Monaco Are One Striker from Becoming Ligue 1 Contenders Again

Not much was expected of AS Monaco this season, especially not after they sold James Rodriguez to Real Madrid and Radamel Falcao joined Manchester United on loan. Slowly and surely they are getting the season back on track, improvements can be seen under new boss Leandro Jardim, and the five wins this season—they have played one game more—is as good as Paris Saint-Germain.

We are now only two months until the January transfer window opens, and the good news for Jardim is that his side are only one good striker away from contending for a place in the top three this season.

On Friday night, Monaco had the chance to move within a point of PSG at the top end of the table, if they could extend their run to three straight wins over Stade de Reims, home at the Stade Louis II.

Nigerian full-back Elderson Echiejile gave the home side a 1-0 lead when he finished at the back post—his first goal for the club—but the home side failed to add to their good start and former Monaco winger Benjamin Moukandjo hit back on the break, scoring with their only shot on target, according to WhoScored.

Monaco on the other hand had 12 shots on goal, five of them on target, and it has been the same problem that was plagued them all season, finishing when they get the opportunities.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

The goal from Echiejile made him the 10th goalscorer for the Monegasque side this season, but not one of those 10 has scored more than twice. It will be slightly depressing for Jardim that Falcao is still one of the top scorers at the club, even though he left two months ago.

It will also be frustrating for Jardim as it’s not because his side are struggling to create chances. Looking at WhoScored’s team statistics for attacking and we see Monaco come off well. They average 12.4 shots per game, putting them sixth in the league.

They are also fourth on getting their shots on target, averaging five per game, only 1.1 less than league top scorers Marseille. All they need is someone who has the ability to convert these shots to goals, and that is Jardim’s biggest problem.

Last January, Dimitar Berbatov joined on a free transfer from Fulham, and with Falcao out injured, the Bulgarian made an instant impact. After finding his feet, he scored six goals in nine starts for Claudio Ranieri’s team.

This season it has been far from impressive. The former Manchester United forward hasn’t played since Week 8, but hasn’t scored since the 1-1 draw against Lille and has gone 388 minutes without a goal in the league.

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Berbatov was a great short-term option, but is not at the level that can carry this club into the future. There is also young 18-year-old Anthony Martial, but it is too early for the France under-21 international to carry the burden of Monaco’s attack.

Last season he managed two goals in 11 appearances, this campaign he has already made 10 appearances, has one goal and looks to have all the attributes to make it at the top. However, he needs someone to show him how.

Monaco also have Ivory Coast international Lacina Traore on the bench, but he is just coming back to full fitness and it is unclear whether the striker who had a spell on loan at Everton can be the man to lead the Monaco attack.

Russian owner Dimitri Rybolovlev needs to dip into his pockets and help his side become a contender again this season. Once a whole host of names left the club this summer, no one really expected Monaco to achieve much this season.

If they can add a player that could go on to score 10 goals this season, it will be hard for the other Ligue 1 clubs to compete with Monaco’s style, flair and creativity. The signs are there that this is a team capable of more; they just need someone to finish off the good work of their creative talent.