Lyon Win Friendly With Lille
By: Inara | July 8th, 2007‘Tis the season for pre-season friendlies.
Earlier today, Lyon met Lille in Albertville for a relaxing, enjoyable encounter which served no other purpose than to allow the players to stretch their legs. With the Peace Cup coming up next week, they need to do a lot of stretching if they want to bring home the $2 million cash prize.
This was also an opportunity to see how the new players fit into the squad. I’ll keep the details brief, because this is after all a friendly I’m writing about, but basically, Alain Perrin aligned two completely different teams in each half in order to get the maximum number of players on the pitch (and yet some were still left out!).
Final Score: Lille 1 - 3 Lyon (Match highlights at the bottom of the post).
Goals scored: Lille - Nicolas Fauverge 31; Lyon - Juninho 45, Kim Kallstrom 82, Loic Remy 86
First half - “Team 1″:
Coupet
Beynié - Müller - Squillaci - Belhadj
Fabio Santos - Bodmer - Juninho
Govou - Baros - Ben Arfa
Second half - “Team 2″:
Vercoutre
Clerk - Cries - Paillot - Réveillère
Diarra - Toulalan - Källström
Rémy - Benzema - Mounier
Some things of note:
* Kader Keita was having shoulder pains, so he sat out, while Fred is still in Brazil recuperating from his broken foot. Florent Malouda was busy working on the details of his €3.5m/season contract with Chelsea, Sylvain Wiltord and Gregory Bettiol weren’t on the team sheet for unknown reasons, and Fabio Grosso isn’t officialized until tomorrow. Joan Hartock was present as a sub, but sadly, Perrin didn’t find a way to sneak Lyon’s third goalkeeper onto the pitch.
* Perrin balanced both “teams” with a combination of youth and experience. Sandy Paillot and Roman Beynie started, which is unsurprising since they just made the jump from the reserves to pro. What did surprise me was seeing Anthony Mounier (pictured on the left) in the second half. To my knowledge, he isn’t officially in the senior squad, but since Perrin wanted to give everyone a chance, and because at the moment the senior team has only one official left winger in Hatem Ben Arfa, Mounier got his moment in the sun (and did well too - he provided the assist for Kallstrom’s goal).
* The full backs played musical chairs. Team 1 had Nadir Belhadj on the left, but on the right was Beynie, a midfielder by trade. In Team 2, Francois Clerc was played in position, but Anthony Reveillere was shifted to the left. Roma fans might not believe it, but Reveillere is quite a talented and flexible defender who can play on either side.
* In case some of you didn’t know, Juninho handed in the captain’s arm band, so Perrin has to pick a new one (my money is on Cris). For today’s friendly, Patrick Muller was captain. It was nice to see Captain Pat again (he used to be OL’s captain a few years back).
* The first Lyon goal was the result of a penalty won by former lillois Mathieu Bodmer and put away by Juninho. In the replay, you can see how awkward Bodmer was when he got that penalty.
* Milan Baros had a completely valid goal rejected. Poor guy. Nothing ever seems to go right for him.
* Has anyone else noticed that Jeremy Toulalan has been taking more and more corner kicks recently, both for Lyon and for the France NT?
* I only saw part of the game, so I can’t comment on who the best players were, but from what I did see, Belhadj and Baros impressed me the most, and Bodmer also did a great job. I missed the second half, but according to the chatter on Lyon’s official forums, Cris and Kallstrom were the most impressive from Team 2 [this is where my readers pop in and agree or disagree!].
* Perrin aligned the traditional Lyon system. He did promise to be tactically flexible, but for the moment, the players are more comfortable in a 4-3-3. The upside is that it allows Juninho and Bodmer to be on the pitch at the same time, along with Keita and Ben Arfa. Downside: there can be only one striker, but that’s not a big deal right now since Fred’s foot is broken.
Match Highlights:
That’s it for now. I’ll be back tomorrow with Grosso’s presentation, as well as the unveiling of the new kits and reassigned squad numbers!
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Comments
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The midfield is so crowded, and the valid strikers so rare in Lyon, that it is no surprise to see this usual 4-3-2-1 compo (even though I wish it would turn out to a 4-2-3-1 with Bodmer or Ben Arfa (who I think is not a good winger) as #10.
Anyways, this match was really interesting. Belhadj and Bodmer are really good recruits in my opinion.
And it showed that we can rely on the Lyon youth, with Beynier (still a bit tender), Mounier (interesting LW) and Paillot (who could very-well be our new 4th CB). Also Remy played very well.I think we should finalize our mercato by selling a midfielder (Diarra?) and getting one LW/striker (???). Then the team will really rock
Posted from
United States
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With 3 of my friends, yesterday at 3pm, we decided.. to go to see the match at Alberville !
It’s only at 1 hour 30 from Lyon. So I was there.
I have to tell my first surprise was about the very important number of supporters ! Olympic stadium of Albertville was full ! That was really great.
To me, Baros and Belhadj wasd the best players in the first half time, and Kallstrom in the second. The other players have showed very great things too. They have just a lack of training for the moment. But some automatism seems to put in place. That was a really good match, that encouraged me for next season.
I was a little bit disappointed about Fabio Santos. I trust in him, usually. But He was not in his match. Hope that was just because of montain climate.And, I wanted to say that some numbers had changed… Yesterday, Benzema still had number 10 ! I think he will keep it now forever
Reveillere (who was playing on the left) had Abidal’s nuimber : 20 and the 12 was for Loic Remy.Posted from
France -
Oh… I just see that you wrote about the reassigned squad numbers. Sorry !
Posted from
France -
I really wish i could see these matches, this is the kind of stuff i love. i am so glad mounier and beynie got to play, mounier was supposed to be leaving, i guess he may be signing a professional contract now??? he is a good player, very versatile, id love it if he was the second left winger in the squad, im all for the homegrown talent. Beynie isnt a right back, so i dont know what thats about, but atleast he played. Paillot is one of the most mature centre backs lyon has ever produced from the academy, i know he will the the 4th CB this year. Remy is a shoe in for the right midfield spot, he looks like he is gonna be awesome. Wiltord, if he stays, will be used in a striking role, theres no way he we will have 4 right wingers on the team. then agan, govou and keita can play as secondary strikers as well, but wiltord can play as the lone striker up front in the 4-3-2-1. Rev’s playing on the left is alright, but then we dont have a backup RB, julien faussrenier is a youth team player but i do not know if he will be called up, since benhamida left. anyways, either we call him up or buy a backup LB, a problematic spot for backups to Abidal over the years. As for Bodmer, i like him, always have, but rightn ow i like kallstrom alot more, id like to see kallstrom and juninho on the field together more often. people tend to forget kallstrom has robust defensive qualities and is discplined enough to stay back. he and gourcuff played in the centre for Rennes, so he knows how to take turns in attacking. Fabio Santos will never be better the Toulalan or Diarra, and i like the idea of Toulalan and Diarra playing together with kallstrom in front of them. its a much more solid centre, and toulalan can advance more often, or diarra. diarra is a good player, he does very well, its his attitude that sucks. so far im very pleased about perrin and the team only needs one or two additions to be ready (striker/LW and LB ) i will not comment on ben arfa being the starting LW, i think everyone knows i trust in his abilities and he will get the job done for us. Cheers Perrin.
Posted from
United States -
ohh Inara, where did you get the match pictures from?
Posted from
United States -
Les Verts just bought Blaise Matiudi, I am extremely disappointed
Posted from
United States -
Salieri: I always feel like Lyon is compensating for a weak strike force by having a far superior midfield. When our wingers are considered striking options…that’s when you realize how dire our situation is. It’s probably why it’s so difficult for us to deviate from the 4-3-3 - because any other formation would cut back on our midfielders and rely more on our strikers.
As for the #10 - in an interview, Ben Arfa said that he prefers that role and only adopted the LW position because there was no other place for him at Lyon. Bodmer played in the #10 role at Lille sometimes, and I believe Kallstrom and Juninho could do it as well.
Jo: Let’s hope Fabio Santos gets his act together. He wasn’t at his best, and I think of all the players on the squad, he’s probably the “worst” though by no means bad.
The way the club changed squad numbers around was so confusing. Keita was presented with the #9 jersey just two weeks ago, but that’s now Fred’s number. And remember how both Belhadj and Fabio Santos got the 26 jersey during the winter mercato? It’s like the Lyon staff don’t keep track of these things.
Corey: I was surprised to see Beynie at RB, but I guess Perrin was just testing out his options, and given the way Lyon’s midfield is so stacked, Beynie has more of a chance to play at RB than at midfield. Mournier did look interesting, and I don’t think I would mind too much if he became a back up winger. But having him and Ben Arfa is too much youth in that position, so it’s kind of scary.
And I totally agree about Kallstrom - he’s great and I adore him. He was a supersub last year and will probably be one again this year, but then again, I don’t think he’d be a starter for any of the top ten European teams at the moment, so hopefully he’ll stay here as opposed to going to some small club like Spurs. Also, Juninho will obviously not be playing every match, so Kallstrom will get more game time than ever before.
BTW, I got the pics from getty images.
Posted from
United States -
Oh ! So much things to say !
Firsteval : About squad numbers. You’re right, Inara. This morning, for the press conference, we had an “official” paper with all the players, their caracteristic and numbers… Did You know that we had two number 11 (Baros and Grosso), two number 9 (Fred and Keita), two number 28 (Toulalan and Santos), and no number 2 (Clerc is number 31 !), no number 10, no number 7 (Baros is becoming number 9) etc etc… I think Ol really become crazy with this ! A lot of numbers will change, i cannot believe in this official paper… Who can ?Then, about the match against Lille. I was really impressed about Kallstrom capacities. He was VERY good as a left winger. Why not trying ? So I was thinkin about that, and here is the team I’d like to see if I was coach (which will never happen, so why not have fun ?!) :
COUPET (Vercoutre - Hartock)
REVEILLERE or CLERC (Mounié) - SQUILLACI (Muller) - CRIS (Paillot) - GROSSO (Belhadj)
TOULALAN (Diarra)
BODMER (Fabio Santos) - JUNINHO (Kallstrom)
KEITA (Govou, Remy) - BEN HARFA or KALLSTROM (Beynié, Belhadj)
FRED or BENZEMA (Baros)That means “When Juni plays, Kallstrom play as left winger”. With this point of view, we have absolutely no need of a left winger !
I’d really like to see what this team can do, in these spots.Posted from
France -
Is it me or does Govou seem very motivated this year so far? he was mentioned as a captain if he proves himself, while he has significant competition from Remy and Keita and to a lesser extent Wiltord, and keep an eye on Karaboue, he is an under-19 international, wont be in the first team this year but will be eventually, along with 15 year old produgy mathieu salamand.
Posted from
United States -
see here is my problem with the team. by jo’s lineup, which looks suitable although i think he got mournier and beynie confused, we dont have enough depth in the midfield still. with Toulalan and Diarra as DM, and Beynie as a third option that seems covered. Central Mid is Bodmer and Fabio Santos, who i dont trust much, and Kallstrom if needed. Attacking midfield means Juninho and Kallstrom. We need another central midfielder, a box to box type guy like essien and tiago. now bodmer is that guy dont get me wrong, but am i silly as not to trust in fabio santos as providing the adequate coverage we would need at that position for the year? this is why renato augusto or ederson is good, because one will cover the AM (augusto) or CM (ederson) which means kallstrom can play on the left or as the starting AM since Juninho is past his prime and wont play as many games this year. Kallstrom can also play on the left, sure. But id give Ben Arfa a chance there first. One more midfield player, because i believe bettiol will be given the 4th spot in the first team this year and may prove himself to be worth it, if not lets hope Benz and Baros(may grow on me im not sure) can get it done while Fred is being a injured dumbass
Posted from
United States -
You’re right, I made a mistake for Beynié and Mounier. U just have to switch them.
About what you write about Bettiol, that’s now impossible. He is just transfering to Troyes.Posted from
France -
loan or full transfer Jo?
Posted from
United States -
Full transfer, fee of 300,000 euros, rising up to 550000 depending on the results of Troyes.
I thought it came out of left field. I honestly thought he’d be sent out on loan.
Posted from
United States
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