FC Sochaux Montbéliard (FCSM) is struggling at the start of the National season. After four games, the Yellow and Blue are 11th with 4 points, far from the hopes of promotion and the expectations raised by the arrival of new coach Karim Mokeddem. A situation that worries the supporters, who are already running out of patience.
Four points, four games. At the start of the 2023-2024 season, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard’s accounting record in National is not difficult to remember. One win, one draw, two losses (both at home): even if the Yellow and Blue have a game in hand, the start of the season is not very bright, with an 11th place in the standings.
Far, in any case, from the ambitions displayed this summer during the presentation of the new coach Karim Mokeddem: to play quickly for promotion and make Bonal “an impregnable fortress“. So yes, it’s true, we are only at the beginning of the season. But already, among the Sochaux supporters, “worry and anger” appeared after the last home defeat against rivals Nancy (2-3, 09/13/2024) where FCSM, who led 2-0, collapsed by conceding three goals in 15 minutes. With a question: what’s wrong?
“We are perplexed, disappointed, angry” says Fabrice Lefèvre, president of the Planète Sochaux Association. “I was in the North stands against Nancy. And I admit that I am one of those who left the stadium as soon as the final whistle blew.“. Irritated after a performance that he judged “not up to par, with players who were no longer in the last 20 minutes“.
We have a three-man defense and paradoxically, we are less solid at the back. But what bothers us the most is the lack of creativity in midfield and the lack of offensive impact.
Fabrice Lefevre,President of Planet Sochaux
“We score few goals“regrets Fabrice Lefèvre.”Even against Nancy, our two goals came from our only two chances.“. “The graft has not yet taken” adds a founding member of Sociochaux, who wished to remain anonymous. “The level of play is very low, while we have more or less the same squad as last year. A year ago, we could have used the excuse of having had a truncated preparation and late recruitment. This is not the case. After six weeks of preparation and four league matches, there is no improvement.“.
Martin Lecolier holds his head in his hands, facing Nancy, Friday September 13.
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© SAMUEL COULON / MAXPPP
For the socio, “The players have not yet taken on board Mokeddem’s precepts. But unfortunately, we can’t give him time. We have to get back to Ligue 2 as quickly as possible. It’s necessary for the club’s viability. And there, we’re behind schedule. With our budget and our workforce, this is not normal.“.
The squad, precisely. Reinforced during the off-season, without too many departures, it appears to be one of the strongest in National. “In any case, on paper, we have 24 high-level players” continues Fabrice Lefèvre. “Unfortunately, we were penalized by suspensions, like that of Hoggas, our playmaker, or Gnanduillet, the new scorer.”
“Some recruits are also struggling a bit.” adds the member of Sociochaux. “Benchamma doesn’t play freely, Ouammouh, the full-back, doesn’t bring anything offensively. It’s complicated. I have the impression that we haven’t managed to replace Viltard and Gomis“. On the side of the club and the sporting director Julien Cordonnier, we point the finger at another aspect.”In the Nancy match, we had a solid first 70 minutes as a team.” he explains to France 3 Franche-Comté.”But we are weighed down by individual failures.“.
Just before Nancy’s first goal, we had the opportunity to kill the match. Then we made several individual errors which led to the Lorraine goals. This situation led to a lot of frustration and annoyance. Because we’re not going to hide our faces, we’re having a bad start to the season.
Julien Cordonnier,FCSM sports director
Frustration and annoyance. This is also what was reflected in the words of Karim Mokeddem at the press conference on September 13, just after the match against Nancy. The Sochaux coach described the defeat as “professional misconduct“and lashed out”the mistakes” of his players. Asked about a mental failure of his men, Mokeddem even retorted “that the footballer has to play with his balls at some point“.
Karim Mokeddem, at a press conference after the defeat against Nancy.
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© SAMUEL COULON / MAXPPP
An offensive communication that is not a first, since the former Orléans tactician had already criticized his defense earlier in the season. But which is far from the protective and unifying image that stuck to his skin when he arrived at Sochaux, which could have surprised internally. And annoyed some supporters.
“I hope when he talks about malpractice he includes himself in it.” said Pascal Lefèvre, from Planète Sochaux. “He exposes his guys a lot, but he’s the one who makes the composition. He also has to question himself, take responsibility. Because a lot of players were already there last year“.
Internally, if any notion of “crisis” is evacuated, a lively meeting would have taken place after the last defeat. According to our information, experienced players like Mathieu Peybernes and Dimitri Liénard would have spoken.The message was: “Shut up, work and win matches.” summarizes an internal Source.
Dimitri Liénard, in discussions with the disgruntled supporters, at the end of the match against Nancy.
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© SAMUEL COULON / MAXPPP
“Things have been said” confirms Julien Cordonnier.”The players are behind the coach, it would be too easy to hide behind him to explain poor performances. The group must understand that we cannot fail like they did against Nancy.“.
If we, at work, do the equivalent of what the players did against Nancy, where they completely gave up, we’ll be fired the following Monday.
Fabrice Lefevre,President of Planet Sochaux
No more room for error? That’s a bit like it, for this member of Sociochaux.A form of impatience is beginning to develop among the supporters.” he says. “We have to win. This is not a whim because if we don’t go up in two years, the club will be bankrupt. We’ve already burned some jokers. We have to sound the alarm.“.
Fabrice Lefèvre goes further.The players, but also the coach, must become aware of the situation.” he recalls. “Many supporters have made sacrifices, have given money to the club so that it survives. The communities have also done the job. Now, it is up to them to take over and bring us back up. Here, they have duties“.
The pressure is already starting to be felt. And if the supporters’ groups have not planned to boycott their players during the next home games, they will be attentive to the attitude of their flock during future matches. With an imperative of victory, starting this Friday, September 20, against the modest club of Aubagne. A necessity, to continue to believe in the rise, and not to weaken the status of Karim Mokeddem, already tarnished.
