Football Season Guide

Clermont are back in the second division after their first venture in Ligue 1, and return after a disappointing season in which they failed to show what they were capable of. Over the summer months, there has been a dramatic change in the personnel at the club, with a mix of starting players and replacements departing. Many of their biggest earners, such as Maxime Gonalons have departed, and so too have the loan players who failed to contribute enough to keep them safe. As is Clermont’s custom, they have dipped into the free transfer market to strengthen their squad, opting to sign a mix of youth and experience, with very little in between. Arguably their most intriguing arrival is midfield Henri Saivet, who has performed to a high level for Pau for several years at this level, particularly as they have also added Mons Bassouamina to their ranks, with the forward having been a steady performer at this level for some time. Musa Toure, an 18-year-old striker, has arrived from Adelaide United and is an interesting but untested player at this standard. Clermont, meanwhile, have managed to retain talented attacking midfielder Muhammed Cham so far, while they have the experienced combination of Yoann Magnin and Johan Gastien to lean upon in midfield, with Habib Keita a rising star in this area. Clermont are strong here. A trump card exists in Bilal Boutobba. Ineffective at Ligue 1, he has been a star at this level previously and should add match-deciding talent. At the back, they are also solid in the centre, with experience Damien Da Silva returning to the club to add depth at centre-back. In the full-back areas, meanwhile, Neto Borges and Cheick Konate are both strong options. The squad is not the most exciting, but there is a good deal of solidarity in there, with a strong sprinkling of players with Ligue 1 experience that should make them competitive, while a good level of firepower has been retained.