SM Caen. What are the reasons to hope for a better fate for Malherbe in 2025?

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The end of 2024 was difficult for the Stade Malherbe Caen. Playoffs in Ligue 2 after 16 days, the Rouge et Bleu were eliminated from the Coupe de France by Guingamp on Sunday December 22 (2-1). Nicolas Seube and its players will take a few days of vacation before returning to battle so that SM Caen does not remain in the bottom of Ligue 2. Overview of the reasons for hope for the Stade Malherbe.

The first full transfer window since the takeover

This summer, the purchase of Stade Malherbe Caen by Coalition Capital, owned by Kylian Mbappéwas made official on July 31. That is to say one month after the start of the summer transfer window. At the time, in addition to not having welcomed any recruits, several players in the Caen squad were very uncertain about their future. Some, like Alexandre Mendy, did not even leave after the start of the season and the first matches. The recruits, for their part, arrived in a particular context, between rumors and truncated preparation.

This winter transfer window will therefore be the first transfer window managed entirely by the new management.

Even if it is a particular transfer window, the next deadline will arrive quickly and we will also have to be careful not to lose our best elements, new blood in specific positions will necessarily be a plus in the quest for maintenance. Not to mention that even at full strength, the Caen squad has obvious shortcomings. Nicolas Seube has said it again and again for several months now: “the needs are clear. »

The return of the wounded

There were many absences during the first part of the season. At the end of preparation, Valentin Henry and Brahim Traoré suffered injuries and were forced to miss the first league matches. Defensively, SM Caen was in great difficulty. To end the season, during the 1/32 final against Guingamp, Nicolas Seube only had one training full-back: Diabé Bolumbu. Before that, the left-hander had to play in the right lane to compensate for a new absence of Valentin Henry.

The first recruit of the Caen transfer window, Yann M'Vila was only able to play seven matches as a starter before also getting injured and being unavailable. The absence of the former French international should also continue into January. Mathias Autret, Godson Kyeremeh and Kalifa Coulibaly also missed several matches due to injuries. If he finds a full squad quickly, Nicolas Seube will have more solutions to align the best possible team at kick-off and make the necessary rotations to gain precious points.

A youth knocking on the door

In this context, Nicolas Seube called on several young people from the Caen training. Recently, it was Gabin Tomé and Léo Milliner who had their first professional start. The first even scored his first goal at Dunkirk just after coming on for the first time. Before that, Mohamed Hafid was also called into the group. If they are all still learning, they have had the merit of not giving up in the face of the adversity of Ligue 2.

Last year, Noé Lebreton and Brahim Traoré also achieved performances that surprised many people throughout the season. With new faces who could claim more and more places in the group and playing time, the competition begins and must pull everyone up.

A little more success?

Obviously, goals are part of football and it is difficult to score points without scoring goals. But it is also true that the lack of current success of Stade Malherbe has greatly influenced its results. One post against Metz, another against Rodez, two against Guingamp in the Coupe de France. Lately, even when the Weeders do the right thing, they are not rewarded.

Last season, luck favored the Rouge et Bleu more often. Even while showing themselves to be less dangerous or less in control, Nicolas Seube's men brought back valuable points to move up the standings. If the Caennais find this success that they lack so much, their strong moments will be rewarded and the results will be more likely to be positive.

From January 3, 2025 and the reception of Clermont, the Stade Malherbe will begin a year 2025 full of dangers. We haven't talked about a rise for some time; today, we must above all avoid relegation.

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