to the match – they’ll earn a legion of new fans if they can score a few more results like this whilst playing their flowing brand of footy.


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With a real strikers shortage on his hands McGhee had drafter new signing Taha Tarfi into the squad and he featured as a late substitute. To McGhee’s amazement though this meant that Tarfi was in fact the youngest ever player in the history of the competition!


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With a somewhat rotated squad then for the weekend’s fixture against Stade Rennes Nice struggled as former Le Gym players Neal Maupay got the goal that secure all 3 points for the visitors. McGhee’s biggest challenge will be getting the balance of rotation right with all the midweek fixtures his side can expect and perhaps could have given a run to a few more youngsters here.


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Playing more of a first choice 11 then his side took on Ajaccio. Orlando Nangis, a youth product of Nice most recently on loan at Club Brugges, has taken his opportunity well as Charlie has used him more in the center of the park and grabbed his first ever goal for Nice – one that would turn out to be the winner.


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Back home in the comforts of the Allianz Riviera for the matchup with Lille Nice started fast and left Lille for dead here. Diallo grabbed a double but the story of the day was Florin Andone scoring on his return from a long injury layoff. As McGhee gets more and more of his squad back you can expect to see even more rotation.


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This is the stuff dreams are made of!!! His first Champions League match at home and what a fight back! Having seen his side go down a goal midway through the first half to a Icardi McGhee worried that Napoli might be able to sit off and pick his side apart. They made it to half time though where Charlie told them all how he believed in them and the added confidence was huge as Nice, through a Adryan double, earned their first ever Champions League win.


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A much better month then both domestically and in Europe has seen Nice climb up the ladder into 6th spot. McGhee will be eyeing off a return to the top 3 though as he will want to secure Champions League football again for next season.


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