Lyon vs. Le Havre AC
By: John | September 19th, 2008
Ahhh, hopefully we can have a slight respite from the recent Franco-Italian war that has errupted in our comments section of the post-Lyon-Fiorentina CL match, and during the lull in hostilities, get back to enjoying some L1 action!
Saturday, Lyon travel to Le Stade Jules Deschaseaux in the the northwestern region of Haute-Normandie to take on one of this year’s promoted clubs, Le Havre AC. For those of us who didn’t know, Le Havre is the oldest estabished football club in France, and has one of the best youth systems in the country, turning out such talent as Didier Digard, Charles N’Zogbia, Steve Mandanda, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Anthony De Tallec, Vikash Dhorasoo, Ibrahim Ba, Lassana Diarra, and our very own Jean-Alain Boumsong.
Le Havre are currently tied for 16th place in the table with Lorient. Lorient’s offense is ranked 17th and the defense is ranked 12th- right behind Marseilles- having scored (4)goals and conceded(6). Le Havre’s highest goal scorer is Jean-Michel Lesage(2), and assist leader is Jamel Ait Ben Idir(2). After a week one win, Le Havre have lost three in a row and tied in their last match. Le Havre actually have a winning record against Lyon (8-6), but their last victory came in 1999.
Here’s a history of the meeting between the teams:
All the meetings
2002/2003 11/7/2002 Havre AC 1 – 2 Olympique Lyonnais
1999/2000 4/8/2000 Havre AC 0 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1998/1999 3/20/1999 Havre AC 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1997/1998 8/22/1997 Havre AC 1 – 3 Olympique Lyonnais
1996/1997 10/11/1996 Havre AC 4 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1995/1996 8/5/1995 Havre AC 2 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1994/1995 11/5/1994 Havre AC 2 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1993/1994 3/26/1994 Havre AC 0 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1992/1993 5/1/1993 Havre AC 2 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1991/1992 7/20/1991 Havre AC 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1961/1962 10/1/1961 Havre AC 1 – 2 Olympique Lyonnais
1960/1961 11/20/1960 Havre AC 3 – 2 Olympique Lyonnais
1959/1960 4/17/1960 Havre AC 1 – 2 Olympique Lyonnais
1951/1952 12/23/1951 Havre AC 2 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
History:
———————–P W D L F A GD
Havre AC————-14 8 0 6 21 15 6
Olympique Lyonnais—-14 6 0 8 15 21-6
Records:
Biggest win for Havre AC :
1996/1997 : 4 – 1
Biggest win for Olympique Lyonnais :
1997/1998 : 1 – 3
Lyon will be taking the same group of 19 that made up the squad in the CL match vs. Fiorentina.
Le groupe lyonnais :
Lloris, Vercoutre – Mensah, Réveillère, Gassama, Cris, Boumsong, Bodmer – Källström, Juninho, Makoun, Toulalan – Govou, Mounier, Pjanic, Ederson, Piquionne, Fred, Benzema.
Le groupe havrais:
Revault, Placide – Hénin, Tixier, Ba, Sambou, Gillet, Baca – Aït Ben Idir, Bouadia, Dieuze, Alla, Fontaine, Fofana, Noro – Lesage, Fauré, Alassane.
Injuries: Fabio Santos has been practicing with the team, but is not back in the group yet. Kader Keita is supposed to be back to practice next week. Fabio Grosso’s is recovering quicker than expected, or his injury wasn’t as serious as first thought. Either way, he’s supposed to be starting to jog next Friday, so hopefully we’ll have him back for the CL.
Expected Lineup: Who knows! So many players- Juni, Benzema, Govou- have to be exhausted from continous CL, International and L1 play; Lyon itself has played three games in eight days. Juninho’s played over 180+ mins in the four days. I expect many players to be rested.
Puel reiterated in a recent interview, the fluidity of Lyon’s formations during matches: that he was not wedded to a particular formation. Although Lyon have tended to start L1 games in a 4-5-1, the starting formation could change this week due to the players that will probably be rested. I’m still tempted to go with a 4-5-1, . Here’s my best guess:
Lloris
Reveillere-Cris-Bodmer-Mensah
–Makoun-Toulalan-Kallstrom
Ederson——————-Mounier
Piquionne
I think Juninho, Sidney Govou,and Karim Benzema are due for a rest. Jeremy Toulalan also, but since there is no other right sided midfielder aside from Ederson, he can’t sit out no matter which formation is used, if both Govou and Juniho sit-out, which they probably will. Cris will start as he needs more playing time, and so does Boumsong because aside from possibly nerves, he was kind of rusty against Fiorentina. He’s only started two L1 games this year and hasn’t played in a couple of weeks. Cris recently shrugged-off claims that he might need more surgery on his knee, saying that he just needs to strengthen the muscles around it and that he’s at about 80-90%. But Bodmer will probably get the start along side Cris, being that Mathieu is our most stable center back at the moment. Who ever thought that would be the case? I’d also like to see Pjanic, but probably in the second half as Mounier has seemed to have supplanted him for some reason. I also think Puel may go with Fred as he likes to get the offense going late in the game and if Fred plays like he has been lately, we won’t see any action from the striker position untill Piquionne comes in during the second half.
Le Havre are leaky defensively and have a paltry offense, but are fresh and possibly hungry to take the match to a tired Lyon squad. The question is, will Lyon be mentally tired from their mid-week CL match? And if Benzema and Juninho are out, it’s up to our only other scorer in L1 Jean Makoun, to get a header. Hopefully Ederson gets his first goal in a Lyon kit. I’m calling a
1-0 Lyon victory.
Viewing Options: I believe the game will be on TV5, although I haven’t been able to confirm it. So if you’re lucky enough to have TV5, then consider yourself blessed. As usual, please post any workng streams here.
Category: 
Tags: Cris, Ederson, Fabio Grosso, Fabio Santos, Fiorentina, Fred, Ibrahim Ba, Jean Makoun, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Juninho, Kader Keita, Karim Benzema, Lassana Diarra, Le Havre AC, Ligue 1, Lorient FC, Marseilles, Mathieu Bodmer, Mounier, Piquionne, Sidney Govou, Team News and Rumors, Vikash DhorasooSubscribe
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Comments
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I see those new kits with all their bright colors, added to the speed of our players, seem to give us all hallucinations! It is obvious that Inara is from Germany, like Nikola, Sidney Govou, Ronan, Pele, Will and many others, while John is indeed hiding in Costa Rica, Pride of Lyon in Japan, Andy in Norway, Wedge in France!
Posted from
Germany
-
The game was at Le Havre, and I watched it in a pub in Lyon.
So I have nothing to add to what has already been said. I think you all said everything we have to keep in mind.I’m just thinking that Mounier will probably be our starter on the left against Nancy, since Govou get a red card.
Good for him, he really desserve it, and needs to score for his confidence, because HE IS a goal scorer, with the CFA.Posted from
United States -
Stop talking of the flags its boring,guys.
Posted from
United States -
Not that I want to spark another heated debate like the OL-Fiore one (that neverending succession of pointless attacks is by far the most boring and regrettable thread I’ve seen on this blog) but here’s an attempt to wake people up : have you guys seen the bad (personal) exchanges between Platini and Wenger? And beyond that, what’s your opinion in this debate on using video versus having more referees on the pitch?
As a keen rugby game lover I have to say that to me video has undoubtfully added to the clarity of the game, improved the credibility and performance of refereeing, without slowing down the pace, as it is only used when the action has ended and the game has stopped already (a try seems to have been scored, and the referee can ask the video referee for confirmation).
As a tennis lover as well, I also find that the electronic replay of a questionable call -as to whether the ball is in or out- is a positive way to avoid disputes and give peace of mind for the player…
What do you guys think?Posted from
Germany -
I agree Jo, Mounier deserves a start, and he is a goal scorer, although he is not prolific enough to be a striker. If only we had not sold Remy…sigh.
Posted from
United States -
Nikola: I see both.
Posted from
Costa Rica -
Megame: I just read on the Wenger/Platini feud, and fail to understand Platini. He seems way out of lines – making childish remarks about Wenger at every opportunity. I think his views on the video replay are out as well. I’d agree with you that video refereeing has been great in both tennis and rugby – so really would love to see it in football. It would make the game fairer and clearer and I don’t fully understand the footballing authorities reluctance to introduce it at all
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Sam: What I understand is that Platini (and the -conservative- International Football Association Board, football’s ruling body)have a philosophy: a football that is simple and universal, that can be played the same way and with little resources by everyone, everywhere in the world. They consider that requesting such an investment (several high speed cameras, a recording system, several screens, etc…) would de facto create several tiers in the world of football: the clubs, leagues, federations, countries who would be able to afford this, and the others. This school of thought wants to keep the human(as opposed to technological)side of things. We should continue accepting the imperfection of football (the glorious uncertainty of sport). On top of this, Platini seems to fear opening the Pandora’s box: after a goal seems to have been scored following a free kick, the referee would pause to check if the goal is valid; and then the replay would for instance show that the ball indeed went in, but that it was touch by somebody’s hand; but then that player may have been pushed, so that may be a penalty; and the free kick at the origin of all this might appear unjustified, etc… He says matches might last 4 hours with video…
So this is what I gathered from his position. I won’t comment on the stupid “It will be my pleasure that Arsene Wenger never sees video refereeing happen”.Posted from
United States -
I tend to agree with Platini in that football should be kept a sport of the people…not the elites. Most other sports require a lot of equipment, investment, organisation etc. With football all you need is a ball.
Posted from
United States -
I know this is not about the Le Havre match, but it’s th most current item …
I’m going to the OL v. Lyon match this weekend (Sept 27). It’s my first visit to Lyon, and my first football match at this level … we had an NASL franchise here in Vancouver back in the day and currently have a USL1 franchise, soon to be MLS.
So … anything I should look out for? Chants I should know? I’m resonably familiar with the Lyon players (as familiar as I can be through the internet), but want to make the most of my experience.
I’m in Canada by the way. Don’t let the flags fool you.
Posted from
Canada -
^OOOPS^
Of course, I meant the OL v. Nancy match. Sorry!
Posted from
Canada -
I’m not from Germany, I’m from Croatia. You must know that team, because Luka MOdruc, Vedran Corluka, Eduardo, Ivan Rakitic and Ivan Klasnic ( who play in Nantes ) played for Croatia.
Posted from
United States -
I mean Luka Modric.
Posted from
United States -
Excuse me, but that idea of “a football that is simple and universal, that can be played the same way and with little resources by everyone, everywhere in the world” just made me laugh.
When a player can be buy 100 000 000 euros by another club, and be paid so much money at 20yo, have the best training pitch in the world, the best shoes, the best physical trainer, and so on… you can already say that there is two levels of speed in the football !
Some African young player just play without shoes, and without grass (sometimes even without real ball).SO PLEASE ! Football has already differents levels. So I think that, for the “professional” level, we need “professional” technics of refereeing.
It seems obvious that the video can be one of them.
That would also be a clear fight against the supposed fixed games, SO that would add some justice in the football, as opposed to the argument of a “universal football”. Today, some “rich guys” can pay to fix a game up. Where’s the universality ?There are many way to introduce the video. Not on every action (it would be impossible and really annoyed), but we can just use it for questionable goals, like the ball behind the line or not, like offsides not whistled, etc..
We can even imagine a “joker” system. Every team would have 2 video jokers in the game, and can use it when they feel there has been a mistake by the referee. Only 2 jokers cannot slow the rythm of the game…We just have to think of it and to HELP the referees. They are 3 (4 ?) for a hundred meters long pitch. That’s pretty how much they are for hockey, handball or tennis pitches !
Posted from
France -
Oh, by the way Arne, I’ll be in Gerland on Saturday too.
Just ask if you have some questions, need some advices or else.Posted from
France -
Arne-
My first European football match was OL-Grenoble this year; I can tell you that you’ll pick up the chants really easily as they’re very simple… often a player’s name or “OL” or “Lyonnais” sung to the tune of a song you’ll recognize, or something as simple as “Ben-Ben-Benzema”.
The other piece of advice I’d give is to do any eating and/or drinking before you go. Stade Gerland isn’t like your typical North American stadium experience with a hundred nacho/popcorn/hot dog/Dippin’Dots/pretzel/beer stands. There’s a stand selling some sad-looking sandwiches and cokes, and that’s about it. If you want to buy any OL gear, do so at the store across the street before you go into the stadium (or better still, the less-crowded downtown store near Place de la Republique so you can arrive at the match already decked-out).
Be prepared to remain standing and singing the entire time…
Posted from
France -
I strongly agree that the “universality” argument is rubbish.
Most of the organised football played in the world is played on pitches without grass, and much of is played with officials that are either supplied by the competing teams or hopelessly under-trained and under-paid. To say that those matches are played under conditions identical to those of the finals of the Champions League or World Cup is to insult the intelligence of the people who play and love this sport.
Posted from
Italy -
Universality is an important principle to adhere to, even if it isn’t possible to achieve it absolutely or even partially.
Certainly more important than the pursuit of ‘justice’ in a one off competition via the pandora’s box of videos.I wouldn’t be surprised should people start clamoring for retrospective amendments to titles on video evidence. Replay of 66WC final anyone?
Posted from
Australia -
How can one adhere to an important principle that is impossible to acheive even partially?
Posted from
Italy -
To me the idea is nice but slightly idealistic, and above all not too relevant in this debate. Again, looking at rugby, I fail to see how video refereeing damaged this “universality”. In the areas where people play rugby, they still need a ball and four posts, that’s it.
Posted from
Germany -
It’s possible to achieve it partially (it’s actually much more so than you care to admit). It’s happening right now. All games are played with 11 a side plus three human officials.
Don’t throw the football baby out with the fifa bathwater. Besides I haven’t heard one good idea on how to actually implement videos by its proponents in the first place.
Posted from
Australia -
I think my “joker” solution actually is a good idea.
But I guess everybody cannot agree with that.Posted from
France -
Jo, I think it is definitely worth trying, though if the initial idea is only to use video in cases where the question is whether a goal was scored, then it shouldn’t be necessary.
A, I was only quoting your prior post. Why don’t you engage with some of the proposals on this thread?
Posted from
Italy -
Such a joker system would be a transposition of what is going on in tennis, where players have a limit to the Instant Replay Challenges (of the referee’s call) they can ask for.
Another possibility to reduce the cases to where they matter most is to leave it up to the referee and in cases of dubious goals only, like in rugby. If the referee is comfortable with his or his assistant’s judgement then he doesn’t require it. For any other cases (fouls, fights, etc..) unseen by the referees, a commission is currently being set up for the French League 1 who will watch the games in the following days and possibly call for sanctions for the players. So there will be justice without stopping the game for a replay.
To me such the best is probably allowing the referee to call for replay when needed in case of a goal only while reviewing the games during the following week. I am not so much in favour of allowing the teams coaches, captains or whoever else to challenge a referee’s decision.Posted from
Germany -
My view is that the introduction of any system has to be gradual in order for it to succeed.
Why not just start with “was it a goal” decisions. If video review avoided one Reading/Watford incident, it would immediately gain credibility.
I also completely agree about post-match review being more than sufficient for disciplinary questions. There is no need to interupt the match in those cases.
Posted from
Italy
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