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St Raphael coach: We need to show character

Aix are playing their first home game and their important left wing is back in the team. Saint Rapahel won their first two home encounters, and this will be their first on the road. Atlason is gradually getting more playing time

The post-Karabatic era for Aix started with two away games in the first two rounds. And while no one had expected anything from the Montpellier game, even though ending up 12 goals behind left a bitter taste, the one with Ivry was a much more important benchmark for their current team, which has the likes of the great Noka Serdarusic in an advisory role.

Aix won by 21-20, they were ahead of their opponents from the beginning to the end and won their first points this season deservedly. Their scoring efficiency from open play was at 43%, which is unsurprising in a 41 goal match. Aix's main backcourt players didn't have the best of evenings, right back Vasilakis was 2 /6, 1/5 from open play, Vladica Stojanovic was 2/7, Goni Leoz 2/4...However, Ploquin had 14 saves, defense did a good job and the points went to the south of France. Their first home game follows today, and goalie Yahann Ploquin is in the spotllight, as he arrived from the ranks of today's opponents St. Raphael last summer.

This 35-year-old also spent some time in Toulouse, Gummersbach and Zaragoza, before a four-year spell at St. Raphael.

- I'm still here, although I had a lot of physical issues over the past two years. But I never doubted. The day I doubt myself will be the day I stop playing - Ploquin told the Handzone.net handball website.

We played in the preseason against St Raphael, we lost and I was terrible. It was a bit strange playing against former teammates. But I know them, they know me, it's easier to play that way.

This is how he announced today's game...

- St Raphael are a very solid team, a serious club. They have good foundations with players from the Bundesliga, internationals who've fit in well. They'll have a great season, onl they won't take the points tonight. I wish them the best of luck afterwards.

Pays Aix played Ivry without their top scorer, left wing Mickael Illes, who was troubled by knee pain. There is no special news concerning his status, but judging by his twitter posts, he will play today.

- Continued with training sessions...no pain...good to go - he wrote this week.

A top performance from him will be vital, as he is one of the best wings in the league.

St. Raphael are arriving after two home wins against Nimes and Tremblay. They had big leads in both games at the outset of the second period, 9 against Nimes, 6 against Tremblay, but were unable to hold on to them. In the last round with Tremblay, however, it was less dramatic - a 29-26 win with 8/14 by center back Olsen, 4/5 from pivot Lynggaard, 4/4 by wing Caucheteux, 5/9 by left back Abily... 

- I think we showed some great things, we were especially better in defense. We didn't see too many balls from Tremblay getting to their line man Salou, and this is one of their strengths - coach Christian Gaudin was pleased.

- Let's not forget we played two home games, we'll need to show character at Aix. It will be their first home game, it will be tough. We'll need to have a different approach. Against Trembly, Sebastien Garain went in and added some aggression. This aggression - in a positive sense - we need to repeat.

Arnor Atlason spend more time on the court against Tremblay than in the opening game, but remained at zero goals from three attempts. His real performances are yet to be seen. For now, the standout players are Olsen (14/27), Caucheteux (14/17) and goalie Djukanovic (see image; 29/80, 36.2%). Coach Gaudin still cannot count on two injured players, right back Barachet and left back Krakowski, who will stay out for a while longer.

St. Raphael are not backing away from their game, they played very well in the first two rounds, especially in offense, and those who followed me in French Handball and last season in German Handball know that the reason for those games is Morten Olssen, a Dane who plays in the outer middle back position and arrived from Hannover. Atlason is getting back to his rhythm, and St. Raphael have good right back, Di Panda-Sthelik, even without the injured Barachet. They're going to demand a faster handball against everybody. In the first two round they went over the 55.5 margin, I don't see why they wouldn't d the same today. Aix are not a defense oriented team, their last round 21-20 victory was more due to Ivry's style rather than Aix. In the last two seasons the two teams had 56 and 62 goals, but we shouldn't pay too much attention to that because this is a different St. Raphael, and so are Aix because they had Nikola Karabatic in that 62 point game