Not Sochaux Just Yet.

By: Nikhil Apte | November 5th, 2011

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard vs. Olympique Lyonnais,

Ligue 1 , Matchday 13.

It is time to pick up the pieces. Real Madrid redefined the words ‘Demolition Derby’ for us these past few weeks. But more significantly, they’ve left Lyon on the verge of being knocked out from the Champions League after the group stages. Lyon would need a win in the game against Ajax and atleast 4 points from the next two games, all the while hoping Ajax doesn’t get one up on Real Madrid, to have a chance at qualifying. If Karim Benzema is to be believed, he’d like to help Lyon qualify by beating Ajax.

Lloris Sochaux

The French Yellow Submarine

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard stands between the team and two weeks of rest for non-Internationals. It is a fairly young team and full of thorns for any kind of opposition. The side has Marvin Martin, Lyonnais target Ryad Boudebouz, and New Castle bound Modibo Maiga, enough to keep the defensive backline on their toes. Lyon has been alternating in a Rinse-Spin cycle of Win-Lose since Matchday 6, and extending that cycle leads to an unfavourable result at Stade Auguste-Bonal.

History, thankfully, chooses to differ! We have always won in the last 8 games away at Sochaux (going back up to 2004), with the tally of goals thus far being 19 scored with only 2 conceded! What the current team makes of this psychological advantage remains to be seen. Sochaux themselves have had a torrid time this season, with only 3 wins to show amongst a sea of draws and losses in the 12 matches played thus far.

Sochaux Lyon tickets

Who’s in the Line Ups and who wants a lolly pop from his Dentist?

The scene on the doctor’s bench back home has close resemblance to those in World War 2 times. Lisandro, Grenier, Mensah, Dejan Lovren, Bastos, Vercoutre, are all injured. Dabo has been handed a three match ban for the rash tackle he made against Saint-Etienne. A new backup goalkeeper has been signed in Matthieu Valverde, this past week. The International break should be a good time to get him to gel with the defensive back-four. Aly Cissokho may well be back! Coach Rémi Garde suggested to the press that he may be ready for Sochaux, possibly starting from the bench. If not, Kim Källström with his shiny new contract could make an appearance. It is a very difficult time for Thimothée Kolodziejczak. The arrival of Dabo as well as the emergence of Samuel Umtiti puts Kolo in a spot. Especially when other than in injuries, there seems to be no occasion for him to play.
Speaking of the academy players, I reckon it is time to give Belfodil a spot alongside Gomis in a two-striker formation, so that all that time on the bench isn’t entirely wasted on him. Lacazette also would seem to be a wiser option to Ederson, who is on his way to becoming dead weight for the club.

If JMA wishes to offload two players in the coming transfer window in January, he’d better make sure they were in pristine medical condition, words that are in fact a taboo in Centre Tola Vologe. On the other hand, there seem to be rumours suggesting a remotely possible takeover of Olympique Lyonnais by a Qatari / Emirati company / family, given its reported losses.

Not sure if Jean-Michel Aulas would like to give his baby away to anyone who’ll pronounce it OlymBique Lyonnais.

Possible Team Line Ups –

FC Sochaux-Montbéliard: Richert – Corchia, Perquis, Peybernes, Sauget – Anin, Boudebouz, Martin, Mikari – Butin, Maiga

Olympique Lyonnais: Lloris – Reveillere, Cris, Kone, Kolodziejczak – Gonalons, Källström, – Briand, Gourcuff, Lacazette – Gomis

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Ligue 1

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sdzsdz

awful defense by kone in that gol..fuck.
AlexT

what a great play...too bad Gomis couldn't finish
Muadz Matmu

Lisandro is back from injury, and hopefully Lyon is too
Russ

Rumor has it that Taiwo could come to the Gerland if we decide to sell Cissokho in January, as Milan are looking to offload Taiwo for around 5 mil euros, having been a disappointment at the San Siro. What do you guys think about this?
ryanthomsan

Thanks for sharing with us and for making people aware of the things happening. Marseille is starting to climb up the table rapidly. I hope we get our crap together soon and go into the break strong.
Nikhil Apte

The Ligue 1 schedule has been altered for Lyon and Lille; next match (against Rennes and Toulouse respectively) for both is on 18th November instead of 19th, to help prepare for Champions League matches.
The reason being stated is an attempt to protect UEFA Country coefficient against Portugal to maintain 5th standing in Europe!

Wow, I didn't realize so much depended on match-day 4 of the Group Stages!
Luke99

Lyon are going through but i dnt know about Lille
MattAU

As long as they finish 3rd. The coefficient points in UEFA cup are almost as big as champions league. 3 Portugese teams in the semi-finals earned them more points than anyone.
john

Let's give thanks to the football gods once again: no one in the top six won today, and #7 Lorient is way off on points, so our f#ck-up didn't hurt us. Marseille is starting to climb up the table rapidly. I hope we get our crap together soon and go into the break strong.
muffin

The football gods could be kinder to us earlier though. We never had a full squad this season, whether it was because of U20 WC, or injuries or some other silly reason. Right now, we're missing several key players/regular starters (Bastos, Licha, Lovren) and several players who are used as a really good back up (Grenier, Pied, Mensah, Vercoutre, Dabo).
Our subs yesterday were - Sidy Kone, Alassana Plea, Umtiti...That's almost embarassing. If this injury crisis continues throughout the season we will be fighting for the 5th spot. But if somehow this certain football god, who's in charge of injuries, shows us mercy, we will be up there with QSG (unless the guy takes his bad fortune to them and starts taking out Gameiro, Nene and Pastore one by one, then they would be fighting for the 5th place).
sidney govou

and we talk again about Lyon who are strong; we talk about choach who will push OL forward; sorry but we still play bad, we still play defensive football, especially away from home!! away we have, what, 1 win!!!!!!!!!???????????

we must change EVERYTHING!!! we have maybe the strongest squad ever with good players; but at this time we are AVERAGE team
sdzsdz

we dont even have the strongest squad in ligue 1 right now
Ronan

not are strongest squad ever by a long shot
sdzsdz

everyone besides lloris played shit. specially the defense. what a fucking shame.
sidney govou

OL fans are very unhappy
Megame

Ederson on for Gourcuff, who really looks tired now.
sdzsdz

this is like watching how many goals we can concede by fucking up defensively every time.
Megame

2-1 half time. What is it with our defense? Cissokho concedes the first goal (own goal) and causes a penalty giving a second goal to Sochaux, Cris multiplying the mistakes and almost giving another goal away (thanks Hugo by the way)...
john

Dabo has infected Cissokho. Maybe Aly will get sent-off with a red and a three-match-ban.
Megame

...I forgot Réveillère, in charge of the first post, who screws up and lets the first ball in, after the corner kick..
Megame

Boudebouz scores with a penalty kick caused by Cissokho. Great.
sdzsdz

thanks cissokho.
Aleksander

Someone remind me why we have Gourcuff and not Pjanic...
john

Bec Gourcuff cost 24mill and no one will buy him. Pjanic is the only AMF we have who would fetch any serious price.
Aleksander

that sucks
sdzsdz

these awful backside passes by kone, cissoko and sometimes gonalons are gonna cost us
sdzsdz

...and cris.
Megame

Yeah! Great equalizer from Lacazette
Megame

Crap. yet another goal concede on corner kick.
Megame

Well, at least a consolation regarding Ajax : they can still derail big time as they've been beaten 4-6 by Utrecht, current 11th of the Eredivisie...
sdzsdz

what's the status on bastos?
Nikhil Apte

I knew I was forgetting someone big. :P

Medical team is going to reassess him in the November break. But I'm assuming he'll be absent for 3 more weeks, as initial reports said 3 to 4 weeks.
john

Mensah can't even be counted on to come off the bench. Unbelievable. I was starting to feel sorry for him when he was relegated to playing with the CFAs. And Dabo only needs to get banned from a cup game to complete a suspension-hatrick.
john

Guys, this is very good stream site. Bookmark it. Just click on the French flag and look for your match:
http://livetv.ru/