Amongst last weeks Ligue 2 notes were ...............

 

Lorient...........top scorer Hamel 19, Claude-Maurice 14 // consecutive seasons in L2 =2 , last in L1 = 16/17 // budget last and this season 12m/ 25m  // L2 points last season: first 19 games =31, second 19 games = 32

 

Biggest "shock" of all is Lorient, after relegation in 2016-17, they halved their budget (like Caen) to 18m, the following (last) campaign a further third to 12m, now it has more than doubled to 25m.

 

Paris FC...........Wamangituca 11 // consecutive seasons in L2 =2 , last in L1 =78/79 // budget last and this season 12.5m /14.5m  // L2 points last season: first 19 games =32, second 19 games = 33

 

Both teams increased their budgets, but in Lorient's case to a whole new level, they were also one of just four L2 clubs who kept a goalscorer with double digit numbers from last season, ( two actually in Pierre-Yves Hamel 19 goals and Alexis Claude-Maurice 14 ) and also added Umut Bozok from Nimes, he did not appear to make the step up to Ligue 2, but in that club's promotion season of 2017-18 , he was top scorer with 24 goals , which was 7 more than any other second tier player and that is an eyecatching signing. They also made a number of other signings without a fee, but did pay decent money for 25 yo goalkeeper Paul Nardi from AS Monaco. He has spent the last three seasons on loan with Cercle Brugge and Lorient beat off a couple of Belgian sides and Ligue 1 Dijon to secure his services. He is a former French U21 player and has 60 + games in L2 to his name for Nancy where he played before securing a big money move to ASM. They alo added versatile defensive midfielder Laurent Abergal from Nancy this weekend, he has played in six positions for his former club making 136 Ligue 2 starts and new head coach Christophe Pelissier said:  "I am very happy to be able to count on Laurent today. Beyond his experience in this championship, Laurent is a player of character, a leader of men and his captain status in Nancy proved it, all the more during a delicate season for the Nancéens. Laurent is also a versatile player, able to play several positions. It's always fun for a coach to have a player of this quality in his squad. "

 

 

Paris FC have had two good seasons in Ligue 2 following promotion , finishing 8th and 4th and have also increased their budget, by circa 16%, looks like I jumped the gun with their "sale" of Silas Wamangitukaas he is in the squad for today, but I understand he is likely to be off this week and it would seem odd for club or player to want to be involved given the circumstances and they have named a number of forwards for the game. They are also missing a couple of players due to injury.

 

We know that home wins are in short supply in the opening round of games, but Lorient look cram full of offensive talent and I wonder how often we will get a decent price for them at home this season and it feels like 2.10 + should be taken.

 

 

 

 

Lorient : Illan Meslier, Paul Nardi, Jérôme Hergault, Felipe Saad, Quentin Lecoeuche, Matthieu Saunier, Vincent Le Goff, Julien Laporte, Alexis Claude-Maurice, Mohamed Mara, Maxime Etuin, Fabien Lemoine, Jonathan Delaplace, Franklin Wadja, Jimmy Cabot, Enzo Le Fée, Umut Bozok, Yoane Wissa, Pierre-Yves Hamel.

 

Paris FC: Demarconnay, Maisonnial,Garcia, Yohou, Kanté, Bamba, Tré,Alceus, Pitroipa, Mandouki, Lopez, Mangonzo, Martin,: Wamangituka, Sarr, Maletic, Abdeldjelil, Armand.

 

 

Good Luck.