Nîmes Olympique, rillettes and risettes: what to think of this 0-0 at Le Mans ?

Pour ses débuts avec Nîmes, Ismaël Camara a alterné les efforts entre la pointe et le côté de l’attaque. MAXPPP – YVON LOUE

The Crocos were smiling after the draw at Le Mans (0-0) for the 19th day of National, Friday February 2. While waiting for better, because Nîmes Olympique is 14th and still relegated…

From rillettes to risettes, the Crocodiles had a smile on Friday evening in the magnificent Le Mans venue, before taking the bus back to Paris (and the train to Nîmes on Saturday morning). It is true that they have rarely returned from a trip without conceding a goal: this is only the second time this season in the league in nine away games, after the victorious clean sheet at Cholet (2-0) on September 29, more than four months ago.

Traveling light is relieving. Like this seventh point gleaned by the Gardois away from their bases, which looked like a victory listening to players and coaches in the corridors of the Marie-Marvingt stadium.

Recruiter Ismaël Camara: "Only positive"

"This draw is only positive, assured rookie Camara, who lasted 90 minutes. We don't concede a goal, we have to continue like this. I saw a competitive team, which stripped itself down to try to stay in the National. We didn't have any success on the counter but that doesn't matter, we have no doubt, we will score in the next match." 

The aptly named Paradowski: "There was a heist to be done"

The aptly named Paradowski was obviously pleased to have once again kept a clean sheet after Rouen the previous Friday: "We were very solid defensively. We haven’t conceded anything. We hit rock bottom at the end of the year and since the recovery, we have tried to turn the wheel in the opposite direction. Le Mans had a sterile possession and even if there was a robbery to be done (sic), you have to remember the good one, and take what there is to take. See, as the coach told us in the locker room, the glass is half full and not half empty.

La réaction du jeune gardien nîmois Tao Paradowski, qui aura 19 ans le 27 février, après son deuxième clean sheet d’affilée, 0-0 au Mans après le 2-0 contre Rouen 🐊 pic.twitter.com/hkIOXMTAs5

— Midi Libre Sports (@MidiLibreSports) February 2, 2024

Moral of the story: without Boussaid, one of his best players, nor Rabillard, his top scorer and Gueye, the one who equalized on the away leg to the Antonins (1-1), the Sarthois were good to go . But because the Nîmes, too, took them well… to take a good point.

Coach Frédéric Bompard: "As long as everyone is in unison…"< /h2>

"Our 4-4-2 defensive organization really upset them, appreciated coach Frédéric Bompard. How many chances have we conceded? We are showing a new face, different from that before the truce. With this team, I am confident in the future. As long as everyone is in unison like that, I don't worry."

If, on the Le Mans side, we were talking about the "worst match" since the start of the championship, the Nîmes obviously had something to do with it. Being airtight again, like in the fall, is a (good) start. Now, we will have to be much fairer offensively, because NO (14th) is still relegated and there is an urgent need for points and victories.

Waly Diouf: "We promise our supporters a completely different face for this second part of the season"

Diouf sums up the situation: "We wanted to come and win at Le Mans, but when you can't win, you have to be able not to lose. We didn't play our best game, but we continue our march forward. We gave a decent performance, without being flamboyant. We must be more precise in our transitions, in the penultimate pass, the last gesture, to serve our friend perfectly. We missed that little extra. For us, 2024 is a new start, it's a completely different championship which begins with two offensive recruits plus a third, Freddy Mbemba. We have started the return phase well and we promise our supporters a completely different look for this second part of the season. They just want to see it. History of making a new laugh.

Behind the scenes of the Crocos

The number: 6. Like Paradowski's number of clean sheets, from now on. Six in thirteen league appearances, which starts à TO DO. And this is a very good ratio. The other goalkeepers lined up, Dias (four times) and Ondoa (two) did not achieve any. none.

The replacement. It was a choice – unexpected – of the coach. Athletic and not medical, even if Mbina was a little diminished; by a virus that affected part of the locker room: "I wanted speed up front (with Doucour&eac; and Camara, Editor's note), and çit almost paid off in the first quarter of an hour", s" rsquo;is justified Fr&déric Bompard.

The referee. After agreeing to the decision an equalizing penalty Châteauroux deep in added time at the Antonins and excluded two Nîmonths (+ additional penalties in committee) à Versailles, Romain Perpinan had become public enemy number 1 of the Crocodiles. Although he warned (logically) three Gardois on Friday, Diouf, Mbina and Picouleau, the referee was called off. very good overall.

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