One more match before the infernal triptych. This Saturday (7 p.m., 27th day L2), AJA (4th, 45 points) will have to win at Rodez (14th, 30 points) on the one hand to sign a third victory in a row in the league, which happened only once this season, at the beginning of November. And on the other hand, to put themselves in the best conditions in order to be on the attack to tackle the copious series of three matches in one week which will see the Icaunais successively face Sochaux (5th, March 12, 28th day L2), Nîmes (9th, March 15, 29th day L2) and finally Toulouse (1st, March 19, 30th day L2) before a final international break.
Life without Charbonnier or Autret
But in Aveyron, the Auxerrois will be deprived of two major executives in attack: Gaëtan Charbonnier (suspended) and Mathias Autret (hamstring injury). Together, they weigh 18 goals (13 for ‘Charbo’, co-top scorer in the championship and five for ‘Mathi’), almost half of the pawns scored by the Ajaists this season (38). And they have played almost all the Ligue 2 matches this season (23 for Charbonnier, 24 for Autret). Absences that coach Jean-Marc Furlan inevitably deplored in a pre-match press conference: “Autret and Charbonnier are important in the squad. When you’re missing two players who have already made it to Ligue 1 and played at a high level, you always have doubts about being less efficient.”
But for several weeks, the players are a little in the hard, like the game icaunais. Annoyed at not touching enough ball, Gaëtan Charbonnier often deserts the opponent’s penalty area to tease the swelling and participate in the construction. Problem: there are not many people in the zone of truth to plant, and the team loses in danger. As for Mathias Autret, best passer in the championship last season (13 pancakes, against four currently) the blow of less is more pronounced. A physical freshness visibly a tone below the others resulting in a lack of lucidity in most of his choices, and therefore a loss of influence.
Could their absence be a blessing in disguise? In other words, wouldn’t a little rest for these two executives be beneficial before tackling the major upcoming deadlines? In any case, defender and vice-captain Quentin Bernard hopes that in Rodez, the other attacking players, less exposed than Charbonnier and Autret, will gain confidence to emerge and finally let go: “We have a technically and footballingly very rich squad but I think that some do not realize their quality. There are some who have 90% of qualities above mine and when they have put everything in place, they will be great players. They have to believe in themselves. With strength of character and desire, we can go very far.” In the first leg at Abbé-Deschamps, AJA won 1-0, goal from Charbonnier, pass from Autret (9th day L2) for what remains one of Auxerre’s most successful matches this season. But don’t worry: the only time the two players were absent at the same time was in Valenciennes, and the Icaunais had also managed to win there (2-1, 14th day L2).
Two forwards or 4-1-4-1?
But then in what system will the AJA evolve in Aveyron? Doubt still lingers. “In my mind, when you play a defense of five, it’s better to put two attackers, it disturbs the three opposing central defenders more, says Jean-Marc Furlan. This is not necessarily the opinion of my staff because as 4-1-4-1 works well with us, we want to stay on it. So I’m wondering about the game system.” Several combinations were tested in training, in particular the one including the Rémy Dugimont-Lassine Sinayoko duo at the forefront. It will be necessary to see if the first, scorer for the first time of the season in the league last Saturday against Quevilly-Rouen (1-0, 26th day L2), will physically hold up for a second start in a row in a week, this which hasn’t happened yet this season. If he were to give up his place in the 4-4-2, it could be in favor of Gaëtan Perrin, who has already played up front in the league.
In the event of a 4-1-4-1, ‘Sina’ would hold the rope alone in front, and AJA could take advantage of his ability to devour spaces and scrape balls thanks to his pressing skills. A system that could also benefit Alexis Trouillet, instead of Aly Ndom. Be that as it may, the absences of Charbonnier and Autret benefit midfielder Iyad Mohamed (who celebrates his 21st birthday this Saturday) and striker Mohamed Ben Fred, back in the group after several weeks of absence. A workforce in which Quentin Bernard should celebrate his 300th in Ligue 2 (109 with Niort, 23 with Dijon, 79 with Brest and soon 89 with Auxerre). The one who would become the seventh current player in the division to reach this milestone confided in the microphone of France Bleu Auxerre in the 100% AJA program this Friday, to listen to again here.
Rodez, such a long wait
It’s been three months since Rodez Aveyron Football won the least league match. A last success which dates back to December 3, against Nîmes at home (1-0, 17th day L2). Since then, Laurent Peyrelade’s men have remained on nine straight matches without a win (five draws, four defeats). And the current context is not necessarily the best to receive well-ranked Icaunais, especially after the last setback in Ajaccio: while the colleagues from Center Presse Aveyron mentioned “a scuffle between Ruthenian players” at the end of the meeting, defender Julien Célestine was accused of racist remarks by a Corsican player, striker Mounaïm El Edrissy. The LFP Disciplinary Committee has chosen to put the case under investigation and the decision will be made on March 17.
And football in all this? Well, we can still be happy to see the former Auxerrois Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao again. The defender, who signed up for the winter transfer window with the RAF, quickly took on the role of a starter in the Ruthenian squad. A resurrection for the Franco-Ivorian mountain (1.97 m) who had only played 106 minutes in Belgian D1 with Cercle Brugge, which he had joined in the summer of 2020 after an eventful start. Even if this Saturday, we especially wish him to be lenient with the icaunais attackers …