Of the twenty players on the match sheet, eight played with the SL16 last season. Four starters (Epolo, Hautekiet, Dierckx, Lawrence) and four reserves (Benjdida, Mateta, Assengue, Ghalidi) took part in the catastrophic campaign of the Standard reserve in the Challenger Pro League. We could even say that there were nine of them because Léandre Kuavita was, twelve months ago, starting with the Primavera of Genoa before returning to the banks of the Meuse after the winter break.
We must also add Kilian Lokembo Lokaso who played with the Zebra Élites, the Charleroi hopeful team resident in Nationale 1. Half of the core composed by Ivan Leko was therefore not playing in the first division a year ago!
The analysis deserves to be pushed further because it is alarming. A reserve at Mechelen, Souleyman Doumbia was still without a club after his departure from Angers. Standard only made his transfer official on January 24.
The expert’s opinion: 315 minutes without a goal in the league, should Standard change its offensive plans?
Of the nine remaining players, many were not starters for their club. Laurent Henkinet had only taken part in three matches with the Rouches (eight goals conceded) before seriously injuring his knee, Dennis Ayensa had just completed five matches as a reserve for the Union, Sotiris Alexandropoulos had only started six league matches with Olympiacos (to which must be added nine European Cup appearances), while Marko Bulat, Viktor Djukanovic and Andi Zeqiri were blowing hot and cold respectively at Dinamo Zagreb, Hammarby and Genk.
Ultimately, only Isaac Price, Marlon Fossey and Ilay Camara were real starters at Standard and RWDM. Or 15% of the match sheet. Worrying. Even desperate.
