Halfway through this season, the MHSC had the same record as Stade Rennais. Fifth with 31 points on the clock, Olivier Dall’Oglio’s pailladins also achieved the best first leg of the last ten years and made the Hérault supporters salivate, enticed by a scent of Europe which was felt near the Mosson.
Only, the first twelve matches of the return phase have just chased away hope, to create doubt, in everyone’s mind. Worst total for ten years, the ten points taken since the beginning of January have taken La Paillade away from the Breton club, to bring it closer to Bordeaux, Clermont or Angers. Stables in danger and which, over the period, have done little worse, or even not much better.
Montpellier, is it all or nothing?
However, if it is difficult to believe that the MHSC, today eleventh in the championship, was equipped to carve out a definitive place among the five, it is just as unthinkable to imagine that this formation will not raise its head and differentiate themselves from clubs struggling to maintain, some of which will end up on the floor below next June.
Because of course, Olivier Dall’Oglio’s group exhibits more promise and potential than outward signs of wealth, but the fact remains that the public is entitled to expect more than the outward signs of distressrecently posted.
Seven matches: no more time to lose!
La Paillade, staff and players, must therefore find the keys to more solidity on the defensive level, which has conceded nearly two goals per game since the beginning of January, and more accuracy on the offensive level, since Montpellier score less than once per game, over the same period.
For this, the players must in particular reconnect with the collective spirit that made them strong, again recently against Bordeaux, and which traditionally constitutes the soul of the institution. This message, Olivier Dal’Oglio hammers it: together rather than each in his own corner, and above all not to the detriment of the neighbour.
For the time being, the implementation is pending. However, it is high time to see it appear. There is even emergency for some players at the end of the contract who, failing to be able to convince the MHSC to keep them, must give themselves the means to seduce those who could covet them.
It will then be time to take stock and settle, if necessary. Time to take stock, to say whether or not this group was sufficiently equipped, properly constituted, even ideally managed. If some have had enough playing time, if others would have deserved it. On the finish line, he would in any case Too bad to end a good transition season, with a bad depression.