By our own admissions we had experienced a really poor start to life in Brittany. It was a slow start to the season with some improvements in patches up until the half way mark of the season. We have reached January and it was time to try and bolsters the squad and improve our domestic standing.
January Transfer Activity
It was clear to me that we needed investment to improve the squad in some key areas. Unfortunately the funds weren't available. It wont surprise you that we begin this transfer window with a departure.
We waited three months for him to become available for selection to hopefully turn our season around but £60 million was just WAY too much to turn down.
This left us with £49 million was added to the transfer budget. Lets see how we utilised it.
There is a healthy mixture of youth and experience, lets take a look at teh new recruits.
Sergio Gomez joins us on loan from Man City. I actually wanted to sign him at the beginning of the season for a left wing back role but we couldn't afford the loan fee and wages so as soon as the money became available I went straight back to see if we could get him.
Victor Hugo joins from Flamengo for £13 million. A highly rated youth prospect from Brazil, what isn't there to like. The ability to play almost all across the attacking midfield positions means he offers some serious versatility also. Excited about this one.
Another South American signing this time Via the MLS as Facundo Torres joins from Orlando City for £13 million. Another attacking midfielder who can play across the whole front line and offers a real exciting attacking threat.
Lastly we have Luka Jovic. Signed from AC Milan for peanuts he will hopefully offer some experience up top with a real eye for goal, something we have been seriously lacking. He has had a real fall from grace since his big money move to Real Madrid didn't work out. Hopefully he can rediscover some of his form from his time in Germany.
Club Improvements
With the huge injection of cash after the sale of Terrier there was money left over after our little shopping spree in the January Window.
With the left over cash I went to the board and ask for some club upgrades.
We were successful!
These are all positive improvements for the club.
New Tactics
After securing some players who fill roles I was desperately looking for it put us in place to deploy a new tactic.
Compared to our usual set up its a little bit out there. I was desperate you get a 3 at the back using Wide Centre Backs in as I havee never really used them since their introduction.
Our wealth of quality at Centre Mid and leans towards having 4 players in there and I am hoping to get the Advanced Playmaker and the Attacking Midfielder right amongst the goals.
January 2024
Its time for the start of 2024. New faces, new tactics and new found optimism. How will all of this affect performances on the field.
Its a short month with only 2 games after the festive break.
We lose a tough game against high flying Nice but bounce RIGHT back with a brilliant away win at Lyon.
Victor Hugo slots right into the plans with 2 goals in his first 2 games for the club. Some positives straight off the bat.
We learn our opponents for the Europa League knockout stage.
Tough draw and will be a tall ask to get through to the next round.
February 2024
February brings around a busier schedule as we face 4 games in the League and the double header with Union Berlin
That is the most green I have seen in a while. Its four wins in a row when you tack on the win in January. We lose a tight affair to PSG but there is no shame in that.
Three clean sheets in a row and 3 new signings scoring in 1-0 wins. Feels like we have turned a corner.
Lets see how we have gotten on against Union Berlin
We bow out at the first knock out stage. A tight loss away from home and Union Berlin came to France and did a professional job to secure qualification.
March 2024
With our early departure from Europe its full steam ahead in the league. We have started the year strongly and we need to put that European disappointment behind us.
We have another strong month. 2 good home wins sandwich a loss away at Lille and a poor draw away at Strasbourg. However 7 points out of 12 keeps the ball points tally ticking over well.
March also brings around the infamous Youth Intake.
There is some serious potential here, but with our facilities I'd expect nothing less. Lets check out some of the top rated players in this group.
Andre Fitas appears to be an exciting Goalkeeping talent. Great base stats and at 15 he has every chance of improving greatly.
Roland Massa has the perfect base attributes for a decent utility defender who could play as a right back or a wide centre back. We will set his development to cover a mixture of both and see how he progresses.
April 2025
This is it, the run in to the end of the season. The improvement since January has been notable and we find ourselves well within touch with the European places and a very very outside chance of the Champions League spots.
Well its as close to a perfect month as we have got. Lots of goals scored, unbeaten and plenty of points on the board.
We have really put ourselves in with a chance of a top 7 finish with this run of results.
May 2024
This is it, the last three games of out debut season in France. We have definitely felt the affects of that slow start and instead of fighting for the big prizes we will have to settle with trying to qualify for the Europa League again.
Always save the best till last. Our first perfect month in the last month of the season.
Our form the second half of this season has been brilliant. Its just three losses since the turn of the year. How far did we drag ourselves back up the league?
We finish 5th, 5 points off of the Champions League Places and 13 points clear of Lorient in 8th. Its a decent recovery and without that draw heavy patch in September/October things may have been very different.
Coupe De France
We joined the Coupe De France in the 9th round, let see how we got on.
We make it through 4 rounds to the Semi Final before losing to the juggernaut that it is PSG. I decent effort in a competition that we really weren't focussed on.
That is Season 1 complete. We made a decent recovery in the second half of the season and with anther transfer window under our belt I feel we can make another really positive step.
The Signing of Sergio Gomez was key to unlocking the full potential of the tactic and he will need to be replaced after his loan deal ended.
As always with an end of season episode, I will leave you with the Season Review.
Thank you for reading and I hope you continue the journey with us next time.
Cheers
Panda
