Will the Real Team Lyonnais Please Stand Up?

Auxerre vs. Olympique Lyonnais,

Matchday 15, Ligue 1

“If you’re going to do things differently, you might as well be bad at them. “

This message is what team Lyonnais seems to be reading every morning for the past two months. Of course, nobody would have expected them to continue their fine form of the first twelve games throughout the rest of the season. But as far as slumps go, just where does the bottom lie on this one?

At sixth spot in the league as the Winter break appears nigh and OL finds itself in yet another competition for a Champions League spot. Or a Europa League spot, if it comes to that. President Aulas has already indicated the change in mentality over the probable entry into Europa League providing a “realistic” opportunity at winning a European title. As has been discussed at various posts in these blogs, this team is no longer the team of old, and should not be looked at as one without preparation for infinite disappointment.

Depth in the squad is the most glaring hole in the armour that I can see. When coupled with injuries, those coming off the bench shall nearly never be in the form that they left with before injury. And as in the case of our defense, when the formerly injured are too senior to be kept out of the first team, comebacks are deranging.

The Blue Nemeses Approaches.

Auxerre goes into the game knowing that a win today will make it 5 Away losses in a row in the league for Lyon. Yes, they are in no good form themselves, gathering only three points off the last 5 games. But since when has that stopped a middle/bottom rung team from doing well against us? Jeleń might have left the team for a brighter future with Lille, but the core remains the same. And being a team that defeated Lyon 4-0 at this ground just this May does auger rather well for confidence levels of Auxerre.

To add to this, Lyon has kept just 2 clean sheets in the last 26 away Ligue 1 games.

But the time for excuses has past us. Other than Maxime Gonalons and Pied, all important players are available. If another two big players are to be sold in the course of this season, those aspiring to be great with Lyon will have to start looking to glue themselves to the first team. Grenier, Lacazette, Pied and Kolo – are you guys up for it?

One observation from the game against Ajax would be, the number of Lyonnais shots on goal from outside the box! I was pleasantly surprised to see that happen, as once a team gets a reputation of being able to shoot from distance, the opposition defense is more likely to press forward, thus leaving holes in their backline.

Who’s in the Line Ups and who’s out preparing his résumé?

The CDM position is up for grabs this weekend. Maxime Gonalons is doubtful for today’s match, after missing the last two games courtesy a Calf injury. Sidy Koné could replace him in the middle of the pitch for this match.

Jérémy Pied, out since October 8^th, did train fully in midweek, and could be given a few minutes off the bench. John Mensah is unavailable again (calf), almost as if someone were to have sent him a death threat if he were to enter the pitch.

For Auxerre, Edouard Cissé is out with a thigh injury, while Yaya Sanogo is out with a groin problem.

Possible Team Line Ups :

Auxerre : Sorin – Hengbart, Boly, Grichting, Berthod – Dudka, Ndinga – Chafni, Traoré, Sahar – Oliech

Lyon : Lloris – Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho – S. Koné, Källström – Briand, Gourcuff, Bastos – Lisandro

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Category: Team News and Rumors