

Peace Cup: Lyon vs. Beşiktaş (Plus Pictures!)
By: Inara | July 25th, 2009I’m going to keep this short because there really isn’t much to report. For some odd reason, OL have become shoddier and shoddier in updating their website with relevant information. Geez, they can afford to pay millions over the top for a dental patient, but they can’t hire a college intern to update their website? And let’s not even talk about the Premium membership, which I am bitterly regretting paying for. But that’s a rant for another day.
Tomorrow, Lyon will be taking on Beşiktaş in the opening match for Group D. It’s been a long time since they’ve faced Turkish opponents, and Beşiktaş – winners of a domestic double last season – are hardly anything to scoff at. Both teams will be taking this friendly a bit more seriously than most of the other clubs in the tournament for the simple reason that their respective seasons begin sooner, so they don’t have much time to mess around before getting into tiptop order.

Let’s bring that trophy home again!
July 25, 2009
Stade Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Spain
2:30 ET (20:30 CET, 19:30 GMT)
Beşiktaş, like OL, have been quite active in the summer transfer market and have been the biggest spenders in Turkey so far (though it’s pocket change compared to Lyon). I’m not going to lie and claim to know much about Beşiktaş, as I’ve only ever seen them play once, and that was a while ago in the Champions League, though they do have some very good players who could wreak a great deal of havoc if Lyon aren’t careful.
One name that is sure to ring a bell is Matteo Ferrari, who recently transferred to Beşiktaş from Genoa. For those of you who can’t remember, Ferrari was on the pitch the night that Lyon lost to Roma two years ago. Another name that might sound familiar is Matias Delgado (no relation to ours), who is something of a freekick expert.
Like Lyon, Beşiktaş have certain key players injured or in light training, so they also have to deal with a trimmed squad. Still, they’ll be more challenging opponents than what we’ve faced so far, and we need the practice in order to get ready for the upcoming Champions League qualifiers (how humiliating…).
On our side of things, I have to once again curse the OL website for being so sparse with details. No word on the squad selection for tomorrow’s game, though I’m cheered to see several of the kids included for the trip. Besides Yannis Tafer and Clement Grenier, Yoann Court and Maxime Gonalans have also been invited along.
Le groupe lyonnais: Lloris, Vercoutre – Bodmer, Boumsong, Cissokho, Clerc, Cris, Grosso, Mensah, Réveillère – Bastos, Court, Delgado, Ederson, Grenier, Gonalons, Källström, Mounier, Pjanic, Makoun, Toulalan – Govou, Lisandro, Piquionne, Tafer
It seems likely that both Lisandro Lopez and Cesar Delgado will be sitting this game out. They both picked up slight knocks in training, so I guess Puel wants to keep our Argentine duo cossetted as much as possible. On the other hand, I am absolutely amazed that John Mensah is fit enough to play. When was the last time that happened?
To cap off this post, I guess I should write out what formation I expect tomorrow. Problem is, I have no idea what to expect. The friendlies against Lille and Lens aren’t really informative because in those games, it was more Puel giving everyone a change to place (hence the 100% player turnover) rather than figuring out tactics. But I’ll try anyway.
Vercoutre
Clerc – Bodmer – Mensah – Cissokho
Makoun
Mounier – Pjanic – Bastos
Piquionne
So I totally made that up. But my reasoning is sound. Mostly. The reason I have so many “second” choice players is that Lyon have a game against Porto barely two days after this one, and that match should be a lot harder. So I can see Puel wanting to rest as many key players as he can without sacrificing too much quality.
Then again, I’ve seen Puel use Lyon’s best starting eleven barely three days after a grueling Champions League encounter against Bayern, so what do I know?
And that’s all I have regarding the match. I did however find some mildly amusing photos of Lyon’s arrival in Spain, so enjoy!

For some reason, I enjoyed this picture far more than I should.

Sonny Anderson was greeted very warmly in Spain.

On the other hand, I’m totally confused as to why Sidney Govou of all people would get flowers.

Govou again, this time signing autographs. It just boggles my mind.

At least the other players are getting some attention.

AWKWARD team picture.
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Noooooooooooooooooooo!
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United States

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typical, goals coming from corners…..hmmmmm
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United States

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Been watching for 5 minutes and seen 3 serious defensive errors already. Needs sorting
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United Kingdom

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It had to be! We couldn’t get away with that Pjanic miracle clearance. Vercoutre’s save before that was class.
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United States

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Bodmer’s positioning is very questionable.
Posted from
United Kingdom

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killing games off, thats been one of our biggest problems. i know this ia a friendly game, but its the same problem we had last year.
Posted from
United States

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Our defence looked bad today, and we just couldnt score the deciding goal. Now we need a win against Porto.
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United States

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so..now we gta beat porto?
Posted from
Norway

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pretty much…or else we are outy me thinks
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United States

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OMG. It had to be a corner.
Why did Puel sub Mensah into the game? Did Boumsong get injured?
And that’s awesome for Kallstrom. Just when people start thinking he should leave, he does brilliantly.
Posted from
United States

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Boumsong looked a little tired, so Mensah came in.
Something has to be done about his set=piece defending.Posted from
United States

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Offensively we looked very good.Kim played once again a good match in the preseason.Bastos was good,Pjanic played very good,the only problem was that we didnt use our chances(especially Govou).But the real problem is in the defense,they always make mistakes-no matter if the opponent is Besiktas,Real Madrid or Laval.We need a CB who will be like a rock-tall,strong,fast,…But it is hard to find someone like that.
Posted from
United States

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Danny Shittu ?
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United Kingdom

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For CB I like Tamas,strikers / Gameiro,Bobo,Pogrebnyak or Mbokani
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We probably will not buy a CB as there werent any reports about players we are interested in and noone of the managment have ever confirmed that we want one.If we gonna buy one,I would like to see Hangeland, Ignashevich, Kolodin or Gamberini.I hope that after this poor performence from our defence in the last season and in the pre-season Puel and JMA will react and buy someone but probably not.
It is far more realistic that we will buy a new striker.The questione is will it be a back up for Licha or another world class striker.I would prefer one or two back ups for Licha.Someone like Zaki,Bobo,Nimani or Fauvergue.But this are just my wishes and Lyon will probably buy another WC striker(Vagner Love,Chamakh,…) and that would mean that we will next season play a 4-4-2 system.
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United States

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There’s a rumor that Lyon are looking into Guiza of Fenerbace.
http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2009/20090726_085314_lyon-pense-aussi-a-guiza.htmlPosted from
United States

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How long until the porto game starts?
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United States

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NOOOOO! Not Guiza
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United States

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5 hours me thinks Rama
I just went through a couple of youtube clips of Juninho when they faced Werder Bremen, and a Single tear come from my eye.
I think it just finally hit me that Juninho is longer a Lyonnais player and our captain is gone. We’re never going to be the same again…never
.Posted from
United States

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i read boumsong and piquionne picked up injuries from besiktas.. not good!
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United States

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So when is the match starting?
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United States

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supposedly @ 22:30 Thomas
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United States

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Ms. Baaj, is that you?
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United States

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We look so much more agressive in attack this year. Pjanic has been agressive getting crosses in from the right.
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United States

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vercoutre
revelliere-cris-mensah-cissokho
—–toulalan-makoun
bastos————–pjanic
—-piquionne-mounierPosted from
United States

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