By Shai Mamou
Most impressive performance: Sochaux
Sochaux beat Nice 4-0. Well, even if Nice had done a good start this season, it is not the result in itself that is impressive but the quality of the goals, all amazing. Sochaux played well and proved that the youth of their squad can also be an advantage when they play with so much enthusiasm and dynamism. The goal of Marvin Martin (78th minute) is just amazing, a jewel.
Best player: Dimitri Payet (Saint-Etienne)
If Laurent Blanc is not blind, and I am sure he is not, he has probably learned from the game of Dimitri Payet saturday evening. Saint-Etienne beat Montpellier 3-0 thanks to two goals of the ex-player of Nantes. A dynamic breakthrough and a perfectly bended free-kick that put “Les Verts” at the first rank of the championship, the first time since 1982! Payet has often been designated as a talented but too unsteady player. It seems that the little guy from the island of Reunion is ready to explode and to take his chance with the national team. If he keeps on showing this level, nothing will prevent him to achieve it.
Deception: Olympique Lyonnais and Auxerre
It seems that qualifying for the Champion’s League last season was not such a good thing for Auxerre. Losing all their fundamentals, the guys of Jean Fernandez are still looking for their lost game style. Against Lille, Jelen proved that he is not mentally on top and the rest of the team looked uninspired. The draw was close but the defense finally tore to let Sow offer the victory to Lille (0-1). I hope they will react soon, because if they don’t, they won’t be far from the relegation in the end…
Lyon is despairing. How can Claude Puel make this team composed of many very talented men play so badly? This man’s principles are way too defensive for this club who won 7 titles in a row between 2001 and 2008. Tonight, against a convalescent Bordeaux (2-0), Lyon players looked like teenagers who did not know what to do with the ball. But these guys are not all youngsters. Toulalan lost his enthusiasm, Gourcuff his accuracy and Lisandro his flair. The victory against Schalke 04 in Champion’s League was the tree that hides the forest. I’m especially disappointed by Jimmy Briand. I liked this player when he was at Rennes, but we may think his cousin is currently playing instead of him…
Bordeaux has not been convincing during the first half. But after the break, Captain Alou Diarra delivered Chaban Delmas stadium with a nice back of the head. This guy is fundamental in the midfield and Marseille can regret not to have making more efforts to recruit him. The second goal of Jussiê is wonderful. The Brazilian eliminated three players then beat Lloris with a precise shot. Gourcuff, his predecessor, was also far from his best level. Maybe the French international has been disturbed by the constant booing towards him. How could expect something else? He joined a rival team…
Results of the week-end:
Nancy 0-2 Brest
Monaco 0-0 Toulouse
Lorient 0-1 Caen
Valenciennes 1-1 Lens
Sochaux 4-0 Nice
St-Etienne 3-0 Montpellier
Arles-Avignon 0-3 Marseille
PSG 0-0 Rennes
Lille 1-0 Auxerre
Bordeaux 2-0 Lyon
