AS Monaco's exotically-assembled team roared to their seventh win of the season in northern France on Saturday, climbing to second in Ligue 1. This unlikely concoction of talent has surprised everybody, and Les Rouge et Blanc can return to the summit of French football if they beat Bordeaux this weekend.

Not since the last Monte Carlo Grand Prix has there been such an audible buzz in the principality. And not since Monaco's Ludovic Giuly-powered team reached the 2004 Champions League final have the rich and famous had a competitive side to follow.

Back in the glory days, a bumper crowd of 14,000 packed into the Stade Louis II to witness Dado Prso's quadruple in the 8-3 mauling of Deportivo La Coruna. And crowds are back on the rise this term.

Financial clout

Monaco's success from 1961 to 2000 – when they won seven titles – was founded on stability and, to the annoyance of their rivals, royal advantages. Thanks to the town's status as a tax haven and the financial clout of the royal family, ASM could attract foreign stars like Delio Onnis, Glenn Hoddle and Jurgen Klinsmann, as well as the cream of French talent.

Those days are a distant memory.

The recent decline can be traced to the departure of legendary president Jean-Louis Campora in 2003, after 30 years in office. Though Didier Deschamps' team performed wonderfully the following year, Monaco have been on a slippery slope ever since, and Prince Albert has been significantly tightening his belt.

Monaco remains an attractive destination, however. If you don't believe me, here's the proof. Since 2004, the following have come and gone: Adebayor, Chevanton, Yaya Touré, Di Vaio, Vieri, Kallon, Maicon, Saviola, Gerard, Koller, Menez, Kapo, Meriem and Piquionne.

How can a club that has possessed so much talent have achieved so little?

Right formula

The answer is related to the fact that Monaco have also had four different presidents (Svara, Pastor, Da Bontin and Franzi) and six coaches (Deschamps, Guidolin, Boloni, Banide, Ricardo, Lacombe) since that heady night in Gelsenkirchen.

Stability is vital in Ligue 1 yet Monaco have been so prolific in the transfer market even Rafa Benitez must look on with envy. Since 2004, 45 players have arrived and 56 have left.

Whether it is because the money has dried up, or the club have had a change in policy, Monaco have at last hit on a formula that works.

They are no longer buying (so many) ageing players with one eye already on retirement. They are finding talent from all corners of the globe, giving youth an opportunity, and spending a fortune on French lessons.

Potentially deadly

For once, they've changed few players in the last year, enabling unlikely friendships to form. Chu-Young Park – or 'the Asian Roberto Baggio' as he is known back home - often goes deep-sea fishing with Brazilian left-back Adriano. They may not understand each other, and Park admits he rarely catches anything, but he seems happy.

The current side is exciting. Stéphane Ruffier, 23, is an excellent goalkeeper. In Cédric Mongongu, Nicolas N'Koulou and Lukman Haruna, Monaco possess some of the best young African talent. Jean-Jacques Gosso, Mathieu Coutadeur and captain Alejandro Alonso provide a nice blend of energy and invention in midfield, while Park and Nenê (the league's top scorer with nine goals) are talented, clever and potentially deadly in the final third. If Eidur Gudjohnsen recovers fitness and form, the season could become more exciting still.

Monaco were in danger of becoming a laughing stock in France after finishing in the bottom half for the last two seasons. Times are changing, though, and the joke might be on Bordeaux this Saturday.

Ligue 1.com - M. Spiro