Football Season Guide

Nothing ever seems to be straightforward with Marseille, who managed to make life difficult for themselves this season by parting company with head coach Jorge Sampaoli in the midst of pre-season training. Igor Tudor has been hastily appointed as their new manager after an impressive spell in Serie A. These background issues, though, have made fans jumpy about the new season. What they have seen from their team in pre-season matches has done little to assure them. They might have picked up a 1-1 draw with Real Betis, but they also suffered humiliating defeats against English Championship sides Norwich and Middlesbrough in recent weeks. Such setbacks have been overcome by OM in recent years but there is a sense that this is a squad that is rudderless at present. The pre-season transfer campaign for Marseille has also been frustratingly slow. Duje Caleta-Car is a player widely expected to depart, yet he remains on the books. Similarly, young attacker Bamba Dieng is a player there has been much noise about only for nothing to happen. This has also been the case with incomings. Alexis Sanchez and Nuno Tavares are both linked with moves to the club but they are not over the line days before the season begins. OM have conducted some nice business to make loans permanent for four players, including Matteo Guendouzi, Cengiz Under and Arek Milik, while the arrival of Jonathan Clauss from Lens is a nice fit for this side. Equally, young centre-back Isaak Toure is a good pick up to replace Boubacar Kamara, who moved to Aston Villa in the summer for nothing. Certainly, selling has been a problem for OM, who have seen players like Kamara and Steve Mandanda go for nothing, meaning they have limited investment opportunities. Dimitri Payet is set to be made the centrepiece of the team once again, while the midfield looks in a strong state with Gerson and Guendouzi at its heart. Defensively, though, OM clearly have issues having lost Kamara and Caleta-Car also likely to go. Chancel Mbemba has arrived, but they look soft at the heart of their backline and even in goal Pau Lopez was not overly convincing last season.