Olympique Lyonnais Cafe II [R]

[Allez Lyonnais]

It's up to Benzema to shake up the pecking order. I don't see why he should be in such a sulky mood.

[Inara]

According to Aulas, Fred is the one who has been sulking.

Granted, my French comprehension is on par with that of a ten year old, but I was able to gather from this article (http://www.hiboox.com/images/0807/1a78052.jpg) in L'Equipe that Fred was really upset by the arrival of Milan Baros, and given the fact that Houllier has been wanting Baros for a long time, worried about his place on the team. Fred was further disturbed by family problems.

Aulas then accuses (I think) the Brazillian clan at OL sustained the pressure to release Carew, and that they have too much power in the locker rooms.

And since I'm on the topic of Junifluence, according to RMC, part of the reason that Houllier doesn't play Ben Arfa is because Juninho doesn't want him out there.

I know, RMC is not a credible source, but I have to wonder why oh why we don't see Ben Arfa more often. He played for a minute against Lille, and the last game before that was against Laon. :confused:

[lefutur]

Maybe theyve regained some of that fire that's been missing the past 2 months.

maybe it was unrealistic to expect the players to be able to sustain that type of intensity indefinately. they were operating at an unbelievable high level both physically and mentally for so long. i think a dip in form was inevitable but now maybe they are recharged.

[guignol]

According to Aulas, Fred is the one who has been sulking... Fred was really upset by the arrival of Milan Baros... Fred was further disturbed by family problems.

Aulas then accuses (I think) the Brazillian clan at OL sustained the pressure to release Carew, and that they have too much power in the locker rooms.

And since I'm on the topic of Junifluence, according to RMC, part of the reason that Houllier doesn't play Ben Arfa is because Juninho doesn't want him out there. I know, RMC is not a credible source.. yes, fred was in a sour mood, but aulas said the family problems were the major issue, and seeing how he started playing as soon as he was reunited with his wife and little girl... this is very common. just think of how it would be for you... for reason X or Y you're separated from your loved ones for a period of weeks, months... how's your performance at work?

the "brazilian clan" includes bernard lacombe, so it's normal there's some influence! but aulas also commented that the brazilians agreed with him about fred's nombrilism, so i don't think he's worried about their pressure, and i don't think either GH or JMA would let themselves be hampered by it. and don't forget one thing... juni bleeds for this club.

as far as RMC is concerned, it's OM's version of pravda.

maybe it was unrealistic to expect the players to be able to sustain that type of intensity indefinately. they were operating at an unbelievable high level both physically and mentally for so long. i think a dip in form was inevitable but now maybe they are recharged. don't forget that during that huge period of success there was, as always in sport, a considerable amount of luck... in 2006 it was all good, in january all bad. the level in play fell at times, but really not as much as that all matches considered.

[lefutur]

Baros thinks that the French league is less physical than the Premier league and that level of play is "quite good" in France.

Baros says English league more physical than French
LONDON, Feb 28 (Reuters) - Soccer news in brief from around the world on Wednesday:
* Czech striker Milan Baros, who has scored two goals in five league games since joining Olympique Lyon from Aston Villa, believs the Premier League is more physical than Ligue 1.
"I think the level is quite good (in France)," Baros told Lyon's Web site on Wednesday. "In England, it is more physical. Here, every team plays good football.
"I am surprised by the referees because everything is penalised. In England, I was used to playing with my body, but here, it is totally different."

[lefutur]

you know things are going badly for OL when the fans start admiring Lille. :o

[Douai]

you know things are going badly for OL when the fans start admiring Lille. :o

That's harsh :mad: .LOSC is not Sedan or Nantes.

[guignol]

hey, i've always admired lille!

- gutty play

- responsible management

in a lot of ways they take after us, no surprise with the seydooux connection. and lille is a lovely city. what's not to like?

[Douai]

what's not to like?

Maybe it's because Lille is in région Nord-Pas de Calais.My dad says his native région,Nord-Pas de Calais, has a bad image.

[Inara]

Well, Lille is 20 points or so behind Lyon...but then again, which French team isn't? :p

I'm a big fan of Lille. They have always impressed me with their determination to stand up to bigger European teams. Of all the teams in Ligue 1, I think Lille has what it takes to join Lyon as a yearly participant in the CL - as long as they keep Claude Puel, that is. :cool:

[DaeHaMinGuk]

Well, Lille is 20 points or so behind Lyon...but then again, which French team isn't? :p

I'm a big fan of Lille. They have always impressed me with their determination to stand up to bigger European teams. Of all the teams in Ligue 1, I think Lille has what it takes to join Lyon as a yearly participant in the CL - as long as they keep Claude Puel, that is. :cool:

They'll need their great young players to step up whenever the bigger leagues sniff around and take guys like Bodmer and Odemwengie.

[lefutur]

The future of OL

http://idata.blogmaster.fr/0/00/52/61/ben_arfa_benzema.jpg

[DaeHaMinGuk]

The future of OL

http://idata.blogmaster.fr/0/00/52/61/ben_arfa_benzema.jpg

Dare we say le futur d'OL?

[lefutur]

Dare we say le futur d'OL?

i think its only appropriate.

[Allez Lyonnais]

Fabio Santos was on target today as we beat Gueugnon 2-1 in a friendly.

Perhaps the only goal he'll ever score in his Lyon career..

Vercoutre
Cris
Réveillère
Caçapa
Berthod
Diarra
Santos
Juninho
Rémy
Karaboué
Bettiol

[lefutur]

Baros scored an incredible goal for Czech. The boy's on fiiyaa.

[guignol]

i was looking through a glossy fan magazine yesterday called allez lyon, all about the 5th championship... and just by chance, the player you seem to see the most of is... seb squillaci!

a lot of the photography seems to have been done during last year's OL-monaco match, and no matter who the picture is of there's toto on them! beating claudio to a ball in the air, tackling fred, knocking down djila, blocking PAF's shot... kicking our ass all by hisself! :eek:

no wonder we signed him! :D

[Inara]

Lyon is the 12th most valuable football team in the world, according to a report (http://www.forbes.com/business/2007/03/29/soccer-valuations-beckham-biz-services-cx_pm_07soccer_0329soccer_land.html) released by Forbes. Of the top 25 teams listed, Lyon's value increased the most, by 65 percent. The only other French club on the list is Marseille (22).

The entire list:


1 Manchester United (England) - 1,453 (current value in millions of dollars)
2 Real Madrid (Spain) - 1,036
3 Arsenal (England) - 915
4 Bayern Munich (Germany) - 838
5 AC Milan (Italy) - 824
6 Juventus (Italy) - 567
7 Internazionale Milan (Italy) - 555
8 Chelsea (England) - 537
9 Barcelona (Spain) - 535
10 Schalke 04 (Germany) - 471
11 Liverpool (England) - 454
12 Olympique Lyonnais (France) - 343
13 Newcastle United (England) - 260
14 Tottenham Hotspur (England) - 243
15 AS Roma (Italy) - 224
16 Hamburg SV (Germany) - 221
17 Manchester City (England) - 208
18 Borussia Dortmund (Germany) - 199
19 Ajax Amsterdam (Netherland) - 196
20 Celtic (Scotland) - 185
21 Everton (England) - 165
22 Olympique Marseille (France) - 157
23 West Ham United (England) - 156
24 Glasgow Rangers (Scotland) - 147
25 Aston Villa (England) - 140

[Allez Lyonnais]

At last, the bubbles have been burst..

[THE SOS]

wow, i knew schalke was a big club, but i didnt know they were THAT big!