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Goal.com Christmas Shopping: Who Should Lyon Buy?
Goal.com's transfer special series comes to focus on les Gones...
| Bet: | Returns: | Lyon £14.00 | Draw £42.00 | Caen £85.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lyon £13.60 | Draw £43.30 | Caen £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lyon £13.64 | Draw £43.33 | Caen £85.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lyon £13.60 | Draw £43.30 | Caen £100.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Lyon £14.00 | Draw £40.00 | Caen £73.50 |
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Dec 26, 2009 10:40:05 AM
A summer of unprecedented spending from Olympique Lyonnais led to expectation in the Rhone Valley that les Gones could wrest back their Ligue 1 title from Laurent Blanc’s Girondins de Bordeaux. How misplaced such hope has proven to be as OL have endured a torrid start to the campaign, slumping to sixth in Le Championnat, 13 points off the pace set by les Girondins.
General manager Claude Puel now finds himself under immense pressure, though president Jean-Michel Aulas has vowed to stand by his general. January’s transfer campaign is likely to be pivotal to the fortunes of the club, who are now simply aiming to secure Champions League football for next term.
The summer’s acquisitions – Lisandro Lopez, Aly Cissokho, Bafetimbi Gomis and Michel Bastos – have largely performed well, though Gomis and Bastos have struggled to always match the performance level one would expect of players purchased for €15 million and €18m respectively.
Instead of necessarily focusing on big-name first teamers, Lyon really need to improve the strength of their bench, making them more resilient to the injury problems that have hampered the squad.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris has been France’s stand-out custodian in the opening half of the campaign, eventhough he had a moment of madness in a recent league encounter against Monaco, gifting the principality side an equalising goal in a 1-1 draw. That incident aside, Lloris has been one of the continent’s best shot-stoppers over the last six months and won’t be replaced.
Backup Remy Vercoutre is somewhat more erratic, but he’s an adequate stand-in for the moment.
Defence
Here is where the real problems lie in the Lyon side. Cris has had a steady season but there has simply been no one alongside him to provide reliable cover. Jean-Alain Boumsong has been either injured or showing his comedic worst, while Mathieu Bodmer has been laid up for much of the season.
Fans of les Gones have clamoured to see the club bid for Estudiantes centre-back Leandro Desabato, though there have been no concrete rumours linking OL with the 30-year-old; indeed, there have been very few rumours linking Lyon to anyone.
One of Desabato’s main advantages is that he could freely play in the Champions League, but at a relatively advanced stage in his career, would he want to move to France and would such a switch hinder or harm his chances of going to the World Cup? Acquiring such a player seems unlikely.
Closer to home, Lyon would be well advised to swoop for Stade Rennais defender Rod Fanni. Capable of playing either in the centre or on the right of the back four, the France international has long been a stand-out performer, and his versatility would be hugely useful. Lille’s Adil Rami or Laurent Koscielny from Lorient are other viable options, though the latter would be best used as support for the first team.
OL have been associated with a move for Le Mans’ teenage right-back Sebastien Corchia. The 19-year-old would provide fine back-up to Anthony Reveillere, as Francois Clerc, who has announced his intention to leave in June when his contract expires, has been far from his best when asked to perform.
Midfield
There could be changes made in the central areas of the park, with Kim Kallstrom followed by Sevilla, Miralem Pjanic tracked by a gaggle of English sides and Ederson a much sought-after commodity in Italy.
Only the Brazilian seems likely to leave at this stage, though his departure could open up an offensive spot on the roster, which is certainly wanting of an anchoring player.
Patrick Vieira is one man closely associated with the Rhone Valley club. Frozen out of the international scene, he would appear to be keen on returning to France from Inter so as to showcase his talents to les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech. An experienced figure, he could provide the club much needed leadership and would help with the emergence of youngster Maxime Gonalons.
Toulouse teenager Moussa Sissoko would be the ideal signing. He is strong, powerful and dynamic, but it’s highly questionable as to whether le Tefece would allow their best player of the campaign to leave at such a delicate stage of proceedings.
Attack
Lisandro Lopez has been an absolute star since moving to Stade Gerland from Porto in the summer, but he has not been especially well supported by his team-mates. Bafetimbi Gomis has done a reasonable job, but another attacking player would be ideal.
Fiorentina’s Alberto Gilardino was linked with the Rhone giants in the summer, but any chance of a move for the Italian goal-getter has passed. Instead, Luca Toni is eligible and could be worth a gamble as he attempts to win a spot in the Italy team to travel to South Africa next summer for the World Cup.
INS (4): Rod Fanni, Sebastien Corchia, Patrick Vieira, Luca Toni
OUTS (2): Francois Clerc, Ederson
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
General manager Claude Puel now finds himself under immense pressure, though president Jean-Michel Aulas has vowed to stand by his general. January’s transfer campaign is likely to be pivotal to the fortunes of the club, who are now simply aiming to secure Champions League football for next term.
The summer’s acquisitions – Lisandro Lopez, Aly Cissokho, Bafetimbi Gomis and Michel Bastos – have largely performed well, though Gomis and Bastos have struggled to always match the performance level one would expect of players purchased for €15 million and €18m respectively.
Instead of necessarily focusing on big-name first teamers, Lyon really need to improve the strength of their bench, making them more resilient to the injury problems that have hampered the squad.
Goalkeepers
Hugo Lloris has been France’s stand-out custodian in the opening half of the campaign, eventhough he had a moment of madness in a recent league encounter against Monaco, gifting the principality side an equalising goal in a 1-1 draw. That incident aside, Lloris has been one of the continent’s best shot-stoppers over the last six months and won’t be replaced.
Backup Remy Vercoutre is somewhat more erratic, but he’s an adequate stand-in for the moment.
Defence
Here is where the real problems lie in the Lyon side. Cris has had a steady season but there has simply been no one alongside him to provide reliable cover. Jean-Alain Boumsong has been either injured or showing his comedic worst, while Mathieu Bodmer has been laid up for much of the season.
Fans of les Gones have clamoured to see the club bid for Estudiantes centre-back Leandro Desabato, though there have been no concrete rumours linking OL with the 30-year-old; indeed, there have been very few rumours linking Lyon to anyone.
One of Desabato’s main advantages is that he could freely play in the Champions League, but at a relatively advanced stage in his career, would he want to move to France and would such a switch hinder or harm his chances of going to the World Cup? Acquiring such a player seems unlikely.
Closer to home, Lyon would be well advised to swoop for Stade Rennais defender Rod Fanni. Capable of playing either in the centre or on the right of the back four, the France international has long been a stand-out performer, and his versatility would be hugely useful. Lille’s Adil Rami or Laurent Koscielny from Lorient are other viable options, though the latter would be best used as support for the first team.
OL have been associated with a move for Le Mans’ teenage right-back Sebastien Corchia. The 19-year-old would provide fine back-up to Anthony Reveillere, as Francois Clerc, who has announced his intention to leave in June when his contract expires, has been far from his best when asked to perform.
Midfield
There could be changes made in the central areas of the park, with Kim Kallstrom followed by Sevilla, Miralem Pjanic tracked by a gaggle of English sides and Ederson a much sought-after commodity in Italy.
Only the Brazilian seems likely to leave at this stage, though his departure could open up an offensive spot on the roster, which is certainly wanting of an anchoring player.
Patrick Vieira is one man closely associated with the Rhone Valley club. Frozen out of the international scene, he would appear to be keen on returning to France from Inter so as to showcase his talents to les Bleus boss Raymond Domenech. An experienced figure, he could provide the club much needed leadership and would help with the emergence of youngster Maxime Gonalons.
Toulouse teenager Moussa Sissoko would be the ideal signing. He is strong, powerful and dynamic, but it’s highly questionable as to whether le Tefece would allow their best player of the campaign to leave at such a delicate stage of proceedings.
Attack
Lisandro Lopez has been an absolute star since moving to Stade Gerland from Porto in the summer, but he has not been especially well supported by his team-mates. Bafetimbi Gomis has done a reasonable job, but another attacking player would be ideal.
Fiorentina’s Alberto Gilardino was linked with the Rhone giants in the summer, but any chance of a move for the Italian goal-getter has passed. Instead, Luca Toni is eligible and could be worth a gamble as he attempts to win a spot in the Italy team to travel to South Africa next summer for the World Cup.
INS (4): Rod Fanni, Sebastien Corchia, Patrick Vieira, Luca Toni
OUTS (2): Francois Clerc, Ederson
Preferred Team (4-4-2)
Lloris
Reveillere Fanni Cris Cissokho
Govou Toulalan Vieira Michel Bastos
Toni Lisandro
Lloris
Reveillere Fanni Cris Cissokho
Govou Toulalan Vieira Michel Bastos
Toni Lisandro
Robin Bairner, Goal.com
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