SeasonOne.EpisodeFive | End of season review
MANAGERS WORDS
It has been another season to remember at Stade Rennais. We finished a position better in second place this season being tipped to only make it to fifth.
We didn’t do too well in the Champions League, but with the group, we were given it’s no surprise. I was just pleased with the couple of results we did get.
We’ve had some fantastic games over this season, and some great performances. I really need to try and keep this group of players together to build on this and try to get up into the Champions League places next season.
THE BOARD APPRAISAL
The new board continue to be as demanding as the previous. Still, they’re happy for now.
Club vision
Despite a record points haul and a second-place finish, the board have dropped their rating down to a C in terms of us meeting the club vision. I have no idea what I have to do to get an A rating right now but it seems like we’ll just have to do with this.
Club culture
Delighted. The board are delighted with players we’re developing using the club’s youth system. I tend to agree with them. The new board removed a lot of the club culture items, so we’re only judged on the one now.
- Desired: Develop players using the clubs youth system | Delighted
Preferred: Sign players under the age of 23 for the first team | Reserving judgementRequired: Do not sign players over the age of 30 | Reserving judgementFavoured: Play defensively solid football | Very pleased
5-year plan
The five-year plan doesn’t change too much with the new board. Qualification for the Europa League is still the minimum expectation next season, fortunately, so there’s no pressure here to overachieve again.
TEAM STATS
We’ve generally improved across the board statistically. We’re better offensively, and defensively. Player more cautiously has seen the possession numbers slightly dip, but that’s not too much of a concern.
It’s good to see that we’re scoring more goals from fewer chances. Next season will begin with a new ME so I don’t really know what to expect in terms of the numbers so I won’t be making too many predictions, but if we can keep defensively solid and catch teams out on the break like we have been doing then a top 6 finish should be possible.
| Rennais Stats | 2019/20 season | Position | 2018/19 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average possession | 49% | 10th | 51% (7th) |
| Goals | 69 | 3rd | 62 (3rd) |
| – from set-pieces | 14 | — | 12 |
| Pass completion ratio | 82% | 3rd | 82% (4th) |
| Cross completion ratio | 18% | 11th | 19% (8th) |
| Chances created | 150 | 2nd | 161 (1st) |
| Shots on target ratio | 45% | 1st | 43% (6th) |
| Conversion rate | 11% | 1st | 10% (1st) |
| Conceded | 30 | 2nd | 39 (5th) |
| – from set-pieces | 6 | — | 12 |
| Fouls committed | 399 | 12th | 260 (20th) |
| Tackles won | 83% | 2nd | 88% (2nd) |
Our average attendance of 28,975 is up from 27,815 last season, which has seen us sell 99% of the tickets available, compared with 95% last season. We sold all tickets in 18 of the 19 home matches we had in the league. At the end of the season, the board announced plans to build a new stadium, but I don’t expect this to be a quick process.
PLAYER STATS
It has been a much better showing this season from the players, but there are clear stand-out performers. Those being the starting 11 available. Outside of that, we lack true performers, which is where we might get caught out again as I have to rotate for Champions League matches.
As rated in-game, the following end of season awards were presented to the players.
Top Goalscorer
- Raphinha | 12 goals
Highest average rating
- Raphinha | 7.30 rating
Most Assists
- Raphinha | 9 assists
Best pass completion
- Edouard Mendy | 92% pass completion
Most player of the match awards
- Raphinha | 7 Player of the Match awards
Most yellow cards
- Hamari Traoré and James Lea Siliki | 7 yellow cards
Most red cards
- Raphinha and M’Baye Niang | 1 red card
END OF SEASON AWARDS
Oliver Jensen’s golden spoon award
Awarded to my stand out player of the season.
- Raphinha
Is it surprising really? The guy has been on fire this season and it is clear to see why he is now wanted by Europe’s elite. I’ll be tough to hold onto him, so if I can get one more season out of him I’ll be happy.
Oliver Jensen’s wooden spoon award
Awarded to my stand out player, for all the wrong reasons.
- Benjamin Bourigeaud
I’ve tried to give him games, but he’s just not performed for us. I don’t think I’m going to sell him as I’m sure there’s a player in there. He didn’t have a particularly stand-out season last year, but he’s a squad player for now because he just doesn’t stand-out enough in the squad.
Oliver Jensen’s silver spoon award
Awarded to the best youth player (under 23) to break into the squad, either new signing or from the youth teams.
- Gilles Schmitt
WOW. That’s all I can really say about this kid. 7 goals in 7(5) appearances in his first season. He only really came into the squad to cover injury and then just wouldn’t stop scoring.
He will definitely feature more next season, despite the young age, but Camavinga did the same for us so there’s no reason Schmitt can’t.
Fans player of the season
- Raphinha (50%)
- Exequiel Palacios (24%)
- Eduardo Camavinga (16%)
Goal of the season
- Raphinha vs Stade Reims – Saturday 9 May 2020
We showed this goal in the previous post, but it’s worthy of being shown again i think.
Young player of the season
- Raphinha, 24 years old
OFF THE FIELD
We’re doing great things off the field as usual, however, the new board coming in and splaying €34M on players hasn’t helped me plan for further transfers and building the squad.
I’m hoping now that the transfers will be back with me and I can properly plan for the coming season.
We have a few players retiring, a few players wanting to leave, and a few young players who are just about good enough to make the step up so I’ll need to assess the squad in preseason and see where we are in terms of numbers and then look to get back into the market for some new talent!
That just about wraps up the review of this season. It was better than the last, a trend I hope to keep up!
As always, you can get in touch with me in the comments below, via twitter @fmfutbolmanager, or my slack channel #fmFutbolManager — if you’re not a part of the Football Manager Slack community, then you can join here!
Until next time, à tout à l’heure.
Oliver Jensen
