D2 Gr C : Day 6 – A ranking to be put in perspective ?

By Philippe Serve

Nîmes continues its perfect course (6 games, 6 wins), while behind (OM, Monteux, Aurillac, Toulouse), it’s treading water. But a closer analysis pushes to put this performance in perspective...

Each week that passes confirms Nîmes on top of Group C in D2. On the evening of Day 6, the Gardoises are now 5 points ahead of the first follower, Olympique de Marseille. Nîmes has indeed won for the sixth consecutive time, in Le Puy (2-1), which took only three points over the last 8 available... See the goals.

OM drew in Nivolas Vermelle (2-2), being 0-2 down after 11 minutes only. This draw ended a series of 4 wins in a row for OM. The Iséroises, in turn, can claim to have forced two "big teams" to draw : Toulouse one week ago, OM today...

Monteux, held in check at home by Toulouse two weeks ago, then beaten for the first time this season last week in Marseille, was unable to put the record straight, conceding a new draw at home, against Aurillac this time (2-2). A third winless match in a row for the Vauclusiennes. On the contrary, the Auvergnates remain unbeaten on as many games...

 2-2 was the hit of the day, as the score-board of La Véore Montoison-Toulouse offered the same at the end of the game. If the hosts can - more or less – be happy with this draw conceded to one of the big favorites of the group, this is not true for the latter who has its third score of parity on, and already trails 9 pts behind the leader...

Surprised at home by Muret a week before, the FA Marseille took advantage of a second consecutive match on its ground against Blanzy, by winning (3-2). A victory that puts the Marseillaises up to Toulouse’s level, and leaves Blanzy at the bottom of the league, 5 pts away from Nivolas, first team not to be relegated... so far.

Finally, Muret was expecting that its surprise victory at FAMF’s grounds after 26 games without a win would trigger a real revival. Alas, the dream soon collapsed, with a stinging 1-4 conceded at home against Claix, who responded well after two defeats...

A trompe-l’œil ?

It might be appropriate to ask some caveats to the impressive domination of Nîmes in the ranking, because of the next following simple facts... If you consider that the group C has two big favorites (Nimes and Toulouse), and four outsiders (OM, Monteux , Claix and Aurillac) :

Games played against one of the « 5 other pretenders » in the first six matches :

Nîmes (1rst, 24 pts) = 0/5

OM (2nd, 19 pts) = 4/5

Monteux (3rd, 17 pts) = 3/5

Aurillac (5th, 16 pts) = 4/5

Toulouse (6th, 15 pts) = 4/5

Claix (9th, 12 pts) = 3/5

It will be added that Le Puy (4th, 16 pts) met 4 out of those 6 teams, which makes its current performance even better.

But it must be taken notice before everything that Nîmes alone has not met yet any of the 5 other pretenders. Its first “big” opponent was Le Puy… this Sunday, at home. On the reverse, OM, Aurillac and Toulouse had to play 4 out of 5 in 6 games only ! This first observation forces us to put the Gardoises performance in perspective without prejudging of the future of course.

Another noticeable advantage for Nîmes in this season beginning… :

Home games

Nîmes : 4/6

OM : 2/6

Monteux : 3/6

Le Puy : 3/6

Aurillac : 2/6

Toulouse : 3/6

Claix : 2/6

Here, it can be seen that Nîmes is the only team to benefit from a favourable schedule, contrary and once more to OM and Aurillac, but also Claix.

The worst to come ?

Fortunes of schedule gave a lot of white bread to the Nîmoises. Will the rest of the course be as easy to swallow ? The leader will see now standing on its way and successively Toulouse (away), OM (home), Aurillac (a), Claix (h) and Monteux (a). Not easy, indeed… In the same time, OM will meet La Véore (h), Nîmes (a), FAMF (h), Blanzy (a), Le Puy (h)… Will the ranking be the same on the night of December 7, end of the season’s first part ?

P.S.

© Philippe Serve

Photos : OM.Net, FFF.