Lyon Are Back in Business
By: Inara | November 3rd, 2007Lyon snatched their fifth straight league win (now undefeated in 10 league matches) to retain a four point lead on second placed Nancy. Juninho scored the third header of his entire career to open the scoring five minutes from half time, and Sidney Govou added another in the last five minutes of the game.
I’ll have a Pernambucano with that.
The goals: Lyon (Juninho 40, Govou 89). Assists: Benzema, Juninho.
Tactics:
Vercoutre
Clerc - Squillaci - Anderson - Grosso
Juninho - Bodmer - Kallstrom
Keita - Fred - Benzema
I wasn’t too pleased with this lineup for three reasons. First of all, I don’t think Francois Clerc and Fabio Grosso should play together. They are both too offensive, and it’s suicide to leave both flanks unguarded. Secondly, if Perrin is going to play Karim Benzema, then he should play him in position - which is in the center. Benzema is not a winger and has a harder time being efficient. Thirdly, Mathieu Bodmer is not meant to be the lone defensive midfielder. At Lille he played next to Jean II Makoun (whatta man!), but today he played with Kim Kallstrom and Juninho, who are hardly defensive stalwarts.
Player Performance:
Dear readers, I’ll have to ask you guys to fill in for me. I watched parts of the first half and missed the entire second half, so I can’t say much about how the players performed. I did read that Benzema didn’t look very comfortable on the wing, though he still managed a supersweet assist to Juninho. Also, Remy Vercoutre looked a bit shaky and had some near misses anytime Valenciennes’s Philip Sebo came close.
Can Fred get his starting spot back?
How did Fred do? Kader Keita? Has Kallstrom confirmed his distracted way of playing these past few weeks, or did he look alive? And is Govou on a hot streak or what? I don’t ever remember him playing this well. If Keita’s arrival is what it took for Govou to wake the hell up, I consider that to be 18 million euros well spent. These are my questions for you guys.
Match Analysis:
It’s interesting that Lyon’s opponents tend to attack down the right more than the left. I would say that right now, that’s Lyon’s biggest weakness. It also doesn’t help that Anderson is the left central defender either, and coupled with Fabio Grosso’s inability to track back, it’s like there is a big arrow sign for opposing players. Raise your hand if you miss Cris.
Anyway, Lyon are on a good streak right now, haven’t lost any games since August 16th (except for the first two CL matches), and have been consistently scoring two to three goals per match. Granted, Stuttgart are starting to pull themselves together in Germany, but I don’t think they’ll be ready for next Wednesday. The good thing is that Lyon will have three days to get ready. Sebastien Squillaci, Karim Benzema, and Fabio Grosso were subbed today, conceivably to give the first two rest.
He’s been in office for over 100 days. Yay or nay?
Also, are you guys happy with Perrin’s performances as coach since the Rangers game? Or do you think he’s still out of his depth?
Sorry for keeping this short, but until I watch the entire match, I can’t say much more. Rest assured, once I do (if I can get my hands on a torrent), I’ll have more to add.
Match Highlights:
Match Photos:
Category: 
Tags: Juninho, Karim Benzema, Ligue 1, Lyon, Match Results, Sidney Govou, Team News and Rumors, Valenciennes, VideoSubscribe
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Comments
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USH : Hate to tell ya, but Kader Keita is a WINGER.
Aimar is fine and dandy (though he does dribble), but he’s not a winger.
Tell me who the best wingers are. Vicente? Ronaldo?Joaquin? Robben?You see the common points? Dribbling, provocation, shooting, passing, speed. These are the main qualities of today’s prime wingers.
As for the “flick”, it’s a well known dribble, hardly done only by Ronaldinho. Heck, Menez does it many times, even Fred did it last year (or was it two years ago) in a CL game.
But yeah I’m sure Nike only showcases Ronnie doing it.
Posted from
United States
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Oh and for those that think football is NOT limited to Lyon, well these people know fully well how much Keita has proven. He’s much more than a pricetag. He’s a proven commodity.
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Evilo, I just wanted to show what was Keita on the pitch in this match. And If I’ve found OL Valenciennes, I’d have done the same.
I’m ok about your definition of a winger, but… You are not the only one who plays (or have played) football in your life, I did.
And I remember one of the first thing you learn is not to lose the ball when you have 5 or 6 teamlates with you to attack. Or you can be counter-attacked. And I’m affraid Keita lose the ball too many times.
I’ve been honnest and objective in my cut of Caen / OL. You cannot say I have not been.And about “truth”, I just wanted to say that it’s so easy to show the “good sides” of a player. That’s a fake truth
I watch every OL games, at Gerland or on tv when it’s too far for me, and many spanish, italian and english games. I know a little what I see about Keita, and I can compare !Posted from
France -
just watching what keita did against MU last season arms you with a lot of patience and hope that we’ll see some of that in an OL uniform. there’s GOT to be more where that came from, and with AK’s work ethic and attitude it will resurface sooner or later.
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France -
JO : Actually, I also work for a football school, so yes I do know what kids are taught.
And they learn that when you’re an offensive player, you have to take chances as long as it doesn’t put the team in trouble defensively. Keita’s success rate is lower than his habit right now because he has low confidence (it was mugh bigger with Lille). But he still manages to create danger with Lyon, actually more than Govou (I don’t know why everyone raves about him after one good game, usually he’s only good defensively, which is not enough for a winger).Posted from
United States -
Evilo: Plenty of good wingers, in fact, good footballers period know when to pass the ball. I can see you have a different fundamental opinion as your list of worlds best wingers, for me, ain’t near the worlds best. Cristiano Ronaldo is ineffective in any big game, and like Keita, often gives the ball away way too eaily. Again, off the point. He doesn’t beat his man every time, which is clear to see.
As for that trick, I never said Ronaldinho is the only one who can do it, haha, but he is well known for it.
Posted from
Ireland -
USH : Please list the best wingers in the game.
Ribery could have been on my list BTW.Posted from
United States -
Ronaldinho, Messi, Quaresma, Robinho, Ribery, Pires, Giggs(Not so much anymore, but in his day). That would be a few of the best.
Posted from
Ireland -
Ronnie, Robinho and Messi are not winger, but play as attacking midfielders wide. See the difference?
Anyway, all of these players are notorious ballhogs that lose it many times a game.
Quaresma, while good and promising is only half Robben, Ronaldo (of last year) or Vicente. You tell me about losing balls and then talk to me about Quaresma, rather ironic.
Pires? Wow, come on. He’s retired already (at least in the head).
Quaresma, Giggs and Ribery are your only wingers, but again, Vicente is the best pure winger in the game followed by players like Robben, Joaquin, Ribery, etc…Robben was widely regarded as the best winger two years ago before his injuries.
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An attacking midfielder that plays wide is a winger? He attacks the wings? Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi play the same position, see the difference?
Pires is retired? Are you kidding me? O right, guess that’s why when he came back from his pre season injury he scored in nearly every remaining game of Villareals season and single handedly dragged them to a uefa cup spot. Oh, and look now, he has them 3rd in la liga this season. Yeah, he’s washed up indeed.
C.Ronaldo would be Queresma with a bad touch and epilepsy in his legs. Vicente is never world class and Joaquin is slow, only a fuss made over him cause Chelsea were rumored to be interested at one point. robben is okay, very injury prone and never one of the best. Even Drenthe has far more potential.Posted from
Ireland -
Oh, and Queresma rarely gives the ball away cheaply and exhibits much more control than keita.
Posted from
Ireland -
While I agree that Keita has been disappointing for us this year, I don’t think it’s fair to write him off. He is a talent and was amazing at Lille. He hasn’t acclimated at Lyon, but I do think that when he does, he’ll be just as good as those hot shot wingers in other leagues.
Remember, it took Juni and Sonny a few months to settle. Grosso is still in transition too. And Keita also has to deal with the super forms of Ben Arfa and Govou, so he has even less time to get back on track.
I honestly think Keita is a very talented player.
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USH : Nope, you didn’t get it.
Messi and Ronnie rarely cross. They like to go back to center 80% of the time. That’s not a winger.
Vicente is a real winger. Same with Robben. They cross much more than they go back to center.Pires IS washed up. I don’t know if you’ve watched Villareal but to say HE HAS THEM IN 3rd place is quite a big joke.
Actually he was already in pre-retirement in his last months in Arsenal.Ronaldo is a bad Quaresma? lol!!! I’m a Ronaldo hater, but he was EPL player of the year for a reason last season. He was amazing last year, get your facts straight.
Vicente is never world class????
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vicente_Rodr%C3%ADguez
“A very quick left winger well known for having an exceptional technique and a definite eye for goal, Vicente has grown to become one of the most illustrious footballers in the history of Valencia CF alongside the club’s legends Mario Kempes and Roberto Fernández. Many still consider him as the best winger in La Liga, despite the fact that a series of ankle and muscle injuries has sidelined his career since 2005.”
Couldn’t be more dead on. When healthy, he’s the best winger in the game.
Joaquin is a prime winger in the game. A slow player delivering that many assists and goals? Right.Last but really not least, you say Robben was never one of the best?
Former Dutch international Ruud Gullit said of him: “Robben is the best winger in the world”
Same for Calderon, Real’s president.Hmm, I wonder what fantasy football you’re looking at.
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United States -
People who bash Keita because he is not as good as his price was high were wrong. This price tag was weird. It probably included secret agreements (past or future) between Lyon and Lille. Keita is someone who appears humble. The fact that some want to compare Keita with Messi, Ronaldo or Cesc Fabregas, in order to diminish him appears to me unfair,but in a certain way it shows they don’t underestimate him as low as they look to say. Why not compare Clerc with Zidane or roberto Carlos? Jo, it was sympathical to see a video made by you, but may be you were not so fair than you said. Most of the sequebce he lost the ball were repeated made us think he lost a lot of balls. In fact he had few balls. Of course, in his game there is lot of risk and he loose lot of balls, but he has some efficient shine. Even if he doesn’t play so good he scored a goal. Lucky? May be, but i think his uncontronlable style make the pressure in the mind of dedfenders too…
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United States -
Evilo: Nope, I do get it.
Ronaldinho and Messi rarely cross. False statement. C.Ronaldo would cross less and you listed him as a winger so tripping yourself up. Robben often tries to cut inside. You honestly need to learn some things about football mate, specially if you were at a school:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midfielder#Winger
Today, some of the best examples are Cristiano Ronaldo, Mancini, Vicente, Ricardo Quaresma, >>RobinhoPosted from
United States -
Since your so fond of wikipedia dear boy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pir%C3%A8s
Pirès made his first start for Villareal on 22 April 2007. He opened the scoring for his team to defeat league leaders Barcelona 2-0, avenging his premature departure against Barcelona in the Champions League Final the previous May. On May 13, 2007, in a thumping 4-1 win at Osasuna, the former France midfielder gave the visitors the perfect start with a seventh-minute opener as Villarreal continued their late-season push for a European spot.With the ongoing saga between Juan Román Riquelme and the board of Villareal, Pirès’ leadership qualities have helped Villareal to win 6 of their opening 8 games. Against Barcelona at El Madrigal, Pirès technique earned the Yellow Submarine two penalties which were duly converted by captain Marcos Senna.
I’m not sure what football you watch, but you shoulda went to specsavers
Posted from
United States -
C.Ronaldo scored goals against very poor opposition, what’s so great about that? Queresma has played for better teams and is a better overall player clearly.
Anyways, this is getting ever so slightly off topic. To everyone else, I haven’t wrote off Keita. I think if he works on his passing and control he could be a very good and industrious winger, which I hope happens as a dedicated lyon fan
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USH : Maybe you shouldn’t try to give lessons when you think Robben isn’t among the best wingers or that Vicente was never world class…
From your own Pires wiki article :
“One of the main reasons Pirès gave for leaving Arsenal was that he felt he was no longer a first choice under Arsene Wenger. Pirès was quoted saying “But I have to say I have had some disappointments this season. For instance I was on the bench very often.” Furthermore Pirès says that Wenger’s decision to withdraw him in the UEFA Champions League Final showed he had slipped in the eyes of his French boss.”
OOOOPs.Ronnie and Messi cross much less than Ronaldo. And I’d easily take half of them instead of the portugese, but that’s not the point.
And Quaresma, (who didn’t do much with Barca) plays for a better team in Porto than Ronaldo in ManU? Riiiiiight.
And I guess the EPL players can’t see what you see. Or maybe you’re just making some stuff up. Ronaldo was the EPL MVP last year. No way around it.
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Evilo: Figured out what a winger is yet then?
And about that Pires extract, so what? hahaha. It makes no difference what was said before he left, he was an “invinceble” at Arsenal, he’s playing brilliant now at Villareal.
Haha, I’m making nothing up my friend, I see what I see. David Ginola got EPL player of the season one year, that’s how much that’s worth.
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Yes when Ginola was actually playing like it. Grasping at straws I see….
A winger? Like Ronaldinho? Because weirdly your entry didn’t have his name on wingers?
Nah, a winger is exactly what I said, a guy playing on the sideline that crosses, dribbles more often than going back to center and shooting. That doesn’t mean he CAN’T do that (see Joaquin or Robben).
As for Pires, he was not good enough to stay at Arsenal. He’s still playing decent football, but frankly, he’s so far his best level it’s laughable. And my it’d take his mum to rank him among the best wingers.
Oh I get it, you’re Pires’ mum? That would explain A LOT.
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United States -
Haha, yet you said Robinho wasn’t a winger and he was in the list. It’s not the list of every winger ever, just a few, including who you claim isn’t. Wrong much mate?
I what you’re resorting to, but facts are facts. Keita so far is unproven for his money.
Nice assist by Queresma tonight also!
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United States -
THIERRY :
“Jo, it was sympathical to see a video made by you, but may be you were not so fair than you said. Most of the sequebce he lost the ball were repeated made us think he lost a lot of balls.”??????
I’m really sorry to tell you you’re absolutely wrong. And I don’t like the way you seem to insinuate I’m not honnest. I just edited in a CHRONOLOGICAL way, you can believe me.
If you don’t, so compare on your own with the original first half of Caen / OL (you can find it on Soccers.fr).
I edited everytime Keita touched the ball, ONLY ONE TIME a sequence, except for the goal he scored (I didn’t cut the slow motion) and for one illegal tackle on him (I let the slow motion too… Isn’t that fair play ???!!!)If U thought you saw the same sequence repeated… that’s just what I say, and si I do agree with you : Keita lose the ball too often.
BUT I SWARE I didn’t tried to falsify or anything else.
You don’t even know me to think I’m the type of guy who do this kind of things…
I just wanted to show Keita in an OBJECTIVE way. But I’m wondering if it’s still possible to bring objectives critics, sometimes…
Anyone here who reads me day by day, knows that I’m always defending OL players… anyway.I just don’t like lies.
Posted from
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Hey guys, let’s take a deep breath and calm down. All of us here watch Lyon week in and week out, and we’re entitled to different opinions on players. I for one still don’t believe in the power of Sidney Govou, and I think Hatem Ben Arfa is the next coming of Maradona. But I know people think otherwise.
Keita is a talented player or else Lyon wouldn’t have spent so much on him. But it’s also true that he’s been disappointing this year, and he has a tendency to play selfishly and needs to improve his passing skills (thanks Jo for the video - I know you were a 100% honest about it - I’m sure Thierry didn’t mean to call you a liar but just say that edited videos aren’t always reliable).
Comparing other wingers is kind of pointless because again, we all have different opinions. I personally am not a fan of Robben and Quaresma and far prefer Ronadlo to either. But that’s just me.
Anyway, we all love OL here, and at the end of the day, we want what’s best for the team. If Keita plays poorly, he should be benched. It’s as simple as that. I would say the same for any player, even Toulalan or Juninho. Current form counts, and right now, Keita hasn’t justified a starting spot.
But I think that will change soon though. I hope at least!
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No problem to me, I’m not anger
Just wanted to set straight. I can absolutely understand you think Keita is a very talented player, and I promise I hope I’m wrong about him !
lolPosted from
France -
There are two different ways to perform such a flick, one with the outside of the foot to the laces of your boot, the other with the inside of your heel to the instep of your boot. They are different tricks by nature, and the outside of the foot move is much more difficult to perform at full speed. Watching the video of Keita that Jo put together it is easy to see that Keita had a poor match. And he has had them since he joined Lyon. But I would not right him off until he has a full season under his belt.
Posted from
United States
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