Football Season Guide

Rodez have established themselves as regulars in Ligue 2, but with an invariably tiny budget, this in itself has been something of a miracle. This will be head coach Didier Santini’s second campaign at the helm of the tiny club and the challenge of securing safety looks more difficult than ever after a summer in which they saw some key players depart and – so far – only a handful of new faces. As many as five first-team regulars have left the club, with only Kevin Boma attracting a fee. Fellow centre-back Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao, Antoine Valerio, Clement Depres and, perhaps most importantly of all, captain Bradley Danger have all gone. Three loanees who were vital members of the squad, too, have left, including centre-forwards Tairyk Arconte and Andreas Hountondji both departing. Dembo Sylla down the right was also a key attacking force. In attack, Ibrahima Balde has been signed from Lens to strengthen this area. Killian Corredor is the only other centre-forward. Rodez operated with four last season. With a lack of wingers, the clear intention is to play 3-5-2, with Lucas Buades having hopefully overcome his injury issues to play a potentially key role. In midfield, Mohamed Achi and Derek Mazou-Sacko join up from Nantes and Troyes, with Rodez hoping to continue their remarkable strike rate of picking up excellent signings from fringe players elsewhere in Ligue 2. Giovanni Haag, meanwhile, will have much riding on him. Notoriously a hot head, he cannot afford to miss too often due to suspension this term. Rodez’s central defence held up very well last season in the face of numerous long-term injury issues but cannot afford to be so short handed this season. This is particularly the case given that Joris Chougrani and Eric Vandenabeele, who were injured for almost all of last term, are two of their players with genuine experience. The only addition is Loni Quenabio from amateur football. Rodez have the youngest squad in the league, with only two outfield players over the age of 27.