The Jean-Verbeke stadium in Montauban is hosting the last preparation match this Saturday, July 17, for our two regional clubs, before the start of the championship. It promises !
In competition mode. It will be so, at the beginning of the evening, enters on our left the Toulouse Football-Club which, we move the knife one last time in the wound, missed the accession for a goal; and to our right Rodez Aveyron Football, author of a great second part of the season (29pts).
That was last year, it happened. The 2020-2021 financial year is dead, long live the 2021-2022 financial year! With a TFC still as ambitious and an RAF that has all the joyful spoilsport. Speaking of feast, friendly one, it will be that of the neighbors, this evening; and it should have already taken place a year ago when it was on the menu of celebrations (August 8), but this damn Covid-19 was invited to the ball. Without bristol, with report.
Redemption operation, so to speak. Last full-scale rehearsal, it was said, to calibrate its strengths (and erase its weaknesses) one week before the resumption. It was also an opportunity to extend playing times to reach 90 minutes. While offering an XI-type very close to that aligned next Saturday: “We must be transparent, corroborates the new Toulouse coach. With two-three exceptions in view of possible arrivals, injuries or even deforms, it will be the ‘typical team. ” Because after the Tarn-et-Garonnais meeting, there will be no more catch-up session before the first episode of the L2 saga: at the Stadium against AC Ajaccio for the Violets, in Caen for the Blood and Gold.
“This final trial run is important, still presents Philippe Montanier. We have increased in range and intensity since the start of the preparation, as was planned, now it would have to materialize in terms of results. [le Tef reste sur deux défaites, contre des adversaires de divisions égales, en trois échéances].”
So, nothing like a little derby for families, even if it will not have the flavor or even the salt of official meetings. “Normal. That there is a good competition, it’s great; but we must not deplore the wounded – the Téfécé will always be deprived of Gabrielsen (adductors) behind and Dejaegere (ischios) in the middle who must collectively resume on Monday. In the duel but loyal like our three previous outings, “summarizes the former coach of Real Sociedad who no longer has the derbies on his record.” When I was in Valenciennes, he has fun , I remember a year (2009-2010, editor’s note) when, with Lens, Lille and Boulogne-sur-Mer, we were four clubs from the North in Ligue 1! “
“In addition, I have a great relationship with Lolo” continues Montanier. The technician is obviously talking about his counterpart Laurent Peyrelade, who can boast of having held the top two teams of the elite.
TOULOUSE FC
The climb or nothing. This is the leitmotif that animates the Toulouse locker room, but also the new technical staff led by Philippe Montanier. After the failure at the end of last season, we imagine that Damien Comolli, pushed by the American owners of Redbird, has nothing else in mind. However, the Violets have – so far – been very discreet in the transfer market. A behavior that raises questions, when one is the favorite of the bookmakers to win Ligue 2. But, hopefully, Comolli and his men know what they are doing.
Internship and pre-season
If we except the arrival of Philippe Montanier, the Tefecist offseason has been particularly timid but, paradoxically, it has not been easy. Between the particularly complicated management of the departure of Patrice Garande, the imbroglio around the option to buy Brecht Dejaegere and the unexpected departure of Deiver Machado in Lens, the Violets supporters had a cold sweat. Despite this, the players went to their traditional Spanish summer district of Navata for a one-week training camp; the opportunity for the new coach and his staff to gauge the strengths involved.
Friendly matches
The TFC preparation campaign was not very reassuring. At least as far as the results are concerned. A victory to begin with, it was against Sète / Nat. (2-1, goals signed van den Boomen and Ngoumou) then two defeats on the score of 0-2 and 1-2. The first against Pau, future opponent of Toulouse in Ligue 2, then against Real Sociedad B, team of the Spanish 2nd division. However Philippe Montanier was rather satisfied with the performance of his players. They must work on the finish … We can no longer count the number of missed chances in front of goal!
Market
Bayo, Dewaest, Koné, all three on loan, logically left the club which also lost Machado and the three “undesirable” Saïd, Koulouris and Gonçalves. Without forgetting the end of contract. Leya Iseka should and Sylla could follow. As for arrivals, the list is short: only midfielder Kléri Serber comes to fill the ranks. Montanier expects people in defense and attack.
Reprise
Les Violets will resume at home against AC Ajaccio before moving twice, to Nancy then to Pau. In order not to repeat the coup of last season, the TFC will not have to wait until the 5th day to win its first victory.
RODEZ AF
Rodez will attack his third straight season in L2. The last was cut into two parts. A first which extended until January when the Aveyronnais were last. A second when we saw an efficient RAF, score points, maintain. This new season is part of the dynamics of the end of the last championship. To achieve this, the club has reduced its workforce seeking to recruit some elements able to make the technical decision in the highlights of the matches.
Internship and pre-season
The offseason was marked by a resumption of training where new and old were already all present. It was the strongest wish of the president of the club, Pierre-Olivier Murat, in order to build cohesion between the players as quickly as possible. In view of the friendly matches, and the declarations of each other, this objective has been achieved.
Friendly matches
The RAF had planned 5 pre-season friendlies but Nîmes having canceled the opposition against the Aveyronnais, Laurent Peyrelade’s group had to settle for a draw in Nice (1 to 1) then a second draw at Clermont-Ferrand (2 to 2) before going to fall in Montpellier on the mark of 1 to 0. These three meetings, vis-a-vis training of L1, allowed the Ruthénois to be confronted with teams certainly in phase recovery, while opposing a technical quality of choice.
Market
Arrivals: Danger (Chambly T), E. Zidane (free), Depres (Nîmes), Corredor (TFC B), Rajot (Clermont-Ferrand), Malanda (Nîmes B), Buades (Nîmes);
Departures: Douline (Servette de Genève), Roche (FC, Ajaccio?), Guivarch (Neuchâtel Xamax), Ouhafsa (Neuchâtel Xamax), Henry (Sochaux T), Ruffaut (Cholet), Dieng (Red Star), Ponceau (Lorient RP), Poujol (end of career), Sané, Alégué, A. Peyrelade, Tertereau (FC), Jacob (Concarneau P).
Reprise
The first match of the season sends Rodez to Caen before receiving Pau. The idea of the Ruthenian coach, Laurent Peyrelade, is to quickly total points in order “not to fall behind for the rest of the season”. These two games passed, Rodez will play in Dijon, one of the candidates for accession to L1, before receiving Le Havre. These two oppositions will have the effect of placing Rodez in front of a quality adversity and of defining the profile of the RAF.
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