Olympique Lyonnais - "La fierté de Lyon"

[footballannoyed]

Wow great signing, should do great I remember seeing him at Arsenal and liked him. should really boost the team.

[djg91]

Originally Posted by vasi4

mmm,attacker Guiza,Pandev or Huntelaar,midfielder Diego or Pjanic.

Thanks for the suggestions mate

I'm looking at Toni Kroos, Matias Fernandez and Santi Cazorla for the midfield. Also, Huntelaar, Pandev and Bafetimbi Gomis for attackers. Not sure which of these to sign yet, but any suggestions welcome!

Originally Posted by footballannoyed

Wow great signing, should do great I remember seeing him at Arsenal and liked him. should really boost the team.

Thanks mate

I enjoyed watching him for Arsenal and was gutted when they sent him to Madrid, so I hope he does well for Lyon now haha

[Vasic]

Buy Gomis i forgot him

[djg91]

Originally Posted by vasi4

Buy Gomis i forgot him

Yeah I've bid for him a couple of times now but it keeps saying St-Etienne don't have enough players

They bought one of my younger players last week though so maybe I'll get him this time (If not then I'll look into Pandev I think)

I'm still not sure which midfielder to go for though. I want someone who'll be a good replacement for Juninho with him getting old.

[footballannoyed]

thats so ridiculous, no team would say they dont have enough players as all have youngsters etc and could easily buy some more with the money you pay for the one you buy. fifa had better get its act together next year with all these little things.

looking forward to next update

[djg91]

Originally Posted by footballannoyed

thats so ridiculous, no team would say they dont have enough players as all have youngsters etc and could easily buy some more with the money you pay for the one you buy. fifa had better get its act together next year with all these little things.

looking forward to next update

I know, it really annoys me that I can't allocate my own squad numbers either... (everyone probably now thinks I have OCD lol)

It's also a nightmare when doing the previews to find out which players the opposition are fielding, I always have to go onto the man marking screen in team management

Anyway rant over lol, transfer news and preview of Nancy game to follow....

[djg91]

MATCH PREVIEW
MATCH DAY 2:

With both sides coming off the back of close victories, an intriguing game is expected today, as defending champions Olypmique Lyonnais travel to AS Nancy.

Lineups:

AS Nancy



Lyon


Team News:

Reyes to make debut on left wing, with Kallstrom demoted to bench. Keita remains as a substitute despite speculation of starting spot. Zapata is also on bench and could make debut.

Players To Watch:


BENJAMIN GAVANON

The Nancy player will feature in a holding role just above the front four today and will act as a key man in cutting out the attacks from Benzema and co. With new man Reyes also set to feature, it will be interesting to see if Gavanon lives up to his tireless reputation.

JOSE ANTONIO REYES

Claude Puel's latest signing is set to start his Lyon career
today and will no doubt be a focal point in their attack. With Kim Kallstrom also looking to occupy a spot on the left hand side of Puel's first eleven, Reyes will want to make a good first impression at the Stade Marcel Picot today.

[djg91]

Any Predictions?

[djg91]

Played the Nancy game but I'm knackered now, so I'll be posting the match report and some more transfer news at some point tomorrow

[djg91]

FRED BAGS A BRACE
AS LYON DESTROY NANCY

Olympique Lyonnais breezed past AS Nancy today, as they ran out with an emphatic 4-0 win.

Goals came courtesy of Fred (9, 40), Benzema (50) and Kallstrom (76).

Lyon started the game strongly and went ahead as a result, with Fred opening his account for the season with a low driven effort.

Fred got himself on the scoresheet again just before the toll of half time, cutting inside from out on the right, and dipping his shoulder to send Nancy keeper Bracigliano the wrong way.

HALF TIME: AS Nancy 0 - 2 Lyon

Lyon came out after the break perhaps a little complacent, as they lost the ball from the restart and almost conceded to a powerful strike from Nancy front man, Fortune. However, Lloris was up to the challenge and palmed the ball away, with Cris on hand to clear the lines before Fortune could go for the rebound.

Yet after this slight stumble from the champions, things were all going Lyon's way for the remainder of the match, with Juninho playing in Benzema for his third goal of the season.

Benzema almost doubled his tally for the game in the 59th minute, when his rocket of shot was denied only by the woodwork, much to the relief of Andre Luiz, who had failed to close him down.

Debutant, Jose Antonio Reyes, jogged off in the 68th minute after a good display of dribbling and movement out on the left wing. His replacement, Kim Kallstrom, completed the rout in the 76th minute with a deft finish from the edge of the area.

FINAL SCORE: AS Nancy 0 - 4 Lyon

MAN OF THE MATCH: FRED

[xRonaldinhox10x]

Great win and Benzema was awesome like always

[Muzzy]

Reyes.

I like him, but I don't.

[djg91]

Originally Posted by xRonaldinhox10x

Great win and Benzema was awesome like always

Thanks mate, I reckon Benzema will end up top scorer in Ligue 1 by a mile at this rate

Originally Posted by Muzzy

Reyes.

I like him, but I don't.

lol, what's not to like about him?

[Muzzy]

Originally Posted by djg91

lol, what's not to like about him?

Never settled, and adds to our unsuccesful list of LM's after Robert Pirés.

Although... I liked him here.

[djg91]

Zapata Team Mate
Set For Switch?

Speculation is mounting that 19 year old Udinese forward, Alexis Alejandro Sanchez, is set for a move to the Stade de Gerland after he was spotted at the Saint-Exupéry Airport earlier today.

The Chile international, who can play out on the right hand side or up front, has featured just six times for Udinese since his arrival from Cobreloa in 2006, scoring twice in the process.

Confirmation of a bid is yet to be made by OL, but sources in Italy are already claiming that a £1.6 million offer has been accepted.

Meanwhile, Olympique Lyonnais have announced that current squad members, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Frederic Piquionne have been transfer listed by the club after being deemed surplus to requirements.

[djg91]

Originally Posted by Muzzy

Never settled, and adds to our unsuccesful list of LM's after Robert Pirés.

Although... I liked him here.

I suppose, so but that was more due to homesickness than a lack of talent....

I remember watching that goal on TV lol

[djg91]

MATCH PREVIEW
MATCH DAY 3:

Lyon will no doubt be looking to take all three points once again this week, in their first home fixture of the season against hit and miss side Lille.

Lyon have notched up two straight wins so far this season currently lying in third place, whereas Lille currently have three points from a win and a loss, sitting at 10th in the league table.

Lineups:

Lyon



Lille



Players To Watch:


FRED



MAVUBA

[djg91]

Sorry for the delay in posting the match report, I had to go offline unexpectedly while I was typing it up the other day...

It'll be up soon!

Also what's the crack with people giving poor ratings to threads? I read about it happening to NikeT90Aero's Werder Bremen MM the other day and now my thread has dropped down to a 3*?

[djg91]

LACKLUSTRE LYON
LOSE OUT TO LILLE

Olmpique Lyonnais left fans at the Stade de Gerland disappointed today, as they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Lille OSC.

Manager, Claude Puel openly criticised his players after the game, claiming they were "lazy" and "didn't deserve to win".

However despite the loss, Lyon supporters shouldn't be too downhearted, as the club have announced the signing of duo Matias Fernandez (from Villareal) and Alexis Alejandro Sanchez (from Udinese).

Match Report:

1: Lyon kick off for their first home game of the season.
5: Danger for Lyon early on, as left winger Bastos beats Clerc and cuts the ball back to De Melo from the byline, goalkeeper Lloris just managing to tip the ball round the post for a corner. The corner is a poor one however, as Lloris comes off his line to easily collect the ball.
11: Lyon concede another corner after a Vittek cross is deflected out by Grosso. Cris uses his head to distance the ball from the Lyon goal, but it lands at the feet of Cabaye, who is tripped by midfielder Toulalan. Lille are awarded a free kick right on the edge of the area. Bastos tries to drift the ball over the Lyon wall, but his effort falls straight into the grateful arms of Lloris.
20: Lyon attack now, as Sidney Govou beats his man and squares the ball across to Fred, whose strong left footed effort can only be parried for a corner by Lille keeper Butelle. Benzema outjumps centre back Beria to meet Juninho's incoming corner, but he nods the ball wide of the left upright. Goal kick to Lille.
30: With neither side able to penetrate the other's defence, Rio Mavuba utilises a long ball to supply De Melo, but his pass is overhit and runs out for a goal kick.
39: Lille win yet another corner, with De Melo missing the target this time.
45: Midfielder Balmont goes on mazey run, beating several Lyon defenders before finishing the move with a disappointing effort on goal.

HALF-TIME: Lyon 0 - 0 Lille

46: Both teams re-emerge after the break, with the visitors getting the game back underway.
53: GOAL! The away side have drawn first blood! De Melo breaks clean throught the Lyon back line and slots home a simple finish against Lloris. 1-0 Lille (DE MELO)
65: Fred goes for a long range effort outside the area, but the ball goes sailing over the bar.
77: Recent signing, Jose Antonio Reyes makes use of his dribbling skills to get past Debuchy. His cross into the box is a lacking one though, as Butelle easily collects much to the frustration of fiery striker Karim Benzema.
SUB: Puel makes a last ditch effort to rescue the game by bringing on the pair of Keita and Kallstrom to replace wingers Govou and Reyes.
86: Lille have possession and are knocking the ball around with confidence. Many of the Lyon fans have had enough and are already leaving the stadium.

FULL TIME: Lyon 0 - 1 Lille

MOTM: Yohan Cabaye

[djg91]

PUEL COMPLETES
DOUBLE CHILE SWOOP

Chile Colleagues... Sanchez and Fernandez

Claude Puel is currently basking in the praise of the Lyon supporters, after sealing the signatures of young Chile wonderkids, Matias Fernandez and Alexis Alejandro Sanchez.

Fernandez, who arrives from Villareal for a fee of £5.7 million, has signed a four year deal with the club. The 22 year old attacking midfielder has been capped over 20 times so far in his fledgling international career, netting 5 goals in the process.

Meanwhile his new team mate, Sanchez, has signed a five year deal with OL, after Udinese accepted their £1.6 million offer for the promising forward. Already dubbed as "the next Cristiano Ronaldo", the young man has made 16 appearances for Chile, scoring 3 goals.

However, manager Claude Puel has insisted that he is not done is the transfer market yet, and that he still looking for the finishing touches to his squad.

"I am still after a striker to provide real competition with Fred and Benzema for a first team place," the French man said.

"We have two possible targets in mind, but I am hoping that we can close a deal for the first within the next week."

In other team news, the departures of Boumsong and Piquionne have been confirmed by the club, with both leaving for an undisclosed fee.

[djg91]

MATCH PREVIEW
MATCH DAY 4:




Lineups:

Caen



Lyon


Team News:

Starting eleven remains unchanged after defeat against Lille last week, but new signings Fernandez and Sanchez take their places on Puel's bench.

[djg91]

SAVIDAN SCORES TWICE
AS CAEN SEE OFF LYON

Savidan celebrates second goal...

Caen 2 - 0 Lyon
Savidan (57, 90)

Travelling Lyon fans will have been sent home disappointed today, after a shock 2-0 loss away to SM Caen. A poor allround performance from Puel's team saw them pinned back in their own half for long periods during the game, and the Caen players will no doubt be delighted with their win.

Lyon seemed to get off to a dream start, when Benzema met a great cross from Reyes to put the ball in the back of the net in the 7th minute of play. However, a dubious decision from the linesman saw the goal ruled as offside.

Things got worse in the 11th minute, when Toulalan conceded a foul in scoring range after a reckless challenge on Eluchans which he was lucky not to be booked for. Lyon fans could sigh a breath of relief momentarily when Proment's effort failed to beat the wall, but things were still looking bleak for the champions.

Brazilian striker Fred missed out on a great opportunity to score in the 39th minute, when he opted to hit his shot early after breaking through the Caen defence. His shot was lacking though, and left many wondering why he didn't take the ball on for another 5 yards.

Karim Benzema also fluffed a great chance just after the restart, failing to hit the target from 9 yards out.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 57th, when Caen striker Steve Savidan got his head on the end of an inch-perfect Nivet cross to send the ball flying past a helpless Lloris and into the back of the net.

Now a goal down, Lyon had to push men up the pitch as they sought for an equaliser. With the side looking tired, and a lack of effectiveness being shown in the final third of the pitch, manager Claude Puel decided to mix things up, bringing on debutants Fernandez and Sanchez in favour of Toulalan and Govou.

Little changed though, as Lyon failed to draw level with their opportunities, Savidan sealing the result in stoppage time by catching the champion's defence on the counterattack. The referee signalled for full time directly from the restart to bring an end to a bad day at the office for Claude Puel.

Puel also informed fans after the game that he had failed in his bid to land Bafetimbi Gomis, due to St-Etienne's reluctancy to let him go with so little time available to find a replacement before the closing of the transfer window.

The Lyon boss remained adamant however that his current side was more than capable to bounce back from this defeat and go on to defend the Ligue 1 title for a record 8th consecutive time.

[.DJ]

Caen must've shocked u huh?

[djg91]

Originally Posted by D1J

Caen must've shocked u huh?

Aye a bit mate, they had loads of possession and I just couldn't seem to keep the ball...

[djg91]

100th post so far