Football Season Guide

Nimes is a club where much has changed over the summer. They have lost the inspirational figure of Bernard Blaquart as head coach, with his former assistant Jerome Arpinon taking over the duties. It is his first main job. Meanwhile, behind the scenes they have undertaken a program designed to modernise their approach, including greater statistical analysis of their games and also offering sessions designed to increase the unity of the squad. Certainly, they had a narrow escape last term, having spent much of the season in the bottom two. Only a four-game winning streak in February saved them. January signing Yassine Benrahou was arguably the player who changed their season, and the playmaker’s stay at the club has been made permanent – an excellent piece of business. Meanwhile, Zinedine Ferhat will be free to cause a menace on the right. Moussa Kone, who arrived from Dresden in January, scored two goals in five appearances and showed much promise, suggesting he could be the man to lead the line ahead of Renaud Ripart, who is coming off a disappointing season. Defensive issues in the squad, meanwhile, have been addressed with a couple of new additions in the form of Andres Cubas from Talleres in Argentina and Birger Meling from Rosenborg. Given neither has any experience of French football, these represent risky additions. Furthermore, Nimes have lost Paul Bernardoni, who was arguably their outstanding player last season. The goalkeeper did not sign permanently from Bordeaux and instead they have added Baptiste Reynet from Toulouse. Although an experienced campaigner, he is not as strong a performer and should be seen as a downgrade in a position that was very important to them. Nimes’ defensive strength, therefore, remains under serious question, even if they do have talent to cause problems going the other way.