Football Season Guide

Nice have promised much for several years but have failed to deliver consistently, although they are now well established in Ligue 1’s top 10. Indeed, the Allianz Riviera side have finished in the top 10 for eight successive seasons, though in two of the last three they have sneaked in at ninth. Last season was rather chaotic. The return of Lucien Favre did not bring the success they hoped and he was replaced by Didier Digard, who briefly showed promise before fading, so up-and-coming Italian coach Francesco Farioli, who has had some success in Turkey is now the boss. Investment in the squad this summer has focused more on quality rather than quantity, with their absence from European football meaning that a big squad is not a priority. Terem Moffi’s loan from Lorient has been made permanent, though question marks hang over him after a poor second half to the season, while winger Jeremie Boga has joined up from Atalanta. Those Nice have let go have universally failed to live up to their billing at the club and will not be missed, though Aaron Ramsey played the occasional promising cameo last season. Nine first-team squad players may have gone, but all are replaceable. The team will continue to be underpinned by consistent performers Dante and Jean-Clair Todibo, though after winning international recognition there is a suggestion he could leave before the end of August. Indeed, Nice are short of natural centre-backs. In the full-back areas, they need Melvin Bard to reach his potentially and, ideally, for Youcef Atal to stop sustaining injuries. Khephren Thuram remains at the club for now and was a leading performer in Ligue 1 last season, but again there is strong cover, especially with Morgan Sanson arriving from Aston Villa on loan. In attack, meanwhile, Nice are stacked with creative and wing options, and are blessed with two fine centre forwards in Moffi and Gaetan Laborde, as well as an alternative in Evann Guessand who still has potential. It is about untapping this quality.