Poll: Right Backs Playing Musical Chairs

By: Inara | February 27th, 2008

If you’re like me, you’re undecided about who our starting right back should be. We have two good ones in Anthony Réveillère and François Clerc. They aren’t spectacular by any means, but they are solid and don’t often disappoint.

Unlike all other positions at Lyon, right back is the one position that is under nearly constant rotation. In fact, no one seems to know exactly who the starter is. Last year under Gerard Houllier, it looked like Reveillere was in the driving seat, but Clerc played often enough - and in several very big games - that the question was never truly answered.

This year, Alain Perrin seems to prefer Clerc, but again, it’s hard to be sure. Clerc has been putting in better performances as of late, but then Reveillere will find a way to one up him. He usually does.

Both players are French internationals (though nowadays Domenech prefers to call up Clerc as opposed to Reveillere), well experienced in European football, and are refreshingly versatile.

Clerc is able to play in more advanced positions all along the right side as both a winger and a midfielder, and he does this relatively well. Reveillere can switch sides to the left and often plays there when Fabio Grosso is unavailable. It is not uncommon to see them on the pitch together. And both players are regularly linked with Juventus. Like every six months. It’s annoying.

Anyway, I’ve always had the impression that Reveillere was a more defensive player than Clerc though I could be wrong. Clerc is the better crosser but Reveillere is better at tracking back, and besides that Mancini moment last year, he hardly ever miscalculates his opponents. Whereas Clerc’s tactical awareness could use some tweaking.

I think that right now, Reveillere is the better player. But at 28, he’s probably reached the peak of his abilities. From here on out, it’s just going to be the accumulation of experience. But Clerc is constantly improving - right before our very eyes actually. And as a home grown player, the chances of Clerc staying at Lyon for the long term is much more likely.

Francois isn’t as pretty as Anthony, but his nose has character.

And finally, here is a bit of background on these two:

Reveillere made his professional debut for Rennes, who were then coached by Paul Le Guen. During that time, he also spent six months at Valencia (24 league appearances in six months, as well as six in the CL) but eventually decided that he wanted to return to France. Later on, he would join his old mentor Le Guen at the then two time French champions. In 133 league appearances for Lyon, his total goal tally is just two - one of which he scored this year against Monaco. Check out his stats here.

Clerc, whose promotion to Lyon’s first team is also due to Le Guen, is a Lyon youth product whose only foray outside of his hometown club was a short loan to Toulouse, where he only made seven appearances. He returned the following year as Lyon’s third choice right back (behind Reveillere and Lamine Diatta), but due to Reveillere getting injured and Diatta leaving for the African Cup of Nations, Clerc was finally given a platform to shine - which he did. In fact, he impressed enough that he received his first France NT call up that spring. In 62 league appearances, he has scored only once - this year against Strasbourg. Check out his stats here.

So here’s my question. Who do you guys think should be our starting right back? Of course the best answer would be that we should keep both, but I honestly don’t see either of these two guys accepting eternal rotation. Eventually, one of them is going to want status as the unquestionable starter.

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