Football Season Guide

The past season was not an easy one for Montpellier. Returning to the Ligue 2 after a 15-year tenure in the top flight of French football, they underwent a major overhaul over the summer and logically needed some time before actually finding their feet again. Not too surprisingly, until early October they were somewhat inconsistent. Afterwards, they initiated a march that brought them all the way up to the top 5 but was subsequently interrupted by a heavy crisis, which led them to the new year. They then became unbeatable between weeks 25 and 32 but draws against direct rivals and no wins in the last 2 games cost them all chances of fighting for promotion. While they were extremely solid defensively as they held the best defence with 31 goals conceded and kept 12 clean sheets, Montpellier had serious troubles offensively: with 41 goals scored, they sported the 10th league attack only. In fact, for their goals they depended almost exclusively on their 2 most representative players, key striker Mendy and key attacking midfielder Savanier. Coach Camara, in charge also for the next season, will have to make do without both of them, though, as they left for pastures new. Astonishingly enough, they were not adequately replaced yet, although new signing Camara was impressive last spring at Laval, thus leaving Montpellier with serious problems offensively. Another starter in the attack, winger Mbuku, also left, returning to his parent club, but he should not be missed too much since he tended to be inconsistent and anyway they have a whole group of youngsters rising in power on the wings, the likes of Issoufou and Gueguin above all. Elsewhere, they lost starting centre-back Jullien: at 32 and injury-prone, he should not be missed, especially since they signed versatile centre-back/midfielder Meddah, who left a mark at Pau. Back-up right-back El Hannach returned to his parent club and he was not replaced yet while midfielder Tardieu should provide that experience that was missed last season.