I’d love to see Trez too, and I think he wouldn’t mind coming. But that means either Fred or Baros have to go, since Benzema won’t be going anywhere. Fred has clashed with the club but Baros hasn’t impressed as much as he should have. Who do you think will be sacrificed?

Mara: I was initially worried at first if Houllier’s departure would affect Baros’s position at the club, but you can trust Perrin to give him and every other player a fair chance to prove worthy of that one (or two) starting spot.

Baros had a bad year, but I think the opportunity to start on a clean slate will do wonders for his morale. He’s not a washed up has-been. I think he has more to offer, and with the right guidance and environment (I’ve also noticed that he plays better when he’s happy, like with his NT), he’ll do well at Lyon.

I know that Ziani is more realistic on the left side (but it is not his post, is it?)with Perrin as manager. But there are strong rumors about Malouda in Chelsea, and Robben declared again that he doesn’t want to leave, so I was thinking about a “Tiago plan”, by getting the substitute of Robben in Chelsea: Joe Cole (pretty good with the english national team during the WC).

Rumors also get stronger about the interest of the Juve about Cris and Tiago, and Aulas said the minimum price was between 15-20 millions for each…so Tiago may leave, and then in the exchange why not see Trezguet arrive??? I know that it is a big dream, but Trezagoal is affordable (15M E) but the last rumors are about an exchange Trezeguet -Kanoute.
I think Gilardino would prefer an italian club (Juve, Florentina…),and Anelka an english one (rumors about M.United).
So if this year, OL buy a forward (? and then sell Fred?),it would be more a player like Saha, Makkay or Elmander…
In conlusion, I believe that the team of Salieri is the most realistic one.

Chris: I never like going first But now I’m ready to bare my soul and post my sort of predictable lineups.

Here is what I’d like to see:

4-2-3-1

4-3-3

4-4-2

I was trying out various combinations of tactics and players. From all indications, Perrin is in favor of experimenting with different lineups, as he’s used several during the course of the season with Sochaux and even at Marseille.

I hope getting Bodmer doesn’t mean Kallstrom gets pushed back further down the pecking order (if we do get him), as I think Kallstrom was one of Lyon’s best players during their crap streak.

Also, is the Ziani-Belhadj pairing defensive enough?

(Issue with Messi on the cover, p.31)

Coupet
Cris Squilacci
Clerc Berthod
Toulalan
Govou / Ziani Ben Arfa / Belhadj
Juninho / Kallstrom
Benzema Baros / Fred

I’m not a fan of massive arrivals and departures.

Now I have to go buy that issue of World Soccer now.

Salieri: Welcome to the Offside! Your lineup looks very possible, as both Keita and Ziani could be on their way over here (quick question – what side does Ziani play on? Can be play on both wings, like Ribery?) If so, he’d be a great buy! And about Saha – I wouldn’t be surprised to see him as a real transfer target, especially since Perrin said that he was looking into some NT members.

Thibaut: Anelka! I’d love to see him at OL, especially since I think he’d be great as a partner for Benzema. If only Nico would return to France.

Joffrey: That lineup would be amazing, with Keita and Quaresma on the wings. Interesting, Lyon are still in the hunt for Quaresma, though I don’t know how attractive we are. Supposedly he favors Atletico above OL, which just goes to show how poorly some people rate L1.

Cris Mexes
Réveillère Belhadj

Toulalan Bodmer
Keita Ziani

Benzema Anelka

Entraineur:Perrin