Date: August 1, 2025 Author: Hugo Dempsey
Welcome back. They say the best things in life are free. When your chairman hands you a transfer budget that looks like a doughnut—a big, fat zero—you better hope that old saying is true.
Pre-season is effectively done. The Austrian mountains have been run up, the tactics board has been worn out with arrows pointing everywhere, and we’ve done some serious surgery on the squad with absolutely no financial anesthetic.
It’s been a busy few weeks of wheeling and dealing, trying to mould a squad inherited from the previous regime into something capable of playing high-intensity "Angeball."
Here is the debrief on our transfer activity and how it translated onto the pitch during our warm-up games.
🔄 The Revolving Door: Making Space and Being Smart
We knew we had to cut wages before we could bring anyone in. The reality of our system is that it requires young legs and high stamina.
👋 The Departure: Famara Diédhiou We made the tough decision to move Famara Diédhiou on to Sint-Truiden for an undisclosed fee. Famara is a top professional and a recognized name, but at 32, his profile just didn't fit the relentless pressing game we are implementing. We need forwards who defend from the front for 90 minutes. His departure was crucial; it freed up the significant wage budget we desperately needed to operate. We wish him all the best in Belgium.
🤝 The Arrivals: Moneyball in Action That wage space allowed us to bring in two exciting, younger profiles who fit our blueprint perfectly. We had to be creative, but I’m delighted with who we got through the door.
Terrance Joe (Free Transfer): A massive coup for us. Getting quality on a free transfer is rare in this market. Joe brings energy, dynamism, and versatility to the midfield engine room. He’s here to run, tackle, and keep things ticking over.
Ange Josue Chibozo (Undisclosed): We managed to structure a deal here that worked for everyone. Chibozo is raw, he’s fast, and he’s incredibly direct. He brings that chaotic energy in the final third that defenders hate playing against. He is a project, but one with a high ceiling..
⚽ The Pre-Season Verdict: Chaos and Control
We took the new tactic on the road to Austria, and the results were... let's call them "educational." We saw the very best and the very frustrating aspects of this new high-line, possession-heavy system.
The Austrian Tour 🇦🇹
vs Dornbirner SV (A) | Won 3-1: A solid start. The highlight was undoubtedly veteran Henri Saivet rolling back the years with a brilliant brace, with Adrien Hunou adding the third. Saivet operating in deeper areas is looking like a very interesting option.
vs SPG Wallern (A) | Drew 3-3: Absolute chaos. This game was end-to-end. It was great to see young Amine Saïd bagging two goals and Loïc Socka getting on the scoresheet, but conceding three against lower-league opposition is a worry. The high line got exposed.
vs FC Pinzgau Saafelden (A) | Won 1-0: A scrappy affair settled by our right-back, Ivan M'Bahia, from a set-piece. A clean sheet was welcome after the Wallern madness.
vs SC/ESV Parndorf (A) | Drew 0-0: The ultimate frustration. This was the "Angeball" experience in a nutshell: 70% possession, camped in their half, 10 shots on target, and we couldn't hit a barn door. We created plenty but lacked that killer instinct in the box.
Back Home 🇫🇷
vs Ternana (H) | Drew 1-1: Our first test back at the Gabriel-Montpied against solid Serie B opposition. We looked good for large parts. Kader Bamba scored a great goal, and we were cruising, controlling the tempo. Then came the 94th minute. A lapse in concentration, one long ball over the top, and they equalized with the last kick of the game.
The Takeaway: We are creating chances, which is the hard part. But we are also susceptible to the counter-attack and lapses in concentration late in games. The players are tired—this system is demanding—but they need to stay switched on for 95 minutes.
We have one final, massive test this weekend against La Liga side Levante for our dress rehearsal. Then, the real work begins.
Allez Clermont!
⚽ Late Breaking News.......
No comments:
Post a Comment