In a few games time we will have eclipsed the midway point in the Ligue 1 season, and it has already been a topsy-turvy season for the men in black and red with the shaky results at the beginning of the season, to going on an impressive run that nobody could have foreseen.
Bought Wisely Bretons?
The team from the region's capital underwent major reconstruction work after a torrid season, with the continuous heartache at the end- losing another cup final, this time to derby rivals Guingamp. A major weakness of the beaten finalists was its defence. With the purchases of Mexer from the Portuguese league and Fallou Diagne from Freiburg, you would have thought of them to be ample replacements to cover the departure of the sometimes comical, and definitely heart-stopping John Boye. Also freshened up were the wide players, as Christian Bruls joined the side after impressing on loan at Nice last season. Brazilian, Pedro Henrique arrived from FC Zurich as well as Benjamin Andre being involved in a move to the club. Up top came Philipp Hosiner, who had an impressive scoring record with Austria Vienna, along with Habib Habibou, a fairly unknown player from Gent.
With a new squad believed to be well equipped for another season in the top division in France, manager, Philippe Montanier and his side began their campaign away to Lyon. This wasn't the start to the season many fans were hoping for as Rennes lost by two goals to nil. Although a disappointing result for Rennes, they needed to bounce back immediately in their first home game of the season to try and reassure the doubters that the team had improved. Evian were the opponents, and a spectacle was to be had as they pinned their first win of the season in a 6-2 thriller. This began a series of up and down results culminating in a run of three losses on the trot, and the doubters returned. A run of the mill win against strugglers RC Lens at home was to begin something spectacular that hadn't been achieved in Montanier's tenure: Rennes put together a run of nine games undefeated, including an astonishing win against Marseille to knock them out the league cup. Rennes had Hosiner to thank as he netted with the last kick of the ball, sending the fans and players alike into hysterics.
All good things come to an end eventually, as it did for Rennes when they stared down a list of potential winnable fixtures in December. Little did they expect to fall short in the very first match against southerners, Montpellier. 'Fall short' is maybe an understatement as Rennes were convincingly beaten by a four goal margin. This result brought the Breton side back down to earth, and realised that they may have underestimated the former champions due to the run the marvellous run. Montpellier done to Rennes what Rennes had been doing to other teams on their travels, with impressive counter-attacking play, picking them off one by one and being clinical whenever they needed to be in front of goal. Rennes were anything but clinical as many chances passed them by. Habib Habibou wouldn't have slept that night, with his smacking of the bar from six yards being the pinnacle of a horrible bunch of wasted opportunities.
Rennes travel to bottom side Bastia this weekend, in what has the potential to be a tricky game for the away side. They will take good confidence in their opponents only winning one in their last six, which strangely enough was a home game to Montpellier. Last season, both sides won their respective home games against each other- so if history was to repeat itself, an embarassment could be on the cards.
Where do the go from here?
If Rennes want to restart their run of unbeaten games, then they may have to re-evaluate their side and see where they went right and wrong through the period- plus learning how to overcome potential banana skins like Montpellier. One influential player in the run is their highly rated top scorer Paul-Georges Ntep, who was a game changer on many occasions. The pacey winger would assist as well as score, being a useful weapon from the start or as a substitute. Ntep has had to help chip in with goals, as main striker Ola Toivonen hadn't featured in much of the unbeaten run due to injury. One tactic deployed Montanier is to get Ntep running at the opponent's full-back on the break whilst the ball would be knocked ahead of him by a team mate to chase, utilizing the frightening pace he possesses. As Ntep would run towards the box, there waiting would be Abdoulaye Doucoure or Habibou for a cut-back. This was something that Montpellier had got wind of, isolating Ntep and doubling up on him to make him less effective. The few times Ntep managed to break costless, he couldn't find the cutting pass required to a team mate on standby. Montpellier aren't the only team to try and isolate Ntep, others have tried, and most have failed- but those who have done so successfully have seen the benefits.
Five of the nine games unbeaten were clean sheets, and the back four alongside goalkeeper, Benoit Costil have to take great credit from that. Last season, the Rennes fans were at their wits end after countless defensive mishaps. Although John Boye and Kana-Biyik could be to blame for a number of them, both being replaced has certainly showed on the clean sheet tally. Mexer has arguably been signing of the season thus far, and Costil has the potential to be player of the year at Rennes. His saves have been vital on the run their recent run, and rest assured that the defence he has in front of him this season has been more sturdy. The French national team has rewarded Costil's notable performances of late with a call-up, and he will hope that he will feature in the team for Euro 2016.
In the engine room, Gelson Fernandes has also contributed to the defensive performance of Rennes this season. Fernandes has played around the world for many clubs, and it could be argued that his latest team has needed him more than ever. Fernandes is out injured and never featured in the loss to Montpellier, with some attributing the hefty defeat to the withdrawal of Swiss defensive midfielder to the side. There seems to a a bit more fight in the midfield with Fernandes as this reflects on who he plays alongside. His more offensive midfield team mate, Abdoulaye Doucoure is a unique player indeed- he is a giant in stature but of thin build, dubbed the 'Gazelle' by some supporters. Doucoure can dribble, run and he can find that killer pass with un-human like instinct. Although Doucoure can get into good attacking positions off the ball, his shooting lets him down massively, quite the opposite to the man who gave a respectable amount for his position in the scoring department when he burst onto the first team scene last season.
Final Summary
Rennes had always been labeled as inconsistent, and even the most hardcore supporter of the rouge et noir wouldn't argue with that tag. For much of last season and for the beginning of the current, this has been shown in its full light. However, before the loss to Montpellier a bit of consistency had prevailed for the first time in a long while and the fans were ecstatic with that. The players and the management would have felt the same and now need to show character to pick themselves up and continue that stable form that has been shown they can do. If Rennes are able to manage that, then something greater than a high league position may present itself such as European competition. The last time Rennes were involved in such a stage is when the largest side in the football-mad region of Brittany presented itself to this writer. Maybe with another go at Europe, they can expand on their growing fans across the continent.