League Cup 31/10/07: Caen-OL [R]

[guignol]

OL owes it to themselves and to their fans to lift a cup this year. last season already everyone felt that "just" being champions wouldn't be enough, and though this year has had a rockier start, the same should apply, and let's face it, four matches is a pretty cheap ticket for silverware. especially when the first one is against caen? they're struggling to stay clear of the drop zone, but they've improved since a horrible start and have won their last two at home, where they've picked up all but 1 of their 12 points. they've only scored 8 goals all season but they weren't going to come out like a house afire against us anyway and their last three matches were clean sheets for plante, whom l'équipe gives as 4th best noted GK in the league.

besides not having toualan, grosso or anderson, AP will rotate a bit, so we're likely to see something based on:

vercoutre
clerc-squillaci-bodmer-RVR
????-fabio santos-källström
keita-fred-belhadj

because that's all the really obvious bodies available. filling in the question mark is anyone's guess:

- paillot on defense to free up bodmer?

- baros w/ fred in a 4-4-2?

- don't rest one of juni, ben arfa or govou?

i go for solution n° 3, juni in particular. he could use rest, but he'll have to get it when toulalan and bodmer are available.

[guignol]

a note i forgot to put in that opening post was that the last time OL went to caen in 2004/5 they lost a very important league match... JMA's reputation as a ballbreaker owes much to his having had the condition of the pitch certified by a notary public; it was an absolute minefield and the decision of the refereee to declare it playable raised a big debate... this time though the pitch at ornano is beautiful, supposedly the best in the league right now. let's see some champagne!

[Inara]

Unfortunately, neither Baros nor Paillot will be available, both having picked up last minute muscle strains that will keep them sidelined today. It's too bad because Perrin was going to play Paillot so that Bodmer could get more time in midfield.

To compensate, Perrin called up Michael Charvet from the CFA, but I don't know if he'll be played or not. If he is, then Bodmer could play in midfield, But if he doesn't, then Lyon's midfield and defense have zero depth, and we'll have to essentially put out a first choice lineup.

[Inara]

I think this is what the lineup looks like. I'm not sure what other possible combination Perrin can have with these players, unless he's using a three man defense, which would allow for a three man midfield.

Vercoutre
Réveillère - Squillaci - Bodmer - Belhadj
F.Santos - Källström
Keita - Ben Arfa - Govou
Fred

[Inara]

For the first 75 minutes, Lyon deserved to lose to Caen, a far more motivated side that owned Lyon. In fact, Lyon looked like the newly promoted team out there. There were many moments when Lyon's back four and midfield just fell apart, and the only thing stopping Caen from humiliating us was Remy Vercoutre. Along with Nadir Belhadj and Fabio Santos, these were the only three players who looked like they played for the champions. But as soon as Perrin brought in Juninho and Benzema, it's like OL finally woke up.

Final score: Caen 1 - 3 Lyon.

[Gnafron]

One of my favourite "little" club in France with Lorient.

Interesting game.

[guignol]

i missed the first half entirely as i was at a halloween party in deep space (planet ain 01). i picked up the second half on the radio and got home just in time to see benzema's goal...

the guys on hit&sport are certainly biased but they're good, and generally call a spade a spade. when OL is playing like crap they say so, but the impression they gave was that lyon had a handle on things and was doing exactly the right thing by playing carefully, leaving the ball to caen at times, putting on the steam 5-8 minutes at a time and remaining confident that blood would out... and it did.

anyway, i got a kick out of benzema's goal, and so did the linesman; he actually laughed out loud! the way karim juked the keeper out of his jockstrap reminded me of what bergson wrote in le rire; costil really did look like a ragdoll, and it it was only laughter that kept us from feeling sorry for him.

[Gnafron]

i missed the first half entirely as i was at a halloween party in deep space (planet ain 01). i picked up the second half on the radio and got home just in time to see benzema's goal...

the guys on hit&sport are certainly biased but they're good, and generally call a spade a spade. when OL is playing like crap they say so, but the impression they gave was that lyon had a handle on things and was doing exactly the right thing by playing carefully, leaving the ball to caen at times, putting on the steam 5-8 minutes at a time and remaining confident that blood would out... and it did.

anyway, i got a kick out of benzema's goal, and so did the linesman; he actually laughed out loud! the way karim juked the keeper out of his jockstrap reminded me of what bergson wrote in le rire; costil really did look like a ragdoll, and it it was only laughter that kept us from feeling sorry for him.

Du mécanique plaqué sur du vivant....