Training Starts Up
By: Inara | July 3rd, 2007Yesterday was the first day back for Les Gones. Like every season, there was a shift in manpower, with missing players compensated by new arrivals. After spending an afternoon with a light workout, the entire group is heading to Tignes, where they will undertake a far more intensive (and fun!) training course, including biking, kayaking, and all that fun stuff. It’s also an opportunity for the new players to integrate into the group (pictures at the end of the post).
I’m too lazy to dig up links, but just ask if you want them. Here’s the lowdown on information:
- Florent Malouda and Juninho were not present yesterday for different reasons. Malouda didn’t want to start training with an imminent transfer. However, due to Chelsea stalling (or JMA dragging it on), Malouda had no choice but to show up at Tignes with the other players just in case he ends up staying next year. As for Juninho, his flight from Brazil was delayed though he is now safely at Lyon.
- Alou Diarra and Sylvain Wiltord were both present for training despite the fact that their departures are practically certain.
- Two new young players from the CFAs made the jump to the senior squad: Sandy Paillot and Romain Beynié. They will join Joan Hartock, Loic Remy, and Gregory Bettiol as the “kids” of the group.
- The three newbies (Nadir Belhadj, Mathieu Bodmer, and Kader Keita) were welcomed quite warmly, with Cris staying close to Belhadj and Coupet looking out for Bodmer and Keita.
- New coach Alain Perrin hasn’t decided who he wants as his captain. The easiest would be to assign it to Juninho, as he was de facto captain last year, but there are a few other players Perrin is considering.
- While cycling, Milan Baros injured himself with a muscle tear. Yeah, that’s right. The season hasn’t even started and already OL’s attackers are inoperative. Hopefully, Baros’s injury is slight and won’t necessitate him being out for more than a few weeks.
In the latest transfer news, Real Madrid have entered the race for Malouda in the event that they can’t sign Arjen Robben from Chelsea, the club that’s also trying to get Malouda. What a confusing circle. Also, PSG have stated that they don’t want Sylvain Armand to leave because it’s detrimental to their continuing progress. Unfortunately, the problem is that Armand wants to come to Lyon, and he is Perrin’s first choice (because he’s French). If Armand doesn’t work out, Lyon are seriously considering either Fabio Grosso of Inter Milan or Gabriel Heinze of Manchester United. Lyon are also considering Johan Elmander to fill in their two vacant striker roles while Remy Riou has gone on loan to Lorient for another year. Assistant coach Remi Garde is scouting Renato Augusto and Willian at the Under-20 World Cup in Canada.
Category: 
Tags: Abdul Kader Keita, Alou Diarra, Chelsea, Cris, Entrainement, Fabio Grosso, Florent Malouda, Gabriel Heinze, Gregory Coupet, Inter Milan, Juninho, Lorient, Lyon, Manchester United, Mathieu Bodmer, Milan Baros, Nadir Belhadj, Pictures, PSG, Remy Riou, Renato Augusto, Romain Beynie, Sandy Paillot, Sylvain Armand, Sylvain Wiltord, Team News and Rumors, Tignes, WillianSubscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
I remeber last year where Carew was standing on that bridge at Tignes giving an interview saying he was ready to score by the boatload because he felt comfortable at Lyon finally… Anyways, Paillot and Beynie good luck, along with Remy, Hartock and Bettiol. I assume Vercoutre has resigned after Auluas told him he is still wanted at the club? otherwise Hartock better be ready for action. Malouda to Real would be better, we would get more money, while I dont like any of those LB proposed. I just dont think Grosso or Heinze will come to France and I dont rate Armand at all. Muller can play LB, and Berthod and Belhadj should get a shot. Nice to see everyone back together though, they all look happy to be there
Posted from
United States
-
Rumour has it that both Bremen and Hamburg have lined up to sign Milan Baros.
http://lequipe.fr/Football/breves2007/20070703_175214Dev.html
Although I heard a lot of people say they should rather stay away from him, since he never managed to repeat his Euro 2004 form?
Posted from
Germany -
Corey: An even worse LB candidate is Silvestre. Aulas also said Evra, but we all know that’s never going to happen. I suppose out of all of the possibilities, Armand is the best.
Jan: Part of me wants to give Baros more time, as I have hope he can be the striker he was three years ago. But part of me wants to cut Lyon’s losses and move on. Baros won’t be a replacement for Klose though.
Posted from
United States -
“Part of me wants to give Baros more time, as I have hope he can be the striker he was three years ago.”
Then why aren’t you willing to give Rothen a try?
Posted from
United States -
Baros is younger and less injury prone, and he’s already a Lyon player. I would never want Baros otherwise, and should Baros leave, I wouldn’t shed too many tears either.
Besides, the Rothen rumors have died down (for which I am grateful), and if Lyon will get any player from PSG, it would probably be Armand.
Posted from
United States -
Muller can play LB??? so can i! (in fact i lifted a trophy doing so a couple of weeks ago…) but i can’t play LB at OL because i’m not fast enough… and neither is pat. “a fine sense of positioning” doesn’t run down passes at the corner flag!
Posted from
France -
this is true guig, but its in an emergency setting, where Berthod and Belhadj and whoever else may be brought in doesnt work or is injured. i am not suggesting that as a full time spot, though Muller has moved up on the depth chart and will be the first defender of the bench this year with Cacapa gone.
Posted from
United States -
Whoever else may be brought in will surely be better than a makeshift left back.
The idea of having Muller play on the left is simply a joke, especially considering his age and lack of pace.
Posted from
United States -
Clearly you did not read my post correctly Allez, I said in an emergency situation Muller can play left back. This means the two (possibly three) left backs we have are unable to perform/play. And no one said he has to run up and down the touchline, he certainly is not an offensive player, but him sitting back may be helpful to Ben Arfa. I would suggest playing him only against teams that dont attack with width and speed on the flanks, like Bordouex. He is by no means a permanent solution, but i say give berthod and belhadj a shot, everyone else seems so ready to give baros and fabio santos another shot.
Posted from
United States -
I’m not too worried about covering LB as I am about CB since right now, we only have Muller should either Cris or Squillaci be unable to play. Abidal was able to, but I don’t think Grosso can.
Oh wait, Paillot has been promoted to the first team. He should do a decent job as a fourth choice LB.
Posted from
United States -
4th choice CB you mean. I am not concerned about the LB spot either, except the CL we may find berthod and belhadj are a little out of their depth against the bigger clubs. but i dont like Grosso, he had a terrible year at Inter and was never really a great player before then. Auluas wants to sign players equal to or better then those that leave, and i think this is a case where that is not true. to be honest, we have never gotten that, tiago, toulalan and alou diarra were not better then essien and mama diarra, they were simply adequate replacements if not different types of players. I have no doubt if essien and djala stayed then we would be much closer to the CL.
Posted from
United States -
Switching Reveillere to left makes a whole lot more sense than what you’ve suggested, Corey. Even if the left backs we have do underperform, playing Muller in that position isn’t such a good alternative considering his lack of pace. He’ll get run over throughout the entire game.
As for injury crisis, I’ve seen Kallstrom drop to the LB position a couple times this past season so I guess if everybody, EVERYBODY gets knocked out, he’ll be the one taking over the spot but not Muller.
Posted from
United States -
Playing Kallstrom at LB is more of a hazard (read, retarded) move then playing Muller there. Clearly you dont understand what i have been saying, Muller will not attack. This means the furthest up the field he gets is the half way line. He cant get burned if he sits back the whole time, and Toto Squillaci can always cover him if he does get beat slightly which means Muller runs into the middle, a position swap if you will. If Muller is so slow and old, how can he play at CB, seeing as how our defensive line was often very high up the pitch which facilitated ball possesion in the opponents half. If he was so slow, even at CB he would be getting burned by Ismeal Bangoura or Jimmy Briand if a long ball was hit, but i dont recall that ever happening.
Posted from
United States -
Of course I read your post and understood what you were saying. Girl, you don’t understand. You just can’t play fullback without having pace because eventually you’re gonna have to run up and down the touchline and support the attack even against the most defensive minded or weakest team in the whole world. That’s THE WAY IT WORKS.
Well the fact is Grosso, Belhadj, Berthod, and even Reveillere are far better left backs than Muller and they will always perform/understand the game better than him regardless of the opposition. It’s just pointless to have a guy so slow as hell play on the wing, or continue on with this nonsensical discussion.
And you gotta learn some manners and decency.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
