Football Season Guide

Angers are playing Ligue 1 football for the eighth successive season, but there is little doubt that they have rarely been under more significant threat from relegation. The transition from the Stephane Moulin era continues, though Gerald Baticle posted their worst campaign since their return to Ligue 1 last season as they picked up just 41 points. Baticle has tried to make Angers more attacking, and to that end they managed 44 goals last term, which was also a high since their return. They started the season well, though, and faded to an alarming degree, only staying up by a narrow margin in the end. With financial issues dogging the club, the challenge of keeping them safe this season will be doubly hard, particularly as four teams will be relegated. Angers are in a period of major transition. Not only did they lose 12 first-team squad players, some of these were among their most important figures. While Mohamed Ali-Cho went for the biggest transfer fee, the teenage forward carries much of his value in potential. Instead, Angers’ most important players to be sold were Angelo Fulgini, their playmaker, and right-sided piston Jimmy Cabot, who has gone to Ligue 1 rivals Lens. Furthermore, some experienced players from the spine of their team have departed. Romain Thomas, Vincent Manceau, Ismael Traore and Thomas Mangani have all left. With a combined age of more than 130 between them, Angers are conducting a swift refreshment of the defence. Their season will clearly be determined by how they have signed. In the main, they have done so on the cheap, with Clermont defender Cedric Hountondji their big arrival for around €2m. He enjoyed a fine season in Ligue 1 last season but there are a notable lack of central defenders if the 3-4-1-2 formation is to be retained. Throughout the team, Angers are gambling on players who have previously struggled at this level or have yet to be given an opportunity. It is a high-risk strategy but one that is necessary given their financial issues.