Our debate of the week concerns the catastrophic season of ASSE, 16th in L1 two points behind 18th, Nîmes. Alexandre Corboz and Laurent Hess debate.
Jean-Louis Gasset
“Leaving to take the opposite of certain nostalgic supporters of the happy year and a half of ASSE under the thumb of the former coach, I can only note that it is the legacy of Jean-Louis Gasset who today today, lead the Greens. Like Didier Deschamps in Monaco or Marseille, like Laurent Blanc in Bordeaux, the 65-year-old technician had accepted the position in Forez with the aim of immediate results. He had therefore built his workforce accordingly with old revenge briscards with large CVs. In the short term, this policy – validated by management and with the blessing of former DG Frédéric Paquet – had worked.
From the doors of Ligue 2, Jean-Louis Gasset had managed to bring the club back to the European Cup. But the counterpart of this immediate success was the signing over long periods of very large contracts on players at the end of their careers. Players who today lead ASSE sportingly and economically. Claude Puel has recovered a club whose finances have become cramped again, with many unsaleable and aging players, players not always listening either and who do not have a huge desire to work in training.
What worries me most is what will happen next summer, when maintenance is (hopefully) acquired. At that time, it will be necessary to rebuild with few means. It reminds me a little of the 2010 offseason. Of course, economically, ASSE is not, as at the time, at the gates of bankruptcy but we will have to make smart choices. William Saliba, already sold last summer to Arsenal, will make it more difficult to shear the sheep. The equation born of Gasset’s choices seems to me very complex today. “
Alexandre CORBOZ
Players first
“I agree with Alex that ASSE pays the legacy of Gasset, the management of Paquet who agreed to sign all these juicy contracts for aging players, with the agreement of the presidents who closed the eyes and went straight into the wall by naming Printant. The responsibility of Printant is engaged on the Mercato, like that of Wantier. It is also about the physical preparation of the players. But players, let’s talk about it! Do they see themselves, seriously, match after match? Do they still manage to look in the mirror?
How to blame Puel for shaking the coconut palm?
Puel inherits a workforce that he did not choose, and players that he had to put back to work. Little by little, those who are not performing are out. This was the case for Kolo, who returned to grace following the poor performances of Trauco and Silva, Ruffier, Palencia and Aholou. My only complaint with Puel concerns Beric, whom he pushed to the exit. But if they are after their coach, the Ruffiers, Palencia, Aholou and company should review their last matches. At their wages, there is still a minimum to expect in return. A minimum service that almost all players too rarely provide. When we see that Diony is only 1 goal in Ligue 1 this season, like Boudebouz (on penalty) and Abi, that Honorat has still not made the nets shake … And these circles, all more inconsistent some than the others. ASSE is paying this season for a set of catastrophic choices, a management so catastrophic on all levels that it is not immune to a descent into L2 when it has the biggest budget in its history. Find the mistake ! “
Laurent HESS