Metz - OL 15/09/07 [R]

[guignol]

sickbay is emptying and although the group hasn't been announced apparently everyone's going to metz except coupet, cris, fred and müller, who apparently is still a week away.

ben arfa and anderson may not play 90 minutes, but both will get time, and imo start.

i think that will mean we'll see a 4-3-3 with bodmer starting in midfield in place of källström or juninho, and moving back when anderson's had enough.

ben arfa will start on the left and be replaced by baros or belhadj depending upon how the game goes.

as to who starts on the right that's for AP to say i would hope it's not keita, but maybe it's a chance for him to get back on track before barça: god knows if we don't get anything out of those 18,5 patates this summer was a helluva waste!

metz has just 2 points twin 0-0 draws and has only scored ONE goal so far but "only" allowed 8 and never more than 2 so it's not like we're going to see a lot of scoring.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

I thought Keita played well enough against Le mans that it should warrant another run out. This has to be a statement match before heading into the Barcalona match. We need to show some class and beat this team comfortably.

[lefutur]

all this talk about keita being a flop, already, is bad form. he's already had some incredible games but if people keep putting pressure on him to justify his price tag thats not gonna get the best out of him. lay off and give him time to settle into the squad. juninho struggled for a looong time but now he's playing better because he can feel the love and support from the crowd.

[Inara]

I think he is under a lot of pressure. He came from playing in some Middle Eastern club to Lille and was free to be their star player. But Lyon is a different story, and he's been expected to be magical every match while also being a team player. For the first time in his career, he's surrounded by more wordly players, some of them world class. He needs to realize that he doesn't have to create magic on his own anymore - his teammates can help him.

I still think he was a good buy, and for 18 million it was a fair price. He is a raw version of Mancini, whom Aulas was ready to offer 20 million + for.

[Inara]

Startling lineup:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Juninho - Toulalan - Källström
Govou - Benzema - Ben Arfa


Toulalan has played nearly every match for OL so far. He needs his rest if he's going to play well against Barca. Fabio Santos should have started instead. Ditto with Kallstrom and Grosso.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

I'd expect AP to sub out if OL are winning by 2 goals or more in the second half because of the Champions League. I fully expect that to happen as Metz, though they have improved a bit in their past couple of games, will be totally outclassed. However, expect them to attempt to play a 10-0-0 lineup against OL. ;)

[Inara]

I was wrong, this is the lineup OLTV is reporting:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Ben Arfa - Juninho - Toulalan - Källström
Govou - Benzema

[Inara]

In 40 minutes, Benzema scored a hat trick against Metz. One assist by Govou, two by Ben Arfa.

What a GREAT preparation for the CL!

[Taib]

It is 4-1 now. Ben Arfa has scored to keep the three goal cushion.

[before]

Benzema is flying high tonight... :)

[saelevena]

juninho scores the 5th goal for lyon. wow there's no better way to prepare for the champions league than this. i've lost count on how many goals benzema has scored this season :p

i'm looking forward to see what the young guns can do against barcelona. :)

[Taib]

Benzema is flying high tonight... :)

The whole team is. Juninho scored to make it 5-1. That is the final score. Very very good match.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

Dang, I had OL winning by 4 goals in the game picks competition here on this board, though 4-0, not 5-1. Oh well, congrats on the win, though, with Nancy losing, OL is back to where it should be, or rather, almost.

[lefutur]

so effectively OL played a 4-4-2 with one defensive mid (toulalan) and Juninho? See, Les Bleus could learn from this.

How did Juninho play other than his goal...who was providing the assists?

[guignol]

on benzema 's goals the first came from govou and the other two from ben arfa. ben arfa was served by benzema. and juni's was his 33rd FK score.

btw, the formation was announced on the radio as:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Källström - Toulalan - Juninho
Govou - Benzema - Ben Arfa

and in the papers the next day as:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Källström - Juninho - Toulalan - Govou
Ben Arfa- Benzema

four ways of describing the same starting 11 but it's just stenography. the terms 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 are simplification.... after all, the players do move around the pitch... the only formation that's static is 2-5-3...

http://www.fr-dr.com/paris/archives/20041015_babyfoot.jpg

[DaeHaMinGuk]

on benzema 's goals the first came from govou and the other two from ben arfa. ben arfa was served by benzema. and juni's was his 33rd FK score.

btw, the formation was announced on the radio as:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Källström - Toulalan - Juninho
Govou - Benzema - Ben Arfa

and in the papers the next day as:

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Grosso
Källström - Juninho - Toulalan - Govou
Ben Arfa- Benzema

four ways of describing the same starting 11 but it's just stenography. the terms 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 are simplification.... after all, the players do move around the pitch... the only formation that's static is 2-5-3...

http://www.fr-dr.com/paris/archives/20041015_babyfoot.jpg

haha. You always have the best pictures to match your jokes.

[AfrcnHrbMan]

Only got to see extended highlights of this match. But this is just the game i was talking about lyon needed to head into the champions league with. Bags of goals against a struggling team can build confidence just well as beating a very good team 1 nil.

[guignol]

and don't forget the comeback against le mans... you couldn't ask for better matches to lead up to a big clash like this.