It is already time for concern for Laurent Batlles. Threatened in the event of poor results in the coming weeks, the Greens coach will have to find the right formula to get out of a very uncomfortable situation.
Clear an eleven
After five meetings, the assessment is simple to make. Laurent Batlles has not fielded the same team composition twice. Between the transfer window, the truncated preparation, illnesses and other injuries, the Saint-Etienne coach had to cope. He is still looking for the right formula to finally launch his season.
Stay in the false 3-5-2 or return to a more traditional formula with four defenders? Last season, the Greens coach attempted this tactical change without success. It is not uncommon to see the people of Saint-Etienne change their approach during the match. One thing is certain, regardless of the system, the players will have to put in the fundamental ingredients to hope to do better than at the start of the season.
Gain confidence
Non-verbal language often says more than interviews or other press conferences. The Greens showed a worrying face against Valenciennes during their last outing. Looks that don’t deceive. Heads lowered and game choices that worry.
Like last season, ASSE must turn its back and regain confidence. This time, the next transfer window is far away. He will not come to save the Saint-Etienne season from now on. Solutions will have to be found within this group.
Confirm the best in defense
Long criticized last season, with an average of 2 goals conceded per match, the Saint-Etienne defense is producing cleaner copies at the start of the season. The Greens, however, continue to make largely avoidable errors like the penalty caused by Dylan Batubinsika against Valenciennes. Or the duel lost by Thomas Monconduit against QRM. A first full-scale test will allow us to place the cursor in Caen. The SMC displays the best attack in the championship with 10 goals.
Penalty Gautier LARSONNEUR of Saint Etienne and Lucas WOUDENBERG of Valenciennes during the Ligue 2 BKT match between Association Sportive de Saint-Etienne and Valenciennes Football Club at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on September 2, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Romain Biard/Icon Sport)Be more enterprising offensively
Only one small goal scored in the game in five matches. This is the meager record of the Saint-Etienne attack at the start of the season. The departures of Niels Nkounkou and Jean-Philippe Krasso have not yet been digested. Solutions and preferential pass schemes are difficult to find.
Regularly criticized for his tactical system, Laurent Batlles will have to find the keys that will allow the Greens to create more opportunities. Ibrahim Sissoko has three goals on the clock but only from the penalty spot. The return of Ibrahima Wadji will be an opportunity to observe the choices of the ASSE coach.
For the moment, his compatibility with Sissoko raises questions. The impact of Dylan Chambost, who has the keys to the game, is not convincing. The absence of Mathieu Cafaro and the little experience in France of Mahmoud Bentayg leave room for questions for the pistons. What about Stéphane Diarra’s placement? The questions remain multiple.
Take points
We can write a lot of poetry, the most important thing in football is the three points. The Greens will have to take points to gain peace of mind. Like the draw obtained against Caen last season or the victory snatched away at Niort, confidence will return with the points.
If the Greens managed to string together several good results, the lull and ambitions would probably resurface as quickly as they disappeared.
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