Football Season Guide

Nice enjoyed a tremendous season in Ligue 1 last term as they finished the season in fourth place, yet the Allianz Riviera outfit have lost some of the key components that allowed them to finish in such a lofty position. Head coach Claude Puel has gone to Southampton after a rather successful spell on the Cote d’Azur, while strike pairing Valere Germain and Hatem Ben Arfa, who were so devastating offensively for Les Aiglons last term, have both left the club. The man charged with overseeing this transitional phase is Lucien Favre, who has a reputation for playing quick, attractive football, which was very much the aim of Puel’s side last season. He has been forced to rebuild Nice half from scratch given they also lost Nampalys Mendy and Jeremy Pied, who were also regulars. It is in attack where they have been totally transformed, though. Anastasios Donis has arrived from Juventus on loan, but it is likely to be to Mickael Le Bihan and Alexandre Plea that Nice primarily turn to. Both spent much of last season injured but started with huge promise. The midfield will try to compensate for the loss of Mendy by the signing of Wylan Cyprien from Lens. Favre must hope that Vincent Koziello and Jean-Michel Seri can continue their superb form of last term, as they helped Nice’s midfield establish itself as one of the best in the whole country. With Remi Walter and now Arnaud Lusamba on their books, they have depth in the form of youth. Defensively, Nice are likely to struggle due to the open nature of their coach’s thinking. The composition of their back four will remain largely untouched, though Pied’s loss has necessitated drafting in a new addition in the form of Dalbert, who must settle after arriving from Brazil. Ricardo Pereira, who was one of the revelations in France last term, has been re-signed on loan from Porto. In goal, Walter Benitez may leapfrog Mouez Hassen, Simon Pouplin and Yoan Cardinale to start in what was something of a problem position last term.