ASSE's 2024 ended with a humiliation (one more) at home against Marseille (0-4 defeat in the Coupe de France) this Sunday. It was time for this year to end as the last five months have been so difficult. Ah, how far away seems the joyous, festive, happy and historic spring of the Greens, just returned to Ligue 1. In these first 16 matches of the Greens since their return to the elite of French football, which players are positively or negatively marked?
When coming together to designate the Tops and Flops for this first part of the season, the editorial team had a hard time finding three players likely to be designated as “Tops”. It was equally difficult to agree on three names for the “Flops”, as the number of candidates was so large. We therefore selected four. No jealous people like that.
The Tops of ASSE: Three names but a crippling lack of regularity
Benjamin Bouchouari: The return of the banished ASSE
Average Peuple-Vert (7 matches rated): 5.29/10
Average L’Équipe (7 matches rated): 5.29/10
The Moroccan midfielder has returned from the abyss. Not considered by Olivier Dall'Oglio for a large part of last season, Benjamin Bouchouari believed he was reliving the same scenario at the start of the season. Until the trip to Nice, where Benji reappeared on the radar, coming on while his team was already losing 6-0. Then, he gradually gained playing time before making his first start of season one. months later in Angers. Since then, the one who arrived in Forez in the summer of 2022 has never left the starting XI. Benjamin Bouchouari has made himself indispensable in the Saint-Etienne midfield both through his ability to play in small spaces, his vision of the game, his quality of passing, his (new) defensive work and his quality of orientation of the game.
Zuriko Davitashvili, irregular but nevertheless essential
Average Peuple-Vert (16 matches rated): 4.50/10
Average L’Équipe (16 matches rated): 4.44/10
The 23-year-old Georgian winger has been blowing hot and cold since his arrival, but it seems that the few times he has blown hot have allowed him to establish himself as an indisputable and essential starter. Will it be the same with Eirik Horneland?
Having just arrived from Bordeaux, Zuriko Davitashvili had a great start to the season in Forez: two assists in September, 5 goals and the trophy for best player in Ligue 1 in October. The Georgian winger then seemed to be getting into real good momentum.
Quickly adopted by the Cauldron, notably thanks to his hat-trick against Auxerre, Zuriko apparently suffered the blow afterwards, when it was time to confirm. Much more in difficulty since the reception of Montpellier (J12), Davitashvili no longer has the same influence in Saint-Etienne's offensive play and is no longer able to obtain clear chances: averages of 0.13 xG and 0.015 xA over the last 4 matches of Ligue 1. However, Zuriko remains the top scorer of the Greens this season (5 goals) and the co-best passer (2 assists decisive), and his performances made it possible to directly or indirectly glean 6 points against Auxerre and Lille as well as a point from Nantes.
Mickaël Nadé: when will I see you again?
Average Peuple-Vert (7 matches rated): 4.57/10
Average L’Équipe (7 matches rated): 4.57/10
The 25-year-old ASSE central defender, long considered the last wheel in the hierarchy of Greens central defenders, has gradually returned to the game over the past two years. Today, he seems to be the best central defender in the current Saint-Etienne squad. Physically powerful, good with the head and intractable in duels, Mickaz' is missing from the current central defense, and his association with Dylan Batubinsika which had worked against Auxerre and Strasbourg is missed. Looking forward to his return from injury, while waiting for potential reinforcement during the winter transfer window?
The ASSE Flops: don't fight, there will be room for everyone… or not
Yunis Abdelhamid: symbol of the Saint-Etienne shipwreck
Average Peuple-Vert (12 matches rated): 3.75/10
Average L’Équipe (12 matches rated): 4.33/10
He suffered all the humiliations at the start of the Saint-Etienne season. Holder in Brest (4-0), in Nice (8-0), in Angers (4-2), in Rennes (5-0) and therefore against Marseille this Sunday (0-4). It will take a lot of courage, time and talent to get rid of the image that now sticks to him in Forez. Yunis Abdelhamid simply seems overwhelmed by the speed of high-level football, by the technical quality of the opposing attackers, by the roughness of the duels, and above all seems prisoner of his own body which is inevitably aging and which no longer seems capable of being able to meet the required requirements.
The idea of his recruitment seemed good from the start and was welcomed by everyone upon his arrival, but it is clear that 5 months later, the bet is lost, for the player above all, but also for Dall'Oglio, and for ASSE. The shipwreck lasted too long. Let's stop the bleeding.
Aïmen Moueffek: Has a wanted notice been issued about him?
Average Peuple-Vert (4 matches rated): 5.25/10 (not rated in Nice)
Average L’Équipe (4 matches rated): 4.75/10 (not rated in Nice)
Don't be fooled by the averages above. They are in no way representative of Aïmen Moueffek's ghostly start to the season. And it would be too easy to hide again, due to his current injury which has sidelined him in the last three matches. Because apart from his match against Lille, Aïmen Moueffek's start to the season is insignificant at best, mediocre at worst. Where has Aïmen Moueffek gone from last season, essential in midfield and capable of changing the face of his team single-handedly? Was he in overdrive with his absolute desire to continue with his training club? Or is he actually undergoing a form of decompression? ASSE would, in any case, really need a 23/24 version of Aïmen Moueffek in its current environment, alongside his Moroccan compatriot Benjamin Bouchouari.
Mathieu Cafaro: Who are you, where are you from, what is your educational background?
Average Peuple-Vert (8 matches rated): 3.75/10
Average L’Équipe (7 matches rated): 4.86/10 (not rated in Rennes)
We do not hide from you that we do not understand this gap of more than one point between the two averages, just as we do not understand how Mathieu Cafaro was able to collect a 6 this Sunday in the Team after the match against Marseille. Non-existent offensive influence, nervous or even sulky attitude, shameful behavior in Rennes. Apart from his very important and useful goal (the only one of the season so far) against Lille (1-0), we are off to a really bad start to the season for the Saint-Etienne winger. And without Ben Old's injury and with Augustine Boakye, there would have been a strong case for Mathieu Cafaro to frequent the sidelines more. Quickly a competitor in the winter transfer window. Because Mathieu Cafaro is never as good as when his back is against the wall.
Dylan Batubinsika: Where has the Congolese colossus gone?
Average Peuple-Vert (15 matches rated): 4.33/10
Average L’Équipe (15 matches rated): 4.40/10
The Congolese central defender is unrecognizable at the start of the season. And let's have the honesty to recognize that the case of his friend Yunis Abdelhamid in the spotlight in almost every match, for the wrong reasons, overshadows Batu's poor performances. It is easier to remember Batubinsika's bad performances this season (Brest, Nice, Angers, Rennes, Marseille…) than the good ones (Lille, Nantes, Auxerre, Strasbourg). He too was subjected to all the humiliations. Let's hope for the return of Batubinsika prime, that of last season, in 2025, accompanied by its serenity which was its strength. This is the wish we express.
