Lille 1-1 Marseille, the debriefing…

By: Magnusson | December 2nd, 2007

Marseille got a very interesting draw against a Lille who has been steadily beating us since the 2004/2005 season. It was a goalkeeper’s game. Both Mandanda and Sylva were outstanding for their teams but both of them were scored upon on individual mistakes. Steve Mandanda anticipated Patrick Kluivert’s control and got out of his box too early but the dutch superstar showed the world what could happen if only he would stop partying and got his ass to practice every now and again. Tony Sylva can blame the mud but he basically threw the ball back into Mamadou Niang’s lap after a powerful Karim Ziani strike. His senegalese compatriot didn’t give him a chance. Marseille could have scored another goal if we had someone worth a damn other than Salim Arrache (I like Arrache as a person because he’s from Marseille and seems to be a pretty important piece in the life of the group, like Oruma but somehow he’s never been able to confirm the promises we saw in him at Strasbourg or even in the Algerian National Team. Of course he’s been pretty heavily injured but he came back a little after Djibril Cissé and I don’t recall seeing him score for us. He just has to go. Of course now that I’ve said this, he’ll become my hero for scoring twice against Liverpool in two weeks). But Lille could’ve scored as well when the toll of the Champions League was felt at the very end of the game. This was a draw that seemed to satisfy both teams. Extremely entertaining game that may have been Karim Ziani’s first game where you had the feeling that he belonged and that he was not trying too hard. Him replacing Samir Nasri was a gamble that paid off. And he didn’t seem like the Black Sheep of the group anymore. Now let’s see when he’ll get his first positive game at the véldrome.

HOW DID THEY PLAY?

Mandandaoddly enough didn’t seem as cool as he usually is, especially in the first half. Like i said earlier, I regret his exit on Kluivert. Just before halftime, he lost his focus on a Beria cross but caught up and repaired his mistake immediatly afterwards by pushing a very pôwerful header by Chedjou out on the corner-kick that followed. He was a lot more reassuring in his catches in the second period. Mandanda saved our asses by making a superb stop with his left hand on a strike at close range from Makoun, just three minutes from the end…

Taiwo has not yet convinced, still giving us the aftertaste of the Besiktas game, that is post-goal. But he remained focused but is kicks were disappointing and his offensive contribution dismal. He’s still not in good physical shape. Gaël Givet on the other hand, is in much better shape than a month ago. He has been sniffing under Youla’s neck all night by multiplying the good defensive tackles. If his actions were more than welcome, the CB also had a few moments where he manifestly lacked focus and could have put his own keeper in danger. All in all a very solid game.
Julien Rodriguez, his defense counterpart was partially responsible on Lille’s goal. Rodriguez showed his limits as patrick Kluivert seemed to litterally slide past him sometimes (and we all know he ain’t no spring chicken). the Marseille defender who did not expect such a start from the Dutch. Fortunately, Rodriguez was not affected by this goal and has been able to be effective again in defense and his experience helped us tremendously at the end of the match when we were all exhausted still from the besiktas bout.
Laurent Bonnart never seemed to be quite at ease in this match. He conceded too many crosses to Obraniak. Quite feverish in his passes, he has not been much threat on the right corridor. On the other hand, he saved OM from sure defeat by countering the Bruno Bastos kick after Mandanda’s reflec stop.

Captain Lorik Cana gave us a very solid match. He was calmly but surely accomplishing his duty in one of the more dense midfield we’ve had to face this season. In his ball transmission, he showed uncharacteristic application and he was also well placed during most sequences. He was able to recover an important number of good balls. Too bad he is only sometimes a little too lonely in that midfield of ours. And that’s not Benoit Cheyrou’s performance that will make me believe and say otherwise. Once again chosen as a starter place of Modeste M’Bami, Cheyrou has once again disappointed. I know he was supposed to play because Lille was his old club and all but he seemed asleep sometimes. He rarely made the right choices offensively not defensively. Another negative point, too many obnoxious fouls (with a yellow card as a result). He was rightfully replaced by M’Bami at the 78th and those twelve minutes were more convincing than his entire match.

Mathieu Valbuena was supposed to be the central midfield to overcome the absence of Nasri. Valbuena showed that he could also bring a lot of options to the position. Technically amazing, he was quite the hassle to the Lille defense and has always tried to play forward, sometimes to the risk of losing the ball. He was decisive and his pass between two Lille defenders to Ziani is a gem and cleared our situation. Valbuena then continued his efforts but without success, like his shot around the hour-mark that went far above Tony Sylva’s cage. The newbie Karim Ziani holder the right-side down. His action with Valbuena at the 32nd led to the equalizer. The Algerian could have also given his second assit of the game when his excellent cross was “vendangé” (I don’t know how to translate this. That’ a gross miss”) by Arrache. For a player who seemed doomed for the bench, Ziani has shown great things.
On thre other hand André Ayew had an uneventful first half up until his injury. That is why Gerets replaced him by Arrache at the break.

Mamadou Niang. Mr 50%. He confirmed that he was the offensive asset numero UNO for OM. Author of a new goal, his 9th in as many matches, the Senegalese has hurt the Lille defense. An opportunistic goal , but such an important goal since it allowed OM not to doubt after the opening goal. Niang could have scored twice more on two occasions in the second period with a shot repelled by Sylva (55e) and then shot in extremis picked by the keeper (76e). Niang was also good in and played very well with Ziani. Mamadou’s on fire, what can I say?.
Arrache’s not on fire. See earlier comments
Cisse has not played more than the final three minutes. Not even enough time to touch the ball…