Football Season Guide

Olympique de Marseille endured a miserable 2015-16 season, during which they threatened to spiral into a relegation dogfight after a remarkably poor run of form. Huge changes were needed over the summer if OM were to regain their former glories, and while the club has been put up for sale and a whole raft of alterations made to the backroom staff, including a new president and sporting director, there is still little prospect of the Stade Velodrome outfit bouncing back significantly. They have lost Michy Batshuayi – the striker who was so prolific for them throughout last term – to Chelsea. Keystone centre-back Nicolas Nkoulou has also departed along with left-back Benjamin Mendy and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, one of their few strong performers last term. So Marseille have lost all of their best performers from last term. While some of the deadwood has been cut away, they have been forced to limit the damage created by the departed players. Bafetimbi Gomis seems a good addition in attack, but this is still an area pitifully short on depth. Aaron Leya Iseka, Batshuayi’s younger brother, has arrived at the club on loan from Anderlecht but is their only serious alternate. In the defence, Hiroki Sakai has joined from Hanover and Thomas Hubocan arrives from Dinamo Moscow, while capable left-back Henri Bedimo has come from Lyon. Doria could be an interesting player to have back in their ranks after a loan spell away, as he is highly rated. Mandanda has not been replaced at all. Elsewhere, the squad has been beefed out by players who look short of OM’s traditional qualities. Florian Thauvin’s loan spell last term was unspectacular, yet he returns from Newcastle. It is something of a show of desperation that he is back, though no doubt he could be an inspired arrival were things to click. Saîf-Eddine Khaoui is another gamble, meanwhile. Marseille have not performed impressively in their friendly outings, and looking at the depth of their squad, there is real concern over their ability to finish in the top 10 this season.