Lyon Find a “New” Left Side

By: Inara | June 29th, 2007

We all knew that Lyon were interested in PSG’s left back, Sylvain Armand. But last night, France Football broke the news that Lyon were also interested in Jerome Rothen, PSG’s left winger. For his part, Rothen confessed that while he wouldn’t mind staying at PSG, should the deal be beneficial to him and to his club, he wouldn’t mind changing clubs.

Hmm. It’s become increasingly clear that Jean-Michel Aulas is building a team worthy of winning the Intertoto Cup.

You think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. After all, what other motivation could there be in replacing Florent Malouda with Rothen and Eric Abidal with Armand? What sense is there in bringing in older players for younger ones? What reasoning is there in selling a left side pairing that were World Cup finalists and then buying another left side pairing that spent the entire year fighting relegation at PSG?

I’m not surprised that Lyon want Armand despite also buying Nadir Belhadj from Sedan. Belhadj’s talent is clear enough, but has no Champions League experience whatsoever and just finished his first year in the French top flight. Armand, on the other hand, is the next best left back in France with experience in the UEFA Cup (we can’t be picky), and is a safer bet to replace Abidal.

But Rothen???

He was a great left winger…three years ago! Other than the last three months, he’s been awful since his move to PSG. I’m not denying he’s a talented player, and I’m sure given time and a nurturing environment, he might even resemble Monaco-Rothen again.

For those of you who don’t remember who he is, three years ago, Rothen was touted as the “left sided David Beckham” as he helped lead Monaco to the CL finals. It was at this time that he started appearing for the France NT in the role that Malouda now occupies. Back then, he had a very bright future.

When Rothen almost won the Champions League with Monaco.

Unfortunately, after he left Monaco for PSG, Rothen’s form plummeted. Suffering injuries and a loss of confidence, he lost his spot on the France NT and was eventually sent to PSG’s reserve squad. Rothen would have left PSG this past winter if it hadn’t been for new manager Paul Le Guen, who brought Rothen back onto the first team and turned him into a completely different player. Managing to stay injury free in the last six months, his confidence returned, and we were given a glimpse of Rothen as he used to be.

But in Lyon’s case, Rothen isn’t progress. Tiago replacing Essien was progress. Bodmer replacing Tiago is progress. Toulalan replacing Diarra is potentially progress. Squillaci taking over for Cacapa is progress. Lyon’s buys have always been progressive. But Rothen will never be as good as Malouda and will be cast aside the moment Hatem Ben Arfa learns how to defend.

Squillaci and Rothen played together at Monaco…could they do so once again?

Don’t get me wrong, I like Rothen as a player, and I really admire the fact that he hung on at Paris although everything was going wrong for him. During the darkest hours of PSG’s relegation battle, he displayed a rare kind of courage not seen in footballers these days, facing adversity with perseverance, devotion, and fortitude. (He is also a wannabe surfer blonde beefcake like Gregory Coupet).

I just feel like he is an unnecessary buy for Lyon. We already have Ben Arfa, who up until yesterday, everyone was willing to give a chance. Belhadj can also play in that position, as can Keita and Benzema if necessary. Aulas said even Kallstrom can take that spot should there be a crisis of some kind.

So unless it’s a player who will improve Lyon, even if he’s an eighteen year old kid from Croatia, I’d rather Rothen stay at PSG and help them stop their cycle of underachievement.