AJ Auxerre: Rise to the Top
By: Thomas | November 26th, 2009Due to AJ Auxerre’s spectacular league position and their current lack of a blogger (send Daryl an email if you’re interested), I thought I’d profile the team, and analyze their current Ligue 1 status…
Association de la Jeunesse Auxerroise is a club known for the feat of never having been relegated from Ligue 1, as well as producing some world class players in recent years, such as Eric Cantona, Phillipe Mexes, and Djibril Cisse. They have a Ligue 1 topping 17 full international players in their first team, and although this statistic speaks of greatness, Auxerre have been mediocre at best over the past few seasons under the leadership of much traveled manager Jean Fernandez. This season things have been different, and I’ll begin by analyzing their first team.
In terms of goalkeepers they are pretty much set. Olivier Sorin is a solid Ligue 1 keeper in the prime of his career, while Remi Riou is one of the best up and coming keepers in France. They have shared the minutes pretty evenly over the past few seasons, and this provides healthy competition, inspiring to work hard for their places.
On defense they are solid as well. Cedric Hengbart contributes significantly to the attack from the right wing and is a seasoned veteran. In the center Swiss International Stephane Gritching partners Malian International Adama Coulibaly, making a tandem with bucket loads of Ligue 1 experience. On the left we have Jean-Pascal Mignot, who has spent his entire career to date with les Auxerrois, making 137 league appearances. They work excellently as a unit and have played a full two seasons together.
The definite star of the Auxerre midfield is Benoit Pedretti. The dead ball specialist is a multi-faceted central midfielder who has played for some of the best clubs in France and has collected 22 caps for the French National Team in his career. He is also the captain and has been at Auxerre for the past 4 seasons. The other normal starters are Kamel Chafni and youngster Delvin N’Dinga. Dariusz Dudka, Aurelien Capoue (on loan from Nantes), and Roy Contout also feature, but there is little depth beyond that.
Up front Auxerre are blessed multitude of options. Ireneusz Jelen is an excellent goalscorer (33 league goals for the club in total), but the Polish international has had injuries galore since his arrival in France from Warsaw. Daniel Niculae is also a good striker, but his goal scoring is extremely inconsistent. In 07/08 he scored 11 in the Ligue, while last year he managed a total of zero. Speed demons Valter Birsa and Dennis Oliech also compliment the offense, but have had difficulties finding the net at a club level this season. Alexandre Licata and Julien Quercia have been injured the entire season so far, taking a bit of bight out of this attack.
It seems to me that the key to this Auxerre side is the excellent defense, suplemented by the goalscoring and play making abilities of Ireneusz Jelen and Benoit Pedretti. So, why are they on top? Their summer signings were well thought out and smart, they have been consistent since that poor start to the season, and rest of the league simply hasn’t.
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Tags: Auxerre (AJA), Benoît Pedretti, France Ligue 1, Ireneusz Jelen, Olivier Sorin, Player News, Remi Riou, Team NewsSubscribe
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Comments
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I’m sorry to say this, but this analysis flaws in many ways. It almost seems like you hadn’t done anything else but checked stats.
Licata and Quercia haven’t played a minute so far, not due to the competition, but because they are injured. Both suffered bad injuries and have been out for long time. Both also should be returning soon. Licata only broke through last season and is not considered as a solid ligue 1 level forward but as someone yet to show what he really is made of. On the other hand he showed some killer instinct last season and a lot is waited from him when he comes back. This all is something that anybody following ligue 1 would know, which makes me wonder what you based your analysis on.
Pedretti used to be a huge prospect for France. He is a big reason why AJA is where they are now, the uncontested star player of the team. Hengbart has been one of the best defenders of ligue 1 this season (I think all the pundits agree about this). Another big reason. But there’s way more than individuals in this team, because even with Pedretti and Hengbart this team doesn’t on paper seem a ligue 1 top club, but more like a mid table one.
Main reason to AJA’s success, in my opinion and according to statistics, lies in defense: they score very little and Sorin sure ain’t a top of the ligue 1 starting keeper.
AJA’s defense is sort of poor man’s version of that of les girondins. Hengbart is good with ball, a quarter back type of full back, like Chalmè, although perhaps not just as good as Chalmé. Mignot reminds us aq bit of younger Jurietti, although Mignot is bigger and more CB/LB type of player. Both are however mainly good in own end but able to give some passing support to attack. There’s nothing like Tremoulinas in AJA though and no doubt the rising full backs of les girondins are way better than those of AJA.
Coulibaly-Grichting are poor man’s version of last season’s Diawara-Planus duo. Big, strong, experienced and solid stay home defenders who are very strong in setpieces (this combines excellently with Pedretti’s good free kicks).
As you mentioned, AJA defense have played together some time now, so they know how to play together (just like Planus-Diawara-Chalmé in last season’s Bordeaux). There are no hazardous defenders and everybody takes the defense first, while being able to support midfield with at least decent passing game – plus that Mignot (who has history of scoring goals when he was younger) and especially Hengbart can really produce attack wise.
Their midfield is strong in defense as well. Aside Ndinga, who is mainly a defensive player, playmaker Pedretti has always been very good in his defensive play. It has been mainly his ability to produce offensively that has been questionned during his career. Even his set pieces aren’t always that great: the goal that he scored this season from free kick was first for Auxerre for 3 years. So, Pedretti hadn’t scored from a free kick for 3 years.
Another reason is that the biggest favorites to win the title have problems.
Blanc did admit that Bordeaux’s performances in ligue 1 suffer from the CL matches that they value over ligue 1. Indeed, les girondins were at the top until they started their European duties.
Lyon continues to struggle with defense filled with defensive midfielders and youngsters, while also investing more in CL than in France.
Marseille still has to do with the team play, as most of the starting XI was brought in just for this season. OM also has very difficult times in CL and yet it is a matter of pride to play their best when hosting clubs as legendary as Real Madrid and AC Milan.
PSG has suffered of injuries and inefficiency. TFC suffers of Dédé’s inefficient form too, LOSC has “mental” problems.
I have to note that unlike what you let us understand Jelen doesn’t really have playmaking role in Auxerre. He gives about 10 passes à match and is mostly just the guy who finishes the goals. Niculae touches two to three times as many balls à match as Jelen and is the more play making forward. In fact, he might be more important of the two despite his low scoring numbers, because he has been involved in creating most of the situations that have lead to a goal.
Anyway, it’s nice that you decided to discuss this issue, as AJA’s succes is no doubt the Europe-wide surprise of the season.
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Thank you for the critique Didi. I have to say that I started with very little knowledge of Auxerre and have had to rely on statistics and highlights for this analysis as I have been unable to catch any of their matches live this season.
I completely forgot about the Quercia and Licata injuries, and I agree about Licata’s potential as a goalscorer which is why I was so surprised at the lack of minutes. I will change that though.
Your sentiments about Pedretti, Hengbart, and, the defense echo my thoughts completely. I was referring to Pedretti as a dead ball specialist more for his ability on corners than his goal from a free kick this season, which was excellent though.
The play making abilities referred to Pedretti, while the goalscoring abilities referred to Jelen. Sorry for any confusion that caused.
Again, thanks for the critique. As a PSG fan it’s nice to have some insight into the opposition.
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True, much of my critique just added detail to your analysis. I completely understood you saying that AJA relys on Jelen’s playmaking skills.
As a PSG fan you must have had terrible time this season. One of the best playing teams throughout season but in difficulties in turning control to goals. I wish you guys better luck in future.
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Thanks Didi. I’m hoping our season can turn around starting tomorrow, but you never know.
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