Football Season Guide

Saint-Etienne tumbled out of Ligue 1 last season in disappointing fashion, with the ownership of the club coming under attack for the meek fashion in which they ultimately slipped back to the second tier just one season after winning promotion. This is a club that should really be represented at the top level of the game and the club’s poor running ultimately caught up with them last term. In particular, the decision to appoint Eirik Hornelund as head coach in January was a controversial move and one that did not pay off. In a defiant move, he has been retained in his role. Hornelund has been backed in the transfer market. While Saint-Etienne have a long list of players who have departed, only Louis Mouton and Leo Petrot were regular starters – and the latter of this pair was not even a particularly important figure. Otherwise, Saint-Etienne have got rid of failing players like Ibrahim Sissoko and Ibrahima Wadji, who sucked up valuable wages while being injured long term last season. The big hope this season is that Irvin Cardona comes through big in attack. Saint-Etienne have put faith in him offensively while retaining Lucas Stassin – a player who ultimately impressed last term after a slow start. With Zuriko Davitashvili also still at the club, Saint-Etienne have two superb attackers who should be playing at a far higher level. In midfield, Sainte also look solidly stocked, with Mahmoud Jaber arriving from Maccabi Tel Aviv to join Benjamin Bouchouari, Aimen Moueffek and Florian Tardieu in competing for a starting berth. And the defence that did not look good enough for Ligue 1 looks very capable at this standard, anchored by the experience of Dennis Appiah in the full-back area. There was a very real signal of intent here with the signing of Chico Lamba for €6m from Portuguese football – the biggest Ligue 2 signing of the summer so far. Mikael Nade and Dylan Batubiniska may have their faults, but they should be strong enough for this standard, while in goal Gautier Larsonneur is another strong option.