Football: why Nîmes Olympique does not win away

Football is a sport that is played 11 against 11 and in the end, Nîmes Olympique does not win away despite having had a chance. In Valenciennes, Concarneau, Villefranche, Dijon and now Bourg-en-Bresse, the Crocos had enough to score and often enough to win. Without success. And, with two small draws and now three defeats, they have the worst National away record just ahead of Châteauroux (5 defeats in 5 matches). Here's why.

More senators than gladiators

Adil Hermach had harsh words towards his players on Friday evening after the match lost in Bourg-en-Bresse (1-2). “I'm not happy with the first 30 minutes. We arrived at the stadium at 8 p.m. (kick-off 7:30 p.m., Editor's note). I'm angry with my players because they didn't dare. “We had the impression that we played with the handbrake, the passes lacked rhythm. As is often the case, we are not in danger, but we concede a goal from a corner, from a second ball.”

Even if they rectified the situation in the 2nd period – “at half-time, in the locker room, I told them that it was shameful, that we couldn’t do worse”confides the coach – they generally did not show this “Cup mentality” that their coach called for in the championship, and which had already been lacking in the second team in Beaucaire. Substitutes, starters, same fight, same defeat.

A few weeks ago, an Internet user commented on an article on NO, calling it “living room team”. It's true: a living room team, but no percussion. With ball players, but sometimes more senators than gladiators.

A lack of efficiency

“Nine opportunities to score in the second half, that's a lot away from home. But we play poorly. “Abou” has the ball for 2-1, once, twice…”observed Hermach. “When we equalize, we hold the right end. But we can't score the second and we get punished, regretted Beneddine. This isn't the first time this has happened to us. (Orléans, Sochaux, but at home, Editor’s note)it's a bit heavy.”

After 11 days, Nîmes only has 4 different scorers. And a real scorer, in fact: Abdeldjelil accounts for 56% of Gard's goals (5/9). “Abou” Ali Abdallah, for example, should have much more than just one goal…

A lack of regularity

Two problems: individual and collective regularity. Thursday, at a press conference, the coach hoped to see his players “be successful all together”. Result : “At half-time, I could have taken out nine out of eleven! I could have left only Mathis (Picouleau) and Waly (Diouf). It's good times to name those who are good. And Jo ( Mexico) which at least made me want to…”hit Hermach, who replaced “Douk (ansy) and Ronny (Labonne). For them, it was a day without. It’s not serious, but they have to lift their heads”.

Collectively, the Gardois have the unfortunate tendency to only play (well) one half out of two away from their bases: “Our second is totally controlled and varied. We scored very quickly (49th), it was the perfect scenario”recognized the technician. “We put the opponent in difficulty without being put in difficulty, and on their only foray almost, they obtain this penalty”Beneddine railed.

A lack of luck

“Yes, we clearly take two wooden goals, we don’t really have any luck there,” sighed Picouleau. A two-cushion billiard shot with a deflected shot following a corner; and a new questionable penalty that Adil Hermach contested at the final whistle: “I told the referee that if he had taken a while to blow the whistle, it was because he was hesitating, and therefore he should not have awarded it. He told me no , it was already decided in his head After Sochaux, it starts to matter a lot.“. And that prevents the Crocodiles from breaking out.