GFFN Guide | Ligue 1 Season Preview – Nice | OneFootball

Key Man

Terem Moffi suffered an ACL injury in pre-season that will rule him out at least until the new year, perhaps even beyond. The Nigerian striker would have been confident of a stronger campaign than the last given the managerial change at Nice and the subsequent change in play-style that will certainly play into his hands. He will have to wait many months for his chance.

In his absence, other players will have to step up. Gaëtan Laborde may get the chance to feature centrally more regularly, Evann Guessand, impressive when given his chance, should get more opportunities, whilst Mohamed-Ali Cho should also be allowed to continue his progression. However, in particular, a lot will now be expected of Jérémie Boga. At 27, the Ivory Coast international has now entered into his prime years and after a successful debut campaign at the Allianz Riviera, he will be expected to push on; Nice need him to.

A prolific one-on-one winger, capable of taking players out of the game and creating space for others, he will be the leading act in Nice’s attacking line. Six goals and six assists in his first season with Le Gym is a respectable return following his return to Ligue 1 from Atalanta, but in Moffi’s absence, Nice will be reliant on him to do even more this season.

Signing to Watch

What version of Tanguy Ndombélé have Nice signed? When he left Lyon back in 2019 he became Tottenham’s record signing. To say that he didn’t live up to expectations is an understatement. He showed flashes of brilliance but his lethargy, his lack of work rate, and his inconsistency baffled managers, even frustrated them. “Tanguy is the guy that you always expect more than what he gives you […] the feeling is that he always has something more to give. He never reaches the limit of effort, sacrifice and even ambition,” said José Mourinho, one of many managers under whom Ndombélé never showed his true potential.

“Abroad was hard,” admitted Ndombélé, who now returns to France, still in his prime years and with a point to prove. Questions were asked of his fitness during his last loan spell, at Galatasaray, however, his intense pre-season programme at Nice is visibly reaping rewards and, determined to rediscover his finest form, there is room for cautious optimism that Ndombélé’s best years may yet be ahead of him, rather than behind him.

Nice’s midfield did lack creativity last year and the moments of brilliance from the now-departed Khéphren Thuram were too sparsely displayed. Ndombélé could therefore bring a fresh energy to this functional but at times uninspiring midfield. It just depends on what version of Ndombélé they have inherited from his struggles at Tottenham.

Squad Analysis

Depth is an issue. Even without European football, this squad is thin and lacking profiles that can fit into Haise’s chosen play-style. The defence, likely to be a back three, consists of just one out-and-out centre-back, in the form of soon-to-be 41-year-old club captain Dante. Pablo Rosario and in particular Youssouf Ndayishimiye are, in the eyes of Haise, centre-backs, or can at least fill in there. The latter is certainly more well-suited than the former to playing the role. One recruit is a must, but given their participation in the UEFA Europa League, two or even three more are arguably needed, that is despite the promise shown by academy product Antoine Mendy in pre-season.

Unlike Farioli, Haise plays with wing-backs. There are candidates to play in the position but few that are accustomed to doing so. Melvin Bard should be able to adapt down the left, and the addition of Jonathan Clauss, whom Haise knows well, is a shrewd bit of cheap business. Billal Brahimi may be an interesting back-up option to the France international. There is no such depth on the left.  Following Thuram’s departure and Haise’s choice to consider Ndayishimiye as a defender, there is also a need for further recruitment in midfield.

Ironically, Nice’s attack is well stocked, despite their difficulties in front of goal last season. There is quality and depth with Cho and Guessand in particular showing their ability to contribute off the bench or in rotation with the first-choice options. Additions further back are needed and, for once, Nice, the fourth-best defence in Europe’s top five leagues last season, will have concerns around their defence should they fail to attract the right profiles in this sector of the pitch. Marcin Bulka was perhaps the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 last season; he may be called upon more often in the coming campaign.

The Manager

After just one season, Francesco Farioli left Nice. His pragmatic approach brought success but little excitement. Their fifth-place finish in Ligue 1 certainly wasn’t the result of attacking fluidity; only Strasbourg, Nantes, Le Havre, Metz and Clermont Foot scored fewer goals than Les Aiglons last season. In that sense, the ambitious appointment of Franck Haise marks a wanted and radical departure. “Creating emotions, that’s the objective, for sure,” said the former Lens manager upon his appointment. Despite success, there was a distinct lack of just that last season.

Haise’s philosophy greatly differs from that of his predecessor, and it will be a question of adaptation, especially at the start of the season. Early performances in pre-season have left Haise optimistic that his new squad are incorporating his footballing ideals, even if some players, notably Ndayishimiye, Brahimi, Tom Louchet and perhaps even Bard, may have to quickly acclimatise to new roles within the system. Haise will bring a welcome, fresh energy to this new-era INEOS project on the French Riviera and his previous success, firstly in Ligue 2 and more recently in Ligue 1 suggests that he will have Nice challenging near the top once again.

Verdict

Haise’s arrival at Nice is perceived as a bit of a coup, however, having lured him to the club, they must quickly assemble a squad in his image. That won’t be easy and there are gaps to be filled. They must be filled on a budget too and such constraints may see Le Gym having to conduct some business late in the window.

A slow start may be a by-product of the radically different play style heralded by Haise’s arrival and the difficulty in quickly constructing a squad to match. However, there is plenty of individual quality still in this side and a renowned manager to match. The squad will be tested to its limits due to participation in the Europa League, however, Nice will be looking to at least match last season’s achievement. Given the considerable strengthening of teams around them, it will be a difficult task, but they are at least in good hands.

Line-up (3-4-3): Bulka; Ndayishimiye, Dante, Rosario; Bard, Sanson, Ndombélé, Clauss; Boga, Guessand, Cho.

This article was taken from the GFFN Ligue 1 Season Guide, which can be downloaded HERE.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle