Saint-Etienne missed out on European qualification by goal difference in what was ultimately a disappointing campaign for the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard outfit.
Losing head coach Christophe Galtier in the summer was always liable to spark a difficult transitionary period, but it was not helped that the board appointed Oscar Garcia to the role, which proved an unsuitable appointment. Though he arrived promising an exciting pressing style, his stay in France was short lived.
Although results initially were positive, they soon faded and led to a sparring match between the coach and the board that he was never liable to win.
After one botched appointment, the club made another by appointing inexperienced Julien Sable to the role. He led the club for just six matches but failed to win a single one, with only four goals scored and 16 conceded.
Around Christmas, Sainte therefore moved for a more experienced figure in the form of Jean-Louis Gasset. Although the improvement was not immediate, a 2-1 victory over Caen at the end of January sparked a 13-match undefeated run that saw the club lifted from relegation candidates to a side in the European places.
However, Sainte’s form failed them at the last. They appeared to be running on fumes by the end of April, scraping to three rather fortunate victories in succession, and by the time they met in-form Bordeaux and second-placed Monaco, they were unable to rouse themselves to take anything from the games.
On the final day of the season, they overcame Lille – and former coach Galtier – 5-0 at home, but it was too late.
More goals are needed if they are to improve next season; no one in their ranks got more than seven this term, although the return of Robert Beric from loan in January certainly aided their cause.
