Teams:
Angers
Bastia
Bordeaux
Caen
Dijon (promoted)
Guingamp
Lille
Lorient
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Marseille
Metz (promoted)
Monaco
Montpellier
Nancy (promoted)
Nantes
Nice
Paris Saint-Germain (C)
Rennes
Saint-Étienne
Toulouse
Relegated:
Reims
Gazélec Ajaccio
Troyes
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We know this thread will be left barren most of the time but it doesn't hurt to have a thread just for the hell of it.
So, we already know the chances of PSG not being champions for the fifth consecutive year are nonexistent. They only need two more titles to tie OL's record of consecutive title wins which shouldn't be difficult with the ridiculous gap in the league between them and everyone else.
Despite the league not being tactically interesting and barely competitive, I follow it (and watch a few teams semi-regularly) because there are always lots of interesting young players. Dembele, Guerreiro, Nkoudou, Ben Yedder, Batshuayi, and Umtiti are the highest profile young players that have left since the transfer window has opened.
PSG's project might be taking a turn with Patrick Kluivert's appointment as sporting director a few days ago. Apparently he had agreed to coach Ajax's youth team next season but PSG stepped in before anything was official. Maybe this means PSG are looking at cohesion and youth more than big money signings or the project's ambitions have changed. In any case it's difficult to see them winning CL, they have always struggled with the difference in intensity between CL and Ligue 1.
Olympique Lyonnais have replaced Umtiti well with Nkoulou on a bosman and Mammana from River Plate. I feel their project is in limbo but their new stadium opens up a lot of opportunity. The stadium was touted as the way for the club to move to the next level with increased revenues, especially after the very austere last few years where the club has cut costs and put a crazy focus on the youth academy.
Monaco signed Glik, Sidibe, and Mendy, and Falcao, Germain returned from loan. Sidibe and Mendy are two talented young fullbacks but a combined 24 million seems excessive. They also signed Bennasser from Nancy (who is hyped from L2 where he won the title and was linked with Juve a lot) and loaned him back to Nancy. They've had a Juve-esque transfer policy with buying young players and loaning them back out (Nardi, Jean, Saint Maximin, Bennasser). I have no idea where their project is going but they're investing nearly everything in young players.
Marseille will be fighting for survival again this season. One of the worst run clubs in Europe, in financial ruins and the brink of relegation. Last season they sold/released Payet, Lemina, Gignac, Ayew, Thauvin, this season they've sold/released Mandanda, Dja Djedje, Nkoulou, Nkoudou, Batshuayi, and Mendy. They've barely replaced any of these players well. They're openly in the market for new owners and I'm sure Marseille fans can't wait. I wouldn't be surprised if this club gets relegated soon.
Bordeaux have made a few interesting changes this summer. They hired Guingamp's hyped coach and they signed Toulalan for free (who was released from Monaco for family reasons), Menez for free, and a young winger from Bastia. I think they could surprise people this season.
Also, Nice has new owners and they hired Lucien Favre which is a batshit crazy coup for them. I think we could potentially see a much stronger L1 in the future if the investment pouring into the league continues.
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