Juninho (FINALLY) Extends His Contract
By: Inara | May 24th, 2007
Juninho Pernambucano has extended his contract until June 30th, 2010.
Lyon’s Brazilian maestro and dead ball specialist threatened to leave unless Aulas promised to build a stronger team for next year. Only 32 years old, with offers from several clubs, he debated on leaving for the opportunity to get the one trophy he covets above all others: the CL.
But Juninho is Lyonnais to the core. He left Vasco da Gama (where he won two Brazilian titles and the Copa Libertadores) to come to Lyon on a free transfer in 2001, and his arrival coincided with Lyon’s title winning streak. He has often stated his intention to retire at Lyon and becoming a coach at the club.
Juninho has won six domestic titles, five Trophées des Champions, and several individual achievement awards with Lyon. He played 259 official matches with the Lyon shirt, scoring 77 goals (32 from free kicks). He’s also been involved with 30% of all the goals Lyon have scored since 2001, and with the exception of two PKs, Lyon have NEVER lost when he scored.
Here is a video compilation of his freekicks. He’s arguably the best free kick taker still active in football, with Andrea Pirlo and Ronaldinho both using him as an example.
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Comments
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Was a condition of this new contract that he never, ever wear that little swimming bag-holder again? Let’s hope!
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good, very important news
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Juni is magic ! 2007 is a difficult year for him, but I’m sure we will see the Juni we know in August, for the beginning of the next Championship !
thank U Juni for all you gave to Lyonnais !Posted from
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I personally think Houllier overplayed Juninho in the first five months. He is 32 after all. Lyon’s mistake was getting Fabio Santos, a DM, when they should have gotten another attacking midfielder if Houllier didn’t trust Kallstrom enough to deputize for Juninho.
Patrick Muller can also play as a DM, so technically, Lyon has four at the moment.
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I think Patrick Muller would be a better DM then Fabio Santos, he is rubbish. He was brought in cause Ged was on the outs with Diarra, bad move ged. Anyways, look at the midfield composition this way- Attacking midfielder, little defensive responsibility i.e. Juninho or Kallstrom
Defensive Midfielder, little attacking impetus i.e. Toulalan and Diarra and unfortunately Fabio Santos and possibly Muller
Central Midfielder, the key position were attack and defense are balance, he is the horizontal and vertical pass and the one who runs up with the attack and back with the defense i.e. Tiago and … No one else really. This use to be Essien, before it was Dhorasso or Carriere, right now there is no adaquete player there, although Kallstrom can play that spot, but then Juninho doesnt get a rest. Keep our midfield intact, lose Fabio Santos and bring in 1 central midfielder. My suggestions are numerous- Alexandre Song, Blaise Matiudi, Coutaduer, Arnold Mveumba are all young guys that can fill in for Tiago if needed and develop into wuality players. If Tiago leaves, still get one of these guys but look for someone with immediate impact, I cant think of anyone right now, im at work and cant look at my Fifa rosters.
If Diarra leaves, Mavuba is a must. Maybe Cabaye, but probably not.
If Pedretti was not let go we would not have even had this discussion because he would have been Tiago’s alternate. Unfortuantely Ged picks the same damn team every game so alternates become reserves. Does it not seem logical to suit the team to the opponent, like using Pedretti, who plays deep, against Roma, who use Perrota and Pizzaro going forward alot, with only De Rossi behind. This would mean Pedretti and Toulalan would catch up with the Perrota and Pizzaro, and altough not as good, Pedretti plays the ball like Andrea Pirlo, so this would be used wisely to feed Juninho, like Kaka, and the attacking trio.Posted from
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If my situational tactics dont make sense let me know
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GED QUITS LYON!!!!!! BREAKING NEWS
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I’m sorry, but I really don’t agree with you.
You seem to considere that Fabio Santos is an casting error ! I’m sure not ! I saw him, and I have observe him really strong. He really has got muh qualities, like ball recuperations, play organisation, and he is physical.
That was his first 6 months in France, in a new club with new partners ! He just had to take time to be good… I’m sure he will be an important players in 2007 / 2008 Championship ! Believe me !
I guess Toulalan – Dos Santos for DM with Juni and Kallstrom to lead the play can be a fantastic option !
Sorry if my english is bad… I hope you understood me !Posted from
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Joffrey: I understand you, and maybe i am being harsh on Fabio Santos but I do not see him as being the calibre of the players aroung him. Whats your opinion on Tiago’s position and who could be his alternate?
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Nobody will be an alternative to Tiago and if he ends up leaving to Barca, Juve, or whatever, Lyon will play that 4-4-2 and though I admire Tiago and his various abilities that will definitely not be such a “big” loss.
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I am not really sure that is worth to speak about the qualities of Santos, because he could leave this summer. We cannot say that he played a lot… The january mercato was not really well done (yes I would come back on this!)…indeed Toulalan and Diarra at this time were injured…then Houiller wanted one more player to be sure, whereas Lacombe opposed that Müller as a temporary defensive midfielder should work (as you underline Corey), and avoid frustrated players on the bench…finally what did we get??? not only Diara but also Santos angry to never play!!!! So I don’t really know if players like Mavuba,etc would be interested to come in Lyon scared to get the Pedretti syndrome…
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I think Tiago was absolutely necessary with Houiller technical. But I’m pretty sure that will not with the new coach. Tiago will leave to go to Spain, and maybe 2 DM like Fabio Santos and Toulalan will be enough for sure as titularies. A third DM can be Mavuba, as substitute, and Muller in case of hurt.
Lyon will probably turn in 4 4 2, because our legendary 4 3 3 (a la lyonnaise, like french specialist say) is now well know in Europe.
So, in August, that can be something like :
Coupet
Clerc – Squillaci – Cris – Belhadj
Dos Santos (or ???) – Toulalan
Juninho
Govou (or ???) – Malouda (or ???)
Fred (or Benzema, that I personnaly prefer)I wrote some “???” where I think there will be departure, or strong arrival.
That’s it ! You know what I think… But that really will depend of the new coach.
See ya
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I too wonder how Tiago would function in a 4-4-2 (which is probably the formation that Lyon will adopt next season, especially if they get that big striker they’ve been hoping for. Tiago isn’t a defensive mid though he can be defensive, and he’s not an attacking midfielder in the mold of say Deco or Juninho. So it’s hard to place him to exploit the extent of his talents. Lyon’s 4-3-3 suited him, but Chelsea didn’t because he was forced to protect Lampard in their diamond midfield.
I think Tiago would be a good fit for Barca actually.
Would I miss him? Definitely. But he is easier to replace than Juninho, whose departure at this stage would be impossible to cover with another player without at least a year or two of adjustment.
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Laurie: Yeah, I don’t know what Juni was thinking when he went out like that, and I don’t know what the club was thinking when they published that pic on the official website.
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Seems like we all agree – Tiago wants to leave, and I think he will. Inara had said something very clever in an old post, talking about Tiago, that he hadn’t come to have a long stay but that “we all knew it from day one”. I don’t think that Santos will stay either cause Diarra hasn’t left yet ! And changing coach might have him decide to stay.
To comment Joffrey’s post, I would like to say that he ought to put another “?” next to Belhadj’s name because Berthod isn’t out yet. But to me this 4-4-2 with Fred / Baros being alternatively on the pitch and with Benzema as support behind this HAS TO BE what Lyon needs.
Inara, you probably noticed that, but with all of this we don’t get to hear anything about players – Jansen signed with Bayern.
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4-4-2 may not be the best thing for Lyon, because Juninho is not a central midfielder, and he will not stay wide enough to be considered a left or right midfielder. A diamond rarely works, the system we have now does, Barca showed it by wining the Champs League with it. The problem is when you come up against Liverpool or AC Milan, they know how to shut out attacks because they are defensive in nature. So Lyon should be more adaptable, able to switch from 4-3-2-1 to a straight 4-3-3 or 4-5-1 and 4-4-2 if necessary.
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I read a really interesting French blog entry describing why Perrin is a better choice than Deschamps. DD is rather inflexible when it come to tactical formations, using the same 4-4-2 every time, but Perrin uses several. It speaks of Perrin’s ability to adapt to different games, which is what Lyon have to learn to do.
Read it here: Link
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I agree Inara, I do not think (more like hope) that 4-4-2 will be the primary formation, stick with the 4-3-2-1, but when it is not working be ready to change. I wonder who he is gonna bring in/kick out, he is strict like Le Guen but not a douche like Ged, this may favor players like Wiltord and Fred and Ben Arfa staying…
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United States
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