Friendly, Vannes - Stade rennais, Wednesday 18:30 CET. A month and a half after their last match, the Stade de la Rabine will be hosting the first pre-season game of the 2011-2012 Stade Rennais. Facing the “Rouge et Noir”, a Vannes side freshly relegated to the National.
Two and a half week after they returned to training at La Piverdière, Rennes will play their first pre-season game of the 2011-2012 season this Wednesday evening. A game to cap the first of the training camp in Carnac for a professional squad completed with the return of Yann M’Vila and the arrival of the latest recruit Jonathan Pitroipa.
This first opposition, at the Stade de la Rabine, opens a series of four friendly games over the next two weeks. On target: Stade Rennes’ entrance into the Europa League, on July 28th.
As usual, this return to the pitches will be an opportunity to review the squad widely, and for Frédéric Antonetti to get a clear view of his squad’s ability. At a time where the loans of young players can be quickly arranged and where the departure of midfield players is being clearly considered (read previously), that sort of game could be a good occasion for the Rennes manager to make definitive choices.
Meanwhile, this first game will allow the Corsican coach and the supporters to have a first look at this summer’s first recruits. Julien Féret and Benoît Costil should logically play their first minutes with the red and black shirt on, while Jonathan Pitroipa could follow them if the coaching staff considers him fit and ready for the occasion.
However, the likely absence of Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, injured, should bring Antonetti to compose a centre-back pair without one of its usual starters, while Kembo and Apam, and possibly a few more players (Pajot ? Montaño?) will also be missing. In a climate of general fear of injuries, no inconsiderate risks will be taken, whether during the match or for the players having suffered “minor” injuries over the last few days.
Whatever happens, this game should reflect the physical fatigue of the Rennes player, at the middle of an always exhausting summer training camp. On the other side of the pitch, the Vannetais have already played two pre-season friendlies and are likely to show more pace and energy than their opponents of the day.
For the Morbihan side, although the return to training was scheduled on the same day as in Rennes (June 27th), the preparation was sensibly different. Since their return, Stéphane Le Mignan’s players have indeed already played two pre-season friendlies.
On July 2nd, under a week after the return to training, the VOC experienced a first defeat (1-2) against the Stade de Reims (Ligue 2) at the Stade Municipal de Carnac, where the Rennes squad have been training since Thursday. A second defeat followed last Saturday, against Marseille at the Stade de la Rabine. Also in a pre-season training camp in the Morbihan, Marseille struggled against the Vannetais, especially during the first half, but eventually won on a goal by former Rennes target Jérémy Morel (0-1).
This Wednesday, the VOC is therefore getting ready for a third pre-season game. An “early” pre-season preparation explained by the club’s entrance into the Coupe de la Ligue as soon as July 23rd, against Troyes (L2). Before this game, and after this Wednesday’s encounter, another pre-season game is scheduled, next Saturday against Guingamp (L2) in Perros-Guirrec. Finally, a last friendly will take place between Vannes and Niort (National) on 29th July.
This heavy pre-season schedule prepares Vannes to their return in the National, after three seasons in Ligue 2. Logically, the “Blanc et Noir” will target an immediate return to L2 in a league they enter as favourites. In that aim, Stéphane Le Mignan has – despite the relegation – kept a relatively stable squad, as illustrate the presence of young midfielder Fabien Jarsalé, involved in the last Toulon tournament with France U21, and remained at the club this summer.
Several players have indeed decided to remain in L2 (Vincent Le Baron to Laval, Virgile Reset to Boulogne), to move abroad (Patrick Leugueun to Cyprus) or to retire from professional football (former Nantes player Pascal Delhommeau has joined a local league club in the Loire Atlantique), but in the other hand, Vannes managed to attract Mathieu Berson, without a club since his contract with Toulouse expired last year. If he manages to bounce back, the former Nantes midfielder could hold a key-role in Vannes’ fortunes this season.
On trial this week, former Rennes player Stéphane N’Guéma could also join this squad. Familiar with the National, in which he already played with Istres, Paris FC and Beauvais, the Gabonese played with the Paris Saint-Germain Reserve in CFA last season. In this game, he will have an opportunity to convince the Vannes staff to trust him on the long-term. For some, this will be more than just another pre-season friendly.
- Photo: Matthieu Riegler via Wikimédia Commons
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