Football Season Guide

Saint-Etienne experienced an ultimately disappointing campaign last time around as they spent the first half of the season lingering near the foot of the table following a points deduction before showing the type of form expected of them after the January transfer window. It is that level that they must aim to maintain if they are to regain their status as a Ligue 1 side, which is undoubtedly their target. After an overhaul last summer, the work that has been done in the transfer window has been far more most this season. Top scorer Jean-Philippe Krasso has departed, replaced by Ibrahim Sissoko from Sochaux, who scored a useful 13 times in Ligue 2 last season and boasts a record of around 0.4 goals per game at this standard. Although Niels Nkounkou’s loan from Everton has been made permanent, the left wing-back, who was outstanding in the second half of last term, when he was arguably the best player in the whole league, is pushing very hard to leave, with the club working hard to find his replacement. This is easily the biggest concern for Sainte going into the new season. Otherwise, the squad that was working efficiently in the latter weeks of the season has been retained. Interestingly, their pre-season matches are pointing to the same tendency they had last term to score lots of goals but also concede plenty. They have leaked twice in three of their four pre-season fixtures, which could be a problem as the season progresses. Head coach Laurent Batlles ideally likes his teams to be exciting, and after a year in charge, Sainte finally have his stamp on them. If Ibrahima Wadji in attack can continue his fine form from early 2023, and the defence can be effectively anchored by the likes of Lamine Fomba in midfield and Anthony Briancon in defence, Sainte will be a significant threat.