What direction does our beloved club go?

[DaeHaMinGuk]

With Houllier's contract apparently set to end this summer, what should Aulus do?

Any chance of getting Riijkard if he leaves Barca? Riijkard would almost ensure that OL would be playing a free-flowing attack. Perhaps Klinsmann would like to be a club manager?

From a personnel standpoint, I'm not sure what moves are both realistic and able to help the club. OL seems to be in a weird position where they may have maxed-out it's talent, but not being prestigious enough to land a world-class player.

I just know that I hope that OL doesn't completely rebuild ie. change more than 3 guys from the XI.

I still think the fundamental talent is good, but just need that one guy to bring OL to an elite level in Europe.

[guignol]

from the title i expected this to be the same old saw about the decline and fall of the OL empire...

doubts about the future have been an almost yearly angst for almost ever here. when we sold giuly and maurice it was already getting to be a habit!

what direction for OL? the same as always. the club this year may have been weaker than last year for the first time in a decade, but the base is still sound.

if none of toulalan, diarra or källström really filled djila's shoes they're all still on a learning curve; and only one of them has to live up to potential to make the midfield our best ever.

not having last year's abidal has been a letdown, but if this season's abidal cries for a transfer this summer he won't be irreplaceable. judging on recent outings perhaps we should have taken on belhadj and loaned eric to sedan... ça lui aurait remis les idées en place!

i don't believe cris is pining for claudio. besides, another year with toto and it's going to be true love. two CB's like that were made for each other.

are benzema and ben arfa going to get worse or better? my money's on better.

the stock offer just brought in 80M€ for next year. the new stadium is a done deal.

the only thing missing to help us is for the rest of L1 to start getting their feces together and become a league worth fighting for.

this is not the beginning of the end. it is only the end of the beginning!

[DaeHaMinGuk]

Can you tell me the financial details for the new stadium? Will OL be responsible to fund a lot of the cash?

[lefutur]

what direction for OL? the same as always.

I cant help but think that thats been OL's general problem with the CL. They've hit a ceiling and are now losing steam. I think they need to go forward and not stagnate. a more aggressive approach. maximize their purchases....take more risks. its now or never in my mind.

[Inara]

On one hand, I think that Lyon exploded too fast, and ever since they started their winning streak, people have been expecting the CL trophy to come with it. But on the other hand, Lyon's loss last night in the CL can't be blamed on inexperience. Why they lost is a big mystery, though we all know why Roma won.

It's true that Lyon still doesn't have that one star player (I love Juni, but he isn't that), though teams can make it without a star (like Porto, Monaco, etc). And Lyon has quality in every position - certainly more depth and experience than Roma. But Lyon just can't afford having a big player. Even if they could manage the transfer fee, the salary alone would be difficult to manage. Aulas should take the risk, but he knows the finances best. As for getting a new coach - I'd love to have a Mourinho, Rijkaard, Lippi, etc - but let's face it. We can't even lure a down on his luck Trezeguet. How in the world would we be able to get a world class manager?

Lyon's never had a non-French manager before. But at the same time, perhaps that is the problem. Maybe Lyon could benefit from someone with a different perspective.

I think Houllier is a great manager - for the domestic scene. But when it comes to taking risks, he never convinced me. He did win the UEFA Cup, but the UEFA Cup and CL are two completely different scenarios. However, I can't think of anyone better who is a realisitic possibility that could take his place. So barring Houllier leaving for the DTN or Austrailia, he'll be around next year too.

[guignol]

i don't see what's broke to need fixing! so we're out of big cup. guess what! so are barça and inter, and no one's going around saying they're in a crisis! Ol hit a soft patch at the worst moment, but the machine is basically sound. the CL is a lottery. you buy a ticket every year to the knockout rounds and one day your number comes up.

GH may indeed leave, so may a player or too, but it won't be because of the loss to roma. there are 3 big keys to lasting success: stability, stability and stability.

[ilv2]

^ agreed 100%.
why consider this a stopping point rather than one phase in a continuum? you guys are doing fine - the only problem is that you hit a very good roma side at a difficult part of season. if something needs fixing, aulas will probably be the first to spot it.

[Inara]

I wouldn't mind being out of the CL in most circumstances because Roma had an amazing game on Tuesday, and their players were super motivated. They could have taken out even Liverpool with that form. So I'm not upset at losing to Roma.

But two things bother me.

First, while Roma was having the game of their life, we weren't. Our players looked totally disinterested and disheveled, like they had just rolled out of bed and stepped onto the pitch without having their morning coffee. We didn't just lose. We handed the victory to Roma on a silver-lined plate. That's not bad luck like the last two years. That's just bad playing, and the fact that in the one game it really mattered, the only motivation shown by most players was to do a handful of backpasses is obviously going to disappoint.

But what bothers me even more is that Lyon has the same problem every year: when it counts, we can't seem to take that next step. And it's not just the CL. For the past five years, we missed out on the League Cup and the French Cup. At least this year we're going to the French Cup finals for the first time in a long time, but I don't feel as confident about that as I was before.

There could be several reasons, the manager, the lack of a star player, bad luck, an overly demanding physical workout regimen, etc, but after four years, you'd think that we'd get it right just once. So I guess that's what bothers me. The fact that there is an anomalous problem with no apparent solution. How do you fix that?


Aulas seems to think (http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=452998&CPID=24&clid=143&lid=&title=Aulas+plots+Lyon+future) it has to do with problems in the dressing room:

Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas is questioning the way forward after the club's UEFA Champions League exit.

A 2-0 aggregate defeat to Roma prevented the French champions from reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row.

Gerard Houllier will now focus his troops on clinching a sixth consecutive domestic crown, while chairman Aulas plots the future direction of the club.

He admits there are little cliques within the Stade Gerland dressing room and wonders whether bringing through young players is the best vision for the future.

"We just have a problem of a rich club with some 20 international players," said Aulas.

"There are some groups, but that is logical in a collective life. There is nothing exceptional.

"This year our wage bill has increased from €7million (£4.8million) to €10million (£6.8million). We can ask ourselves about that.

"Maybe could we balance that? Do we go on that way, or should we mix internationals with younger players?"

[navid90]

the only thing that bothers me is that juni is on the wrong side of 30 and a replacement for him is almost an impossible notion

[DaeHaMinGuk]

the only thing that bothers me is that juni is on the wrong side of 30 and a replacement for him is almost an impossible notion

We'd prob have to scour leagues in Brazil or Portugal to find something similar to Juninho. No way would we be able to nab someone like Diego of Werder Bremen.

[guignol]

the only thing that bothers me is that juni is on the wrong side of 30 and a replacement for him is almost an impossible notioni've seen the name of yoann gourcuff bandied about...

[Catel]

Bodmer.

[DaeHaMinGuk]

i've seen the name of yoann gourcuff bandied about...

That would be beautiful, but I don't like our chances of getting him unless he's homesick in Milan.

[Allez Lyonnais]

Bodmer.
I'd love to have him! But we might have to adjust our plan de jeu to let him shine here at the Gerland.

----------------Bodmer-----------------
------Tiago----------------Toulalan-----

Do you think this would work?

[Inara]

Didn't we try to sign Gourcuff when he was at Rennes, but he chose Milan instead? I can't imagine him returning to Lyon unless he's homesick/benched, but he's getting a good amount of playing time under Ancelotti.

I'd like Bodmer too, but do you think Lille would part with him to Lyon, their direct competitors, like Marseille refused to do with Ribery?

[Allez Lyonnais]

I'd like Bodmer too, but do you think Lille would part with him to Lyon, their direct competitors, like Marseille refused to do with Ribery?
We do have an intimate connection with Lille, don't we?

That's right I'm talking about tha brotherhood! :p

[Inara]

We do have an intimate connection with Lille, don't we?

That's right I'm talking about tha brotherhood! :p


In that case, bring on Bodmer! And why not Makoun and Puel, while we're at it? No one robs Ligue 1 as well as Aulas, so I'll trust him to do us right this transfer window. :D



Fred
Malouda - Govou
Bodmer
Tiago - Toulalan
Belhadj - Cris - Squillaci - Clerc
Coupet

Didn't Tiago play a similar role at Chelsea, when he supported Lampard? The lineup doesn't look too bad, but then neither did the 4-4-2, we all saw how that turned out.

What other feasible possibilities are there? Ederson at Nice has some potential, though I'm not sure how good he really is, since Nice has been hugging the bottom of the table this year. I'm sure Lacombe and Marcelo have their eyes on Brazil (Cruzeiro), though maybe someone with more experience is the way to go.

[lefutur]

I agree 100% about Bodmer (plus it would have the added benefit of creating a big rivalry with Lille :D ) but I would also want to strengthen the right side. Why not rob OM of Ribery while were at it? Actually I would be willing to settle for a Barcelona player, if not Messi then Giuly on the wing. Reveilliere can stay at right back but no more screw ups like against Roma. :mad:

[Inara]

Giuly used to be an OL player, didn't he?

Apparently Lyon has also been interested in Nani, which would be a nice catch.

But Aulas says stuff like that every year, and instead of buying abroad, he opts for lowkey, which has worked so far, but not enough, IMO.

[guignol]

Giuly used to be an OL player, didn't he? :rolleyes:

http://www.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/191905_giuly.jpg

in action against lazio in a great moment in OL history... no, that's not his big brother's kit! :D