Tops
Cissé, control tower
From the height of his ninety-seven meter, the defender, new to the Forez, confirms the good he can do to this squad. Placed in the center of a three-way defense with Moukoudi and Kolodziejczak on his side, he reassured. Heavily requested in the second half in the aerial field, the Stéphanois swallowed all the balls like an NBA pivot in the racket. Attracting the ball like a magnet, he relieved the Greens who were retreating more and more. Playing with both feet, he was able to ensure several raises. A full match for the gigantic defender.
Hamouma, factor X
Often decisive when he is on the pitch, the winger, converted into a support attacker in this 5-3-2 Saint-Etienne, was able to test his association with Modeste. Taking advantage of the weight of his new teammate against the three central Metz, Hamouma was able to dezone regularly to combine, and bring danger to the Moselle camp. In addition to this contribution to the game, he was able to be decisive on a free kick superbly executed and extended to the back of his net by Boye after having touched the two amounts. Quickly released from injury in the second half, his absence was felt in the Saint-Etienne game, which had become less fluid.
Camara, cast a wide net
Impacting the entire left side of this Saint-Etienne team, Mahdi Camara once again distinguished himself by his volume of play, but also by the accuracy of his choices. Apart from a badly felt cross in the first period, he was one of the players to play the most balls with sixty-six touches for twelve losses. An important part of the first-half pressing, he made two interceptions while winning ten of the fifteen matches he played. In a game where the game has been concentrated in the midfield, this kind of performance makes it easier for the teammates.
The flop
Bouanga does not materialize
Repositioned in a role that smiled on him last season, Denis Bouanga still put in effort and showed desire. The problem is, that urge never translates into positive achievement. Between his bad choices, his technical faults, and his hesitation, the Gabonese seem to doubt his football. He who was so inspired last season is only a shadow of himself. This new Sunday match confirmed these doubts. Admittedly, he recovered three balls, but lost twenty-one without making any cross or framing the slightest shot.