Football Season Guide

Standard Liege had a generally good last season in which they always looked comfortable in the top six but were far too predictable and drab at times to really last the pace at the top of the table. It proved the last season of the great Michel Preud’homme experiment as the great club legend agreed to part ways after two seasons. A very good coach in Philippe Montanier takes over from this season onwards, fresh from winning promotion with Lens in the French Ligue 2. He is set to work with mostly the same squad that Preud’homme had and it remains to be seen how much he will be able to improve some promising players who delivered only in flashes last year. Samuel Bastien was the key man last season and it seems like he is staying put this season, with Megrim Vojvoda the one player tipped to leave in the coming weeks. Overall, Standard have good quality and depth but the lack of a reliable and injury-free striker is the main issue. Obbi Oulare is excellent at this level but has not had much luck with injuries lately and needs a consistent run of games. Standard look well-placed to be a player in the top end of the table and have a balanced and experienced coach but need a bit more flair and difference-makers in the final third to really push on.