Football Season Guide

Clermont have been long established as a mid-table force in Ligue 2 and lived up to that billing last season as they finished 12th in the standings. Given their performance a season earlier when they finished with 12 points and five wins more, leading them to 7th, it did represent something of a disappointment, and the target for head coach Corinne Diacre this time around will be to once again break the top 10. There have been encouraging signs during the summer, with a 2-0 friendly victory over a strong Montpellier side particularly heartening for the Auvergne outfit. Changes have been made in the squad, with the defence stripped out. David Douline and Martin Kavdanski have both arrived to play in the middle of the defence, while in the full-back slots Ludovic Soares and Jerome Phojo both join up from Championnat National sides, although each has experience at this level previously. In goal, meanwhile, highly rated youngster Paul Bernardoni has joined on loan from Bordeaux to challenge Mehdi Jeannin, who was widely considered below his best last season. Little has changed in the midfield, while in attack Ferebore Dore has arrived to try to solve the problem Clermont had in front of goal last term. Alassane N’Diaye, a versatile forward player, has joined from Al-Taawon, where he had a commendable scoring record. In previous spells in Ligue 2 with Laval and CA Bastia, he has not been nearly so successful. Ludovic Ajorque has played well in pre-season, despite a disappointing first season at the club, in which the performances of Remy Dugimont were pivotal to their hopes going forward. He will once again be a vital player. In the midfield, the physicality of Joseph Lopy will be important, and Diacre will be hopeful that he shows some of the scoring form he mustered early last term.