Football Season Guide

Metz bounced back into Ligue 1 season by winning the playoffs, and having reached the top-flight, the quest is now to remain there. Les Grenats have become something of a yo-yo team in France lately, winning promotion to Ligue 1 4 times in the last 10 years but never managing more than a 3-year stay in the elite. Stephane Le Mignan is the man tasked with bucking that trend and building a long-term future for the Lorraine side among the big boys. He will do so with a limited budget. Metz have struggled to strengthen over the course of the summer months, with their only major expense going on goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer. Metz have been quietly working on strengthening their group, though. They have done so via the free transfer market, where they added the experienced Jean-Philippe Gbamin to bolster their midfield, but also the loan market. Boubacar Traore has returned to the club in a major signing here, while their penchant for signing Georgian players goes on, with the two Giorgis, Tsitaishvili and Abuashvili both arriving. They will replace a handful regular players who have left in the summer. Among the players to depart was left-back Matthieu Udol, who was their joint-leading assist maker with 8. Key attacking players Gauthier Hein and Cheikh Sabaly remain, although their other major threat Papa Diallo has joined Norwich. One to keep an eye on in attack is youngster Idrissa Gueye, who managed 5 goals last season in around 1200 minutes. One potential area of weakness is the defence, where there is a lack of depth, particularly in the middle of the defence. It is also notable that there is a general lack of experience in this area, too – and that stretches to new goalkeeper Fischer. Metz were certainly not promoted off the back of their defensive strength, conceding at least 2 goals in 6 of their last 8 games in Ligue 2. It is an area that will need to tighten up if they are to survive.