Ligue 2. Close-up on the right piston Thibaut Vargas, who will play Saturday August 6 in Saint-Etienne with the Crocos.
He hopes to backfire as much as in Châteauroux where the journalists had baptized him “the Berri moped”. The evocation of this anecdote makes Thibaut Vargas smile, one of the nine recruits of the summer transfer window of Nîmes Olympique. “In the field, I go back and forth a lot. Since I don’t stop, I was given that nickname”says the native of Aix-en-Provence, who signed for a year, with an option for two additional seasons.
Usaï appreciates this player who “has strength, commitment and the ability to project himself quickly”
“I think it was the first one I called once the maintenance was acquired”notes Nicolas Usaï, who appreciates this player who “has strength, commitment and the ability to project quickly”, as demonstrated by his early outings. If the affair dragged on, Vargas does not hide it, it is because he has “was approached by L1 clubs, Strasbourg in particular, and other ambitious L2 clubs. The reflection, it was there, even if I always kept Nîmes in the back of my mind”.
The croco technician’s repeated calls and his speech ended up tipping the scales. “He was clear in his words, which gave me confidence. He thinks that Nîmes, for me, can be a good springboard”unroll the one that is there “to save playing time and continue to progress”the objective being, “why not”, to return one day to Ligue 1, a level he discovered in Montpellier, making three appearances, including two as a starter during the 2019-2020 season.
Barred in Montpellier by Junior Sambia and Arnaud Souquet
“I’m in no hurry. I know you shouldn’t skip the steps”, he said. Rather than taking a seat in the Hérault, where he was helmed by Junior Sambia and Arnaud Souquet, Thibaut Vargas did not hesitate to be loaned to Châteauroux in January 2021 or to be transferred there last summer despite the descent de la Berri in National.
If he “can play four behind”Vargas was first and foremost recruited because he “the profile to evolve in 3-5-2notes Nicolas Usaï. He has everything of a piston.” It’s not surprising since when he was younger, he played on the right wing: “It was my coach in U19 who brought me down. As it worked rather well, I continued in this role.”
Today he says: “It’s my preferred position, the one that suits me best”the one that corresponds to its “counter-attacking skills with a very good quality of center” (Usaï), even if he has not really adjusted his sights yet, both in the preparation matches and during his first, Saturday against Caen, against whom he only managed two crosses out of five attempted.
3 goals and 3 assists last year with Châteauroux
The instructions given to him by his trainer? “Being serious and rigorous defensively, well in place tactically, the basis of my job, I must not forget it. And when we attack, don’t ask me questions and go there frankly to close the second post and be on the second balls.
Last year, with the Berry, the one who “small adjustments to make defensively” (Usaï) and which also specifies “like to get inside the game to try to combine and be decisive on a cross from the left”, scored three goals including a double and delivered three assists. If, with Nîmes Olympique, the Vargas moped could backfire as much and as well, it would already be a good start.
Ben Achour and Kari to strengthen the reserve team?
Since the resumption of the croco reserve, relegated to Regional 1, two 20-year-old players have been on trial. Two players that coach Yannick Dumas would like to see signed: Montpellier’s Adil Ben Achour, a striker “not yet physically ready, analyzes the croco coach, but a boy who is not stingy with his efforts and shows interesting things, in the quality of his calls and his availability in the field”; and Metz central defender Ehsan Kari, an “athletic and serious” element.
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