Winter signings proving their worth in France

The traditional French view of players signed during the January transfer window is being challenged this season thanks to the efforts of Jean-Claude Darcheville and Václav Svěrkoš, whose goals for Valenciennes FC and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard could yet keep their respective sides in the top flight.

Scant activity
Only 23 transactions were completed by the 20 teams in Ligue 1 this winter, the lowest tally since the system was introduced in 2003. While economic factors surely kept activity limited, players introduced halfway through the season have often struggled to make an impact in the past, especially for sides near the bottom of the table. There has been evidence of that again this year, with basement outfit Le Havre AC one of the busiest clubs in January and losing three of their four games since, but the trend has very clearly been bucked by Darcheville and Svěrkoš.

Nice win
Both men scored on Saturday to help their new employers in the fight against relegation. For Svěrkoš, that meant a fourth goal in seven outings, the 25-year-old Czech international finding the net after 69 minutes to secure a 1-0 home victory over OGC Nice, thus guaranteeing Sochaux back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Signed on a permanent contract, the former FC Baník Ostrava marksman is already his team's second highest scorer and has renewed optimism at the club, who nonetheless remain 18th.

Instant impact
"Svěrkoš is a player who has made life really easier for us – not only with his goals but with his approach," said Lionceaux coach Francis Gillot, whose team possess the same points tally as 17th-placed SM Caen. "He already speaks French and his success has shown the whole squad that we can keep believing we will stay in the top flight."

Previous experience
The case of Darcheville is slightly different. After firing 13 Scottish Premier League goals for Rangers FC during a one-and-a-half year stay, the French striker is back in France, where he has already turned out for FC Girondins de Bordeaux, FC Lorient and Stade Rennais FC. The 33-year-old hit his second in five games in Saturday's 2-0 home victory over northern neighbours LOSC Lille Métropole, and since he joined Valenciennes have remained undefeated, climbing out of the bottom three.

Kombouaré praise
"I watched the team several times before coming and I knew their mood was positive," he said. "My influence has not been as great as the statistics suggest. I just had to bring a little impetus." Coach Antoine Kombouaré hopes that impetus continues, meanwhile: "He's brought us more than his speed on the ground. He is a strong personality with a lot of experience for our younger players to soak up."