The name of Toulouse has long been associated with the game of rugby but if newly promoted Toulouse FC continue their surge in Ligue1, football may well be dining at the top table in people’s minds.
Instead of playing it safe like most newly promoted sides do in an effort to stablise in a higher division, Toulouse have been shrewd & creative in the transfer market and majestic on the pitch too.
Since the turn of the year, Toulouse have been on the attack, shooting the lights out in Ligue 1, going into this weekend’s game with Marseille.
The Toulouse attack has amassed 18 goals from their last seven games.
Only PSG have defeated them this calendar year and even in that defeat they breached the Paris defense.
Quite how a newly promoted side with relatively small resources, is so sumptuous in an attacking sense will have established powers across European football scratching their heads.
Following last week’s 3-1 demolition of Rennes, a side littered with established names and high-profile transfer purchases, Toulouse rose amongst the highest scorers not just in France but in Europe.
TFC has now scored 30 in all competitions in 2023. Nobody has done better in the five major European Leagues.
All three goals last time out, came between the 27th and 37th minute, a blitzkrieg of knockout blows that left Bruno Génésio’s team on the canvas.
At the center of Toulouse's attacking hijinks, is a couple of flying dutchmen, who have more nonchalance written across their faces with each passing game.
Branco Van Den Boomen, Thijs Dallinga and Stijn Speirings are causing havoc since setting up a Dutch garrison in Southwestern France.
Dallinga scored on his Toulouse FC debut, getting himself on the end of a wonderful through ball conjured by his Dutch compatriot Van Den Booman, it was a sign of things to come.
The 22-year-old has eight goals in Ligue1 already, not bad for a youngster signed from the Dutch second division for a miniscule €2.5 million last summer.
Fertile Dutch grounds have become Toulouse’s favorite shopping haunts in terms of player recruitment, their fans for the minute, are the main beneficiaries basking in the embrace of attacking football and goals galore.
But if Van Den Boomen and Dallinga continue to weave magic and produce attacking eloquence, Toulouse’s coffers will receive a Herculean transfer windfall.
It is becoming very apparent that Toulouse may well be the Brighton of France, their scouting and shrewd player recruitment has endowed them with the ability to fight well above their station.
For the minute, let’s just enjoy the art they have created and the sprinkles of attacking stardust they bestow us with on a weekly basis.
The Dutch-lower-leagues may well have created a monster in the southwest of France, supporters of the club from the pink city will be mesmerised by the possibilities of the future, Toulouse FC have arrived.