Football Season Guide

Bordeaux did finish last season impressively, but they have lost dangerous winger Malcom, their outstanding player for much of last term, to Barcelona and yet time is running out to replace him. With Soualiho Meite having already gone back to Monaco after a loan, Bordeaux have lost another important element of their team. They do, however, have players in their squad who underperformed last term. Nicolas De Preville is a man who can give the club much more, while Alexandre Mendy should return from injury to add weight to the attack, if not particular quality. Francois Kamano and Martin Braithwaite are also potentially dangerous players. The midfield is solid but lacking a little in dynamism, with the decision to give veteran Jaroslav Plasil a new contract typifying a lack of ambition in that area of the field. Younousse Sankhare is the most dynamic of the trio and scored seven goals last season, yet he was also regularly overlooked. The rearguard, meanwhile, will likely be anchored by Pablo, a player who appeared to have no future at the club six months ago but has suddenly become a leader. Jules Kounde, meanwhile, has been a revelation since breaking into the team. But this side currently looked a little fractured, not bereft of quality but lacking in direction from the boardroom, and unless that is remedied before the end of August, Poyet will not be able to achieve what he believes he can.