Karim Benzema is Ligue 1’s Player of the Year
By: Inara |
3 Comments
Remember when I mentioned the UNFP Awards? Today, the ceremony took place.
Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema won Player of the Year, beating out teammate Jeremy Toulalan, Marseille’s Mahamadou Niang, and Bordeaux’s Wendel. He’s the fourth Lyonnais in a row to win the award - Florent Malouda in 2007, Juninho in 2006, and Michael Essien in 2005, . However, unlike the others, Benzema is only 20 years old. So it’s just exciting to imagine just what he’ll accomplish next.
Hatem Ben Arfa took home the Young Player of the Year. Samir Nasri preceded him in 2007, Franck Ribery in 2006, and Toulalan in 2005.
The Female Player of the Year was awarded to Lyon’s Sonia Bompastor, who succeeded another Lyon player, Camile Abily in 2007. This is the second year in a row when Lyon won both best male and female player.
(Also, how cute is Zizou presenting the award to Benzema? They look so alike…are so alike in many ways that it gives me shivers.)
Tags: Lyon vs. Nancy: Please Don’t Screw This Up
By: Inara | 75 Comments
I was hoping that the most decisive game this year wouldn’t be against Nancy, whose players are anything but “Nancy boys.” But thanks to Lyon taking their title run a little too casually this season, the only way to ensure their glory is to overcome France’s best defense - a defense that could very well be in the Champions League next year.
May 9, 2008
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
2:45 PM ET (20:45 CET, 19:45 GMT)
Miralem Pjanic is Coming to Lyon
By: Inara | 45 Comments
I’ve been waiting a while to report this because all I’ve been seeing so far are whispered rumors, but now all the newspapers are reporting it, and the player himself was seen at Lyon last Wednesday. But neither the player nor the respective clubs have made a formal announcement, so don’t get too excited yet.
I’ve mentioned Miralem Pjanic on this blog before, but only in passing, so here are some deets (I’ll write up a more detailed background if when there is a press conference).
He’s an 18 year old attacking midfielder playing for FC Metz, who will be relegated back to Ligue 2 at the end of this season. But despite the poor performance of his club, Pjanic has been outstanding and was often the sole bright light coming out of an otherwise doomed Saint-Symphorien.
Though it’s his breakout year, his quality is so obvious that the biggest clubs in the world have been watching him week in and week out - Barcelona, Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Inter, Milan, etc. And two weeks ago, Barcelona made a formal offer.
Juninho’s WUNDERGOAL Against Sedan
By: Inara | 29 Comments
Juninho doesn’t just look like Jesus. He’s also got his divine powers. How else to explain this last minute free kick that defies the laws of physics, wins the game for Lyon, and propels the club to their first French Cup final in 33 years?
This is Juninho’s 38th free kick goal for Lyon in the six and half years he has been with the club.
I wrote up a match report for yesterday’s game, but for some reason, it got deleted off Wordpress. So until I rewrite it, just watch Juninho’s goal on repeat. It’s impossible to get tired of it.
Fabio Grosso Takes Off His Clothes Yet Again
By: Inara | 13 Comments
Stripping down to his underwear seems to be an alarming habit. But at least he has an excuse this time - Lyon beat Sedan to make it to the Coupe de France finals for the first time since 1976.
I feel like I’ve been writing a lot about Grosso recently. He’s doing something crazy every week. Pretty soon I might have to give him his own category on this blog.
Category: Team News and RumorsCdF SEMIFINAL: Lyon vs. Sedan
By: Inara | 90 Comments
Guess the last time that Lyon played in the Coupe de France semifinal?
If you guessed 1998 - exactly ten years ago - you’re absolutely correct. The last time Lyon actually won this cup was 35 years ago. That was back in 1973, an event that dwarfed Watergate, the first season of The Price is Right, the last epidemic of smallpox, and Roe vs. Wade.
Here’s hoping that 2008 will bring that cup back home to Lyon.
May 7th, 2008
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
3 PM Eastern Time (21:00 CET, 20:000 GMT)
Two Three Pieces of Good News
By: Inara | 11 Comments
If any of you are keeping up with the U17 Euro Championship, France defeated Ireland 2-1 in the tournament opener, thanks to goals from Lyon players. Four of them started the match (Clement Grenier, Yanis Tafer, Enzo Reale, and Sebastien Faure), and the fifth, Alexandre Lacazette, was brought on in the second half. You can read the match report here, but essentially, Ireland were in the lead when Tafer evened the score in the middle of the second half, and Lacazette scored the winning goal in the very last seconds of injury time.
Tafer brought France back into the game.
France will be facing title holders and favorites Spain next Wednesday in what is sure to be a club scout’s fantasy. Eurosport is broadcasting all these matches, and you can watch them for free on their website. Keep in mind that this is the same tournament that France won four years ago, with players you may have heard of - Samir Nasri, Jeremy Menez, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Karim Benzema.
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“A Point is Good”…WTF?
By: Inara | 25 Comments
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I read the post-match comments from the players last night.
Alain Perrin: “We didn’t win, but at least we didn’t lose.”
Jean-Alain Boumsong: “We must be happy with this point because it will be important in the next few days.”
Juninho: “We wanted to win and get away from Bordeaux, but getting a draw at Nice is a good result.”
Karim Benzema: “This is a good point earned. We didn’t lose against Nice, which is a very good team. We would have preferred a win to be safe, but the aim was not lose.”
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
A POINT IS A GOOD RESULT? SINCE WHEN?
Look, getting a point from Barcelona is a good result. But against the 9th placed side in France, it isn’t getting a point but losing two points. It’s not Christmas, so there’s no need to give away points for free. Nor do Lyon have such an insurmountable lead that they can afford to be charitable.
Before the optimists jump on my back, I just want to point out that I’m not criticizing their performance. I’m criticizing their attitude towards it. They’re practically grateful about the point they “earned.” Goddammit, I want to see some PASSION from the team. I want to see players stomping their feet and walking off the field in a huff. That’s infinitely preferable to the polite way Lyon act both during and after the game. Maybe Aulas should ask Hope Solo to come back to Lyon, except this time to play for the men’s team. At least she has balls and would tell it straight.
A draw should never be acceptable for a team like Lyon. Instead, they should be mad and treat it like a loss. They should be saying, “No, we aren’t happy with this result. We had a chance to go ahead and we didn’t. And that’s not okay.”
Lyon should be expecting victories both home and away, against every team on the table and in every competition. Do you think Manchester United would ever consider an away draw against West Ham a good result?
Nice vs. Lyon, Or It’s Time to BE CHAMPIONS
By: Inara | 30 Comments
Alright, so I know attention this weekend won’t be on Lyon but on Paris (if PSG lose, they will be relegated), but let’s just pretend for a moment that the rest of France cares about OL, okay?
With only three games left to play, Lyon are currently four points ahead of Bordeaux, and a win this weekend against Nice coupled with a Bordeaux loss at Marseille will see Lyon crowned champions for the seventh consecutive season. Even a draw for Bordeaux will do since Lyon’s goal difference is far superior that it’s like having an extra point.
May 2, 2008
Municipal du Ray, Nice
11:10 AM Eastern Time (17:10 CET, 16:10 GMT)
Category: Team News and Rumors“Hugo is Perfect,” Secret Stealing Italians, and the End of Spa Week
By: Inara | 8 Comments
Be still my heart.
Gregory Coupet has designated Nice’s Hugo Lloris as his perfect successor. Geez, what more proof does Hugo need of my Lyon’s love for him? According to the media, Lloris would not be opposed to a move to Lyon - but not as Coupet’s backup. Nice would like to keep Lloris for an additional year, on loan. So basically, Lloris’s transfer hinges on Coupet.
As to that, Coupet said that things were 50/50 right now, that he had equal chances of staying as he did of going. While Coupet’s tempted to embark on one last adventure, he loves Lyon and wouldn’t mind ending his career here. Much of it depends on who the manager will be next year, the presence of Joel Bats as goalkeeping coach, and who the #2 goalkeeper will be.
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