After the departure of club top scorer Habib Diallo and the serious injury of his replacement Ibrahima Niane, scorer of six goals, FC Metz's attack looked in trouble. But coach Frédéric Antonetti has found a way...
Despite Senegal striker Niane's being out of action until spring time at least with a ruptured ACL in his right knee, FC Metz have continued make progress, finding themselves in the top half of the table (tenth) after their 1-1 draw with Dijon in Round 10. But how have they kept on trucking without a main man in attack?
Niane destroys Lorient
Strength in depth! Although Niane stood out early in the season with his six goals, Frédéric Antonetti's squad is in fact well armed in terms of attacking talent. From Opa Nguette to rookie Aaron Leya Iseka, the Corsican technician analyses the strengths and weaknesses of his attacking players.
Thierry Ambrose
Thierry Ambrose (23) was the designated substitute for Niane when the latter suffered his serious injury. However, the former Lens man was also injured in mid-October, but he is close to fit again, only narrowly missing out on the squad for the Dijon draw. Antonetti is looking forward to having his "dribbler" back in action.
Opa Nguette
A centre forward during his time at the Valenciennes FC academy, Opa Nguette (26) had been something of a peripheral figure since his arrival at the Stade Saint-Symphorien in 2016. But he made his mark as a centre-forward away to Angers SCO on 18 October (1-1), where he scored his first goal of the season. Last year, the Senegalese scored five times in Ligue 1 Uber Eats, his best total in five years in the elite.
Lamine Gueye
The chef's surprise! On the verge of being loaned out to Paris FC (Ligue 2 BKT), Lamine Gueye (22) has gone from a player in need of playing time to a regular in just a few days. His coach put him in the XI away to Angers, a few days after an administrative problem scotched his loan move. Since then, he has proved decisive, with a first goal against Nîmes at the Costières in Round 9 (0-1) and an assist for Opa Nguette in the draw with Dijon.
"His qualities are speed and depth," Antonetti pointed out. "He masters the role on the right side perfectly and that's rare. More and more, players want to play in the centre and wide men are at a real premium."
Vagner Dias
The arrival of Vagner Dias (24) is a "coup" for the Moselle club. The Cape Verde international, who shone on loan at Lorraine-region rivals Nancy - where he scored 13 goals in 33 Ligue 2 BKT matches - was seriously injured (ankle and left fibula) in November 2019. But Frédéric Antonetti and the Metz directors managers have great faith in his abilities, which include pace, dribbling and the elimination of defenders.
Aaron Leya Iseka
Belgian Aaron Leya Iseka (22 years old), who played for Toulouse (Ligue 2 BKT), signed his contract with Metz about ten days ago - as a 'medical joker'.
"Iseka has all the qualities to make a very good centre-forward, really all of them," said Antonetti about the brother of former Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, who scored two goals in Ligue 1 Uber Eats last year. "Now I'm waiting for him to realise that potential. Can he do in competition what he does in training?"
Farid Boulaya
Farid Boulaya (27) is not an attacker but he sometimes plays as if he were one.
"I think Boulaya is a number 10. Is a number 10 an attacker? It depends on the profiles, some are more attacker than midfielder and others more midfielder than attacker," analysed Antonetti. "He can play on the wings too, he's a dribbler. But I think that where he's most comfortable is at the heart of the game."
