Guingamp

The Case For Them

Guingamp are not a spare club. They are France Ligue 2, Stade de Roudourou, and 114 years of people deciding this was theirs, pick them and the season has a second spine.

• The calendar you inherit

  Following France Ligue 2 means odd kick-off hours, a new commentary language and a table you will check before your own club's. France becomes part of your week.

• Old enough to matter

  1912 is the founding date, old enough that the club has survived a war, a rebuild and at least one financial scare, young enough that the good years are still in living memory.

• Loaded cabinet

  8 distinct honours on record, including Coupe de France. Adopt them and you inherit expectation, which is more fun than it sounds when the trophies keep coming.

• Close to the pitch

  Stade de Roudourou holds about 19,033. You can hear the defenders shouting at each other, which is the single best argument for lower-capacity football.