Football Season Guide

Toulouse are one of the mainstays of Ligue 1 for a number of years, but after a brief spell in the second tier, they have been rebuilding. Since winning promotion 3 years ago, they have been slowly but surely improving their standing in the league but have yet to attain a top-half finish, ending last term in 10th place. TFC started the season positively but fell away in the closing stages of the campaign. Injuries certainly had an impact in their troubles but over the course of the summer they have seen a trio of attackers leave. Zakaria Aboukhlal is certainly the most important of these, though Josh King and Shavy Babicka both had a significant role to play in their season too. Only young South American Santiago Hidalgo has arrived as compensation but more additions may follow. They look light upfront currently. Similarly in midfield, Toulouse look a couple of players short, despite the arrival of Abu Francis and Mario Sauer. Injuries troubled them in this area last season and much will rely on Cristian Casseres and Vincent Sasso. At the back, there is more strength, with no defenders yet leaving. There has been speculation linking Jaydee Canvot with a transfer after he excelled having come into the team due to Rasmus Nicolaisen’s long-term problems. The Dane was in the best form of his life but missed almost the whole season. It would be a major boon if he could get back to his best level. The rearguard is important because Guillaume Restes remains raw in goal. The 20-year-old is regarded as a player of enormous potential but has yet to truly excel week after week. Nevertheless, he remains TFC’s first pick. With Carles Martinez still in charge, Toulouse have a capable young coach but he will have to find another level if he is to lift this team to reach the top half.