Meatman French Ligue 2 Preview 2007/08

[meatman]

FRENCH LIGUE 2 PREVIEW 2007/08

Friday 27th July 2007 is when the new French ligue 2 season starts back after only a 2 month break. Once again I shall be covering the ligue is great detail, even more so than ever in my quest to find winners week after week. So with not long to go here is my in depth season preview which I hope you will all find very useful indeed. This is my best ever quality of preview that I have written and I am very pleased with the work in it, now just roll on the 1st round of matches so we can all start to cash in again


Part (I) - Teams challenging for promotion


Nantes
The mighty Nantes are without doubt the most high profile name in ligue 2 this season, indeed they are probably the most high profile club that this division has seen for over 10 years. They are the last team to have won ligue 1 since Lyon started their dominance, but now find themselves in the 2nd tier of French football. They are a massive club and the expectations amongst everyone involved here is that they will be promotion challengers and will make it straight back up to the top flight. I have to say I think they should certainly be involved in the mixer at the top of the table and look to have the strongest defence in the division along with a very good midfield. However they look a bit poor in attack and need to find some strikers who can get them goals.

The defence looks to be superb and they have only lost a few players during the summer who weren’t that important. Nantes have brought in plenty of new additions all of whom should do a good job for them. Starting at right back they have brought in Olivier Thomas from Ligue 1 Le Mans and he is certainly an experienced player. At 33 years old he isn’t a spring chicken anymore, but should be ideally suited to ligue 2 football and looks a quality signing. Remi Mareval comes in on the left hand side, although id imagine Franck Signorino will be the number one left back for Nantes. In the centre, Mauro Cetto and Loic Guillon should be the first choice duo and there are plenty of other decent options that they have as cover. Obviously it’s a possibility that Nantes could lose a few important players before the end of the transfer window, but at this moment in time I think they have the best defence in ligue 2.

The midfield also looks to be very strong and Nantes have brought in 2 new players, both of whom I expect to do well. David De Freitas did an excellent job for Amiens last season and he will be a regular midfielder for Nantes this year. Harlington Shereni comes in from Guingamp and he’s a similar defensive minded player just like De Freitas. Frederic Da Rocha on the right hand side is a Nantes legend and he is a key man, although age isn’t on his side at 33 years. On the attacking side of things, Nantes welcome Guillaume Moullec in from Ligue 1 Lorient and he could certainly prove to be a useful player. Nantes have plenty of other options in the middle of the park as well, although some might say they could do with one or two more creative minded guys. It still looks really strong though and will definitely be hard to break down in combination with the defence.

At the moment, the Nantes attack force is the weakest area of their team and could do with adding one or two more real quality strikers. Mamadou Bagayoko returns form his loan away in foreign lands, and in the past has proven to be a good striker at both ligue 1 and 2 levels. If Nantes can sort him out properly then he could become a real asset for the club, but at this moment there are some question marks about him. Nicolas Gousse arrives from relegated Istres but he’s had a poor last couple of seasons and I doubt will be a regular starter. Claudio Keseru and Denis Oliech haven’t impressed me much at ligue 1 level although they could prove to be decent by dropping down a division. If Luigi Pieroni stays then he will gets goals, although he will probably move to another club. This attack force is still quite good although there are certainly some question marks about it. I do have my concerns but I’m sure Nantes will still be decent in this area of the pitch.

Nantes are the bookies favourites to win the division and I have to agree that they have every chance of doing it. In defence and midfield they look to be one of the strongest in this ligue, and if their attack force can fire, then I see them having no problems obtaining promotion. Expectations will be high though and the pressure could get to the players. Nantes will also have to play their first two home matches behind closed doors because of a pitch invasion at the end of last season. Over the long course of the season they will definitely be in the hunt at the top of the table, and I think should make it back up to ligue 1, possibly as champions. Its never easy hitting back after relegation, but Nantes look to have the ammunition to return to the top flight.

Key players

Mauro Cetto (Centre back), Frederic Da Rocha (Midfielder right)

Verdict

Defence 10/10 (The best in ligue 2and is very strong in all areas)
Midfield 8/10 (Ideally need a little bit more in the creative department but still looks very good)
Attack 7/10 (Their weakest area and some question marks about it, still potential quality though)

Overall 1st - Defence the key as Nantes promoted as champions of Ligue 2


Troyes
They have been relegated from Ligue 1 but will look to hit back immediately by making a swift return to the top flight. They are definitely going to be a promotion contender and I think ultimately they will end up in the top 3, possibly as champions. Their defensive options don’t look great, but they possess the best attack force in ligue 2 and could simply outscore their opponents in many of their matches. Caen did the same thing last year and I think Troyes are capable of achieving a similar sort of success.

The defence is where the worries are, and new coach, Denis Troch needs to reinforce in the central areas. They don’t particularly have much of a problem out wide because Ibrahima Faye and Eric Marsester will do a good job on the left and right respectively. Gael Sanz will be one of the centre backs but there is a real lack of cover for this position an it might mean a few of the defensive minded midfielders would have to fill in. Troyes have lost key goalkeeper, Ronaan Le Crom, but replaced him with the excellent Cyrille Merville from Amiens. The defence definitely looks like it will be Troyes weakest area this year, although they wont be basing their success around it, so many might not see it as a real problem.

The midfield has lost a couple of key individuals, but it still looks to be strong and they have brought in a couple of decent replacements. Blaise Matuidi was their best player last season but understandably he has opted to join ligue 1 St Etienne. Benjamin Nivet moves to Caen and Troyes will miss his creativity. But Stephane Noro comes in from Sedan, and although he was injured for most of last season, he’s a quality player and I expect him to do an excellent job in the heart of the midfield. Ousmanne Sarr arrives from St Etienne and he will be a useful addition to the left hand side. Troyes already have players like Gael Danic, so this midfield looks quite decent. I think there is a good mixture of players and should be enough cover options if injuries kick in.

The attack force has lost David Gigliotti who returns back to Monaco on loan, but they have brought in some fine players and I think this looks to be the best strike force in ligue 2. Jerome Lafourcade, Christophe Meslin and Yahia Kebe are all proven performers at this level and all are capable of scoring loads of goals. Gregory Bettiol drops down a division from Ligue 1 Lyon, and he should be a useful new addition. Troyes have also kept some of their squad players such as Georges Ba and Ibrahima Bangoura, so they have loads of cover options should injuries kick in. Troyes look really strong upfront and I certainly expect them to score plenty of goals this season.

Overall, Troyes are definitely going to be involved in the promotion hunt and I think they will be one of the teams to make it up to ligue 1, possibly as champions. Their attack force is simply superb and they have the ability to simply overpower their opponents by outscoring them most of the time. There are weaknesses in defence though, which could be costly, although I doubt it. Their midfield looks strong and I think Troyes should see plenty of ball possession this season. I expect them to be involved in quite a few exciting matches because their tactics should be positive and attacking.

Key players - Stephane Noro (Midfielder), Yahia Kebe (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 5/10 (Their weakest aspect due to lack of options in the middle)
Midfield 8/10 (Lost some key players, but bought well and look to be pretty strong)
Attack 10/10 (Best in ligue 2 as they have many proven quality performers who are sure to score goals)

Overall 2nd - An excellent attack force the key as Troyes secure promotion


Amiens
They finished in 4th position last season and were incredibly unlucky not to be promoted. Ludovic Batelli’s side obtained a record number of points never to make it up to ligue 1, but if they obtain 69 again then I’m pretty sure they’ll be celebrating. Not many players have left or arrived during the summer so there is a sense of continuity about the club. I think they will do well again and realistically should be involved in the promotion hunt. Amiens look to have a good team and I believe they are capable of making it up to the top flight.

The defence is exactly the same as last year and Amiens welcome no new faces or see anyone leave them yet. Andre Sami at centre back is of course the key man along with Aurelian Bosche in the left position. Hamed, Vairelles and Hernandez are all pretty good players as well and I like the look of the backline. The one worry is actually the goalkeeping position. Cyrille Merville has left to go to Troyes and he is a big loss for Amiens. They have replaced him by bringing in Bevegnu from Toulouse and Chabbert from Lens. I don’t know who will be given the number 1 position, but both haven’t had much competitive football in recent seasons so it will be a challenge for them to adapt.

Amiens have lost key defensive midfielder, and captain, David De Freitas who leaves to Nantes. This is a body blow but I’m still sure that this midfield is nice and strong in all areas. Amiens look to be very useful on the wings and they are spearheaded by Thibault Giresse on the left and Antoine Buron on the right. Both these guys will provide the crosses for the strikers to feed on and I was very impressed with how Amiens used the flanks last season. Thomas Deruda arrives from Marseille on loan and he will add depth to the right hand side as cover for Buron. In the middle, someone like Levrat or Nicaise will have to fill in for De Freitas and they should do a good job. Had De Freitas stayed, then this midfield would’ve looked superb, but even with him gone it still looks pretty strong.

In attack, Amiens’ best striker is of course Sebastien Heitzmann, someone who has proved himself at ligue 2 level time and time again. His partner will probably be Fabrice Begeorgi who arrives on loan from Marseille. He did a pretty good job for Libourne last year and I see no reason why he cant succeed at Amiens. There are also plenty of other back up strikers in this squad all of whom are capable of hitting the back of the net. I like the look of Amiens options in attack, they will have no problems scoring goals.
Overall, Amiens look strong in all areas and should be able to launch a promotion bid. They will be strong both home and away and I expect them to be in the mixer at the top of the table all season long. On paper, there are perhaps more talented squads, but Amiens proved last season that a key ingredient is also teamwork and spirit. It’s the same nucleus of squad as it was last season and they will want to keeping winning, setting objectives high. Other sides might also give them too much respect which we have seen happen before. Amiens will love that and feast on some sides for breakfast. I honestly think they have what it takes to make it up to ligue 1 and I predict promotion.

Key players - Andre Sami (Centre back), Sebastien Heitzmann (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 7/10 (Their weakest aspect due to goalkeeping worries, still very strong though)
Midfield 8/10 (Excellent wide players, De Freitas loss a blow but there are plenty of options)
Attack 8/10 (Heitzmann the main man, plenty of others who will also score)

Overall 3rd - Good all round strength and teamwork means promotion for Amiens.


Le Havre
They finished in 6th position last season, although for most of the year they were involved in the promotion chase. Only a nightmare end to the season cost them dearly and they will aim to hit back for this campaign. Le Havre have lost a few key players, but also reinforced quite strongly and look to have enough quality to launch a promotion bid. I’m not so sure that they will make it up to ligue 1, but they should definitely be in the mixer at the top of the table. This is a big club with big expectations and they players know exactly what they need to do and what their aim is.

The defence has lost left back Henri Bedimo and right back Medaci. As yet they have not found any new replacements for them, so there is a lack of depth and cover for those positions. However, in the central areas, Le Havre look to be very strong and they welcome new signing Abasse Ba who comes in from Dijon. He was one of the best players in ligue 2 last season so I think will do a good job. Nicolas Gillet also comes in from Ligue 1 Lens and he should do well after dropping down a division. Le Havre already have some good centre backs in Ducrocq, Henin and Soumarre, so they have no problems with their options in the back line. I like the look of their defence except for the right hand side where they seem to be thin on the ground.

The midfield has lost Didier Digard and Anthony Gauvin in the defensive midfield roles, although neither were key players. They have brought in one new replacement for that position - Damien Tixier from Lens. I’ll be honest in that I think that they lack a bit of creativity in the middle of the park. They do have a lot of defensive minded options, Jemal Ait Ben Idir being a key man for the Normans. They don’t have so many guys available to them on the wings and I’m worried about this area. Also in the middle they don’t have many attacking players which might limit their creativity. This is still a pretty solid midfield though and should do a reasonable job.

The big loss during the summer for Le Havre has been key attacker, Jean Michel Lesage. He leaves as a Le Havre legend and for many seasons he scored loads of goals for them. But now he moves on to try his luck at ligue 1 level and Auxerre have his services. Le Havre still look to be strong in attack though and Ivorian, Kandia Traore should fill his boots once again. From foreign shores, Nikezic and Dabo are unknown factors but talk is that they are excellent strikers and should go well. Guillaume Hoarau also returns from his Gueugnon loan and he did a great job for Les Forgerons last season. He will be a welcome addition back into the squad and add to the depth upfront. There are one or two question marks about the new signings, but I think in general this looks to be one of the strongest attack forces in the division.. I have no doubt that Le Havre will score plenty of goals if their strikers are supplied properly.

Overall, I’m convinced Le Havre have enough quality to be involved in the promotion race this season and they should be a top 6 side. There are one or two areas of concern, especially on the right hand side of defence and midfield, but overall Le Havre seem to be very strong. There are some real quality individuals in all areas of the pitch and I expect them to pick up plenty of points. I think perhaps they might just fall short of the level required to make it up to ligue 1, but they have every chance of claiming promotion.

Key players - Jemal Ait Ben Idir (Defensive midfielder), Kandia Traore (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 8/10 (Very strong in the middle, only concern is at right back)
Midfield 6/10 (Their weakest aspect due to potential lack of creative options)
Attack 9/10 (One of the strongest in the ligue, especially if new signings fire)

Overall 4th - In the promotion hunt but might miss out by a whisker

[meatman]

Part (II) - The dark horses for promotion


Reims
For the last few seasons, the champagne club have been a midtable force, but this could be the year when they step up a gear and become dark horses for promotion. They have lost a few players over the summer, but nobody of massive importance. I like the look of some of their new signings and I think this team will work well together. Reims are always a strong home force, and if they can just sort themselves out away from home, then id say they have every chance of making the top 6 positions.

In defence they have lost Ludovic Jeannel but he wasn’t getting any younger and wasn’t that much of an important player. Reims look really strong at the back this year thanks to hatful of new players. Jean Deveaux comes in from Strasbourg and he did well last year in their promotion campaign. He’s a little on the old side but will add experience and also a bit of extra quality. Likewise, Ludovic Liron comes in from ligue 1 Valenciennes and he looks an excellent signing for the centre back position. Johann Truchet will add depth for the right back position and Reims are also thinking of the future by bringing in youngster, Sofyane Cherfa from Louhans. Along with these new players, Reims of course do have some good options in defence. Barbier, Balde, Ielsch, Fontenette and Giraodon are all proven performers, and coach, Thierry Froger has some superb options at the back this season. Along with Nantes, this looks to be the strongest defence in ligue 2 and will be hard to break down.

The midfield has lost a bit of depth as a few squad players have departed. They are most affected on the wings by the departures of Tiene and Bonnal. Nicolas Godemeche also returns to Montpellier after his brief loan spell. On the right wing, Reims have brought in an unknown player, Zahir Zerdab from national division club Beauvais. It will be interesting to see how he goes and he might well have to play a major role this season considering Reims do lack players on the right hand side. Defensive minded youngster, Thomas Ayasse comes in from Toulouse and he’s said to be a promising young player. The midfield does seem to be a bit thin on the ground, although when at full strength it should go well. The key man for Reims is Julien Feret who will play in a free role and is the main creative man. He is someone I rate very highly and when he’s playing well, many teams struggle to cope with him. Karl Tourenne in the holding role will be vital, but as I said, there is a possible lack of cover in most positions, except the left hand side where they have loads of options.

The attack force is very thin on the ground, but the options that Reims have are real quality. Cedric Faure is a key man, and was last year’s top scorer netting 15 goals. He’s a proven performer at this level and I expect him to fill his boots again this season. Joining him as a partner is Yann Kermorgant who comes in from Grenoble, and he also had a good last season scoring 11 times. This duo could work well, although sometimes Reims will go with just one man upfront. Shiva N’zigou is the other decent striker that they have and he is more than capable of hitting the back of the net. But apart from Feret who can also play upfront, Reims don’t have many options in attack and could do with buying a few more players. If injuries kick in then they will definitely be in trouble, but if they don’t, then the quality available is excellent.

Overall, Reims look to be a decent team this year and have to be classed as a challenger for promotion. I can certainly see them finish in the top 6 at least, although might not have quite enough to make it up to ligue 1. Their defensive options available are really good, and if they can just reinforce the midfield and attack with a few more players, then they will become a serious force. The club has high ambitions an is certainly moving in the right direction. They will be very strong at home and if they can just win a few more times on the road, then people will have to take them really seriously. You will underestimate Reims at their peril because they will be one of the stronger ligue 2 sides this season.

Key players - Julien Feret (Attacking midfielder), Cedric Faure (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 9/10 (One of the strongest in ligue 2)
Midfield 6/10 (Some quality options but a lack of cover the worry)
Attack 6/10 (Very thin on the ground but they have some really good strikers who will score goals)

Overall 5th - Strong defence could make them into promotion challengers


Grenoble
The Alpine side finished 5th last season and it was a successful year for them. However, they will have to cope with the loss of 3 key defenders who have gone over the summer, although the rest of the team seems to be in good nick. They should be a top 10 team although not quite good enough to get involved in the promotion hunt. Grenoble also have a new coach this season after they harshly dismissed Yvon Pouliquen at the back end of last year. The new man in charge is Bosnian, Mehmet Bazdarevic and it will be interesting to see how he copes. There are some decent players in all areas but it will be a tough job to try and rekindle the sort of team spirit they had under Pouliquen.

The defence is the area that has been severely decimated over the summer and they have lost the key centre back duo of Matthias Vivian and Steven Pele. These guys were rocks for Grenoble and will be hard to replace. In addition, they have also lost key right back, Jeremy Stinat who leaves to go to Sedan. Grenoble have brought new players in to cover those positions but there are certainly some question marks. Maxime Flachez drops down a division from Valenciennes, although he’s quite old now at 35 years. Nevertheless he should do a solid job and he looks to be a good buy. His partner at the back will more than likely be Vitakic who has comes in from Lille, although didn’t play many games last season. The right back replacement is Jimmy Manfroi from Montpellier and he should also be ok. This new backline will need time to settle down and it might end up being quite decent, but it is unproven so there will always be initial doubts. There is a possible lack of cover in all areas and Grenoble might be bit thin in the ground. I do have my worries about their defence, but it could turn out to be alright.

The midfield hasn’t really lost anyone and it looks to be stronger with the addition of 3 new players. Laurent Marquet arrives from Belgian club, Beveran and he should be an excellent signing. Dimitrijevic from Nantes is of reasonable quality and will add more depth to the squad. Damien Dufour comes in from Auxerre and I’m not sure how good he is but he will add to the defensive options in midfield. Grenoble have also brought in the experienced Yann Lacheur from Troyes who will add to the creative options. Already, Grenoble are strong in the middle and on the flanks with Kamissoko and Yanev both good crossers of the ball. Jimmy Juan and Marchal Robin are proven performers and I like the look of this midfield, definitely one of the strongest in the ligue.

The attack force will have to cope with the loss of Yann Kermorgant who leaves to go to Reims. He scored quite a few goals last season although wasn’t always a regular starter. Grenoble’s key striker is still Nassim Akrour, but he isn’t a spring chicken anymore at 34 years of age. Nevertheless he’s still of decent quality and should hit the back of the net a few times. Franck Dja Djedje completes his transfer from PSG and Grenoble have a few other decent options upfront. I do feel though that this attack force could become really good if they were to buy a real star man. Maybe they will strengthen before the end of the summer, but even if they don’t then it looks to be in reasonable nick.

Overall, Grenoble seem to have plenty of potential to do well this season. There are some doubts in defence, but it could work out alright. The midfield looks to be really strong and they have loads of options in that department. A new coach coming in will shake things up a bit, so they might need time to adapt, but I think they will do quite well. Grenoble look set to be a top 10 team this season, and just like last year, they are perhaps dark horses for promotion. I don’t think they have enough all round quality to launch a bid, although will be capable of beating anyone on their day.

Key players - Hirsto Yanev (Attacking midfielder left), Nassim Akrour (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 5/10 (Their weakest area due to key losses and question marks over new signings)
Midfield 8/10 (New players will add more depth and it looks really good, one of the strongest in the ligue)
Attack 6/10 (Akrour key but is quite old now, perhaps lack a real stand out star, although have plenty of options)

Overall 6th - Excellent midfield could propel them into challengers at the top


Sedan
There has been a lot of change at Sedan over the summer and many key players have left. After their relegation from Ligue 1 last season its going to be hard for them to hit back and I’m not so sure they have enough quality available to them. Id imagine Sedan should be a top 10 side, probably a top 6 one. But there a lot of question marks about them all over the pitch and it will be interesting to see how they perform.

The defence has lost important wing backs, Belhadj and Ducourtioux, both of whom were key individuals for Sedan last season. Abdou has also left for Clement and this weakens their options on the right hand side. The signing of Jeremy Stinat from Grenoble looks to be a good one though and he should do quite well. The central defensive duo of Sartre and Lachor should be unchanged and they welcome new signing Mickael Cerielo from National division Cannes. There are some reasonable options at the back, and they will have a stronger defence than most teams, but there are others who just have that bit more extra quality.

The midfield has also been weakened by the loss of some important players. Stephane Noro was injured for most of last season but he is a quality player and would’ve been ideal for Sedan this season. They have also lost a lot of creative options on the right hand side with Marin, Ouadah and Jau all departing. On the left hand side Maurice Belay returns to Monaco after his loan which means Sedan have to find replacements. And at the moment, I’m not so sure they have, and the midfield looks to be very thin on the ground. Albert Banning comes on loan from PSG but he’s a more defensive minded player and they need more creativity. I really don’t like the look of this midfield much and Sedan definitely need to strengthen more before the end of the summer.

The attack force has lost key striker, Gregory Pujol, who moves to ligue 1 Valenciennes. This is a blow for Sedan and they will now need some other players become prolific this year. Mansour Boutabout didn’t adapt to life in ligue 1 very well, but he did a very good job for Sedan a couple of seasons ago in their promotion campaign. I think he will score some goals and Sedan will hope that some of their new signings will also prove to be useful. Lucau comes in from ligue 1 Le Mans and he could adapt quite well. Rachmane Barry arrives from Marseille and he’s really pacey so could cause defences problems. Overall I think its an attack force which will score some goals, although there are certainly some teams who have better options upfront.

In conclusion, I think Sedan are fairly hard to predict this year. They do have some quality options in their team, but there has been a lot of change at the club and it might be hard for the new players to gel properly. At the moment they look to have a weak midfield and it could prove to be their downfall. Sedan cant be ruled out of the promotion race but I think what’s more likely is that this could be a rebuilding year. I’m pretty sure they will be a top 10 side, but id like to see how they start the season before assessing how good they really are.

Key players - Romain Sartre (Centre back), Mansour Bout about (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 7/10 (Key players left, but some decent new additions and looks quite strong)
Midfield 5/10 (A bit weak at the moment and not enough depth)
Attack 6/10 (Pujol loss a blow, but they have enough quality to be a threat)

Overall 7th - Perhaps have the quality to mount promotion bid, but will ultimately miss out

[meatman]

Part (III) - Midtable teams


Guingamp
Last season they ended up in them midtable vicinity, and for the 2nd consecutive year their pattern of results was very similar. In both of the last 2 seasons they have started rally badly and often found themselves in big relegation trouble before Christmas. But after the winter break they once again became really good and one of the best teams in the ligue. The question this year is whether or not they can actually start properly and give themselves a chance of improving up to the higher reaches of the table. They have lost quite a few players during the summer although also replaced them with some decent guys. They could be a hard team to predict and anything is possible.

The defence has lost some important players, the 1st of who is goalkeeper Thierry Debes. He will be missed, although was getting quite old and would’ve eventually needed replacing anyway. The key central duo of Richard Martini and Milovan Sikimic have also left along with Johann Truchet. On the left hand side, Jean Francois is a departure so Guingamp need to replace. To be fair, the players they have brought in look to be quality individuals and should go well. Yves Deroff comes in from Strasbourg and he knows this division well after being involved in Les Alsatians promotion campaign last season. Steven Pele from Grenoble is also a quality player and Nicolas Savinaud from Nantes should go pretty well. There are perhaps some slight worries over the lack of cover, but I’m confident that this defence looks to be really strong when everyone is fit, possibly one of the best in the ligue.

Guingamp have also lost players in midfield, the most notable of whom is left sided Bertrand Robert who goes to Lorient. Les Costamoricains have been quick to find a replacement though and Cedric Liabeuf comes in from rivals, Brest. Harlington Sherini and Erik Sitruk have also gone, although as yet, Guingamp haven’t brought any replacements for those. Jann Jouffre will do well in the holding role, but I have my worries about the overall strength of this midfield, especially in a creative sense. They have plenty if defensive minded options but a real lack of attacking ones. Guingamp will hope some of the youngsters can step up and be counted, bit I think they definitely need to improve this midfield and bring in some new options. At the moment it looks to be their weak area and could bring them down.

The strike force loses Christophe Meslin who has gone to Troyes, and he did well for the team in the 2nd half of last season. Guingamp have yet to add any new faces to the attack line and I think perhaps they could do with buying a couple more. Key striker, David Suarez had a nightmare with injuries last year, but if he has now fully recovered, then he could become a real asset once again. Players such as Kader, Caggiano, Riviere and Eduardo are all capable of hitting the back of the net, so Guingamp do have some decent options upfront. I just think they could do with buying a real star, although that might be asking too much.

Overall, I think Guingamp look to be a pretty hard team to predict this season and their season could go either way. I like the look of the defence and attack, although the midfield might let them down a bit. They have enough quality to realistically launch an outside bid for promotion, but if things go wrong then they could equally get involved at the bottom of the table again. Traditionally they aren’t good starters to a season, but if they can get out of the starting blocks quickly then they could become a force. I’d say their most likely finishing position is around midtable, but their fortunes could go either way.

Key players - Arnaud Lelan (Defender left), Jann Jouffre (Defensive midfielder)

Verdict

Defence 7/10 (Players left, but replaced by some quality, should be strong)
Midfield 4/10 (Lack of creative options a real worry)
Attack 6/10 (Should be quite strong with plenty of options, ideally need to add one more star)

Overall - Will be a top 10 team, but not good enough to launch a promotion bid.


Chateauroux
Les Berrichonne finished in 7th position last season this was a very satisfactory placing for them. However, I think it must be said they rather overachieved and it wont be easy for the club to end up in the top 10 this year. I do think they have some good attacking potential but seem to lack the defensive solidity which is so vital in ligue 2. Chateauroux will have their spectacular moments but aren’t good enough to launch a promotion bid.

The defence is where most of the worries are and they will have to cope with the loss of old legend and captain, Teddy Bertin. He might have been getting on a bit, but there is now a hole that needs to be filled and I’m not so sure they have found anyone yet. The only addition to the defence so far is Henri Bedimo from Le Havre. He’s a decent player but it doesn’t sort out their centre back worries. Stevan Bates is a key part of the works at the back although I’m not sure who his partner will be, probably Jean Babin or Eddy Viator. Its not the most solid looking defence and many teams will feel they have a chance to score goals against it.

I have my worries about the midfield as well, certainly in a defensive sense. They do have a few decent creative options, especially on the left hand side where there are loads of players. However there is a worry on the right hand side and also in the middle when a few injuries kick in. Djibril Sidibe in the key holding role is vital, but he can be injury prone and there is no obvious replacement. In general, apart from the left hand side, this midfield looks a bit too thin on the ground and could be overpowered all too often this year.

However, Chateauroux do look to have one of the best attack forces in the ligue, and for a start they have signed two decent strikers. Mathieu Scarpelli arrives from, Ajaccio and he scored 12 goals last year. Laurent Dufresne comes from Valenciennes, and although he’s old, he’ll still score plenty of goals at ligue 2 level. Chateauroux already have a number of strikers who are capable of hitting the back of the net and there is plenty of cover should an injury crisis happen.. There’s a good mixture of pace and strength upfront and there’s no doubt in my eyes that they will score some goals.

Overall I think Chateauroux will have their good and bad days this season. I think they could be involved in a few exciting matches as they have the potential to score quite a few goals. Defensively, they don’t look to be the strongest. so their best tactics will be to take the game to their opponents. Some people might expect them to be promotion challengers but I cant see it happing to be honest. They don’t have enough quality in certain areas and will be inconsistent. They will probably finish somewhere in the midtable vicinity and could be hard to predict.

Key players - Djibril Sidibe (Defensive midfielder), Mathieu Scarpelli (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 4/10 (Lacks depth and a bit of quality, I think it will concede a few this season)
Midfield 4/10 (Fairly weak except on the left hand side, take Sidibe out and there is virtually no solidity)
Attack 8/10 (One of the strongest in the ligue and they have up to 5 decent strikers all capable of netting a few)

Overall - A poor defence and midfield ensuring that they remain only a midtable force.


Angers
Angers finished 3rd in the national division last season and are therefore promoted up to ligue 2. Many people will expect them to struggle this year, but this presumption will probably only be made on reputation. Normally I don’t often think much to promoted teams, but I have to say Angers look to be really well prepared for their fight against survival. They should stay in the division quite comfortably in my opinion, and could even nestle in the comfort of midtable.

The defence, as with all promoted clubs anywhere, will be tested severely by moving up a level. There are of course question marks as to whether Angers have enough quality in this department but I think they look alright. They have signed some decent looking players at the back who should go well. Lecluse in the central position from Nancy drops down a division and should adapt nicely. David Leray also arrives from relegated Tours and he showed last season that’s he’s a pretty decent right back. Angers look to have plenty of options in defence which will be marshalled by captain, Thierry Cygan. If some players turn out to be below the standard required then there will always be alternatives.

The midfield I am very excited about considering they are a promoted club. They have brought in 3 good signings the first of which is the exciting attacking midfielder, Fahid Benkhalfallah from Laval. Many ligue 2 clubs were interested in his signature and Angers are the team that managed to get him. He should fit in nicely and create many goals, also capable of scoring a few himself. They have also signed Olivier Auriac from Brest in a defensive minded role, and he’s a good player who I’m surprised they managed to get. Maybe he recognises the potential at the club, but he is more than proven at ligue 2 level and should do a decent job. Angers seem to have plenty of options throughout the whole of midfield, left right and centre in both defensive and attack minded roles. There is plenty of cover available should injuries kick in and I really like the look of them in the middle of the park.

In attack, Angers star man is Fabric Do Marcelinho who scored a massive 26 goals last season. He’s still pretty young and I think he’ll be able to adapt well to ligue 2 life. Angers will be in a bit of trouble should he not perform well, but they have also brought in Paul Alo’o Efoulou from Entente SG. He was the 3rd highest scorer in the national division last season netting 23 times. This Angers striker duo has the potential to be very dangerous and I’m pretty sure that they will cause opposition defences plenty of problems. Angers also have a couple of decent back up players in attack although if a major injury crisis happened, then they might be in a bit of trouble.

Overall, many people might expect Angers to be the whipping boys of the division, but I cant see it happening. The squad is a decent looking one and the club is taking survival in a serious way. They are quite a big team who should be well supported by their fans in what is an impressive 17,000 stadium. Anyone who underestimates them could pay the price severely and I think they should avoid relegation with relative ease. They could of course get sucked into things at the bottom of the table, but ultimately should survive - probably into the safety of midtable.

Key players - Thierry Cygan (Centre back), Fabrice Do Marcelinho (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 6/10 (Always a question mark over moving up a ligue but they look decent in all areas)
Midfield 7/10 (For a promoted team it looks really good and should perform well)
Attack 6/10 (Two proven strikers, although not at ligue 2 level, if they fire then teams had better watch out)

Overall 10th - Will be the revelation of the season and surprise everyone by ending up in midtable.


Ajaccio
Ajaccio finished in 12th position last season and they will hope to improve on that placing this time around. Some of the fans might have higher expectations, but they have lost a few players who will be hard to replace and it could be just another midtable year for the Corsicans.

In between the sticks they have brought Thierry Debes from Guingamp and he will be solid. Frederic Roux is the other keeper looking to maintain his position. Both are experienced, but of course old, and might lack that bit of extra agility now. The defence will have to cope with the loss of key centre backs, Laurenti and Dzodic and this wont be easy. The arrival of Remi Fournier from Martigues is interesting and he will have to raise his level up a division. This Ajaccio defence will have its good and bad days and I’m not completely convinced by it overall. There is some concern about the right back position and they only realistically have Vincent Scotte who is a natural for the role.

The midfield has lost a few players, the most notable of whom is Seid Khiter who goes back to Lens after completing his loan. A few others have also left and they seem to lack strength on the right hand side. They do however look to be pretty strong on the left thanks largely to the signings of Stephane Darbion and Christophe Avezac. Ludovic Asuar also arrived from Dijon and he will add more creativity to the midfield. They key man in the middle for Ajaccio though is Rodrigo who will play the holding role that is so vital.

In attack they have lost key striker, Matheiu Scarpelli who scored 12 goals last season. He will be hard to replace and I don’t think Ajaccio have really found anyone yet. Marcos Dos Santos on loan from Young Boys Berne and Souleymane Sylla are far too unproven and there are big question marks about them. One man that Ajaccio do have that will score goals is Jean Jacques Mandrichi, and he is a key player upfront for the Corsicans. There are one or two other options, but I don’t really like the look of this Ajaccio attack force much and it could struggle to hit the back of the net.

Initially to the eye it might seem as if Ajaccio have a stronger team this season, but I’m not convinced. Id be surprised if they managed to launch any sort of promotion bid and the most likely option is that they will finish somewhere in the midtable vicinity. There are realistically question marks all over the pitch, although also plenty of quality in places. Ajaccio will have their good and bad days, capable of giving anyone a decent game at home but often poor away. Some might expect more but they will finish top 8 at best.

Key players - Rodrigo (Defensive midfielder), Jean Jacques Mandrichi (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 6/10 (Big worry at right back although generally ok elsewhere, 2 key players hard to replace)
Midfield 5/10 (Rodrigo key in the holding role, look strong on the left but poor on the right)
Attack 4/10 (Take Mandrichi away and it looks fairly toothless)

Overall 11th - Will blow hot and cold and end up in midtable

[meatman]

Part (IV) - Teams that could get sucked into the relegation battle


Bastia
The Corsicans finished up in midtable last season and many people might expect them to do better this year. I don’t think they will improve much though, and if anything, could go backwards. They haven’t been very prolific in the transfer market this summer which has both is positives and negatives. At least there is some continuity amongst the squad and players. The trouble is that I feel new blood is needed here and that the options available to them aren’t good enough to progress. They have quality players in all areas of the park, but not enough of them and the squad is seriously thin with lack of cover.

The defence has lost old legend, Florent Laville and he will be hard to replace. Bastia do have Meniri and Maire as 1st choice centre backs, but only have Cahuzac as cover for this position. Midfielder Yohann Gomez can also play here but he ideally need to be used in that midfield holding role. Bridonneau on the right and Lorenzi on the left are decent players ,but there is no cover. When at full strength, this defence looks pretty good, but if injuries kick in, then Les Bleus are in big trouble.

The midfield welcomes 2 new additions, one of them is Fethi Harek from Rodez. But I don’t expect him to play much of a key role this year, he will be an understudy to Bastia’s key left winger, Frederic Mendy. The Corsicans do look strong on the wings and they welcome back Fabrice Jau after he spent an unsuccessful year at Sedan. Yohann Gomez in the holding midfield role is vital, but more often than not he is forced to play in defence which severely dampens the solidity of the midfield. There aren’t enough options in the middle, and although there is some decent cover on the wings, I think some teams will easily dominate the centre of the field against Bastia this season.

The strike force still relies too much on the old legs of Pierre Yves Andre. He’s an old legend but not a spring chicken anymore at 33 years old. He will get goals of course but he isn’t as effective as he once was and some teams will easily deal with him. Bastia will hope that loan signing from Toulouse, Xavier Pentecote proves to be a decent new addition, but he’s completely unproven so time will tell. Chakouri Ben Saada can do a job upfront but he’s often used more in a creative role. Bastia definitely lack options upfront, and although there are some decent youngsters, none of them are yet good enough to be prolific goal scorers in ligue 2.

Bastia are a team with quite a big reputation and in the last couple of seasons they have been wrongly overestimated by a lot of people. I think in general, that pattern will continue in the initial stages of this new campaign, before it becomes apparent they will be nothing more than a midtable outfit once more. The squad simply doesn’t have enough depth in it for them to launch any sort of promotion bid. When at absolute 100%, they will give any team a decent game and they are capable of upsetting the best sides. But I expect Les Bleus will be far too hit and miss, unable to get any consistency together. If things go really badly and injuries kick in, then they might even become a shock addition to the relegation dogfight. Its unlikely though and they should end up around the midtable mark.

Key players - Frederic Mendy (Left winger), Pierre Yves Andre (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 6/10 (When at full strength its good, but real lack of cover in all areas)
Midfield 5/10 (Strong on the wings but lacking central players, Gomez key in the holding role)
Attack 4/10 (Andre will score goals but I struggle to see any other real quality)

Overall 12th - Lack of squad depth a worry, but should ultimately be pretty safe.


Dijon
Its all change at Dijon over the summer and a lot of players have both left and arrived. Some people might expect them to be in the promotion hunt, but that cant realistically happen and the objective must be to have a settling down year to rebuild again. Dijon have lost their excellent tactical coach, Rudy Garcia to ligue 1 Le Mans, and he will be a tough man to replace. Given the job is Serge Romano who took Sedan to promotion a couple of seasons ago. Dijon fans will be hoping he can do the same again for them, but it wont be easy. They seem to be lacking certain aspects, creativity in midfield for one, although do have a reasonable attack force.

I’m worried in defence that Dijon wont be able to replace two key centre backs. Abasse Ba was one of the best players in the whole of ligue 2 last season, but now moves onto Le Havre. Meanwhile, old legend, Stephane Gregoire retires to coach lower ligue side Orleans. Both will be missed and currently Dijon have yet to buy anyone to replace either of them. In fact the only new addition is left back Herve Batomelina who comes in from Paris FC. But I cant see him playing too many games as Dijon’s best left back is Florian Jarjat. There are a couple of decent players at the back but there is also a definite lack of cover, and they are in trouble if injuries kick in. Some teams will certainly fancy their chances against this defence.

At the start of last season, Dijon definitely had one of the strongest midfields in the division. Now just 12 months on it looks to be one of the weakest and they have lost a lot of players already during the summer. Attempts have been made to replace of course but I’m not convinced by the 3 guys Dijon have brought in. Robail on the left drops down a division from Ligue 1 Lille and could be useful, but Guedioura and Famery both come up from the national division. The latter signing is said to be a very good youngster but I cant see him playing too much of a major role this season. At this moment, there aren’t enough creative minded midfielders, and although there are a few decent holding guys, I’m worried that the strikers sometimes wont have too much to feed on. There is definitely a lack of options in the middle of the park for Les Rouges and it looks to be one of the weakest in ligue 2, certainly in a creative sense.

The attack force looks to be Dijon’s strongest area this season and they should score enough goals if the strikers are supplied with enough ammunition. Helder Esteves could become a key man for them again, as long as he has now fully recovered from the cruciate ligament injury which sidelined him for most of last season. The signing of Christophe Mandanne from Le Havre is a good one and he did a decent job for Tours last year. He is pacey, quick, creative and also able to put the ball into the back of the net. Dijon also have a few other decent options upfront such as Stephane Mangione and I’m confident that this side will score goals if they are supplied properly.

Key players - Barel Mouko (goalkeeper) Sebastien Larcier (Defensive midfield)

Verdict

Defence 4/10 (Lost key players and looks to be fairly weak)
Midfield 4/10 (Will be solid but doesn’t have enough creative players in it)
Attack 7/10 (Their strongest area and they have strikers who will score, as long as they are supplied properly)

Overall 13th - Poor defence and midfield will hamper them, but should be storng enough to avoid getting into any serious trouble.


Montpellier
The south coast club had a big scare last season when they were nearly relegated. Luckily they were saved by a late change of management and a really good run of late results. Rolland Courbis came in and effectively saved the team from relegation. Now a lot of the talk is that he can lead them to better things, but any dreams of promotion are way off the mark. Montpellier have lost a few players during the summer and I don’t really see any miracle new signings who should propel them up the table. The attack force especially looks very weak and I think Montpellier will be a bottom half of the table side. I doubt they will be relegated, although might potentially get sucked into the battle if things turn out badly.

In defence they have lost centre backs, Cedric Cambon and Fredric Mendy who were both important players. One replacement is Nenad Dzodic who arrives from Ajaccio. He looks to be a decent singing and will probably link up with Alexis N’gambi to form a partnership. Montpellier have a few more options, but in general I think their backline looks pretty weak with definite lack of cover. They certainly seem thin on the ground and could be in some trouble if injuries kick in. When at full strength and at their best, it could be potentially formidable, but I think it will have a mixture of good and bad days.

The midfield looks to be Montpellier’s strongest area simply because they have so many options available to them. There is loads of depth and they can easily cope with any injury crisis in this part of the squad. They have brought a couple of new players during the summer and Lacombe / Ouadah should do decent jobs. Phillipe Delaye is probably the key man for MHSC on the right hand side, but the good thing about this midfield is that they do not rely on any star individuals. I expect plenty of rotation as many guys are capable of playing in a range of positions. There is certainly enough quality in this midfield and I expect them to often play with 5 men in the middle of the park.

There is plenty of depth in the midfield, but the same certainly cant be said about the Montpellier attack force. It looks very thin on the ground and I struggle to see where they will get their goals from. Robert Malm was a key man for them last season, but he’s now 35 years old and cant be expected to do as much. Victor Montano is too hit and miss along with Lamine Sakho. Montpellier will be hoping that loan signing from Nice, Souleymane Camara proves to be a useful addition to the squad. He should do alright but there are certainly some question marks about him. Montpellier definitely lack any star strikers and I do worry about where they will get goals from. This attack is one of the weakest in the ligue and opposition defences wont be quaking in their boots at the prospect of playing against it.

Overall, some people might expect Montpellier to do quite well this season, especially with Roland Courbis as coach. However think he’s far too over-hyped and I cant see them doing that much. They will have their good days, but also bad ones, probably proving to be a very inconstant side. Any fans dreaming of promotion can think again because they are more likely to be mixing it in the relegation dogfight than with the big boys. Ultimately though, Montpellier should survive although I do think they will finish in the 2nd half of the table.

Key players
Alexis N’gambi (Defender), Phillipe Delaye (Midfielder right)

Verdict

Defence 4/10 (When at full strength it should be alright, but real lack of cover)
Midfield 7/10 (Their strongest aspect and have loads of depth)
Attack 3/10 (Looks weak and they could struggle to score goals)

Overall 14th - An overrated team and will struggle to score goals, ultimately should survive though


Brest
Les Rouges et Blanc have spent the last couple of seasons really close to the relegation zone and have only managed to survive by the skin of their teeth twice. Amazingly, they managed to finish up in 14th last season, although this was thanks to a late run of 3 wins. They will hope that they can move up towards the safety of midtable this year, and that’s certainly a possibility. They have lost a few payers but also gained some and they look to have enough quality to remain in the division. All the same they will probably be in the relegation mixer at some point, its just their natural way.

The defence has lost Johann Charpenet and he was quite an important central defender. They have also lost left backs Mangani and Radrianna. However, the signing of Ludovic Jeannel from Reims is a good one. He might be old, but still has some years in him and will add experience. Phillipe Billy arrives from Laval although he will be an understudy to regular right back, Yvan Bourgis. Brest’s key central defence duo is Fernando Casartelli and Yohann Poulard. There is some pretty good cover in all areas and look strong, although there are better defences in ligue 2. Nevertheless, I do quite like the look of this back line and is probably their best area.

The midfield has lost important holding man, Olivier Auriac who has moved to Angers. They have also lost a couple of other minor players although have been recruiting new guys in this area. Cedric Collet on the left hand side comes from Tours whilst David Bouard is an addition from Niort. Francois Masson from Dijon and Erik Sitruk from rivals Guingamp also bolster Brest and I like the look of this midfield. There is some pretty good cover in all areas and it should fire pretty well this season.

The attack force seems to be a bit thin on the ground though, and it doesn’t really impress me much. Richard Socrier scored 11 goals last season but I’m not really of a fan of him. He’s not someone I rate too highly, although he will do a reasonable job. Basil De Carvalho will be his partner although Brest will often go for just one man up front in a lot of games. It’s a good job because they don’t have many back up strikers and severely lack cover. I really don’t like the look of this strike force and Brest definitely need to get some new guys in to improve it

Overall, the Bretons have some decent options, especially in defence and midfield, although they could struggle to score goals. I don’t expect their matches will produce much excitement and there will be a lot of tactical battles they fight out. They should survive, although again will probably be involved in the relegation fight at some stage during the year. This is always a team that seems to flirt with relegation and their lack of attacking options might mean that they find themselves in trouble again.

Key players - Fernando Casartelli (Centre back), Richard Socrier (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 6/10 (Look good here in all areas, some strong players and will be hard to break down)
Midfield 5/10 (A good mix in all areas although new guys might need time to settle)
Attack 3/10 (Take Socrier away and it looks very toothless)

Overall 15th - Look better this season, but a lack of striker options could mean they are forced to fight against relegation again.

[meatman]

Part (V) - Fighting against relegation


Clermont
Clermont were the outstanding force in the National division last season romping away with the championship finishing on 82 points. This means that they have come straight back into ligue 2 following their relegation a couple of seasons ago. This time they will want to remain in the division and they look to have enough quality to achieve that objective. Amazingly the team are unbeaten in the ligue since 6th October which is neatly 9 months ago. The players will of course take that confidence into the season, although there’s no way they will keep that run going for too much longer. They haven’t lost anyone important and bought some decent players, it looks as if they should survive.

Mikeal Fabre is the number one goalkeeper and he’s a pretty good young talent at just 23 years old. In front of him the back line looks strong with plenty of options in it. Clermont have also reinforced in that area by brining in some new faces. Abdou at right back arrives from Sedan and Cellier from Niort. Centre back Thomas Mienniel is an addition from Laval, whilst Boris Ponge completes his transfer from Dijon. The defence has so many options in it and players such as Abdoulauye, Cordonnier, Coue, Mazeyrat, and Marveaux will all be used regularly as well. The big question like the other two promoted teams is whether they have enough quality in this defence to match up to ligue 2 standards. I think they should have, and if some players turn out to be below the standard required, then there are plenty of guys waiting in the wings to take their place. I like the look of the defensive options Clermont have and I’m happy enough that they will be fairly solid.

The midfield has just one new addition at the moment and that’s Rachid Hamdani from Nancy on loan. He’s an attack minded player and he joins a very creative Clermont midfield that will often score a lot of goals between themselves. The key anchor man of course is Franck Chaussidiere and he will play in the holding role that is so vital. He’s joined by Bruno Grougi although he is slightly more attack minded and managed to net 11 times last season. I don’t think he’ll score as many this year though as it will be tougher for him against more quality defences. Charles Diers on the right hand side helped himself to 14 goals last term, but again I’m not so sure if he will be able to match that this time around. Lesoimier on the left is the other star act an another who scored a double figure tally of goals last season. I’m pretty sure this midfield will do a good job again this year but I’m certain it wont score as many goals. There’s a decent mixture of defence and attack minded players and some reasonable depth.

My biggest worry about Clermont this season is in attack where they definitely seem to lack some star strikers. Kemal Ouejdide was last years top scorer netting 19 times, but I saw him at Sete a couple of years ago in ligue 2 and he was pretty ineffective. At 27 years old I’m not sure much has changed and I’m not convinced he’ll be able to step up a gear. The signing of Mikael Pote is a good one though and the ex Cannes youngster has impressed me a few times last season, especially with his pace. Rudy Carlier arrives from Strasbourg on loan and at least he’s someone used to playing at this level.

I think Clermont should survive but my main worry about them is scoring goals. A lot of their goals last season were scored from midfield and defence, experience tells me that it just wont happen again in ligue 2, and they need their strikers to do the business this year. As I said, I’m not convinced with Ouejdide although he may prove me wrong. The defence looks ok, and it needs to be because they wont be able to outscore their opponents as much this year in matches. Its going to be a test for Clermont to move up a gear but I feel they should avoid the drop. It could be a tight thing though and they are sure to be involved in the mixer at the bottom of the table.

Key players - Frank Chaussidiere (Defensive midfield), Charles Diers (Attacking midfield right)

Verdict

Defence 6/10 - (Always a question mark over quality levels but there are loads of options and it looks strong)
Midfield - 5/10 (Some key players here who are both defence and attack minded, should blend well)
Attack 3/10 (I Don’t like it much and I’m not sure it is good enough for ligue 2 level)

Overall 16th - Wont be easy, but they have enough in them to survive


Libourne
Last season they finished in 17th position, the last safe placing in ligue 2. Many people, including myself, had expected them to struggle and probably be relegated, however they surprised everyone and at times were quite impressive. Away from home they were especially strong, one of the best in the ligue, although did struggle at home. I think for this season they should be involved in the relegation battle once more, but its hard to say if they will go down or not. Its true that they have lost 2-3 key players, but the squad depth is still strong and they have brought in quite a few new recruits who could prove to be very useful. They aren’t a side that anyone can underestimate, and will have the fight and willpower to want to survive.

The defence hasn’t lost anyone over the summer and the 2 new additions are Khalifa Ba and Gary Bocaly. Both come in from Marseille although Bocaly is on a season long loan. These two guys will add to the options in both the centre back and right back positions, and could prove to decent signings. Libourne’s key man at the back is Joel Kouassi, although I’m not so sure Jean Douence will be his partner now. Last years captain is certainly getting a bit older now, and at 36 years, he could be past his best. There are a few decent options for Libourne and all of these players have now had a season of ligue 2 experience, which can only be a good thing. I don’t think it’s a brilliant defence but there are definitely some teams with worse this season. It will have its good days and bad days and this is something that will be expected. The positive aspect is that there is plenty of cover and they are not lacking variation in the backline.

The midfield has lost Vincent Gragnic who moves to Marseille. This is a big blow for Libourne as he was one of their best players last season and they are sure to miss his creativity especially. However, apart from him then they retain all of their other players in midfield along with one new addition. Amine Denoun comes in from Marseille and he is an attack minded creative player. The midfield doesn’t look too bad and a key man is Laurent Delchie who will play in the holding role. Elie Dohin on the right and Aurelian Faivre on the left are decent enough wide players and there are some reasonable cover options. There are no massive stars for Libourne in them middle but it could work quite well sometimes. Like the defence, it will have its good and bad days and could be hard to predict.

Libourne have managed to keep hold of their key striker, Zvonimir Deranja, who was one of the leading goalscorers in ligue 2 last season netting 14 goals. However, they have lost Yahia Kebe to Troyes and also Fabrice Begeorgi had to leave after his season long loan. Libourne have brought in two new strikers, one of which is Ghislain Gimbert who can do a decent enough job at ligue 2 level. The other man they have signed is Teo Kardum from foreign shores and not much is known about him. If he proves to be a decent hit then Libourne could be very dangerous upfront, but there are too many question marks. Castant, Belhow and Boubacar Kebe are the other options upfront but neither are prolific goalscorers. Libourne will score some goals this year, but a lot does rest on the shoulders of Deranja. He has proven himself last year though and I expect him to do quite well again.

Overall, Libourne look to be hard to predict this season, although they are likely to be involved in the relegation dogfight. They do have some quality players in all areas of the pitch, but then also don’t have the most talented of squads. One positive aspect is that they do have plenty of depth for most positions, so are able to cope with injuries and suspensions. Many will expect them to go down, but looking on paper I think they have a good enough team to survive. It will be a close fought thing though and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them struggling a bit. Last season they were one of the hardest teams to predict and I don’t think much will change - expected the unexpected when they are around.
Key players - Laurent Delchie (Defensive midfielder), Zvonimir Deranja (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 5/10 (Will have its good days and bad, decent depth in all areas)
Midfield 5/10 (Dented by the loss of Gragnic, looks to be generally alright though)
Attack 4/10 (Lost 2 important players although Deranja will score goals)

Overall 17th - Fighting mentality and decent squad depth just enough to keep them in Ligue 2


Niort
They had to win on the last day of last season to confirm their survival, but it was something they deserved. Away from home they were poor all year, but on home turf they were one of the best in the division and Le Stade Rene Gaillard was a fortress. Amazingly, Niort have lost just 1 of their last 39 ligue matches at this stadium and they will be basing their survival campaign on home form once again. Not much has changed during the summer although they now have a new coach in Jacky Bonnevay. Not many players have left and few have arrived. There has been a sense of continuity but I think they will be involved in the relegation dogfight again. Whether they survive or not will be really close.

Defensively they were at times weak last year and although they will have their good days, an ageing backline is of slight concern. They have brought in Yannick Fischer from ligue 1 Le Mans and he is no spring chicken at the age of 32. Along with Chapuis and Ferrier it’s a defence which perhaps might lack some pace. Nevertheless, there seem to be some reasonable options and a satisfactory amount of cover should injuries kick in. Some attack forces, especially fast ones could be very successful against Niort though, and they will concede a few goals in some matches.

One thing about the midfield is that it looks to be a bit thin in the ground. Denis Tsoumou is a new signing from Gueugnon and he will play in a holding role. Periatambe and Fradin are the other central players who should do a decent job, but Niort definitely lack a decent left sided midfielder. On the right they have no problems with Arnaud Gonzalez who’s a key man, although there is no real cover for him. If injuries occur to this midfield then I think Niort will be forced to play attackers and defenders out of position, there simply isn’t enough cover for this part of the squad.

The Niort attack will revolve around key striker, Benoit Leroy who was last years top scorer with 11 goals. His partner will be Jean Riviere and they often work well together with a good understanding. Romain Jacuzzi comes back form his Vannes loan and should add a nice bit of extra depth to the squad. Niort could perhaps ideally do with adding a couple more strikers to the team but there are some reasonable options upfront. This attack will have its good and bad days, there are worst ones in the ligue but also much better ones. Niort should be fairly competitive in this department but I don’t expect anything too special.

Overall, I think Niort should be involved in the relegation dogfight although they certainly wont be pushovers. Its going to be really close at the bottom this year and Niort have every chance of surviving. However it might well be that they don’t have enough quality to remain in the division and could end up finishing in that last relegation position. They will rely heavily on their home form to get them points, but if this suddenly dries up then they are in big trouble. They cant be underestimated, but id say Niort will be one of the weaker sides in ligue 2 this season.

Key players
Arnaud Gonzalez (Attacking midfield right), Benoit Leroy (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 4/10 (Some reasonable options but is old and could lack pace)
Midfield 4/10 (When at full strength is alright, but real lack of cover for all positions)
Attack 5/10 (Probably their strongest aspect with a few decent players capable of scoring)

Overall 18th - Will be close, but I think Niort could be going down.


Gueugnon
For many seasons, Les Forgerons have flirted with relegation danger, but more often than not have managed to end up in the midtable of ligue 2. I have always said that sooner or later they will get relegated and it looks possible that it could happen this season. The squad was never that strong anyway really and they have lost a few key players during the summer so far. One or two decent replacements have been found, but I’m not convinced by this squad and they should be in the relegation mixer id say.

The defence has lost 2 important players, the first of whom is old legend Phillipe Correia who goes into retirement. He will be missed at centre back, whilst Jerome Rodrigues will be a loss on the right. The centre back partnership for this season will more than likely be Abderauf Zarabi and Laurent Morestin. But they aren’t the best of guys and there is a severe lack of cover in all areas of defence for Gueugnon. Bernadet on the left should go alright, but as yet they have yet to find a replacement on that right hand side.

The midfield hasn’t lost anyone of huge importance but has lost a lot of squad players. When all these add up then suddenly there is a worry about depth to the squad. Dennis Tsoumou is probably the key loss along with David Le Frapper who goes into retirement. The replacement is Partice Maurel who comes in from relegated Istres. Frederic Adam is a key man in the middle of the park for Gueugnon but he’s no spring chicken at the age of 35. Its not the worst of midfields and another key man for Les Forgerons is Florent Marty on the right hand side who is quite creative. He’s also useful from set pieces and should hit a few goals in a typical season. Gueugnon do have some options in most areas of the midfield, although it is probably a bit too defensive minded and possible lack of cover. It will do alright this season although there are certainly better ones around.

The attack force has lost 2 important individuals - Guillaume Hoarau and Larsen Toure. Both did well last season for Gueugnon and Hoarau especially was impressive when he came in on loan from Le Havre. The strike force for this year looks pretty weak and I am wondering where they might get their goals from. Wilfried Niflore isn’t too bad, but there is a real lack of options upfront for Gueugnon. Frederic Fouret is a new signing from Le Havre, and he should do alright, but I don’t think too many defences will be scared at the prospect of facing this Gueugnon attack.

Overall I think Les Forgerons could struggle this season and there is a possible relegation looming from them. A lot will depend on how their new coach, Alain Ravera settles in. Victor Zvunka has now left his position and whilst many people criticised him in the past, he did do a good job at keeping the club in ligue 2. Gueugnon certainly wont be easy fodder and could certainly end up towards midtable, but I think they look like a side who could end up in a relegation position. It will be a struggle and I think they lack quality in all areas of the pitch,. The players will have to fight hard in order to survive, and of course they are never the most supported club in the ligue and don’t have much of a reputation.

Key players - Romauld Peiser (Goalkeeper), Florent Marty (Attacking midfield right)

Verdict

Defence 3/10 (Weak with lack of cover in all areas)
Midfield 5/10 (Their strongest aspect but still many question marks in it)
Attack 3/10 (Looks poor with lack of options and could struggle to score)

Overall 19th - After years of survival, Gueugnon are finally relegated


Boulogne
The northern side finished 2nd in the national division last season, although they were nearly denied the chance to play in ligue 2. They had some problems with stadium safety, finances and level of professionalism at the club. At the end of the day I just don’t sense as if they have much ambition compared to the other promoted teams and they remind me already of Sete and Tours of recent years who have ended up rock bottom of the table. Boulogne will fight hard but they seem to lack certain qualities, although have a few good players to watch out for.

The good thing about Boulogne’s defensive options is that they have plenty of players available to them. There is certainly enough cover should they hit an injury crisis at the back. The other positive is the signing of right back Jerome Rodrigues from Gueugnon. He’s proven himself at this level before, although that cant be said about the rest of this backline. The big question, and worry, is whether or not they have enough quality. They have signed a couple of unknown players at the back from lower divisions, but that simply isn’t good enough if they want to survive in ligue 2. At least most of the players are in a decent age range but it will be a severe test for them to move up to a new division. Only time will tell if they are good enough or not.

I don’t like the look of the Boulogne midfield much to be honest. For one thing they lack enough players in the central areas, although look to be alright on the wings. Johann Ramare is a key man in the middle, but apart from him and Sayi Mayuma, there is virtually no cover for the more defensive minded positions. On the wings, Gregory Ducatel and the newly arriving Jimmy Kebe should do decent jobs, but Boulogne look like they could get overpowered all too often than they would like this season.

The key to whether they have any chance of surviving this season will be on the shoulders of key striker, Gregory Thil. He completely murdered opposition defences last season by netting 31 goals in the national division. However, he wont be doing that this year and it will be a much tougher test for him in ligue 2. At 27 years old I’m wondering whether it might perhaps be too late for him to be successful when moving up a ligue, but he could easily prove me wrong,. If he does fire well then Boulogne will have a chance to stay up, but if he doesn’t then they look doomed. The newly arriving Jean Cedric Maspimby from Reims should do a decent job, but apart from him then they look very toothless upfront lacking other options.

Overall, id be surprised if Boulogne managed to avoid relegation this season and they will more than likely finish bottom of the table. They are the most unknown of the promoted teams though and they could easily turn into what Libourne were last year - a surprise factor. The standard of competition around them is so high though that I think they will have difficulties keeping afloat. They just don’t perhaps have as much ambition as other teams and ultimately that could prove to be their downfall. There are a few players to keep an eye on, and of course they will fight hard, but it could all be in vain and I expect them to go down.

Key players - Johann Ramare (Central midfielder), Gregory Thil (Striker)

Verdict

Defence 5/10 (It does have quite a few options in it, although the big question is about quality levels)
Midfield 3/10 (Some potential in the wings and decent at full strength, but looks far too thin)
Attack 3/10 (All depends on Thil, if he fires then they have a chance, if he doesn’t I cant see who will score the goals)

Overall 20th - My tip to finish bottom, relegation very likely