FC Lorient had a very disappointing run out last season (2011/12) and finished in 17th spot, 1 point ahead of relegation so people feared the worst. However at the beginning of the 2012/13 season Lorient and in particular Loic Fery ‘splashed the cash’ and spent €12.5million making them the third top spenders behind PSG and Lille, not bad for a team only staying in Ligue 1 by the skin of their teeth.
One player brought in was Burkina Faso international Alain Traore from AJ Auxerre for a fee of €5.5million after AJ Auxerre was relegated to Ligue 2. Traore kicked off his FC Lorient career with a bang grabbing his first goal in his second game, against Montpellier with a ferocious strike. He then went on to grab another five goals including two strikes against Stade Rennais that will be long remembered. Things then took a turn for the worse, Traore picked up a series of injuries which saw him play little part in the rest of the season, however he did manage to regain his fitness and head off to the African Cup Of Nations with Burkina Faso where he managed to score three goals (and get injured again) as Les Étalons reached the final, beaten eventually by the impressive Nigerians.
The season kicked off in style with Lorient managing a 2-2 draw away at big spending PSG with FFW “Surprise of the season” Jeremie Aliadiere grabbing himself a goal before seeing Bruno Ecuele Manga picking up an injury which would keep him out for three-quarters of the season. This kick-started an eight-game unbeaten run that eventually came to a grinding halt at the hands of Valenciennes in a 6-1 trashing away. Lorient’s season then continued in typical Lorient fashion, beating teams around and above them, but throwing away vital points against teams in the bottom half of the table.
The high point of the season came in the quarter-final of the Coupe De France away at Saint-Etienne. The game was a tight affair until the stroke of half-time when Maxime Barthelme fired home to send the visitors ahead 1-0. The second half began brighter for the home side, and their domination finally paid off when Aubameyang levelled the score with 16 minutes left. The game looked certain to be heading into extra-time, but that’s not the way one person saw it. With the last move of the game, Mathias Autret attacked down the left, bursting towards the corner flag, wrapped his foot around the ball, and swung in a perfect cross to the feet of Aliadiere who smashed home a volley to send Lorient into the semi-finals.
Drawn against Evian in the semi-final, this would provide the low point of the season. Victory against the side from Annecy and Lorient were one step closer to lifting the trophy and securing passage into the Europa League. Within 33 minutes the game was over, as Evian, relegation battlers, had scored three goals. The game ended 4-0 and without doubt it was one of the worst attacking performances ever seen from Les Merlus.
Without a shadow of doubt, Lorient’s 2012/13 Player of the Season award would go to Jeremie Aliadiere. His career has been riddled with injuries ever since it began, but this season would allow Aliadiere to prove his doubters wrong and show some of the talent his potential had previously only suggested. Aliadiere managed to achieve joint fifth top goal scorer in a season which has been filled with goals left right and centre from many world class strikers. If President Loic Fery can fight off interest from clubs around Europe, Aliadiere will be vital as Lorient continue their charge towards European football next season.
FINAL POSITION: 8th
Review by @FCLorientUK