The resumption has already taken place for two weekends but it is nevertheless this week that we find ourselves halfway through the championship. After the 17th day, the editorial staff French Football Weekly held a vote to elect its eleven type, as well as its coach. Each member was asked (18 votes were received) to give a team in the scheme of their choice. To decide, it was first necessary to highlight the most popular tactic, the 4-2-3-1 in this case which won against the 4-3-3 by 11 votes to 6 (1 vote for the 4-4-2 diamond), then choose one player per position. After the counting by secret ballot, here is the result of our votes.
Let's start with the coach of this team. Roberto DeZerbi was elected without surprise, but, more surprisingly, not without competition. The Italian coach received 9 votes. It’s still 50% of the votes that go to him. He is ahead of Luis Enrique (3), Adi Hütter and Bruno Genesio (2) and a duo composed of Christophe Pelissier and Liam Rosenior, each one vote. The editorial team highlights the work of the OM technician since this summer but also does not forget the known air gaps against Auxerre or Angers for example, nor the disappointment against PSG. In the end, it's a very nice plebiscite in favor of Geronimo Rulli. The Argentinian received 15 votes against 3 for Lucas Chevalier, the only other goalkeeper mentioned.
Hakimi, Pacho and Khusanov widely acclaimed
For the defense, our editorial team seemed to be generally on the same wavelength, like the right-back position. With 17 ballots received in his favor out of 18, Achraf Hakimi obtained an electoral tidal wave. In this “Stalinist” score, only Wilfried Singo was able to win a vote. This was much more discussed on the left where Nicolas Tagliafico (6) narrowly won ahead of Melvin Bard (5). Proof that no one has truly emerged over this half of the season, the results are very varied. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Nuno Mendes were both mentioned twice, Diego Moreira, Quentin Merlin and Ali Abdi only once. The hinge suffers from less hesitation since William Pacho (15) and Abdukodir Khusanov (14) were requested in the vast majority. They are ahead of Wilfried Singo (3), Marquinhos (2) and the duo formed by Thilo Kehrer and Leonardo Balerdi (1).
We move up a notch on the ground to move on to the double-pivot. It is therefore a duo and not a trio as desired by the FM editorial staff through the analysis. To lead this midfielder, we obviously find Pierre-Emile Højbjergwhich was particularly appreciated during this first half of the season. The Dane recovered 16 votes. Only two people chose not to go for him. To accompany it, we find João Nevesquite simply the best passer in our Ligue 1. The two men took over Denis Zakaria in particular (5) but also Corentin Tolisso (3), Andrey Santos, Vitinha and Tanguy Ndombélé, one vote each.
Greenwood, Cherki and Dembélé ahead of Ben Seghir
We move on to the offensive animation of this typical team of this first half of the season. On the right side it is Mason Greenwood who wins quite clearly, he who is still the co-top scorer in L1 with 11 goals. The Englishman received 13 votes, ahead Ousmane Dembélé And Rayan Cherkiwhich completes this creative line. The Parisian and the Lyonnais both collected 11 ballots and are included in this eleven. With 7 favorable opinions, Eliesse Ben Seghir was not far from being part of it but must bow, just like Bradley Barcola (4), as well as Maghnes Akliouche and Luis Henrique (1). For the striker, there was no suspense. Jonathan David went it alone when unpacking the envelopes. Cited 14 times, the Lille player, current co-top scorer in our championship, is ahead of Evann Guessand (3) and Breel Embolo (1).