The faces defeated after a match, a situation which has happened too often in Bienne over the past two months.
Laurent Daspres/Freshfocus
On the evening of November 2, before the first international break of the season, HC Bienne defied all predictions and was in 4th place in the National League with a collection of 32 points in 19 outings. Since then, it’s been a downturn.
With only 3 victories and 11 small units in 14 games, Martin Filander’s team is the worst in Switzerland over the last two months. Due to this poor record, the Zealanders have fallen to 11th in the standings and are only one point ahead of Lugano, their opponent this Tuesday (7:45 p.m.) at the Tissot Arena.
Should we be worried about the end of the HC Bienne season? Two journalists from lematin.ch debate it.
Chris Geiger: Yes, all signals are red for HC Biel
How can you be confident or optimistic for a team when it has been stuck in a negative spiral for weeks? Since mid-November and the return of the first international break, HC Bienne is simply no longer advancing in the championship (11 losses conceded in 14 outings).
So much so that the Zealand team has completely squandered the fruits of its good start to the year in terms of the ranking, thus only having a very small lead over 13th place, synonymous with play-out for all the players. dangers against the ajoulot neighbor.
And how can we hope for a recovery when this same team remains without three of its best elements (the Swedish defender Viktor Lööv as well as the Swiss attackers Damien Brunner and Gaëtan Haas)? These absences, combined with the ultra-defensive style of play advocated by coach Martin Filander, make HCB the least dangerous team in the country (72 wins in 33 matches).
A championship is certainly won thanks to solid bases, but you also have to be able to score a few goals to win matches. However, apart from the Finnish top scorer Toni Rajala, or even the Swedish center player Lias Andersson, the Biennes are not decisive. Which takes them straight towards a majorly failed season.
Ruben Steiger: No, his defensive solidity will end up making the difference
4th in the ranking during the first international break, this is the real anomaly of the HC Bienne season. Nobody thought they were this high after losing many leaders over the summer. Since then, the Zealanders have regained a rank more in line with the real value of their workforce.
However, the cruising speed over the past two months is unworthy of a club like HCB. However, there is no reason (yet) to panic. First, because he still relies on the second best rearguard in the National League and one of the best goalkeepers in the league in the person of Harri Säteri.
The more the season progresses, the more defenses will take precedence over attacks. In the final sprint, Biel’s defensive solidity will undoubtedly be an asset. But alone, it will not be enough.
Martin Filander’s team must also score goals. They have the worst offense in the league. In this sense, the recent return to the game of the Swede Lias Andersson will bring valuable successes.
These different elements suggest a recovery which will allow Bienne to obtain a ticket for the play-ins. Or at least avoid a dangerous play-out against the bottom of the class.
