THE SCENARIO: It is July 2016. Olympique de Marseille have named Frenchman Didier Leroy as their new manager after a disappointing 13th placed finish in Ligue 1 under Michel last season. Top scorer Michy Batshuayi has been sold to Chelsea, while a whole host of new players have been brought in. With the club now under new ownership, can Leroy challenge Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance of French football? Or will the former Champions League winners fall further behind their rivals from the capital?
Previous episodes: Episode 1
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1 August 2016
Our Ligue 1 season begins with the visit of Toulouse to the Velodrome on 14 August, before we travel to Guingamp five days later. Another home game follows that, as Lorient make the trip from Brittany to the south coast. Three wins from these matches have to be the target in order to get off to the best possible start.
14 August 2016
Olympique de Marseille vs Toulouse FC
It’s the opening match of the season and we host a Toulouse team that barely avoided relegation last season. Having said that, they were only eight points behind us so we’ll do well not to underestimate them. I opt for 4-3-3, with Pele in goal and a back four of Sakai, Fanni, Rolando, and new captain Evra. Sertic, Lopez, and Sanson are the midfield trio, while Gomis is flanked by Payet and Cabella up front.
We get off to the best possible start as Gomis taps in a low cross from Lopez after just four minutes. Sertic doubles the lead from close range on 17 minutes and things look good until Clorentin Jean pulls one back ten minutes later. Fortunately we manage to hold on to the lead in the second half, and Cabella wraps things up with a goal in injury time. A good win to start the season.
19 August 2016
EA Guingamp vs Olympique de Marseille
Just like Toulouse, Guingamp finished last season just above the relegation zone. We were only four points better off than them although after our opening win we’re the clear favourites to win this match. I select an unchanged line-up so hopefully the boys can get the job done again.
Errr nope. A rush of blood to the head gets Cabella sent off after six minutes, and while we still have the better chances in the match, we can’t take them. Guingamp keeper Romain Salin makes some good saves, but we also miss some easy chances. It ends 0-0, which I suppose can be seen as a positive result after playing with ten men almost the whole match.
22 August 2016
With just over a week until the transfer window shuts, teams are scrambling around to strengthen their squads. Napoli are one of those teams, and they want Sanson. Sorry but I’m not interested in letting one of my best young players go.
I am interested in bringing another midfielder though, as there are indications Yohan Cabaye wants to leave Crystal Palace to return to France. I try my luck with a €16 million bid. If we can get him, he’ll be a top class addition and someone who can mentor the likes of Sanson and Lopez.
23 August 2016
Well that was quick. Palace accept our offer for Cabaye even though it’s €5 million less than they were asking for. Wages of €100k per week are agreed, and we have our man. Bienvenue à Marseille, Yohan!
27 August 2016
Olympique de Marseille vs FC Lorient
After a draw in our last match, we need to get back on track with a win against Lorient. New signing Cabaye will go straight into the team, which means Lopez will drop to the bench. He’s not too happy about that obviously, but he’s only 18 and I’ve noticed him run out of gas towards the end of matches.
There are times as a coach when your decisions are vindicated and you get to be a bit smug about it. Today is one such day for me as Cabaye opens the scoring on his debut to set us on our way to victory. Besides scoring the goal, he links our play magnificently and just adds a different dimension to our play. Further goals from Payet and Njie seal a comfortable 3-0 win, but the win is soured by an injury to Gomis that will keep him out for two months.
31 August 2016
With Gomis missing the next two months, I debate whether I should sign another striker on deadline day. Ultimately I decide to give Njie a run in the team, and pray that youngsters Leya Iseka and Porsan-Clement are adequate backups.
Spanish side Espanyol make us a pitiful offer for Lopez that I reject immediately. While my signing of Cabaye has increased competition in midfield, there will still be plenty of games for the youngster over the course of the season.
The biggest transfers on the day involve ex-Liverpool favourite Luis Suarez moving from Barcelona to Man United and ex-Real Madrid man Mesut Ozil moving to Barca from Arsenal. Does loyalty not mean anything to these two?
Screenshots and videos taken from FIFA 17 by EA Sports
