Due to numerous absences, Rodez is moving with a revamped defense and midfielder to Normandy this evening at 7 p.m., when he needs to reassure himself after a failed start to the year.
Once again, Jacques Chirac’s famous theorem on shit and their propensity to fly in squadrons is being verified. The good word of the former President of the Republic applies to the current situation of Rodez Aveyron football, little spared by the inconveniences since the beginning of the year. More specifically, it is the repeated withdrawals that clutter the take-off runway and thwart the plans of Laurent Peyrelade, the blood and gold coach. After being confronted with a salvo of seven cases of Covid within his workforce on the resumption, he must face six defections to prepare for the trip to Le Havre, this evening at 7 p.m. To make matters worse, a new low-level passage took place over the heads of Ruthenia yesterday afternoon: the Covid is back at the Raf with the positive controls of the side Nassim Ouammou and Laurent Peyrelade, absent at the last minute for the day trip.
Only two centre-backs available
Not enough to fix the fate of the Aveyronnais, therefore. Especially since their defense, badly affected, will have to be reorganized in Normandy. In addition to Amiran Sanaia, absent for a long time, Joris Chougrani (calf) and Pierre Bardy (suspended) are unavailable. To accompany in the immutable line of three Julien Célestine and Adilson Malanda, the two axial available, Laurent Peyrelade will therefore have to use the versatility of another player. It will not be that of Johann Obiang, still at the African Cup of Nations with Gabon. The trend is for a refocusing of Lucas Buadès, a solution already used during the match but never from the kick-off. The other option is to take the versatile Bradley Danger down a notch. Only, with the suspension of Rémy Boissier, there is not really another player on the way to occupying the position of sentry. And it is difficult to undress the midfielder, where Jordan Leborgne is diminished by ankle pain.
Difficult start to the year
“The absentees are part of a season”, relativized the blood and gold coach. Still, these cascading defections raise the question of a defensive reinforcement during the winter transfer market (see elsewhere). But beyond the questions, these are the answers the blood and gold need to find right now. The Raf is having a difficult start to the year, with a rout in Pau (4-0) and a hardly encouraging defeat against Dijon (2-0). Even if the good results of the first leg allow him to always be in the first part of the classification, it is better not to let doubt settle in a particularly tight championship.
Facing the Normans, 6th in L2, the task does not look easy. “You have to level up a lot when you play a top 6 team”, warned Laurent Peyrelade. It is also better not to repeat the individual errors which have been costly during the last two outings.
Despite the changes, the challenge remains for the Ruthenians to get closer to what they were able to do very well during the first part of the season, in order to reassure themselves. Moreover, the major reorganization can also be the possibility of reviving, of finding a collective momentum. “In a season there are opportunities to settle. This game is one of them, advanced the coach. It’s the possibility of showing an extra soul, of moving the lines.” And to nail to the ground the least accommodating of the squadrons.
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