Football Season Guide

Strasbourg is currently a club in constant unrest as the club battles against owners BlueCo, who have made them little more than a feeder team to Chelsea. And while the Stamford Bridge side struggle to reach their potential in England, there is a sense that Racing are in a similar position in France after finishing 13th last season. Patrick Vieira, who oversaw that team, has departed with a wildcard appointment in the form of Liam Rosenior made during the summer. It was difficult to judge Vieira’s effectiveness because he was given a young squad and constantly pleaded for more experience, arguing that the team’s goals could not be achieved without that. Tellingly, some senior players echoed that sentiment. BlueCo do not appear to have listened. A string of senior pros have left the club in the summer, including Ibrahima Sissoko, Lebo Mothiba and Kevin Gameiro, and none of the four permanent signings coming in to replace them are older than 21. Strasbourg’s squad looks similarly unbalanced as Chelsea’s with too many players all over the field who are too young while there is an overall lack of quality. Rosenior, however, will be expected to mould a competitive team with what he has been given. It is worth bearing in mind that Chelsea are likely to give Racing several cast-offs on loan before the end of August, and these could be players to transform the look of this squad. Andrey Santos and Caleb Wiley have already joined up with the squad. This is a hugely inexperienced squad. There is not a member of the midfield or attack over the age of 22, and while there are players like Habib Diarra, who have undoubted potential, not having an experienced player around to guide will inevitably cause problems. The defence, meanwhile, inexplicably has four right-backs and it is likely that the more experienced players in this area, such as Loic Perrin and Thomas Delaine simply face being elbowed out.