Le Havre: Le Non-Review

By: Martha | August 11th, 2008

Le Havre 1-0 Nice
Goal : Lesage (71è) for Le Havre

Le Havre: Revault (c) - Hénin, Sambou, Ba, Kana-Biyik (Tixier, 22è) - Youssouf (Alassane, 54è), Davidas, Dieuze, Ait Ben Idir - Fauré (Alla, 68è), Lesage

Nice: Letizi - Diakité, Hognon, Kanté, Jeunechamp - Echouafni (c), Faé, Hellebuyck - Traoré (Ben Saada, 70è), Rémy, Bamogo (Modeste, 69è)

* * *

Still haven’t seen the match, nor any highlights longer than a minute or two, and am more than a little irritated that the club decided to wait until the weekend the season started to overhaul the pay section of the website. Could they not have done this, I dunno, any time in the last three months?! A teaser video is a long, long way from the highlights and full matches that are usually there. ARG. If this keeps up I may resort to violence. (Or begging people for torrents. Anyone?)

I don’t feel comfortable analyzing something I’ve not seen in any depth, but from reading the various reports and forum posts, it sounds like Nice dominated play but were unable to really threaten the Le Havre goal. The home side’s goal — scored in the 72nd minute — came after Hognan dove in, and the shot went off Kanté’s back, leaving Letizi with no chance. A totally unlucky loss, but it counts nonetheless.

Everyone is understandably disappointed, but considering the match was played without two starting defenders and with brand new players in the lineup for the first time, there were reportedly several positives to be found, primarily in the performances of those new players. To a man, everyone who saw the match has great things to say about Rémy, who worked worked his tail off and was Nice’s most dangerous player by far. Faé, too, has been getting a lot of praise, as has late substitute Ben Saada, who only got about 20 minutes but could well start next week. (Plus, losing the opener to a promotion side is anything but a sign of disaster — maybe it’s good omen, after last year’s finish!)

The most commonly cited problems, meanwhile, are just what we expected: The keeper (Letizi wasn’t at fault for the goal, but he made several errors during the course of the match, and continues to inspire fear among supporters) and, in the absence of Ederson, the lack of a #10 to provide connection between the midfield and the attack. The solution to the first problem is sitting on the bench, it’s only a question of which Antontetti decides Ospina is ready, and feels comfortable using him. The second problem, however, is a whole lot more difficult to solve. Ben Saada, who is apparently quite a passer, might be an option, slotting in behind the striker(s), but other than that option I’m not sure who there is in the current squad would could make linking up easier. Ideally, of course, the solution is just time, and getting the new midfielders used to playing together, and used to Rémy.

The team are back in training today after a day off and, baring disaster, Cyril #1 will be back in the team for the home opener against Nancy. I, meanwhile, will be feverishly refreshing ogcnice.tv in the hope that it goes live sometimes between now and then.

And, for those of you who (like me) enjoy such things, there are match pictures under the cut.