Angers’ 13th-place finish scarcely does credit to the season that the club enjoyed under head coach Stephane Moulin, who stepped down at the end of the campaign after 10 years in charge.
Indeed, for the middle part of the season, they threatened to challenge for a European place, but their form fell away dramatically in the closing weeks of the campaign as they lost seven of their last eight games in all competitions amid something of an injury crisis.
Angers sides under Moulin have typically been built around solid defences, but, for once, that was not the case for this team. Indeed, the rearguard struggled at times this season, with even goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni toiling to settle into his new surroundings at first. He will enjoy many better campaigns, despite remaining a promising goalkeeper.
In the midfield, meanwhile, Angers saw Baptiste Santamaria depart at the start of the season never to be well replaced. Ibrahim Amadou suggested he would do the job but was ultimately unable. This meant that the balance that had been evident previously was lost.
On the wings, meanwhile, Sofiane Boufal spent much of the season injured and never produced his best, which was a common theme in that area. In the No.10 role, though, Angelo Fulgini was supreme and Angers’ best player by some distance.
In attack, they lacked killer instinct. Stephane Bahoken could easily have hit double figures but had to settle for seven goals, while Lois Diony was also extensively used and only managed to return five, which was not good enough for his game time.
As Angers go into their centenary year, it is the end of an era with Moulin departing. He has been a rock for the club over the last decade, lifting them to heights they could not have anticipated, and continuing his work will be difficult. Injury problems adversely effected Angers this season, though, and if they can get some of these players back up and fit, they should be significantly stronger.
