For the first time this season, the Girondins, third after 14 matches played (24 points), have had as many days played as their competitors. The negative side: they are 8 units behind Saint-Malo, leader with the most frantic pace of the four N2 groups. The positive side: they were down to 11 units at the end of September after their false start (three draws in four games).
“We’re slowly catching up. But we are still far away, comments coach Bruno Irles. We're not even second (one point behind Saint-Pryvé, Editor's note). We will take another look at three quarters of the championship to see if we were able to keep up the pace, if they kept up theirs. »
The success achieved at the last Granville (1-2), however, did not really shake his men out of the sluggish impression left since the beginning of December. “We need to start a new dynamic with the players who have been there from the start, to refresh the minds and the group” says coach Bruno Irles, who launched “a second phase” with “more individualization” in the work, physically and at the post.
The key: for the environment, Bruno Irles explains
This is one of the shortcomings raised for the Bordeaux team in the 4-4-2 (4-2-3-1 in the offensive phase) aligned by Bruno Irles: a lack of technical mastery, and perhaps a more creative player in the middle.
The technician explains: “If all the terrain were perfect, we would seek this mastery. I like this. But we are in N2, and my job is to adapt to the characteristics of the championship, to the fact that every other week, we play on very complicated pitches. My priority today is to have two recovery midfielders. My game leaders are the four players in front. They are the ones I expect a lot more from. »
Girondins de Bordeaux. Three ways to take a new step
After the delayed start, the Girondins reached the championship break in almost the expected position. But Saturday's meeting (0-1 in Vendée) showed that they will have to step up their game to hope to worry Saint-Malo
-And the former coach of Pau (N1), QRM (N1) and Troyes (L1) continued: “It’s an accepted choice. Issam (Ben Khemis) has more of this technical profile. I used it at the end of the match like I used Travys (Mutyaba) in front of the defense against Locminé. But over an entire away match, given the conditions, it's complicated. It would be a big mistake to think that everything requires possession, control. The Girondins saw it in L2 last season. Of course, there are times when it would be easier if we lost fewer balls. But if our communities had everything – recover and animate perfectly – they would not be with us. »
The number: 5
By scoring twice from a corner last Saturday at Granville, the Girondins increased to 5 the number of goals scored following indirect set pieces this season (4 corners, one free kick). They also scored five times on crosses in a positional attack, twice on individual percussions in a positional attack and four times in transition.
“I hear stereotypes. We have a real strong point up front (Andy Carroll) and we play with it. The opposite would be stupid, says coach Bruno Irles. But on our goals, we have placed attacks, crosses, corners, but transitions whereas we cannot say that this is Andy's specialty. Afterwards, yes, we must make further progress on our animation, the game plan. We will improve it with the recruits. »
The opponent: a lack of finishing
We left Le Poiré-sur-Vie on November 13 frustrated at not having managed to come back to the score despite domination and a few chances against the Girondins after conceding the opening goal (0-1). Rabie Zeroual's formation has not changed since (0-1 success at Granville, 1-0 defeat at Locminé, 0-0 against Châteaubriant, 2-0 at Poitiers): not uninteresting in the game, it suffers from a crippling finishing deficit.
“They like to have the ball,” comments Bruno Irles. There, we had difficulty on difficult terrain. Like Locminé (1-2), they will be delighted to come to Matmut to play their match of the year. »
