Three wins, seven draws and nine losses, for a total of 16 points collected, and 18th place in the standings, this is the balance sheet of FC Metz at mid-season.
Garnets are doing less well than last year, at this time. In particular, a year ago, they totaled twice as many victories.
The coming back phase will be that of the battle for maintenance, ” a real obsession “, according to Coach Antonetti.
The film of the first phase
Ignition delay for our garnets ! Despite an exciting first match against Lille (3-3), FC Metz will wait for the 8th day of Ligue 1, and a trip to Brest (1-2) to sign its first victory in the league,
During the end of summer and the beginning of autumn, FC Metz is not at the level ! His defense, one of his strengths last season, is too crumbly, especially because of the departure of solid John Boye.
The summer transfer window also disrupted some Garnets : Pope Matar Sarr has badly digested the negotiation of his transfer to Tottenham. And Farid Boulaya, announced leaving, had to resolve to honor his last year contract in Lorraine.
Result, in September, the club at the Cross of Lorraine records three defeats in a row against Troyes, Strasbourg and PSG.
During this first part of the season, FC Metz was also unable to string together two positive results. After their victory in Brest, the Grenats fell in Angers in added time (3-2). After their draw in Marseille (0-0), they concede the sharing of points against Bordeaux (3-3). And after their victory in Nice (0-1), the men of Fred Antonetti are clearly beaten on their lawn by Montpellier (1-3).
During this go phase, FC Metz fortunately put an end to his St Symphorien syndrome. On December 13, the Grenats won 4 to 1 against FC Lorient, thus ending a long black series of 11 months without a victory over the Pre Moselle.
To save their place in Ligue 1 next May, President Serin’s men will have to win many more matches at home and also achieve positive series.
The messin wall cracked
This is the big disappointment of this first act of the season. The defense of FC Metz, so solid last season, has struggled since last August.
Between the physical problems of some, the suspensions of others, the late arrival of Jemerson, and the drop in form of goalkeeper Alex Oukidja, who lost, 10 days ago, his place of holder, the rearguard of the Lorraine has conceded twice as many goals as last season at this time.
To avoid Ligue 1, FC Metz will have to regain solidity in 2022!
A team that sometimes cracks at the end!
Fred Antonetti often reminds anyone who wants to hear it: since the start of the season, FC Metz let slip four points in added time.
On the first day, Lille equalized on the edge at St Symphorien, depriving the Garnets of victory! PSG also won in extremis on the pre Moselle and Angers beat FC Metz at the last second.
An infirmary in Metz which is always full
Like last season, the medical staff of FC Metz had their work cut out for them during this first part of the season, and many major players of the club at the Croix de Lorraine had to attend the infirmary.
The most symbolic wound is that of Matthieu udol, who for the fourth time in his career, broke the cruciate ligaments of the knee, during a trip to the OM lawn last November.
Bad luck also seems to continue Kevin N’Doram. After missing most of last season, the midfielder broke his collarbone last August in Nantes. Then, the former Monegasque was hit in the foot, against Montpellier. He will be back before the end of winter.
Habib Maiga, Lamine Gueye, Vincent Pajot or Sikou Niakate have also experienced physical glitches over the past four months.
Too many suspended!
During this first leg, FC Metz has too often seen red! Four Garnets and not the least, were expelled: Jemerson in Marseille, Kouyate against Lille, Bronn against PSG and Boulaya against Bordeaux.
FC Metz is also one of the Ligue 1 clubs that have taken the most yellow cards, 43 in all. And recently, some players like Vincent Pajot and of Pope Matar Sarr, had to be suspended, after taking 3 rusks in 10 games.
An agonizing month of January
Next January, for the start of the return phase, FC Metz will unfortunately be deprived of its African internationals qualified for the next CAN to be held in Cameroon.
The club at the Croix de Lorraine will lose several major players, especially in defense. Coach Antonetti hopes to be able to recruit three elements during the next winter transfer window which will start next week. But the next few weeks already seem scary for the Metz staff.