Judging from the L’Equipe ratings, Fred, Keita, and Gassama were Lyon’s worst players, but from the comments on this site, that doesn’t seem to be the case. I guess the OL media skeptics (so eager to see Lyon fail) were out in full force tonight.

SO much things to say, I don’t know where to begin !

I think that was … really … the BEST OL game of the season.
I mean in everything. Lyon players did exactly what they wanted. That was so terrific.
Tonight gave me several orgasms.

Defense :
Lloris (My rate : 7/10) didn’t have so much job. But he was there, everywhere we expected him to be. he did great.
Reveillere (7/10) has been strong. He didn’t really go up, no long run on his left side, but his defensive job was good. That’s what we needed in a 4-4-2.
Gassama (8/10) REALLY impressed me. My god, is he really 19 yo ? He kind of remind me Abidal (the OL one, not the french NT one). Fast, strong and good vision of the play. Fighting on his right side, I was very happy for him. He seemed to love his starting spot, and showed to Puel that Clerc and Reveillere can really be anxious.
Boumsong (7/10) has been very solid. He was the Boumsong we saw last January, when he’s arrived from Turin. We all LOVE that Boum.
Cris (9/10) : OMG ! You won’t believe it… CRIS IS BACK, BROTHERS ! He’s been the one. THE Cris. No need to argue more. When I say Cris is back, you totally understand which Cris was on the pitch tonight. My God that’s so good to see.

Midfield :
Toulalan (11/10) : I’m sorry, I know I become Inaraesque, but Toulalan was so… PERFECT. that’s the word. He succeed to shut all Le Mans midfield up, was everywhere, took the ball something like 90% when he tried and had a vision of the play so perfect too, with excellent passes and everything. yes, I was like the TV commentators saying to my friends in Virage Sud “Mais putain quel match de Toulalan ! Il est énorme ce type c’est phenomenal” each time he touched the ball. I think La Toule really was the man of the match. Inara, be proud of your baby.
Juninho (8/10) : He’s the Juninho we know. He know everytime exactly what he must do, never wrong, always fighting on balls, and he scored ! He scored a goal with such a calm… that was magic. He took time where almost every players would have shot instantly and maybe not score. Juni is our God. Again.

Offense :
Keita (7/10) : He really tried and succeed beautiful technicals things, dribbled and speed up very well. I think he made a lot tired Le Mans defense. I just regret he still lose the ball too easily. But the Lille’s Keita seems to be back game after game, so we have to be confident.
Delgado (7.5/10) : What a game for his first 90th minutes this season in Ligue 1 ! Cesar has finally understood the European way of playing, and seems to be more strong than when he arrived (but he still has a lack of physic). He was interesting, fighting all the game, passing, dribbling, running to make spaces, and didn’t lose the ball too often. Like Keita, he made Le Mans defenders tired. Happy for him, he ca be “Messiesque”, sometimes. Still need to progress and to work, but he found the road. I think Puel showed him the road. Now, he just have to follow it !
Fred (8/10) : We are near the Fred we used to know 2 years ago. Very strong back to goal, very technical and great passing (especially to Benzema). Fred didn’t score, but he helped Benz to it. When Fred want, Fred can. Tonight, he wanted.
Benz (9/10) : You saw his goal. So you know. Benz is OUR legendary striker. He scored an impossible goal, made by himself. He really scared Le Mans, that was clear on the ptch. He’s Benz. He’s ours.

Man I really enjoyed tonight. An attacking team which play together, up pressing, good defending, united and determined. THAT OL, guys, can really do everything against anybody.
But will we see that OL again ?
I terribly hope so.

Speaking of Toulalan, the commentators and guests on OLTV are going crazy over him. It’s “Toulalan is OMG so awesome!!” every other sentence.