Super Short Review
By: Inara | October 22nd, 2008I know I normally do a post match write up after CL matches, but I’m running short of time and won’t be able to do the usual photo and video fest. Plus most of what needed to be said has already been posted in the comments of this thread. So here are some additional thoughts:
1. Lyon are taking the concept of “the best defense is a good offense” a little too far. Scoring goals is great and all, but keeping them out is equally if not more so important.
2. Lyon got three points today because Steaua were naive. But they would have been humiliated if it had been a more experienced team like Chelsea or Inter. Right now, Bayern lead the group with seven points, OL with five, Fiorentina with two, and Steaua with one. But there are three games left, so anything can still happen. Lyon need to get as many points as they can if they want to progress. But they won’t if they keep playing like a girls U10 team.
3. Any smart team playing against Lyon is going to do their utmost to win corners and fouls because nearly every single goal Lyon have conceded this season (I’ll dig up actual numbers later, but just know that I’m not exaggerating) have come from some sort of set piece or a free header from an unmarked cross.
4. Hugo Lloris had a bad game today. But then I realized that this is his third CL game ever in his life. And he’s all of 21. All in all, I’m very happy with his progress, which he’s making by the day.
5. We’ve known that Lyon have had defensive problems for quite some time. I’m troubled that Puel is no closer to solving them. And it’s not just our ex-Chuckle Brother. The problem is deeper than that. Experienced players like Cris and Jean-Alain Boumsong were having meltdowns of epic proportions, and even Anthony Reveillere and Fabio Grosso were guilty of several lapses in concentration. The defense is so messed up that I don’t know who to blame, so it’s fair to say that they are all responsible. Maybe the defenders don’t trust each other, and that’s why they’re hesitating during crucial moments in the game and ultimately conceding stupid goals. But if that’s the case, Puel should send them camping one weekend so they can bond over canned beans and marshmallows.
6. I’m still a Fred doubter. Sorry. One game doesn’t erase the past (a rather extensive one at that).
7. Lyon’s spirit is heartening, and their ability to keep fighting is the mark of a big team. But they shouldn’t be getting into the position of always having to come from behind – which they’ve been doing on a fairly regular basis.
8. Where has Miralem Pjanic gone?
9. Ederson is getting better in his role as a winger. I thought he had a solid match today (his first ever start in the CL) and was always creating danger. Toulalan and Makoun were also terrific, each racking up one assist.
10. Hai Karim Benzema. You god you.
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Tags: Anthony Reveillere, Champions League, Cris, Ederson, Fabio Grosso, Fred, Hugo Lloris, Jean I, Jean II Makoun, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jeremy Toulalan, Karim Benzema, Lyon, Miralem Pjanic, Steaua, Team News and RumorsSubscribe
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Comments
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I don’t really agree about Hugo Lloris.
Except maybe on the 2nd goal (but you have to notice that Hugo thought the roumanian striker would try a header, but he finally didn’t touched the ball)
For the two other goals, I think Lloris couldn’t do anything.
Beside this, he made 2 goods stop, and that’s it. Because there was NO danger on Lyon’s goal.
He had pretty nothing to do, so we cannot say he had a bad game.
I agree he seemed a little bit scared somtimes, but who wouldn’t with our defense !?Posted from
United States
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Agree about Lloris, in the 2nd goal the striker who stood right next to him confused him by missing the ball, and other than that he couldn’t have done anything about the other 2 goals.
as for Fred, i really think he proved anything, scored 2 goals that you expect any striker at any level to score, and was barely noticeable other than that.
Benzema’s 2nd goal was simply brilliant, no idea if it was pure luck or amazing technique, but its pretty amazing what he did there.
both Makoun and Toul(wow, what an assist) were solid as usual, and the defensive line sucked as usual.
Lyon made they’re life so much easier, another win 2 weeks from now and were almost surely qualify, hopefully by the knock-out stage Cris will start looking like his old self and Mensah will be able to play 90 minutes without hurting himself.
oh, and i hate Boumsong.Posted from
Israel -
right about lloris, he was prepared for another touch of the ball and still nearly reacted in time. a couple of other nice saves too. his weakness was the kicking game, he sent 10 straight clearances right at striped shirts.
fred’s goals easy? hardly. the first one was the PERFECT control-arm-shoot of a cold-blooded big league killer. the second seemed easy at first, but after zapata made that nice block it took a level head to do what he did.
the first 10 minutes were disastrous ALL AROUND, defense doesn’t start in your own box. and it’s true puel would do well to work a lot on “les phases arrêtées” but over 90′ and over the whole field cris was very good and boumsong excellent.
benzema’s 2nd was no luck. it was the kind of genius few have ever been blessed with.
on the other tread inara wondered about keita’s “second” goal… i suppose you can’t tell on a sopcast with romanian commentary, but it was quite simply wide! even on real TV i swore it was in but it was on the wrong side of the netting.
Posted from
France -
to continue on subject from the other thread:
ghislain; i used to be very high on kompany but the last few times i’ve seen him he’s been solid gold cat doodoo.
corpuscle, i thought zapata was a lucky devil too, but my son (who was an all-star U-13 keeper) just smiled at that supposition.
lefutur, benzema didn’t go to the left wing when fred came in (although he did, and always does, track back to get balls… with his “conduite de balle” who wouldn’t?) it was more like a hybrid between 4-4-2 with only three real MF’s and a 4-3-3 with no left winger. that’s why once the work was done benzema came off for mounier, to get things un-cockeyed.
to repeat what i’ve said about the toulalan-fred goal, sure toulalan did great work. with ONE idea in mind, the right one: get the ball to fred! the rhythm of fred’s trap-cock-aim-shoot is textbook, almost robotic. rapid but not hurried. true art.
pean8ts, who cares if it’s an official assist from mounier as long as it’s great work? in france i don’t think such a statistic even exists.
inara, there were 600 lyonnais in bucharest, and since the TV crew was romanian the qui ne saute pas” the “benzema” or the “juninho! lalalalala!” were just due to mike placement… i’m saying this to point out that maybe not THAT many people whistled fred when he came out saturday! i know i didn’t and no one around me did. he’d actually had a pretty good match, but there are cretins everywhere!
lastly, puel coached lacatus into the ground. with his help OL played, to quote angel marcos, like a team that knows the outcome from the beginning… or at least from the 33rd minute!
Posted from
France -
erratum: NOT just due to mike placement
Posted from
France -
Lyon has to work so hard in the defending set pieces, they suck big time, every goal in CL has been for set pieces, i don’t like lloris at all, the second goal i was so angry for his error, i like Vercoutre and well even more Coupet but he is gone, Benzema what can i say he is a crack, Fred had a strike of luck, and the midfielders toulalan and makoun were great, juninho didn’t do anything and i am so pissed off because he is my favorite player, well i think lyon will do a great job in the upcoming matches
Posted from
Mexico -
You don’t mention anything about Keita…does he get your seal of approval now?
Posted from
United States -
guignol: when was the last time you saw Kompany play? I have watched him for Man City all season and thought he has been terrific. Whether in midfield or defense. Dont count his Belgian NT form against him, that team is a giant mess defensively.
Posted from
United States -
ian did’nt juninho pick out benz with a free kick for one of his goals?
Posted from
Canada -
defending in france is at a all time low for clubs and country. That first 10 min made me sick. Then we tie it and give back another? three to steua in the first half?
Posted from
Canada -
Lloris was only at fault on the second goal, the other two he couldn’t do anything about. But my concern was more the way he was freaking out every time there was a corner or a high ball. I don’t blame him because Lyon were horrible defensively, and Lloris himself admitted post match that the game was a nightmare for him, but a goalkeeper has to remain calm, because a frightened one scares the defenders even more, thus aggravating the situation. But like I said, he’s young and that will come in time. I don’t blame him for anything.
Guignol, thanks for clearing it up about the cheering. I was wondering why Benzema’s name would be chanted so loudly in Romania. That’s very good mike placement because that was some loud cheering.
Lefutur, about Keita – you’re right, I forget to mention him, but what I said for Fred goes for him as well, except I think Keita is more likely to succeed because he has a better working ethic.
Posted from
United States -
fabmab, making comments about bombs is not acceptable, as I told you before. Do it once again and I will ban you.
Posted from
United States -
Kompany has been excellent in a few roles with Man City. He was man of the match in his debut, he would have been an excellent buy. Anybody been watching Collocini at Newcastle? He’s been immense!! We should have bought him.
Posted from
Ireland -
Lyon almost signed Kompany three years ago, but the club was too confident of his signature, which eventually turned him off.
Posted from
United States -
Pauleta has accused Aulas of trying to takeover PSG because Lyon is too small for him.
PSG would be lucky if that was even 10% true.
Posted from
United States -
Defending needs to be sorted out, attack looks good though. its nice to see keita on the scoresheet with a brilliant goal. As for our CB’S boumsong should be dumped into the reserves, cris and mensah need time to blend together. hope our defence gets sorted out soon otherwise we can forget the quarter finals or even the Last 16 knockout stage. If we played chelsea,liverpool, barcelon or man utd today we would have got absolutely battered.
Posted from
United Kingdom -
Ian: Fred has strike of luck ?? What we can say about Benz second goal. That was big strike of luck. Fred finaly had a good game. Keita also prove that he is in good form. His goal was god damn good.
Posted from
United States -
I think Keita will prove to be a real asset for the rest of the season. His passing is good, his speed is great, he always puts a few dangerous crosses in every game, and yes, he can score spectacular goals. Now that he is fully fit and confident..look out.
Posted from
United States -
Inara, both dror and yourself are both negative about the players, dror going so far as saying that he hates b’song, which is inappropriate. Someone should defend the players, and as far as anyone could be concerned, I could be one of the players or of some kin to them. Fair is fair. Ban me if you like I care not. I, and my ‘kin’ can take our attentions, endorsements, support and opinions elsewhere, where they will be appreciated.
Posted from
United States -
fabmab, defending players is okay, as is criticizing others for their viewpoints. I said earlier that point you were trying to make was welcomed. But there is no need to mention that some of us should be bombed.
Posted from
United States -
lefutur: I hope so! I really believe he could be a great player, but he was off track last year. His pricetag put a huge burden on his shoulders last season, so hopefully he’s over that. Puel seems to have every confidence in him, which is important, because that in turn makes the player confident.
Posted from
United States -
It’s now official: Lloris, who apparently was already sick when playing Steaua, is not in the group. He will have the opportunity to reflect on how to be more of a leader vis à vis his back line; and we will have the opportunity to see Vercoutre again, for the first time since a great game in Nancy back in December last year.
I have to say I have a sympathy for the guy. Not that I was totally reassured when he was playing, but he did have some good games during Coupet’s injury, and he is so passionate on the bench when the team plays that he’s a great asset from a team spirit standpoint.Posted from
United States
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