Metz achieved a comfortable mid-table finish and for a long period it seemed that they would do even better. Indeed, had they not lost six of their last 10 matches, winning only once, they would undoubtedly have been ranked better.
They were also slow starters, with Vincent Hognon overseeing a run of just seven points from six games before Frederic Antonetti returned to take over the reins as head coach. It proved a wise move as the team was reinvigorated by the new coach.
Indeed, Metz’s success came against the backdrop of losing leading striker Ibrahima Niane to what was effectively a season-ending injury when he was in the form of his life early in the season. He scored six goals in 10 games and managed to finish as the club’s joint top scorer along with Farid Boulaya, who contributed well, and Vagner.
Opa Nguette threatened to replace Niane effectively but he too picked up an injury that would end his season, further hamstringing Metz’s already fragile attack. Papa Yade was one of the pleasant surprises to be given more game time as a result and their weakness in this sector was not exposed until the end of the campaign when their form finally ran out.
Injuries struck in midfield, too, with Warren Tchimbembe and Vincent Pajot out for long periods along with Kevin N’Doram, but Habib Maiga performed well there.
Metz functioned best in a three-man defence of John Boye, Kiki Kouyate and Dylan Bronn, in part because their wing-backs were very effective going forward. Fabien Centonze was a fixture on the right, while on the left Matthieu Udol and Thomas Delaine shared the duties and both performed well.
Metz will hope to retain Antonetti’s services as head coach as he worked wonders with this side for much of the season. They would not have expected such a comfortable ride, especially with key figures out for so long.
