Football Season Guide

Angers promoted automatically back to Ligue 1 last season after a terrific end to the campaign that saw them win four out of five games at a critical moment of the season, all of them 2-1. It was a deserved promotion, which as based on outstanding home form that saw them win 13 of 19 home games. Alexandre Dujeux was a controversial appointment as head coach, but he has justified his selection thanks to last season, even if there was an expectation for Angers to win promotion. Now the challenge is to keep them in the top flight. The key protagonists in the squad remain the same. Lois Diony will be vital offensively, in part thanks to his experience. He was impressive last season but has been hot-or-cold in the top flight in the past. Indeed, there is not a striker they can obviously count upon to hit even seven or eight goals for the season, and this must be one concern. The midfield also looks a little flimsy. Jean-Eudes Aholou is another who has enjoyed one strong season in the top flight but has also disappointed at this level, and as a key arrival in midfield, that cannot happen again. Bordeaux’s demise has aided Angers, meanwhile. Jacques Ekomie and Emmanuel Biumla have been picked up after being released, though they are both likelier to be players for the future rather than those who will have an immediate big impact. The only regular member of the squad to depart was right-back Yan Valery. He has been replaced by Carlens Arcus from Vitesse. He adds to a defensive line that is the most experienced area of the squad, with centre-back Cedric Hountondji eager to make amends after being a weak link in the team that was relegated a couple of years ago.