This is what we call making good lemonade out of bad lemons.
Forced to constantly adapt through numerous trips to the infirmary, Franck Haise, very attached to his central hinge with three defenders, had to resolve at the end of November to move to four behind.
With only 12-13 professionals available and almost a complete rearguard on the flank, the Nice coach had little other choice.
The Niçois have therefore played the last eight matches in this configuration, after having played almost twice as many in a three-man defense.
It is to this organization that the Gym should return this evening in Reims, since Moïse Bombito (still not sufficiently recovered from his adductor injury) is now the only defensive element missing.
“I have a fairly wide palette at my disposal”
But the Gym has, through force of circumstances, built a real tactical adaptability. “The players have the ability and qualities to move from 3-4-3, to 4-3-3, to 4-2-3-1 or to 4-4-2 depending on the animations we want to do. J I have a fairly wide palette at my disposal and that’s so much the better.”analysis by Franck Haise.
“Whether it’s 4 or 5 behind, we are capable of putting in good performances. That will become an advantage. Today, with a group that is growing, I have the possibility depending on the matches, our strengths, the opposing systems and the problems we want to pose to opponents when moving from one system to another.”
And the Nice coach clarified: “Obviously, it requires adaptation. There are playing principles that we must maintain. We must keep a guideline and benchmarks, particularly on defensive activities”he explains.
But this wealth of possibilities allows the Gym “to be less readable”and therefore less predictable. Offers the Aiglons the possibility of starting a match in one system and finishing it in another depending on the scenario.
This was particularly the case at the end of the match against Rennes (3-2 victory) “to densify the heart of the game when Seko Fofana entered”.
With its tactical flexibility, its offensive success (31 goals scored in 16 days) and more ammunition on the bench, the OGCN, sixth, has reason to look forward to the second part of the season with optimism.
But we will have to finish the first leg this Saturday evening at Auguste-Delaune, the lair of a Stade de Reims capable of keeping Monaco or Lyon in check but in a downward phase (6 points taken out of 30 possible) and which has just sold its best defender, Emmanuel Agbadou.
Beaten only once in the last twelve L1 matches, the Gym, 27 points, “is in good shape in the championship”Salue Franck Haise. “That means that the team’s potential is definitely there. We managed to move forward despite the injuries, even if we didn’t always play complete matches. If we manage to reduce the weak times and be a little more solid defensively, there are great things to experience.”
The roadmap is drawn.