Currently 11th in five points of the first non-relegation, VGA Saint-Maur comes out of a complicated first part of the season and must react to hope to save itself. State of play at mid-season.

With only one win in 13 games and no less than ten losses on the clock, the VGA currently ranks 11th with three points ahead of the Red Lantern, Nîmes. In addition, the club Ile de France has not managed to win against most of its direct competitors such as Albi, Rodez, Saint-Etienne, Guingamp or La Roche sur Yon. Key meetings where the Saint-Mauriennes have lost points that could be valuable later. The chances of remaining in D1 are they less and less big while many predicted him an easy maintenance before the beginning of season. The group of last year, which had been kept this summer without being too reinforced, has indeed nothing of the steamroller that it was in D2. Remaining in four consecutive defeats, including the last in the second leg against Albi (1-3), and having been in conflict internally with the hierarchy recently, the VGA seems more than ever in critical condition.

Recurring problems that will have to be solved
Several problems can be at the origin of this lack of result. First of all, the lack of recruits this summer has often been mentioned in recent months. To face the gap between the D2 and D1, it would indeed have to adjust the strength with some additional reinforcements, especially as the latter may still be reduced this winter with, among other things, the possible departure to Nancy of the best scorer of the club, Marlyse Ngo Ndoumbouk. Saint-Maur saw only one rookie arrive this summer, in the person of Francine Zouga, when his competitors welcomed more of them. This point, justified by the coaches Ile-de-France by the lack of means of the club, is however not the most essential point, the recruits not guaranteeing an easier season, as is the case in Nîmes. Another point, more important and often mentioned in the mixed zone, remains the lack of concentration and relaxation on certain key moments of the team. The VGA has indeed repeatedly lost points stupidly this season, letting itself go up while she had the game in hand. Examples are numerous: The defeat at Albi (2-4) after holding the Albigensians in the first half and returning to the locker room at 2-2 at the break, the home defeat against Guingamp (1-3) while she led and dominated at halftime 1-0. Or the draw in Saint-Étienne (2-2), the Saint-Mauriennes quickly making the break 2-0 in the second half before being overwhelmed and go up in just ten minutes.

 

Concentration jumps that have already lost valuable points to the promoted Ile and have tended to annoy Regis Mohar and the players themselves this season, especially after Saint-Etienne where for him his team was not "the right to behave like that in attitude, as if she were 3rd in the championship ". Noémie Berge, a defender of the club, was even more critical after the match, finding "unacceptable" the attitude of the team on this meeting, evoking a "lack of concentration and professionalism". These small releases once before the score however do not date this season. The Saint-Mauriennes had already tended last season to lift the foot on some meetings once they were ahead of the score, as in the first leg against Nancy (3-2), where they were scared in the second act while leading 3-0 at the break.

Releases without consequences in D2, but which are very expensive in D1, where the level is much higher. Finally, Saint-Maur also shows a lack of efficiency. Be it in front or behind, Yellow and Blue are no longer the killers of last season, sometimes missing golden opportunities to kill a match or being very feverish in defense. One of their assistant coaches, Sofiane Mansouri, has also recalled recently after the match against Albi: "We will look too much for what is beautiful, we will not seek efficiency. play compartments ". A defect that often cost a lot on this beginning of the season.
 
 
 
However, there are still some glimmers of hope
In the midst of all these worries, however, there are some reasons for the VGA to hope to escape. First of all, she has already shown this season that, when she decides to play and put the desire, she was able to compete with her competitors. Like his performance against Soyaux in front of his audience (1-1), where the Saint-Mauriennes had passed on the brink of a second success, or his second period in the second leg against OL, with a goal scored against the best defense of the championship, Saint-Maur can perfectly fight on equal terms with his direct opponents when he puts the ingredients. The selflessness, the desire and the motivation that the women had found during these meetings will have to resurface as quickly as possible in this second part of the season if they wish to remain in D1.
 
Another advantage of the VGA compared to what has been observed in the past in other teams in the same situation, his locker remains welded and motivated. It often happens that a crisis of results pushes a cloak room to end and resurrect some tensions. In Saint-Maur, the players have shown lately that, despite the results and some disappointing performances, they remained in solidarity. This is, among other things, what made their strength last year. They showed it again when the club management tried to push the team coaches to the exit, not hesitating to strike to express their dissatisfaction. A spirit that will have to be kept and on which we will have to count more.
 
 
 
If the future of VGA Saint-Maur in D1 darkens over the days, coaches and players no longer hesitate to say that they already have "one foot or a foot and a half in D2" he he still has a second part of the season to play for hope. However, it will have to fill some gaps, in the game as mentally, and rely on his strength already interviewed a few times this year to be able to believe until the end. She may try to emulate the course of the ASSE last season, which was finally maintained after being good last at the truce. However, this will begin when the resumption, January 17, by a new success at the red lantern, Nîmes.
 
Photo credits: Nelson Fatagraf, Giovani Pablo
Dounia MESLI