OGC Nice has the 19th budget in Ligue 1. That’s a fact. It would be inappropriate to have excessive ambitions. On paper, the team looks impressive. In defense (the fifth in L1 last season), Hugo Lloris is not the 19th goalkeeper in L1 in terms of performance. The central defense was impeccable last year. It is reinforced by the experienced, sober, and effective Vincent Hognon. On the flanks, Cédric Varrault, often questioned, and Rod Fanni have left in return for a financial sum that helped retain Lloris, Ederson, Diakité, and Apam. Strategically, it’s flawless. Allowing players who want to leave to go elsewhere to keep young players wanting to continue progressing. Find the mistake. There isn’t one. Unless you want to have it all without any compromise. The new recruit Patrick Barul, Onyekachi Apam, Mohamed Yahaya, and occasionally Cyril Rool or David Hellebuyck will replace the two departed full-backs in the starting eleven. One might wonder. One might also trust Frédéric Antonetti.
The Aiglons’ midfield combines youth with Ederson, Diakité, Traoré and experience with Echouafni and Rool, and players at the peak of their form for footballers with Balmont and Hellebuyck. The coach will be spoiled for choice, both in terms of players and tactical formations. Just like the defense, the midfield, on paper, is not the 19th in L1. The attack… more difficult to defend for a Gym advocate! It was the problem last season. David Bellion left for Bordeaux and Marama Vahirua for Lorient.
Habib Bamogo joined the Côte d’Azur to strengthen the attack line. On a positive note, we could even say that Matt Moussilou is also a reinforcement. If we compare to other teams, how many can boast of having three players who have already scored more than 10 goals in a season (Laslandes, Moussilou, Bamogo, and we could almost add Koné)? There’s Lens with Cousin (editor’s note: who is leaving), Aruna, Monterrubio and Kalou, Lyon with Govou, Juninho, Fred, Wiltord, Marseille with Cissé, Niang, Fiorèse (even if he is leaving), PSG with Frau, Pauleta and Luyindula, Saint Etienne with Gomis, Ilan and Feindouno. Not Auxerre (2), nor Bordeaux (1), nor Caen (1), nor Le Mans (1), nor Lille (0), nor Lorient (1 with Vahirua), nor Metz (0), nor Monaco (2), nor Nancy (0), nor Rennes (2), nor Sochaux (0), nor Strasbourg (0), nor Toulouse (2) and nor Valenciennes (1). All these statistics show that the Nice forwards are not “losers” and bad bets by the Gym’s technical management. They need confidence, encouragement, and be given a reason to fight for supporters who believe in them.
Being negative won’t help the club progress. It is doing its best with the resources available. It is criticized for not providing more resources. If money grew on trees, it would be known. So let us continue to criticize, see only the flaws (and there are some), but that’s how we will achieve what everyone wants: to be as high as possible. To believe in it: let’s remember that it’s when the eaglets were buried that they became Phoenixes to rise from their ashes. We don’t shoot at ambulances. The Gym’s hasn’t sounded its sirens yet. Issa Nissa.
