Football Season Guide

Angers have dropped back into Ligue 2 for the first time in close to a decade after a wretched season that saw them relegated rock bottom of Ligue 1. They were plagued by money trouble last season, while off-field drama did not help their cause, but there was little doubt they were one of the two poorest teams in the top flight. Belated improvement has seen Alexandre Dujeux retained as the man to lead them into this campaign, but he faces a tough task with a side that will be severely impacted by the club’s financial problems once more. These had been expected to be resolved to some extent with the sale of Nabil Bentaleb to Lille, but this has stalled because of a medical problem and has been put on hold until mid-August and perhaps even definitively. This is stalling Angers’ work and could even see their best player retire. Clearly, this would be dreadful news for both parties. Meanwhile, the summer transfer window has been about cutting down the number of players in Angers’ squad. After last season’s debacle – their vital players had left a year earlier - they really needed to start again from scratch, so to have a high number of departures should be seen as a positive thing. In return, they have signed a couple of experienced Ligue 2 players to shore up their defence. Jordan Lefort joins from Paris in the rearguard while Joseph Lopy arrives from Nimes. Both are solid players at this level but not of the standard of a team gunning for promotion. The signings last summer didn’t work, with Cedric Hountondji, in particular, with a point to prove in defence. Ibrahima Niane’s loan from Metz has been made permanent. Although he doesn’t have a good strike rate in his career – 28 goals in 149 league matches – he is someone who retains interesting potential and could enjoy a breakout season. Similarly Lois Diony, who spent last season injury, Adrien Hunou and teenager Justin-Noel Kalumba should be strong players at this level. Angers will still lose players before the end of the transfer window. Lynchpin midfielder Batista Mendy is one of those who is expected to go, with Yan Valery another set to be sold, as the club is stripped of its most valuable assets. They remain in a messy situation.