Football Season Guide

Guingamp had hoped to achieve promotion back to Ligue 1 at the first time of asking but instead spent the season battling relegation, only to pull away from trouble towards the end of the campaign and enjoy what was a rather flattering mid-table finish. Frederic Bompard had saved the club but his role as firefighting coach was nevertheless ended in the summer, with Stephane Dumont stepping up to take charge of a team for the first time. Previously, he was the assistant at Reims, where he worked both in Ligue 2 and in Ligue 1. Like many clubs in Ligue 2, Guingamp have worked hard to reduce their wage bill significantly over the summer months. Players on big wages like Paul-Georges Ntep and Lebogang Phiri have departed, while veterans Jeremy Sorbon and Pierrick Valdivia have departed. There was a need at Guingamp to almost reset and that is exactly what has been done over the summer months, with even key winger Ronny Rodelin allowed to depart. Guingamp have drawn heavily from their youth set up while they have several players returning on loan who may be able to perform in the first team, with the foremost among those Mehdi Merghem and left-back Pedro Rebocho. Merghem is coming back from a serious injury like centre-back Felix Eboa Eboa, whose absence last season weighed heavily on the side. What signings have arrived have typically been drawn from the bargain basement. Souleymane Diarra has joined from Pau while experienced midfielder Maxime Barthelme was a regular in the Troyes side that won the league last season. With Frantzdy Pierrot in attack, Guingamp should have some attacking power, although he was another to suffer from injuries last season. Indeed, the whole offensive unit, which has not been given a dramatic facelift, was one that flopped last term. It surely cannot underperform so drastically again. Youssouf M’Changama in the midfield is the team’s driving force and will be a key figure this term, while there remains enough in defence to build a team around. The challenge for Dumont is whether he can do it in his first job.