Introductions + US Friendly

By: Inara | June 18th, 2008

First of all, I’m really sorry that I haven’t been posting this past week. My internet in my apartment isn’t working at the moment, and I can’t access the Offside’s admin page from my lab. It’s unfortunate about the timing because so many things have been going on that I haven’t covered.

Because of that, and also because of the increasing time I have to spend in lab, I can’t update this blog as often as before. John, who most of you probably know from his comments to this site, will be helping in keeping you all updated about the going-ons at Lyon. Between the two of us, we should be able to provide a lot more content – and no more week long waits! He’ll be covering the signing of our newest acquistion, Jean II Makoun, so expect a post on that soon. There will also be a post on the latest on Puel as well as our players in Euro 2008.

Welcome, John!

Nike: Home of sports stuff and possible Lyon’s Pre-season.

In other news, some of you have probably already heard about Lyon’s proposed pre-season in the United States. No word yet on whether this will actually happen, but it’s well known that Jean-Michel Aulas wants to sell bring Lyon to the US. He’s already tried to convince the LFP to hold the Trophée des champions in Chicago, but Bordeaux didn’t want to make such a long journey three days before the start of the season.

According to some rather shady sources, Lyon may hold training at Nike headquarters, which is in Oregon. While there, they may also schedule friendlies with the local soccer teams – Real Salt Lake (MLS) and the Portland Timbers (USL). If you’re wondering why Nike, it’s because they recently purchased Umbro, who are Lyon’s current kit and equiptment suppliers.

I really hope this happens because I would totally go, even though it takes the same amount of time for me to fly to Oregon as it would to Lyon. I’ll keep you guys updated when more information becomes available.

Category: Team News and Rumors

Tags: Lyon, Nike, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, Team News and Rumors, Umbro

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• Corey |  June 18th, 2008 at 11:50 am

  
  
  

  I dont know if I would fly to Oregon Inara, its the same distance for me as well, as I live in CT. I feel like if they are gonna be in america they will hit up one of the major metropolitan areas on the east coast, makes sense doesnt it?

  Posted from United States

  

• japple |  June 18th, 2008 at 12:31 pm

  
  
  

  i live on the east coast too, and if it really is the same distance to lyon that it is to oregon, i might just use that excuse to go to stade gerland.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  June 18th, 2008 at 1:37 pm

  
  
  

  But it’s cheaper to go to Oregon. Dollar has barely any value anymore, remember?

  Though I plan to visit Lyon this fall and catch a Champions League game. *crosses fingers*

  Posted from United States

  

• Bob Kellett |  June 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm

  
  
  

  You have to factor in the free beer. If you come to Portland, the Timbers Army will treat you very, very well. Plus you’ll get to see OL score 17 goals against the Timbers.

  Posted from United States

  

• Sam |  June 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

  
  
  

  Reports Lyon want Abidal back, what does this mean for Grosso? Would hate to see him leave.

  I’m also hoping to make the trip to the Gerland next year, how easy is would it be to get a ticket to a ligue 1 or champions league game does anyone know?

  Posted from United Kingdom

  

• Jennifer |  June 18th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

  
  
  

  ): It’s such a pity that they’re going to Salt Lake City
  and not Canada where we can speak French ;_;

  Posted from United States

  

• mrCham |  June 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

  
  
  

  Welcome John!

  Posted from United States

  

• japple |  June 18th, 2008 at 5:20 pm

  
  
  

  no doubt flying to oregon is cheaper, but it is still far and i may wait to save up for the airfair to fly to lyon instead, haha. i have friends in the city so i wouldn’t spend a fortune on hotels.

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  June 18th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

  
  
  

  Auluas wants Abidal to play center back, where he sucks. Its only if we sell Squillaci and Guardiola does not like Abidal.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald |  June 18th, 2008 at 6:09 pm

  
  
  

  i actually dont see a reason for inara to be apologizing, if anything – we are spoiled with a the news about Lyon that inara offers lol.

  as far as the U.S. tour ( crosses fingers ) it would be a huge step as far as getting some exposure from the club, i welcome change. As far as abidal coming back, i dont welcome that, lol, he can stay at barca. ( especially if he decides he wants to be a CB now a days )

  Posted from United States

  

• Jo |  June 19th, 2008 at 1:55 am

  
  
  

  PUEL likes Abidal as a CB, and Not JMA.

  Posted from France

  

• Ush |  June 19th, 2008 at 3:03 am

  
  
  

  I think Lyon are having the last laugh with Grosso, playing really well and Abidal having a fairly horrific season compared.

  Posted from Ireland

  

• Filip4 |  June 19th, 2008 at 5:13 am

  
  
  

  Le Trophée des champions will take place in Bordeaux.

  Posted from United States

  

• Stanley |  June 19th, 2008 at 5:34 am

  
  
  

  I think after watching abidal play in a cb type role in the last france game it’s fair to say he can stay at barca I’m happy with the ones we have

  Posted from United States

  

• rougebleu |  June 19th, 2008 at 5:43 am

  
  
  

  yeah boumsong would have been a better choice

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  June 19th, 2008 at 6:03 am

  
  
  

  Puel knows Abidal well from Lille, but I dont think this transfer would happen unless Guardiola deemed Abidal surplus to needs. Auluas spoke of signing Abidal as a replacement for Squillaci, so its not just Puel who likes him in that position Jo. I feel this type of move is a step backward for Lyon though, as we dont need to feed off the scraps and cast-aways of big clubs.

  Posted from United States

  

• japple |  June 19th, 2008 at 6:18 am

  
  
  

  abidal was great for us, but like many others have pointed out, i don’t want to see him come back to fill into that central defense spot. if anywhere, he should be in his trusty LB spot.

  but seriously, id rather see someone younger and with more pace. abidal is way overrated anyhow.

  Posted from United States

  

• Jo |  June 19th, 2008 at 8:29 am

  
  
  

  Yes Corey, I just wanted to mention that calling back Abidal to be a CB is an idea of Puel, and not of JMA.
  But I’m sure JMA would love to bring him back, even as a striker !
  I’m one of those who think Abidal can be a real HUGE CB. He just have to play in that spot 2 or 3 weeks in a row to have automatism, and not doing scilly mistakes like he did against Italia.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  June 19th, 2008 at 8:53 am

  
  
  

  One thing I’m wary about managers is that they like to bring former players with them. All managers are like that, so I can’t complain (Houllier wanted Baros and Michael Owen, Le Guen takes Jeremy Clement with him everywhere, Perrin wanted Karim Ziani, etc), now Puel wants Abidal back, and word on the street is Lichtsteiner as well. Plus we just got Makoun, and those two transfers were probably linked.

  Posted from United States

  

• Nicolas |  June 19th, 2008 at 10:06 am

  
  
  

  Altough I’m very happy because of Puel’s and Makoun’s transfers, I also feel very sorry for Lille. We destroyed that team, and I liked them a lot! Last year we took Keita and Bodmer, this year we deprived them of Makoun and their greatest weapon, Claude Puel, and it looks likely we’ll also steal Lichtsteiner! Poor Lille! However, I believe there will be a compsensation, Remy going to Nice probably has something to do with Ederson and Lloris going the other way. But if all those players were to leave LOSC anyway, then it’s a good thing that they came here of all the places, right? Right? All said, Allez Olympique Lillyonnice!

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  June 19th, 2008 at 11:31 am

  
  
  

  The pillage of L1 is continuing. Two likely targets are Mensah to partner Cris (because I doubt we’re getting Abidal) and Chretien who will replace Reveillere if Fiorentina meets the price.

  Nancy’s president wants Chretien at Lyon btw. According to him, Chretien is just as good as Reveillere and Clerc and should have no problem fitting in. Plus he knows he’ll get more money from Lyon than from foreign clubs.

  Posted from United States

  

• Thierry |  June 19th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

  
  
  

  Mensah is physically a monster.

  Posted from United States

  

• Pride of Lyon |  June 19th, 2008 at 9:41 pm

  
  
  

  Looking at the transfers so far and the transfer rumors, Lyon will be huge next year…
  Lyon has never dissappointed me so far in my life with transfers… of course they make bad choices from time to time, but on the whole, they are always buying great players that I would like them to buy (ex in the past years : Toulalan, Kallstrom, Keita, Bodmer, Makoun, Ederson, Squillaci)… but I could go back 15 years ago and still mention great transfers.

  Posted from Japan

  

• Ush |  June 20th, 2008 at 12:23 am

  
  
  

  Wow wow wow.I don’t think Bodmer and Keita are considered great transfers yet, certainly not Keita for the money, and Makoun and Ederson haven’t even played!

  Posted from Ireland

  

• Pride of Lyon |  June 20th, 2008 at 6:13 am

  
  
  

  Ush, I don’t mean in terms of rsults, but before the transfer market opened last year, Keita and Bodmer are the 2 players I would have liked Lyon to purchase, and so they did.
  Same with Kallstrom or Toulalan.

  But I could take the examples of Olmeta and Amoros as well. I mean, I have never been disappointed during the tranfer window by Lyon’s “market”.

  Posted from Japan

  

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