Football: Nîmes Olympique, things need to change

Le penalty de Camara, qui trompe ici l’ex Croco Maraval, a permis à NO de sauver un point. Midi Libre – ALEXIS BETHUNE

National/Nîmes Olympique 11th after 4 days. Coach Adil Hermach multiplies the changes, without success. He is looking for the right formula.

We admit it, we messed up. Twice. We had the right Nîmes lineup before the trip to Valenciennes but not the right system (5-2-3 or 3-4-3 in the offensive phase). For the reception of Rouen, we had the right system (4-2-3-1) but not the right starting eleven.

We didn't see the first starts of Dias and Paviot coming, nor the return of Akkal. That of Bouaoune yes, except that the midfielder, who we imagined as number 10, had been moved off-center by Adil Hermach. That made four changes compared to the defeat in the North the previous weekend (0-2).

Three goalkeepers, five central defenders and eight wingers already lined up!

With the current crocodile technician, if we change a losing team, we also change a winning team, Diallo and Mexique having started against VA while they were substitutes during the success against Châteauroux (1-0). We did the math and overall, the turnover is impressive: three different goalkeepers lined up in four games (Cozzella, Simon and Dias), five central defenders (Mendy, Diouf, Iafrate, Diallo and Paviot) and eight wingers (Camara, Marcel, Amara, Khalid, El Hamri, Bouaoune, Ali Abdallah and Beneddine for a few minutes)!

Adil Hermach: “Last season, we complained about having 13 or 14 players and now, we complain about having 22 or 23…”

That deserved some explanations from the Gard coach in the post-match press conference and after the draw against Rouen (2-2), Friday evening. “I believe a lot in trainability, he replied and then expanded.If you are good during the week, you can play. If I stop at closed ideas, I have an 11 and I don't move anymore. That's without me! Last season, I have the impression that we were complaining about having 13 or 14 players and that now, we are complaining about having 22 or 23… The level of the squad is homogeneous. I want to keep everyone involved. Whether in the National, in Ligue 1 or among the big European teams, a season is played with 18 or 19 players. I pay close attention to everyone's playing time."

Finding, alongside the executives, the right pieces of the puzzle

Afterwards, obviously, "the framework remains the same, continues the coach. There is no status but there are leaders, executives who do not move (captain Mendy or the scorer Abdeldjelil, for example), because they have gone to find their place. It's up to me to find, alongside them, the right pieces of the puzzle”. Starting with the defensive puzzle, scattered in quite a few pieces after the 4 goals conceded in the last two games.

Three goals out of six conceded from set pieces

"I'm looking for a little more defensive solidity, the coach concedes.It's normal to try things when things aren't going well. I'm looking for the right formula in relation to what I want to put in place. Even if I'm still looking, it's true; what bothers me the most is that we're conceding avoidable goals, including three out of six from set pieces. We've almost never been dominated in four outings, except for 20 minutes against Orléans. Give me a goal where we were outplayed, from right to left, where we were out of position. ? There aren't any.

Set pieces (CPA) are in the head, they're mental, it's you or me. It's up to my players, on the pitch, to find solutions on defensive or offensive CPA, because we lose too many duels in the box. And I have to find the players who will perform well in this area." Already two goals conceded from a corner, one from a free kick: in this sector in any case, it's certain, things have to change.

Behind the scenes at the Crocos

CHEEKBONE In the jargon, we say that Mendy is a player who “gives” (blows). On Friday, in the first half, he took one on his left cheekbone, which seriously swelled up. “I'm not complaining. Give and take, “it's part of the game”, smiled the captain, who still finished the game.

CHAMBRAGE Adil Hermach did not understand why there were only 4 minutes of additional time in the 2nd period. He complained to the referee, Brendan Roffet. “He told me that we just had to score first. He's not wrong…" Good sport, the coach.

U17 NATIONALS In U17 National, for the 3rd day, Salim Fiorentino's Crocodilets (11th, 1 point) host ASPTT Marseille (12th, 1 pt) this Sunday at 3pm at La Bastide. Facing Nice, first OGCN (0-1) then Cavigal (3-3), the Nîmois were right. Now, we have to win.

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