Pablo Marrochi (Istres Provence HB) // Photo credit: Panoramic / K. Domas
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From Paris Saint-Germain to Ivry via Aix, many Lidl Starligue clubs have entered wild cards since this winter. Attempt to analyze a phenomenon exacerbated by a single season.
“What is certain is that we would have preferred not to have to call on them.” “Them”, these are the medical jokers, that many French clubs have engaged in recent weeks to strengthen their workforce for the end of the season. Istres is at 3, Aix too, Ivry should quickly reach this figure too, while Paris, Tremblay and Créteil have also signed theirs. All these clubs have in common having seen one of their own injured for at least two months, before the deadline of the 26th day, conditions sine qua non to sign a new player until the end of the season.
If the phenomenon is not new in itself, this is the first time in such a short time that so many clubs have taken on new players. Not a coincidence, according to the leaders of the clubs concerned. “It’s the corollary of this season, where we play two games in three days before not playing for three weeks. In our case, we will play half of our season, fifteen games, in six weeks, we had to make an effort to replace our long-term injured ” Explain Pascal Léandri, the sports director of the US Ivry. The current resident at the bottom of the table has already signed two left-backs (Hamza Kablouti and Norwegian Simon Holand Pettersen) and should anticipate the arrival of Tunisian Wael Chetti, already under contract for next season. “We already only had fourteen pros, which is a bit short, and when you see the number of injuries we suffered, we had no choice. This season is unfair in many ways, and the ability or not to be able to recruit jokers further adds to this imbalance ” note as for him Stephane Cambriels, from the Istres club. Three new faces have appeared in Provence since February, including the Italian Pablo Marrochi (head photo), already passed through Créteil.
Scandinavian internationals on the market
If, usually, finding the rare pearl, corresponding to the needs of coaches while falling within the available salary envelope, is a complicated mission, this spring 2021 is a game-changer. The cessation of the Norwegian league, following the decision of the local government, and the end of the Danish league brought many quality players to the market. Including the left-back Elverum Simen Holland Pettersen, a golden opportunity on paper from which Ivry took advantage. “Finishing the season at another club allows everyone to be a winner. I continue to play and stay in shape, as I hope to make the Olympic squad with Norway. Ivry needed a player, and signing this contract for a few months is a good opportunity for everyone ” explains the man who, at 22, will live his first experience abroad. Not to mention that his club Elverum, which also released Danish goalkeeper Thorsten Fries, who signed for Istres, is making substantial savings.
Hamza Kablouti (US Ivry HB) // Photo credit: Panoramic / K. Domas
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Besides, financially, does hiring so many jokers represent a huge effort for the clubs concerned? inuance Stéphane Cambriels, who figures the budget extension at 15,000 euros. It would be less in Ivry and Aix, especially since the PAUC released its porter Anders Lynge Hansen, and was able to reinvest the money saved to allow the arrival of Rok Zaponsek. It is also necessary that the recruited players quickly enter into tactical systems which are unknown to them, and that they correspond. All the clubs contacted boast of having a recruiting unit supposed to analyze the needs of their workforce as closely as possible, but this only reduces the possibilities of failure. “The key is to have clearly determined the role of your joker. To explain to the players already present that yes, the club is making an effort, but that does not mean that they will have to give up. The joker does not arrive to save the house, but to offer additional help ” decrypts Pascal Léandri. Who saw his winter reinforcement, Hamza Kablouti (photo), be relatively discreet before offering two points to Ivry ten days ago against Aix. Regarding him, the investment has already paid off.
Kevin Domas
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