General congratulations! Here is the assessment made in recent days by David Guion about his bottle class: “What they do is something exceptional, really great, we’ve never seen it!” The Bordeaux coach was not stingy with compliments to his young team after the victory against Paris FC (3-1) at the Charléty stadium. A success that allows the Girondins de Bordeaux to occupy first place in Ligue 2 on Monday after seven days. Who would have believed it a few weeks ago?
This place of leadership, the Marine et Blanc owe it in large part to the Bakwa, Mwanga, Bokele or even Delaurier-Chaubet. Players that few people knew before this season. Today, they have become the symbol of the club’s renewal. Starting this week, they will have to deal with competition from rookies. But in the meantime, it’s time to take our hats off to them.
- Dilane Bakwa, finally hatching (8/10)
He was perhaps the most anticipated of all. And it (finally) lived up to expectations. Considered one of the greatest potentials of the training center in recent seasons, Dilane Bakwa is quite simply the best Bordeaux player at the start of the season. From the height of his 20 years, he is currently the X factor of this team. Able on a dribble to light the fuse like Saturday against Paris FC, he is already at two goals and two assists and he has clearly won his place as a starter with David Guion.
– David Thierry
- Junior Mwanga, the revelation (7.5/10)
No one saw him coming but today we only see him on the pitch. Junior Mwanga is THE revelation of this start to the season at the Girondins de Bordeaux. He has everything of a modern defender at only 19 years old. Solid on the man and technically very clean, he has an above average vision of the game. Moreover, Bordeaux’s only defeat of the season coincides with his absence after his unfair expulsion from Grenoble. In the young defender of the Navy and White, there is nothing to throw away so far. Amazing. It remains to be seen how he will react to the competition with the integration of Yoann Barbet.
- Malcom Bokele, confirmation (7/10)
We still wonder why the club loaned him out last season instead of giving him a chance in a desperate defense. For his first real season at the Girondins, Malcom Bokele confirms his full potential at 22 years old. Holder at the right-back position for the moment, he has very rarely been caught out, if ever. All this while bringing his speed on the offensive plan and showing a real quality of center. He also had a huge game in central defense in Grenoble. He could be very difficult to dislodge from the Bordeaux defense. The rookie, Clément Michelin, will have to get up early…
– David Thierry
- Logan Delaurier-Chaubet, the good surprise (6.5/10)
He too we often heard about it at the Girondins de Bordeaux but he had never had a chance in pro at 20 until then. His first matches were a real success with two goals, one of which was very important against Niort. Everyone wondered if he could exist at this level with his physique, the answer is without hesitation yes. His moving technique hurts Ligue 2 defenses terribly and with his left paw, the Navy and Whites have finally found themselves a set piece shooter. Now it’s all about hanging on for Logan Delaurier-Chaubet against tough competition with Alberth Elis and soon Zuriko Davitashvili.
- Jacques Ekomié, the potential to be reviewed
He is the last newcomer to start the season at left-back. At 18, Jacques Ekomié is a real potential already capable of very beautiful things like his match in Rodez. Lively, fast, solid… He showed that he had the level to play in Ligue 2. Unfortunately, his injury at the end of the match in Aveyron seems to have cut his momentum a bit since he has been in more difficulty since his return to the image of his performance against Paris FC. With the integration of Vital Nsimba, he should now take his place on the bench. But it is a real solution for David Guion. Jacques Ekomié will have to gain in concentration and learn from his elder at the post.
This start to the season has also been an opportunity to see other young faces. Johaneko Louis-Jean proved that he could be a real good backup solution behind while Emeric Depussay confirmed that he will be the real Swiss army knife of this team with convincing entries. Marvin De Lima, alias Matthieu Valbuena with 20 years younger, is a real ball of energy with an excellent left foot. Finally, Lucas Rocrou, Lenny Pirringuel and Tijany Atallah will try to scrape everything they can in attack, midfield and defense.