Back among the elite after a 33-year hiatus, the club from the Champagne-Ardenne region would be looking to repeat a few antics from its glorious past
After spending 33 years between Ligue 2 and National, Stade de Reims are back among the big boys of Ligue 1 with a slightly changed workforce. Although not many people expect Reims to contest for top honours from the word go, they will be looking to make
sure that the club is as far away from a relegation dogfight as possible.
Last season and what has changed
Last season, Reims won promotion to the Ligue 2 along with SC Bastia. The Champagne-Ardenne side conceded just two defeats at the Auguste Delaune stadium last season and their promotion to Ligue 1 football was confirmed on the evening of May 11, 2012, 33
years after their last appearance at the highest level.
Since then, not much has changed except some surprising departures including that of Cedric Faure, club’s top scorer from last season who failed to reach a contractual agreement with the club’s hierarchy. Meanwhile, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucas-c22528 Deaux (Nantes), Clement Tainmont
(Chateauroux), http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-c18993 Kodjia (on-loan at Amiens) and Lucien Abey (contract termination) will not be at the club this season.
On arrivals, the club has shown a preference to recruit players who already have experience in Ligue 1 or abroad like Kamel Ghilas, on loan from Hull City, scorer of 14 goals for Reims last season. The Algerian international has been joined by six other
players Antoine Devau, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mohamed-Fofana-c26292 and a few other players.
System and style of play
Stade de Reims boasted the third best defence and attack in Ligue 2 last season and the team remained fairly consistent throughout the campaign. Houbert Fournier prefers using a 4-4-2 formation with Ghilas and Fauvergue as strikers.
Attack is supposed to be the main strength of the side which means that the team will pose a lot of problems to Ligue 1 defences this season.
Man to watch
Nicolas Fauvergue
Age: 27
Position: striker
Nationality: French
With Cedric Faure gone, Stade de Reims may have found the striker’s replacement in Nicolas Fauvergue. Although Fauvergue refuses to be breathed in the same air as Faure, many feel that the two share an almost similar profile.
The former Lille striker knows all about Ligue 1 and the player certainly has a score to settle after spending three years in the shadows. Fauvergue is an asset for Stade de Reims and his leadership qualities will aid the club a lot.
Arrivals
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Antoine-Devaux-c6251 (Toulouse)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Nicolas-Fauvergue-c27812 (Sedan)
Mohamed Fofana (Toulouse)
Kamel Ghilas (Hull City)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Grzegorz-Krychowiak-c15278 (Bordeaux)
Franck Signorino (Laval)
Julien Toudic (Lens)
Departures
Cedric Collet and Romain Amalfitano (Newcastle United)
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lucien-Aubey-c22595 and Lucas Deaux (Nantes)
Cedric Faure
Jonathan Kodjia (Amiens)
Clement Tainmont (Chateauroux)
Schedule for August 2012-08-07
August 11: Reims Vs Marseille
August 18: Bastia Vs Reims
August 25: Reims Vs Sochaux
Main objective
For the current campaign, Stade de Reims management would be hoping to see the club stay as far away from the relegation zone as possible. 33 years away from the big boys is indeed a long time and the club needs to make sure that they are not mired in relegation
troubles.
With a budget of just 25 million euros, Stade de Reims are keen to remain with the big boys even though many consider them as the “new Dijon”. The club will struggle to stay among the elite but with intelligent recruitment, things might improve as the season
wears on.
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