Abidoula Want to Leave. For Real This Time.
By: Inara | May 31st, 2007Lyon’s left side is hemorrhaging. One of Europe’s most envied partnerships, affectionately known as Abidoula, is about to be broken up and sold to different clubs.
We all knew that Eric Abidal was leaving, but Florent Malouda’s wishy-washy attitude about transferring had us hoping that he would in fact stay for another year. Unfortunately, despite Perrin’s wish to keep the pair, Malouda has decided that it’s time to pack his bags.
The interview is interesting and makes me respect Malouda even more, but two things stand out.
First of all, he names Hatem Ben Arfa as a potential successor, claiming that they share similar profiles. This is on the heels of Perrin comparing Ben Arfa to an unfinished diamond that needs a bit more polish to sparkle (I loved that!). So perhaps Lyon can salvage something from the oncoming wreck that is their left flank.
Secondly, Malouda doesn’t seem interested in any particular club. Earlier he stated that he preferred Juventus and Arsenal, but today he said that he wouldn’t mind playing in Liverpool or Spain either.
At this point, all we do know is that A) Flo won’t be in Lyon next year, and B) He won’t be going to the Bundesliga. The only thing Malouda cares about is that the clubs really want him (that is, a guaranteed starting spot), and the only thing Lyon care about is that they’re paid the highest possible price.
Then you have Eric Abidal, who is absolutely determined to go to Barcelona and nowhere else. Barcelona have offered Javier Saviola in exchange for Abidal, which Lyon refused because they weren’t sure if Barcelona was playing another game (Saviola is a free agent this summer).
At any rate, Abidal looks like he’s on the verge of pulling a Diarra, so I hope Aulas gets the situation sorted quickly. I don’t want to see Abidal embarrassing Lyon the way Essien and Diarra did.
BUT…the situation isn’t so glum. Lyon are this close to signing Abdul Kader Keita, the best winger in Ligue 1 not named Ribery or Malouda. His teammate Mathieu Bodmer and Sochaux winger Karim Ziani may also follow.
They don’t make up for the departures of Abidoula, but they do make me feel slightly better. For the longest time, Lyon’s right side has been significantly weaker than on the left (Abidoula sounds so much better than Goveillere), but now it looks like the opposite might be true next year (Keita/Govou - Clerc/Reveillere vs. Ben Arfa/? - Belhadj/Berthod).
Here’s a hilarious video of Malouda and Abidal on Sébastien Cauet’s show post World Cup (in French).
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Tags: Abdul Kader Keita, Alain Perrin, Eric Abidal, Florent Malouda, Hatem Ben Arfa, Karim Ziani, Lyon, Mathieu Bodmer, Player News and Rumors, Team News and Rumors, Transfers, VideoSubscribe
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Comments
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Remeber, Malouda was Drogba’s strike partner at Guingamp many a year ago, he played the withdrawn role that Ben Arfa prefers right now. The similarities point to Ben Arfa be exactly what Malouda says, the next great Lyon winger. Lets hope Perrin can do that.
Posted from
United States
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Don’t worry about the LB position, due to Lyon’s history of buying up the best talent Africa has to offer, I assume it’s only a matter of time before Taye Taiwo moves north.
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United States -
Corey: That’s one of the pros of having Perrin. He puts more faith in youngsters. I’m really hoping to see Ben Arfa blossom, so I’m not that much in favor of Lyon buying a big left winger.
Chris: Yikes, that’s going into sticky territory. If by African you mean players of African origin (like Zidane and Abidal - born in France but from parents who immigrated from Africa, then yes, Lyon do have them. But they’re French, play for the France NT, speak French at home, etc. Malouda was born in French Guiana but is French (like someone from Cape Verde would identify with Portugal).
If you mean non-French black players, like Keita, Essien, M. Diarra, who are African nationals, then Lyon don’t have any at the moment. M. Diarra was the last one (he plays for Mali) while Essien represented Ghana. If Keita comes, he would be Lyon’s only African.
Lyon’s non-Europeans are only Brazilians at the moment. Aulas is a strong supporter of the French NT and prefers to take in French internationals before any other player (hence his obsession with Trezeguet, Saha, Giuly, Alou Diarra, etc.). He believes that it’s the job of the French clubs to make their NT strong (sort of the anti-Wenger).
Strange that this issue only comes up with the France NT. Check out a related discussion on Laurie’s France NT blog.
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United States -
Wow, I just meant guys like Essien, Diarra and Kanoute.
I didn’t realize the politics involved.
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United States -
I guess I still haven’t recovered from the Lithuanian banner (and I’m neither French not African!). I also recently exchanged emails with a person who somehow thinks that just because there are not many white players on the France NT, it equates to not having French players. Grr.
I didn’t mean to jump on you.
So forgive me? Pretty please? Back on topic: When Essien was at Bastia, he had quite a few suitors (even United) but chose Lyon for development purposes. Diarra was a lucky find, though like Toulalan now, it took him a while to be the best at his position. As for Kanoute - he was born in Lyon and came through OL’s academy but never made an impact on the first team (he was a late bloomer, only recently showing what he’s capable of at Sevilla). And now many OL fans want him back!
Essien was a one in a million find. Lacombe is still looking for another one.
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Didn’t know that about Kanoute, I’m a little fuzzy on my pre-millennium football. I know he’s a late bloomer but has been considered a world-class talent for some time.
No worries, I didn’t realize the race situation was so touchy in France. Although considering Sarkozy is prez…..
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Inara : I’m surprised ! You made one mistake, Abidal is from Martinique, a french territory in the Atlantic ocean. That’s why he is black. And you forgot an OL players which come from Africa… Belhadj ! He’ll be back for the new season, and believe me, we have the left defenser we search !
Belhadj - Ben Arfa can be, at least, the new Abidoula… Maybe we’ll soon talk about… BelArfa ! And Reveita (Reveillere, Keita) on the right side
Posted from
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Ah, but Abidal was born in Lyon (his parents are from Martinque.
Belhadj is from Africa too, so you’re right, we technically do have an African on our roster (though they don’t count against Lyon’s non-EU slots.
Belhadj (Keita if he comes) will be gone for a good portion of next winter for the African Nations Cup, so if Govou does end up leaving (I know Corey doesn’t want him to but I do!), Lacombe will have to think of replacements, as Wiltord is surely gone after the past couple weeks.
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You’re right about CAN. I’m a supporter of the Racing club de Lens, which always has so many african players. And when Can arrive, Lens loose all his great players, and start to loose al his matchs…
But in case of Lyon chose Keita, and if Govou and Wiltord leave OL, that will be probably the occasion for Alain Perrin to test an other way of playing… Forget the 4-3-3, and why not a 4-4-2, with Kallstrom - Toulalan - Juninho - Bodmer as midfielder, and Fred/Baros, or Benzema/Fred for offensive !Posted from
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I do not want Govou to leave, its either hime or Wiltord, both will not go, and my money is on Wiltord. He is a moody player, had problems at Arsenal with this kind of stuff. Bodmer is heavily linked with Roma, but he would the player we need, he is similar to Tiago in his half offense half defense approach which i think tactically fits into a 4-3-2-1 which he practically plays with Lille. Keita is close to signing but is still a stretch i think, his price and importance to Lille mean they would not want to reinforce their rival.
Kanoute as the striking reinforcement would be welcomed, but this would stunt Benzema’s growth because he can be considered higher then Fred or Kanoute yet. If we are gonna bring back all the late 90’s early 00’s stirking prodigies, why not bring back Steve Marlet too, he has had some career….Posted from
United States -
“No worries, I didn’t realize the race situation was so touchy in France. Although considering Sarkozy is prez…”
I just don’t get the link between your two sentences (and you don’t have to give one !). We have no problems with “race”, because there are no different human races. But well, I got your point. It’s just that hearing that we have an african team when all the players are french hurts, even when saying so as to “laugh”.
Thanks to Inara for clearing this out in a kinder way than me (though Cape Verde is an independent country and that you probably meant “the Açores [french spelling]” from which comes Pauleta). Back on topic, I agree with Corey, for we don’t need any other strikers, and it would be spoiling some other potential to bring back one. Anyway, there have been so many names mentioned, that I don’t know which ones are rumors and which ones are a bit more than that…
PS : Sorry for political comments !
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Unrelated topic: check out the Roma blog here http://roma.theoffside.com/team-news/a-potpourri-of-useless-flapdoodle.html
A fan outside of France just realized who Samir Nasri was and what he does with the round thing called a ball, and agknowledges that he, Ben Arfa, Benzema, Gourcuff and Menez will be stars in the future. Bask in the glow everyone, our young French players are being recognized as world beaters.
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The top three wingers in France are all moving this summer.
1. Ribery —> [insert club here]
2. Malouda —-> [insert club here]
3. Keita —-> Lyon (most probable)However, Keita won’t be replacing Malouda, and I don’t think Lacombe will gamble on having Ben Arfa being the main left winger because for all his talent, he’s still a kid that needs more experience. OL are still exploring other left wingers, the most outrageous of which are Tuncay and Quaresma, but also more feasible ones like Akale of Auxerre.
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United States -
Akalé will probably go to Toulouse… Taht’s what France Football write today. What do U think in USA about a team which is called “to loose” ??? lol
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France -
It’s almost as bad as the pink shirts!
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United States -
dont you think they act like brothes(malouda and abidal) but ithink berthod would be fine and young benhamida would have a chance
Posted from
United States -
I forgot about Benhamida! He’s quite a talent, and he’s on loan at Sedan for the moment. Perhaps with more experience, we’ll see more of him in the future!
Posted from
United States
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