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At the time of the winter break, here is an appraisal of the first half of the Gym’s 2018-19 season. 

10th

The Aiglons ended the year in 10th place, with one game in hand, to be played against Monaco on 16 January. In 18 matches, they have picked up 26 points (7 wins, 5 draws, 6 defeats), mainly, away from home (15 points secured away from home). In L1, nobody has travelled better than them, except for Paris (20 points won away from the Parc). 

These 26 points place the Niçois exactly on their average points return of recent years (see below).

The league table at the winter break over the last 10 years

2017-18: 6th (27 pts); 8th place finish

2016-17: 1st (44 pts); 3rd place finish

2015-16: 5th (29 pts); 4th place finish

2014-15: 12th (22 pts); 11th place finish

2013-14: 14th (23 pts); 17th place finish

2012-13: 9th (29 pts); 4th place finish

2011-12: 17th (18 pts); 13th place finish

2010-11: 15th (23 pts); 17th place finish

2009-10: 16th (22 pts); 15th place finish

2008-09: 8th (30 pts); 9th Place finish

It is worth noting that, over the period studied, the total and the league position are less relevant than the gap between the Aiglons and the rest of the teams. For example, last season, the Gym, in 6th at the winter break, had one point more than today (with one additional match), but  trailed OM by 11 points, in 4th. The Aiglons 2018-19 are just 4 points away from 4th place, currently occupied by Montpellier, proof that the league remains very tight.

Defensively: The right mix

Troubled by the first 3 games of the season, where his side conceded more than one third of its goals, Patrick Vieira set to work at building a solid defensive block at the end of the summer. The coach’s inspiration allowed his side to get going, and has since become a huge strength for the side. Halfway through the season, Nice currently have the third best defence in the top flight and have conceded 17 goals. Seven of the Aiglons’ 18 games have finished with a clean sheet.

The stat: Between October and December, Nice established its longest run of Ligue 1 clean sheets (6 consecutive matches).

Offensively: Momentum to be found 

Although defensively the Aiglons have shown real solidity, they have struggled offensively since the start of the season. “If we look the number of goals scored (13, the worst in the top flight), it’s pretty poor, summed up Patrick Vieira, after the final game of the year. If you look at the goals conceded (17, 3rd best defence in the league), you can see that it’s solid.” It’s worth noting that 11 of the 13 goals were scored in open play (the other 2 were scored by Saint-Maximin at Lyon, after a short corner; and by Cyprien against Saint-Etienne, from the penalty spot). 

Tactically: Flexibility

Two formations have been used since the start of the season. Or more accurately, two starting formations, articulated differently depending on the strengths of the opponent.

The Red and Blacks started in a 4-3-3, with a back four. Very quickly, the system transformed into a 3-5-2, which allowed  them to find the balance at the back. The 3-5-2 changed in various manners, whilst still keeping the same core: the back three. 3-4-1-2 with a 10 between the lines, 3-4-3  with two reinforced wings, 3-4-2-1 with two 10s supporting one central striker. The starting formations were malleable, but the principles didn’t vary at all. 

The stat: Only Paris (63.4%) and Lyon (60.6%) have better possession stats than Nice (56.5%) in Ligue 1 this season.

The most used player 

Unsurprisingly, the most used player in the league is the experienced head of the squad. The captain.

At 35 years old, Dante is the model professional. Serious and committed on a daily basis, the former Bayern defender remains the heartbeat of the side. Consistent, he has only missed a quarter of an hour of play in L1 (1697 minutes played), when he felt a slight twinge against Angers. For the rest, he has been omnipresent, which isn’t down to luck as he explained to the press. "Last year; there was a turning point for me to do with my age. I like to work but I was working too much every day and there were matches where I didn’t have the legs. I was tired and when the games were building up, I was performing less well. This year, I have found the right balance so that I can perform, consistently and calmly in my head. I am clearer on what I need to do and what I shouldn’t do."

Adrien Tameze (1539 minutes played in L1) and Christophe Hérelle (1440) complete the podium of most used players.

The top scorer  

10 members of the squad have found the back of the net (the 11th scorer being Gouano, who scored an own goal during Nice - Amiens). 8 in the league (Saint-Maximin, Cyprien, Jallet, Atal, Makengo, Lees-Melou, Srarfi, Ganago) and 2 in the Coupe de la Ligue (Walter and Myziane).

Allan Saint-Maximin and Wylan Cyprien share the lead for the top scorers, with 3 goals each. The man with the most assists is Myziane with 3 assists. 

Aiglon of the first half of the season  

For each match, the supporters are invited to elect an Aiglon of the Match.

The man who has won the award on the highest number of occasions is the man who also won the title for the final game of the calendar year, at Strasbourg: Youcef Atal. Arriving with a bang, the Algerian has been voted “Niçois of the match” on six occasions in 14 appearances (11 starts). 

C.D.

 

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