This Saturday, against Rennes, the Greens did not lose just one game. Indeed, while they hoped to report a positive result from their trip to Brittany, the Stéphanois were disappointed and lost a player after a severe red card. What solutions are now available to Olivier Dall'Oglio to replace the suspended Boakye and Cafaro?
Bad news often comes in packs. In addition to yet another heavy away defeat, the Greens also left behind some strong forces. Augustine Boakye, suspended next Sunday against OM, is also in trouble with his quadriceps. Examinations had to be carried out to determine his injury. One thing is certain, injured or not, he will not be on the pitch against the Phocaeans.
Another certainty, the absence of Mathieu Cafaro. The ASSE winger started his match against Rennes perfectly by failing on Steve Mandanda's post in the first minutes of play, then being close to obtaining a penalty a few minutes later. While he posed big problems for his Rennes counterpart, Cafaro showed himself to be at fault with a hand that was as instinctive as it was useless. The VAR quickly caught up with the ASSE attacker and the referee applied the regulations to the letter: penalty and expulsion. Severe, certainly, but without discussion.
Davitashvili to the rescue?
The question then arises of the solutions that will be offered to Olivier Dall'Oglio to replace Boakye and Cafaro on the right flank. Either the team's system is reworked in order to offer a defense with three central players and attacking full-backs. Either, we don't change anything and we will have to find a player capable of playing on the right side. As it stands and in view of Saint-Etienne's “tactical certainties” at home, it is difficult to see ODO changing its tune when it comes to receiving a big name from Ligue 1. The Greens are certainly being mishandled in the game, but they have already brings down Lille, Auxerre, Strasbourg and Montpellier at home.
First possibility, reposition Zuriko Davitashvili on the right side, the one he occupied at the start of the season. Real solution or false good idea? Let's remember that the Georgian has never shone and performed as well as when he was placed on the left (5 goals and 1 assist), allowing him to get into the heart of the game in order to exploit his right foot. However, such a choice would allow ODO to position Pierre Cornud or Ayman Aiki on the left, a more natural side for these two players.
Ayman Aiki remembers Dall'Oglio fondly!
Pierre Cornud would be a less offensive choice than Aiki. It would also have the particularity of reinforcing the lock on a left side which suffers from the approximations of Pétrot and Abdelhamid. Let's remember that facing ASSE will stand Mason Greenwood, one of the best scorers in Ligue 1, who plays on the right of the Marseille system…
Ayman Aiki is also a possibility, more offensive. Again scoring this week with the reserve, against that of PSG, the young Aiki is starting to be pressing. He could quickly be allocated minutes of play among the professionals. Is the confrontation against OM the right time? Not easy. Especially since alternatives exist.
Stassin and Wadji: more than credible solutions
The other solution would be to leave Davitashvili on the left and find a natural replacement for Cafaro and Boakye. This role could be played by Lucas Stassin. Quadruple decisive passer since his arrival in Forez, the Belgian has never played on the right side in Dall'Oglio's system. However, he played this role twice for Westerlo last season. Not enough to make him a right winger, but perhaps enough to give ideas to the Saint-Etienne technician.
Finally, last possibility, that of establishing Ibrahima Wadji in a right winger role which would fit him like a glove. If the ASSE striker likes the central axis, his activity and speed make him a valuable weapon in the winger position. This solution would also have the advantage of offering the choice of the scorer that ODO wishes to field. Sissoko, uncomfortable last Saturday in Rennes, could see Stassin challenge him for the start against OM.
Olivier Dall'Oglio has the whole week to imagine the best solution to survive against Marseille, and why not to win…
