Jacques-Henri Eyraud, the president of OM, announces the color while his club moves to Angers this Wednesday (9 p.m.) for the last day of L1 of the year. “The winter transfer window promises to be difficult. The club will strengthen itself if it finds the means to strengthen itself, but we are going through the greatest crisis in football history, ”he confessed on Tuesday on France Bleu Provence.
Could OM (4th in L1 with 2 games late) end the season with its current squad? It is possible, even if the 2020 summer transfer window did not fully meet the expectations of the Olympian staff. With the exception of Pape Gueye, who finds his place in a very competitive environment, the summer recruits play little, or badly. In Angers, only two recruits could start the meeting.
Yuto Nagatomo, Jordan Amavi’s understudy, displays worrying shortcomings. His goal against his camp, Saturday, against Reims (1-1), confirms the fears of the Marseillais: he does not have the level at all to play in Ligue 1. We can not write the same thing about other recruits, promising on paper, but little used for the moment by André Villas-Boas. Leonardo Balerdi has failed to convert to a side, a position where he would have more playing time. He therefore remains the third choice in the axis of the defense, behind the solid Alvaro Gonzalez and Duje Caleta-Car.
Cuisance in the hard, the failure Luis Henrique
Michael Cuisance, who “amazed” André Villas-Boas on his arrival, is now going through a difficult period. Not yet 100% physically, the former Munich player does not really find his place in the 4-4-2 diamond of the Portuguese. “It’s more of a relay medium than a number 10, considers AVB. He needs to regain his confidence, it shows that he is not very comfortable at the moment. “
Finally, Luis Henrique has nothing of the “great striker” expected as the messiah by the Marseille supporters. André Villas-Boas himself recognizes that his recruitment was not necessarily an excellent idea: “We missed each other, because Luis Henrique is not going to be the player to play in this position of number 9.” More at ease on the left side of the attack, the Brazilian is barred by Dimitri Payet and, to a lesser extent, Nemanja Radonjic.
No reinforcements until the last week of January
“They made a game of poker at eight million … For me, this is their biggest failure,” says Rolland Courbis. The former Marseille coach (1997-1999) believes that OM achieved a “very average” transfer window this summer: “They increased their workforce which was very fair in quantity, but they did not recruit a very high level. Their players are more recruits than reinforcements! “
Marseille supporters are less critical. “It is not so bad considering the lack of means”, notes Florian. “They are interesting recruits for the future,” says Lucas. “Luis Henrique and Leonardo Balerdi need time to acclimatize, Pape Gueye is a phenomenon. These players are the future… I am not at all disappointed, ”says another fan. All are hoping for one or more recruitments this winter: a number nine and a side, as a priority. The club is in the market but remains patient: according to Olympian leaders, nothing will happen until the last week of January.
