Let’s Get Things Rollin’ Again

By: Inara | December 28th, 2007

Hello, my lovely readers! Sorry about the extent of my absence – I had intended to take up posting right after Christmas but ended up taking a few extra days off. But don’t worry, not that much has happened recently to warrant posting.

So I thought I’d get started with the most important Lyon related headlines.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

L’Equipe have published their Ligue 1 Team of 2007. So keep in mind that this includes performances from the latter half of last year, which is why certain players who have departed for ~~richer~~ fairer shores are included. Unsurprisingly, Lyon once again dominate the starting XI.

Coupet
Sagna – Cris – Puygrenier – Abidal
Govou – Juninho – Toulalan – Malouda
Elmander – Benzema

Lyon’s official website also listed L’Equipe’s previous Team of the Years, so it’s worth taking a look. And note Gregory Coupet’s inclusion in the last seven years.

2006: Coupet – Réveillère, Cris, Squillaci, Abidal – Tiago, Juninho, Ribéry, Malouda – Fred, Pauleta.
2005: Coupet – Réveillère, Cris, Hilton, Abidal – Diarra, Juninho, Ribéry, Malouda – Pauleta, Carew.
2004: Coupet – Réveillère, Cris, Givet, Abidal – Essien, Diarra, Giuly, Malouda – Drogba, Cissé.
2003: Coupet – Radet, Squillaci, Yepes, Evra – Pedretti, Juninho, Giuly, Rothen – Drogba, Pauleta.
2002: Coupet – Daf, Mexès, Boumsong, Heinze – Tainio, Pedretti, Ronaldinho, Carrière – Cissé, Pauleta.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To sign Chelito or not to sign Chelito? That is the question currently plaguing the minds of the press. On one hand, Cruz Azul are claiming that a deal apparently worth €3m between them and Lyon regarding the transfer of Cesar Delgado is nearly finalized. Whereas Lyon are basically denying denying everything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyon are also hot and heavy for Yassine Chikhaoui, who could be a future replacement for Juninho. Unfortunately, Lyon got on the ball too late because Juventus, Bremen, Bayern, Hamburg, and even Marseille are also in line.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lyon have offered Fred and Milan Baros to Real Betis. Both players are among the highest earners at the club, so Aulas is eager to get one of them off his payroll. But…Betis?

FYI, Aulas says that Fred’s pricetag is €15m – so in real money, that’s about €10m.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of Fred, Aulas created quite a ruckus in the French media last week when he said that he would be happy to let Fred sign for PSG. Was it another one of his mind games or was he being sincere?

While Aulas certainly doesn’t want PSG to challenge Lyon directly, he knows that PSG hanging out in the relegation zone is a poor reflection on French football. He also knows that even with Fred, PSG can’t take the title out of Lyon’s hands anytime soon. I also think that Aulas is poking fun at PSG’s refusal to negotiate with Lyon over the past transfers of Pauleta, Sylvain Armand, and Jerome Rothen.

Of course, Aulas claims his motives are completely altruistic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ewww. Real Madrid is back again. Except this time, they not only want Karim Benzema but also Hatem Ben Arfa. They think they even have an advantage because Ben Arfa’s agent is the same one that works for Mahamadou Diarra. Well, we all know that Benzema isn’t going anywhere, but Ben Arfa’s position isn’t quite as clear. He has tried to leave Lyon before and may not be adverse to it this summer. But he would be stupid to go someplace where he’ll be benched again is all I’m going to say.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOOOOOOOOOOO. Sao Paulo is trying to get Lyon to part with Fabio Santos, and Lyon might consider it. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a shaky season start, Remy Vercoutre is flying in Ligue 1 with Lyon with some very spectacular performances. He’s also done relatively well in the Champions League. Since Lyon don’t look to be offering a contract extension (his contract expires 2008), and since Vercoutre’s made it clear that he’s no longer interested in being the #2, he’s been attracting a bunch of other suitors, including Nice, Auxerre, and Frankfurt.

I don’t know about Frankfurt, but I would not mind negotiation with Nice or Auxerre. Especially if those deals can somehow include either Hugo Lloris or Remy Riou.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In non-transfer related news, Cris has said that he’s in love with the city of Lyon and that his wife and daughter have settled in France every well. He has told Aulas that he wants to end his career at the club despite having received offers from both Milan and Juventus last year.

Though currently injured, he has targeted a return date in mid February to be ready for Manchester United’s visit for the Champions League.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~