It’s time for the November international break. After three months of competition and a third of the championship already contested, a first assessment can be made of the transfer window with its successes and failures. It’s the traditional tops/flops among our French teams. We take into consideration the performances of the rookies in the championship but also on the European scene. Today, it’s time for bad recruitment choices, starting with the teams at the top of the table and some initial information. We did not bring in players who did not play or played too little due to injuries. We think of Paul Pogba, who has still not returned to competition or like Hamed Junior Traoré, injured in the thigh for a long time after playing just one match with OM.
Obviously, we will focus on the two main arrivals on the PSG side, firstly its goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier. Gianluigi Donnarumma’s successor suffers greatly from the comparison with the Italian who left for Manchester City, and author of a grandiose European campaign last season. Transferred from LOSC for €40 million, the 3rd bulwark of the Blues is still having trouble putting on this costume which is too big. In Ligue 1 as in the Champions League, he gives the feeling of being able to be beaten constantly, in addition to being guilty in quite a few matches (Tottenham, Marseille, Strasbourg). This like controversy on a publication referring to the National Rally, a far-right party, is also not welcome in the times it is going through. In his defense, he is not helped by his teammate either, Illia Zabarnyialso in great difficulty since his signing from Bournemouth for €63 million. In the axis or on the right, the Ukrainian is constantly worried. We can no longer count the meetings where his mistakes put his team in difficulty. As a highlight, there is this ridiculous C1 match in Leverkusen with two yellows and two penalties conceded in 37 minutes.
Angel Gomes and Egan-Riley can do better
OM may be 2nd in the championship, but the Marseille club also knows its failures in terms of the transfer window. Of course, there is still time and Angel Gomes can still change the situation, proof of this is with this last very interesting meeting against Brest. His debut is still far from up to par, despite his 3 goals in 14 matches in all competitions. Holder in Ligue 1 but replacement in the Champions League, the former Lille player who arrived free this summer is struggling to find his place on the pitch and the right pace of fuel under De Zerbi. CJ Egan-Riley was also recruited free after the end of his contract at Burnley. The English defender oscillates between the correct and the frankly not reassuring, even leaving his partners ten against eleven in the clash against OL. He also remained on the bench for the following 5 matches in the league. His 9 appearances in all competitions reveal a player lacking confidence.
Direction Lille now with Marius Broholm. 3rd most expensive recruit of the summer (€6 million), the Norwegian winger is currently a bit of an enigma. He only participated in 6 ends of matches, including only one in its entirety. It was against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League where he came through despite the great opportunity he had to show himself. At OL, we are thinking of two disappointments at the start of the season. First there is Ruben Kluivert (9 matches in all competitions), whose expectations, it is true, were not enormous around him. However, Justin’s brother and Patrick’s son cost his team €3.75 million and a few points. Supporters still remember his 5 minutes spent on the pitch in Rennes, enough to concede two goals, or his performance against Nice. His teammate in attack, Martin Satrianoalone illustrates the difficulties of his team up front. With one goal in 10 games (and one assist), championship and C3 combined, the Uruguayan on loan from Lens is seriously lacking in confidence. Paulo Fonseca, for example, prefers Tolisso up front. Returning, to everyone’s surprise, to OL at the start of the season as a free player, Rachid Ghezzal also struggles to stand out (7 appearances in total, 1 assist).
OGC Nice’s attackers at half mast
We go down to the ranking where OGC Nice occupies 9th place and sees two of its latest recruits integrating the flops of our editorial team. First there is Isak Jansson who was the subject of a €10 million transfer from Rapid Vienna, the most expensive recruit of last summer. The disappointment is worth the investment since the winger has only found the net once in 11 matches in the Europa League and the championship. The situation is not improving since he remained on the bench in 4 of the last 6 Ligue 1 matches, coming on 20 minutes from time against Lille, against whom he scored his only goal, before coming off at the break against PSG. The Gym is struggling with its attack. Kevin Carlos is struggling in these first months. The Spanish center forward seems heavy and clumsy on the pitch, despite the 2 goals scored in C3 where Nice cannot manage. It’s too disappointing for someone bought for €6 million in Basel and remained on the bench for 4 championship matches.
Paris FC is one of the attractions at the start of the season. The promoted bought by the Arnault family, associated with Red Bull still spent €57 million in the transfer window, the majority of which on Otavio (€17 million). The defender (23 years old), great hope in his position and coming from Porto, is struggling to find the right rhythm in Ligue 1. He is certainly a starter (10 games played but already 3 yellows and a red) but is showing great difficulties. He does not seem confident in a country where he does not yet understand the language. For Jonathan Ikonéthe situation is different. The winger trained at PSG knows the French championship very well where he made his return this summer (€2 million) after an interlude in Italy (Fiorentina and Como). At 27, he is especially looking for rhythm as he is injured in the groin. His 5 small appearances did not give much to a position where Ilan Kebbal, the best Parisian since the start of the season, plays. Finally, there is Radoslaw Majeckiloaned by AS Monaco to Stade Brestois. For the moment it is a thorn in the side of the Bretons. There had already been this red against Lens, his mistake against Lorient. There is now this huge dumpling in Marseille. It’s already too much for a club that is trying to maintain itself. Marco Bizot’s succession is difficult.
