It`s time to face the music. As an editorial team, we`re not afraid to laugh at ourselves and look back at our misses.
Each year around mid-August, the OneFootball writers try their hand at predicting the upcoming Ligue 1 season. It`s always a challenging task, especially so early in the summer before club squads are fully assembled and settled.
This week, we decided to revisit those early predictions for a bit of internal fun and, frankly, some mutual teasing. Now, we`re sharing the results – specifically our most off-target predictions – with our readers. Here is a compilation of our WORST Ligue 1 predictions from the past season.
Reviewing the Podium 🥇
➡️ Our most misguided predictions:
Colomban – Monaco, PSG, OM
Costa – OM, PSG, Monaco
A few of us bravely (or foolishly) predicted PSG wouldn`t win the league. While PSG didn`t relinquish their title (no pun intended), neither OM nor Monaco managed to claim the top spot as predicted by Colomban and Costa. However, credit where it`s due, both clubs did at least secure spots on the final podium.
The Three Clubs Predicted to Disappoint 😔
➡️ The most off-base prediction: Jibril – OM, OL, Rennes
One club that seemed like a certainty for disappointment among the entire editorial team was Rennes. Every single editor mentioned the Breton club, much to the dismay of their red and black supporters in the comments! In our defense, based on the pre-season outlook, it didn`t seem an unreasonable shout. That said, predicting disappointment for teams like Lille, OM, or OL… sorry Jibril, Julien, and Costa, that didn`t quite pan out.
The Two Direct Relegations 🔮
➡️ The most inaccurate prediction: Lucas – Strasbourg, Auxerre
Overall, the editorial team had a decent grasp of the teams likely to struggle at the bottom of the table, often citing clubs like Nantes, Saint-Étienne, and Montpellier. However, Lucas takes the prize here. His prediction for Strasbourg to go down was significantly off the mark, as they finished a comfortable 27 points clear of the relegation zone. What`s 27 points, anyway?
The Top Scorers Podium ⚽️
➡️ The worst prediction: Jibril – Ramos, Lacazette, Kolo Muani
Nobody, and we mean *nobody*, predicted the actual top three after 34 matchdays, which included surprising names like Ousmane Dembélé, Mason Greenwood, or Arnaud Kalimuendo. Mikautadze was a popular choice in our predictions, as were Lacazette or David, but they weren`t as prolific as the eventual leading trio. As for predictions involving Kolo Muani or Balogun… well, let`s move on quickly.
The Best Passer 🎯
➡️ The worst prediction: Costa – Valentin Carboni
Barcola was correctly identified by two of us, but Cherki was completely overlooked by everyone. A special mention, however, goes to our dear Costa, who had a bold vision for the “crack” Valentin Carboni. His actual record? Four appearances for OM before disappearing from the radar.
The Top Recruit 💵
➡️ The worst prediction: Costa – Valentin Carboni
Three of us correctly identified Mikautadze as a potentially great signing – nothing too outlandish there. However, still riding the Carboni hype train, Costa anticipated our Argentine gem would make a huge impact across France. Needless to say, things did not unfold as predicted.
The Recruit Who Will Disappoint 🫣
➡️ The worst prediction: Colomban – Mason Greenwood
Tanguy Ndombélé, Jonathan Clauss, and Elye Wahi were among the names listed in our predictions for disappointing recruits. But the award for best (or worst) flair goes undoubtedly to Colomban, who predicted a tough time for Mason Greenwood. His final tally? 21 goals in 36 appearances, making him a co-top scorer in the league. Perhaps we should cut off Colomban`s internet access!
So there you have it – a look back at our most inaccurate predictions for the Ligue 1 season. Now it`s your turn! What was your worst football prediction of the season? Share it with us in the comments below!
