In the coldness of Deux-Sèvres, the TFC was trapped in Niort at the end of the 17th day of Ligue 2. Poorly paid for their many opportunities to kill the game, especially in the first period, the Toulousains lost for the first times of the away season and see their direct competitors getting dangerously close. To analyse.
There are many clichés that we could bring out of the closet when taking a cold look at this Niort-TFC. “To dominate is not to win”, “It’s expensive to pay given the face of the match”. Whatever. The facts are there, and nothing will be changed. Philippe Montanier’s TFC sported a new style, at least in the starting lineup. Indeed, for the first time this season, the young Scandinavian Naatan Skyttä was lined up in the middle of the field, to make up for the absence for suspension of the usual maestro Van den Boomen. For a first, the kid with golden hair did not come out so badly. A few well-felt passes, an interesting ability to keep the ball, only lacked precision in the last gesture, at the time of his face-to-face with Braat. Some will regret the small pass for Healey absolutely alone who would have had only to push the leather to the bottom of the goal, but we will not rewrite history.
We will also be able to underline the clumsiness of Ado Onaiwu facing the empty cage first, then on an unlucky head which will come to hit the bar, then. By dint of not materializing, Toulouse therefore found itself led against the course of the game. On a dazzling acceleration, Sissoko lets Diakité admire his number and comes to open the scoring on a ball where Maxime Dupé is not free from everything reproaches, far from it (50th). He, the usual strongman of the TFC, will have, as against Sochaux, conceded an avoidable goal. Proof that when it doesn’t want…
The tree that hides the forest ?
And in a burst of generosity, Zemzemi’s strike twelve minutes later made the TFC drink the chalice to the dregs. In two shots, Niort had just scored twice, well helped by the Guinean Issiaga Sylla’s “I show my buttocks to the ball” defense… Ratao’s shot, as sumptuous as it is, will not change the regrets of the Toulouse board after the game. “We started the match well and little by little we lost the thread. As soon as we don’t have this offensive success, we are in trouble. We had the merit of fighting and trying to come back to the end“, Montanier tempered in the mixed zone.
We were given Bibiche’s cousin, it’s not possible, he’s unrecognizable #CNFCTFC
— Beto (@betoismagic) December 6, 2021
But then, should we be worried about this result of the TFC or was it simply an accident? One would be tempted to answer, “both my captain”. In a sense, the Toulouse defense has not reassured, once is not custom, and the return to business of Anthony Rouault will undoubtedly bring order to the purple rearguard. Some like Dejaegere or Ngoumou and Healey have been very discreet, with revenge for the last two, a matter of habit this season for the first.
On the other hand, Toulouse have only lost twice this season, which is far from a tragedy. Last year with the same goal of climbing, President Comolli had counted on invincibility at the Stadium and no more than five defeats in the year. Halfway through the championship or almost, there is no fire in the lake. Toulouse was unlucky and did not show enough of a killer in front of goal, it happens. On the other hand, any other result than a victory against Rodez next Monday could weaken the first place objective of the Violets, and with it all the heads before the holidays.
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