Transfers that make NO sense

By: Inara | April 23rd, 2008

There are days when I wake up in the morning, read the news, and say WTF.

Today was such a morning.

Can someone please explain to me why Lyon are offering to extend Gregory Coupet’s contract? It’s already until 2010, and Aulas wants to make it longer? He’s 35 now, and while he still has a few years left at the high level, it just doesn’t make any sense…Greg, if you’re reading this, go to Milan, Lazio, Tottenham, Arsenal, and all those other clubs interested in your €3m release clause. But just leave so that Lyon can sign someone else.

And the other thing. Why is Lyon so eager to sign Miralem Pjanic? I know, I know, he’s the second coming of Zidane (well, one of many), and he has the best clubs in the world interested in him (Barca, Real, Inter, Arsenal, etc). But dude. Jean-mimi. Get real. He’s great, but we have TOO MANY MIDFIELDERS. Next year, we’ll have Mathieu Bodmer, Juninho, Ederson, and Jeremy Toulalan. Kim Kallstrom may also stay, and Lyon have already contacted Barca about keeping Marc Crosas while Fabio Santos looks likely to return from Sao Paulo. We also have Kader Keita, Hatem Ben Arfa, and Sidney Govou who can all play in that attacking midfield role.

EDIT: And how could I forget about academy midfielder Clement Grenier, whom Lyon plan to sign to a professional contract?

Umm, how about we go after players we need? Like a young goalkeeper (hello, Hugo Lloris), a left back (Sébastien Pocognoli?), and a young central defender if Sandy Paillot doesn’t work out (but not Younes Kaboul please).

At least there is some good news. Lyon have also offered contract extensions to Fred and Hatem Ben Arfa.

Category: Player News and Rumors, Transfers

Tags: Contract Extensions, Fred, Gregory Coupet, Hatem Ben Arfa, Hugo Lloris, Lyon, Miralem Pjanic, Player News and Rumors, Sandy Paillot, Sébastien Pocognoli, Transfers, Younes Kaboul

« Grosso-Gate | Home | Perrin: “I sleep just fine, thanks” »

Subscribe   The Offside RSS Feeds

Print

Share

Comments  

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 28 comments.
Read the rest of the comments



• Corey |  April 23rd, 2008 at 3:33 pm

  
  
  

  Ohh I wanted Pocognoli last year, he is a good young player, so much more potential then Grosso.

  Posted from United States

  

• Pride of Lyon |  April 23rd, 2008 at 4:16 pm

  
  
  

  I also think it is time for Coupet to go. And I don’t think he will accept a new contract. Coupet has always wanted to play in an other league.
  I hope we can keep Ben Arfa and Fred. Ben Arfa for reasons I don’t need to explain, but also Fred, because he has been keeping his head down recently, and think Lyon are better off if they don’t change too many players.

  I too hope Lloris will come. Actually I would be happy with the team as it is right now (if you add Lloris). We just need a right wing defender on the bench and we will be good. also Lyon will have to go after a second goalie as replacement. Unless we promote someone from the academy.

  Lloris
  Reveillere, Clerc, Cris, Boumsong, Squillaci, Anderson, Grosso
  Toulalan, Santos, Ederson, Juninho, Bodmer, (Kallstrom)
  Govou, Keita, Ben Arfa, Delgado
  Fred, Benzema

  Qualitatively, we are good… quantitatively, I would like Kallstrom to leave.
  I really do hope Santos comes back. He is maybe our most complete midfielder… he is a great joker.

  Posted from Japan

  

• Ush |  April 24th, 2008 at 4:25 am

  
  
  

  1 transfer that does make sense:
  http://www.goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=670951

  Posted from Ireland

  

• Pierre |  April 24th, 2008 at 5:29 am

  
  
  

  I dont know why we would wanna sign pjanic if we were going to give grenier a pro contract so i seriously dont see the point of that

  Posted from United States

  

• sidney govou |  April 24th, 2008 at 6:58 am

  
  
  

  It’s not good for Lyon to sell Kallstrom. We don’t need Santos. He is good, but Kallstrom is better player than Santos is.

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 24th, 2008 at 7:49 am

  
  
  

  Kallstrom and Santos play two different positions.

  I think in midfield (in a typical 4-3-3), Lyon needs to have 4 CMs and 2 DMs.
  Juni, Bodmer, Ederson and Pjanic could be the CMs and Toulalan and Santos could be the DMs.
  That means Kallstrom and Crosas are out.

  IMO, it makes a ton of sense. Kallstrom will bring 12-15M, Crosas will cost too much (for his worth) and Pjanic won’t cost a whole lot and WILL be a star. I mean, he’s YOUNGER than Grenier or anything Lyon has in their academy, and he’s already star proven (at least in L1).
  When a phenom is available for cheap change, you take him. He’s better than Ederson already (who was an overpayment really).
  On the wings though, Govou, Keita, Delgado, Rémy and Ben Arfa… One too many. Especially if a dumb coach uses Benzema on the wing (Lyon should really play a 4-4-2 to make the most out of their talent).

  Posted from United States

  

• set |  April 24th, 2008 at 7:55 am

  
  
  

  I hope Coupet stays at Lyon and Lloris moves to Bordeaux. hr hr hr

  We’re actually in the same situation in Bordeaux though :). Ramé is old and hard to push away, and we may miss Lloris because of that. Damn old people.

  Posted from France

  

• Thiery |  April 24th, 2008 at 8:23 am

  
  
  

  On the lyon website it says that grenier’s prefferd position is as a right wing but he can also play as a right mid and by the way pjanic is 1 year OLDER than grenier

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  April 24th, 2008 at 10:44 am

  
  
  

  I read that Metz will be asking at least 10m for Pjanic. If Lyon want him, they will have to pay more because they are a French club. And Pjanic will leave Lyon within two years at the most. I don’t know if paying 10m+ for a player is a good idea if we keep him for only 1 or 2 years, given that we will also lose Benzema and Ben Arfa in that timeframe as well.

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  April 24th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

  
  
  

  When you consider that Lyon has Govou, Keita, Remy, Karaboue, Pied, Grenier and Carrat, there is no point in signing a player who is far over hyped. He is not proven by Ligue 1, anyone can have a good 1st season, whether it be a 17 year old or a 32 year old. The second seasons form dicatate if he will be a star player, if he shows significant improvement over time. Considering the revolation that is Loic Remy, the talent of Grenier and the unknown quantity of Pied and Karraboue, a move for Pjanic at 10 million is ridiculous, much like Crosas for more the 5 million is a rip off.

  Posted from United States

  

• Ronald |  April 24th, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  
  
  

  Does anyone else think that Hugo Lloris’ face reminds them that of Rodrigo Taddei ( Or as i like to call him ” The Loongest face in Football ” )

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 25th, 2008 at 12:38 am

  
  
  

  Anyone can have a good 1st season? Yeah?

  Name me a single player that had as good as first season as Pjanic when being under 19.
  Please do.

  I can’t believe people are saying Pjanic is overhyped when pimping guys like Grenier, Rémy and co.
  Rémy has shown good things, but not half of Pjanic.

  Stop with the OL self-centered madness. Pjanic is a phenom. Grenier is suddenly COMPLETELY overhyped because Arsenal are interested?
  As if Arsenal was only interested in future stars!
  Right, Aliadière, Grondin and others have left early to join Arsenal and they didn’t exactly shine.

  Pjanic is a phenom and anything under 15M is a must-buy.
  Especially when you see Ederson, who has half Pjanic’s talent go for that much.

  Posted from United States

  

• Mac |  April 25th, 2008 at 5:05 am

  
  
  

  I would hardly call pjanic a phenom seriously no doubt he has talent but a phenom thats taking it to far and for the price he seriously is over rated i rate we can get yoaan gourcuff for half the price and wouldnt leave us in a couple of years which would be inevertable wif pjanic that he would leave

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  April 25th, 2008 at 9:28 am

  
  
  

  A phenom would be Messi or Ben Arfa, Pjanic is no Messi, and I wouldnt even put him with Ben Arfa. He has done well with Metz, but will he do so well in a team where he is not going to be one of their best players and has some seasoned players to compete with? A first season with a low level team is common place, look at hoe Drogba and Malouda did with Guingamp in their first Ligue 1 season. They both moved to bigger clubs and did well, likewise Essien with Bastia. But there are plenty of players who have done well in their first season and then have fallen away, Camel Meriem comes to mind, while Mourad Meghni or our own Jeremy Berthod are a few other examples. When Lyon is pushing for European glory, buying a 18 year old winger as a reinforcement does not make much sense, nor does it make sense to buy him even though he is under 15 million when in two or three years he will be sold on no matter how well he does with Lyon.

  Posted from United States

  

• Corey |  April 25th, 2008 at 9:29 am

  
  
  

  And I beleive Grenier is over rated, I think for the next two years Remy and Pied are a better bet then Grenier, who should be content with the CFA’s until he is about 20.

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 25th, 2008 at 10:55 am

  
  
  

  Pjanic has had more impact in one year than Gourcuff over all his years in France.
  When Pjanic was tearing it up L1, Ben Arfa was still a huge question mark. The fact you rate Hatem higher says a lot about your bias.

  I’m still waiting for a single name of a guy that was as impressive as Pjanic under the age of 19.
  I think I can wait a long time. Drogba, Malouda, Meriem and co never shined at that age. They had the time to mature a lot before shining. Between 18 and 22 are the years where a player progresses the most. Imagine what Pjanic could achieve in 4 years if he steadily progresses? He’s going to be a monster.

  Rooney, Ronaldo (that is debatable) and Messi are the only guys that come to mind recently that were that good that young.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  April 25th, 2008 at 11:08 am

  
  
  

  I agree, I think Pjanic is the real deal. But I don’t think Lyon is the right place for him. Talent like that needs to play week in and week out, and Lyon aren’t known for trusting talented youngsters anymore. As much as I’d love to have him, Lyon might have missed the boat on signing him now that they have brought on Ederson.

  Even if Kallstrom and Crosas go, that still leaves Bodmer, Juninho, and Ederson whom Pjanic would fight a place for. True, Juninho is declining, but I don’t think he’ll be benched right away.

  Also, it isn’t a given that Lyon will sign Grenier to a pro contract. Aulas himself said that he would “see.” So if Lyon choose not to sign Grenier (who would be free), then perhaps Pjanic would be a realistic target.

  BUT I also don’t think Pjanic would sign for Lyon anyway, so I suppose the point is moot. He has bigger clubs interested in him, and Lyon are awfully crowded for a French club as it is. Pjanic did say that he was also interested in Marseille, Bordeaux, and PSG. The first two will probably be in the CL, and if Nasri leaves, OM might be a great destination. Bordeaux isn’t bad either. But I wouldn’t recommend PSG to anyone at this point.

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 25th, 2008 at 11:19 am

  
  
  

  Nasri won’t leave this year. He’ll leave in 14 months.

  If Lyon has a real coach (not Houllier, Le Guen or Perrin), which means someone who relies on the depth and not start the same 11 every week, then Lyon needs 4 CMs and all will see time. Pjanic, Bodmer, Juni and Ederson make a good 4.

  I think Lyon is a really realistic destination for Pjanic and the fact he played incredibly well in Coupe de France probably means also that he’s motivated to come there.

  BTW, I was not as high on Pjanic as some other media until the last few months where he’s been breath-taking.

  And I was a bit too strong on Ben Arfa, I still rate Ben Arfa’s potential as higher (higher than anyone in L1 in fact). It’s just that at this point, he’s still a question mark because he doesn’t have a full L1 year under his belt (Perrin mistake, we’ll all agree).

  Posted from United States

  

• Alex |  April 25th, 2008 at 11:34 am

  
  
  

  I’m pretty sure Pjanic is a forward, and if the Metz/Lyon cup match, which I attended was any indication he is really good. If Gueye could finish he would have had a couple of passes decisives. And he’s Bosnian!

  Posted from France

  

• Evilo |  April 25th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

  
  
  

  He’s an attacking midfielder, a bit similar to Ribéry.

  Posted from United States

  

• Inara |  April 25th, 2008 at 12:49 pm

  
  
  

  Apparently Pjanic has received a formal offer from Barca.

  I guess it depends on who will be coaching Lyon next year. Ben Arfa too will probably wait to see the management situation before deciding whether he’ll extend or not. Perrin doesn’t seem to have the confidence of Aulas, though I suppose we’ll find out more after the cup final (if Lyon even make it that far…).

  Posted from United States

  

• sidney govou |  April 27th, 2008 at 3:17 am

  
  
  

  Hey Evilo, stop talking about Pjanic like he is the only player that must go to Lyon. We don’t need Pjanic. We have Juni, Bodmer, Toulalan, Kalllstrom, Crossas, and Ederson, who will come this summer. If Crossas go back to Barca we still have 5 players for middle so we DON’T NEED PJANIC. NO NO NO NO NO NOOOOOOOO!!!!

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 27th, 2008 at 4:57 am

  
  
  

  Hey I don’t care. If Lyon is stupid enough not to sign him, I’m completely fine with it. I’m only wishing he stays in France (and far from OM please).

  Posted from United States

  

• Mac |  April 27th, 2008 at 5:16 am

  
  
  

  Like for real pjanic is not that great dam that guy has not made such a big impact seriously he has only scored 2 goals this season seriously for such an awsome attacking player thats real bad

  Posted from United States

  

• Evilo |  April 27th, 2008 at 6:37 am

  
  
  

  Seriously, you should seriously try to seriously watch some serious games like for real.

  Posted from United States

  

Comments are closed