Scores Rennes en direct
27 December 2010 | à 20h41

Kana-Biyik’s quiet power

Review (Part I). With half of the season played, Stade Rennais Online analyses the performances of each member in Frédéric Antonetti’s squad. In this first part, we take a look at the goalkeepers and defenders. A complete overview, from Nicolas Douchez’ return at his best to the surprising Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, and the curse striking Rennes' left backs.

Kana-Biyik's quiet power

Goalkeepers

Last summer, a real competition was expected between Nicolas Douchez and Johann Carrasso.Weakened by his last season, Douchez had been quite hurt with the club’s decision to recruit Carasso in view of the future. Rather than expressing his resentment publicly, the former Toulouse keeper replied in the best of ways, by returning to his very best, to level that once made him one France’s top five goalkeepers.

The keeper in the most hermetic defence in Ligue 1 (11 goals conceded), Douchez appeases his team during this first phase. Put under less pressure than last season, more decisive as against Valenciennes, the renewed defensive solidity plays a big role in his return to form. Struggling with a groin injury, he decided in agreement with the club to undergo surgery on December 21st. This gave Carasso a chance to play his first ever game in the French top-flight. A successful premiere for the former Montpellier man despite Rennes’ defeat. During this game, he proved that the club had been right about him a few months ago. Douchez’ succession is in good hands.

As for Abdoulaye Diallo, he certainly hoped for another scenario after signing a professional contract in April. After he was crowned an U19 European champion with France, the Rennes goalkeeper had hinted that a loan could be a good solution for him to improve and reach another step. However, the club preferred to loan Cheick N’Diaye rather than their youngster. A shame, as the Senegalese has remained on the bench at Paris FC (National) since he arrived in the Ile de France region.

Defenders

For his first season as a first team starter, Romain Danzé isn’t disappointing. Far from it. There were lot of uncertainties, especially on the defensive aspect, but the Breton has perfectly answered to the expectation of the Rennes staff and supporters. With a violent shot, he has even scored one of Rennes’ most beautiful goals in the early season. If one criticism had to be made, it would be that he doesn’t bring enough of his crossing quality to the profit of the attack. His prerogatives have evolved too, has he now features as a vice-captain, and was even handed the armband in Mangane’s absence. One thing is sure, Danzé doesn’t suffer of the comparison with the last two season of Rod Fanni, who signed a contract with Olympique Marseille a few weeks ago.

In central defence, the good surprise comes from Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, who is making a first name for himself in Rennes, years after his illustrious uncle François Oman-Biyik. Powerful, reliable in the air, impressive in the one-to-ones, the former Le Havre player is immovable in central defence. The scepticism that followed his arrival is well forgotten. His ability to transmit the ball cleanly remains to be perfected, but let’s not forget he is only 21! He was rewarded for a very good first term with a goal against Valenciennes. A very good pick by the Rennes recruitment team.

Alongside him, Kader Mangane comforts with his presence and the athletic power he affirms through both his charisma and his build. Almighty during the summer preparation and the pre-season, he couldn’t keep his level because of recurring little injuries. Several times, the Rennes captain had to play without being in the best of shapes. Just as for his partner Kana-Biyik, one of Mangane’s two goals – against Sochaux – offered three points to Rennes in the injury time of a game.

At left-back, Souprayen was expected but Kévin Théophile-Catherine eventually arrived. Left out with a hip injury at the very beginning of the season, the first named was replaced with the latter, who went on to surprise everyone. Trained as a midfielder, then converted to right back at the Academy, Théophile-Catherine started his Ligue 1 career on the left flank. He soon became more than a substitute, and Frédéric Antonetti appreciates his commitment and his defensive versatility. He doesn’t give complete satisfaction going forwards however, mainly because he is a right-footed player at left-back. Against Lyon, he replaced Mangane at centre-back and did it well, even though he was at the origin of the equalising free-kick. He was cut down in his tracks in early December because of an unusual buttock injury, but returned in the starting eleven for the last game in 2010, in Caen.

In a team decimated with injuries, Samuel Souprayen discovered the top flight against Lyon. On that night, he did a very good job in front of Jimmy Briand, never able to take the advantage on the 2008 Gambardella Cup winner. Little-by-little, the Guadeloupe man found his place at left back before the Rennes left-backs’ curse returned. Out with an adductor injury, he had to renounce to the trip to Bordeaux on December 12th. He was replaced by Yassine Jebbour, who was the next Rennes player to discover the highest level. After an average half-season with the Reserve, the former INF Clairefontaine trainee showed performances more in phase with his potential. With clear qualities in the use of the ball and constant defensive improvement, he now has to gain in aggressiveness to fulfil the potential he is deemed to have.

In the Reserve, Laurent Huard is quite happy to have Bira Dembélé at his disposition to give some consistency to his defensive line-up. Having realised a first-class performance against La Vitréenne, his qualities are particularly visible in the airs. Frédéric Antonetti has made it clear that he would not have a chance in the first team, and the player has been approached by Le Havre recently. If he was to leave this winter, his departure would be a huge loss for the Rennes Reserve. This is clearly not the case of John Boye. With a contract extended by one more year at the beginning of the season, one can wonder why the club insists on his case, with very little improvement to be seen since he first arrived and a consistently erratic defensive behaviour.

Ajouter un commentaire

Enter your comment here
  • This form accepts SPIP shortcuts {{bold}} {italic} -*list [text->url] <quote> <code> and HTML code <q> <del> <ins>. To create paragraphs, just leave empty lines.

Who are you?

To show your avatar with your message, register it first on gravatar.com (free et painless) and don’t forget to indicate your Email addresse here.