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[nakuu]

Olympique Lyonnais

Background:
Olympique Lyonnais was first established as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899 but was not nationally recognized until 1950. OL is commonly referred to "Les Gones" which means the kids in Lyon's regional dialect. Their kit usually includes white as the main colour with a red and blue stripe. Their stadium is called the 'Stade de Gerland' with a capacity of 41 044. The club had modest success throughout the 1960s and 1970s but would not achieve the silverware that was required to become a dominant force in French football. In 1987, Jean Michel Aulas, a successful businessman, took control of the club and set out to carve out Lyon's place amongst the great clubs in France. However, it would take some time before Lyon began challenging for the most prized trophies in France.

Recent:
It is without a doubt that the recent decade has seen OL win the majority of their history's silverware. At the beginning of the 21st century, Lyon quickly became one of the most popular and wealthy clubs in Ligue 1. They would achieve success thanks in part to the club placing faith in developing players such as Malouda, Juninho, Abidal, Muller, M. Diarra, Benzema and many more. These sets of talented players would lead Lyon to an unprecedented record seven league titles beginning in 2002. Many doubted Lyon's ability to continue as a dominant force when they sold off key players such as Malouda, Essien, Diarra etc. but they managed to adequately replace them while maintaining a firm grip on the league title. However, Lyon's title streak ended when they lost out to Bordeaux in the 2008/2009 season. Lyon's fortunes in the Champions League are not as favourable as they have never progressed past the semi-final of the Champions League.

Notable Players:

Juninho


Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Jr. or known more commonly as Juninho, was an attacking midfielder at Lyon from 2001-2009. During his time there, Juninho established himself as a dead ball specialist and creative midfielder, orchestrating the plays with deadly passes and runs. His nickname was "Mr. 50%" because people believed he was able to score from freekicks 50% of the time. His technique involved striking the ball in a manner to cause it to swerve unsteadily making it difficult for keepers to predict the flight of the shot. Juninho was always a constant threat on the field as proven by his goal tally and assists.

He led Lyon through their most successful period as the club won seven consecutive league titles and one Coupe de France.

Squadlist:


Will the former Ligue 1 champs be able to return to former glory without leading scorer Benzema and club icon Juninho?

[Tresh]

[Sakrillmatix]

Sorry guys, i haven't been posting lately because i have just started my final year of high school and I've got to get my focus on !! but did happen to catch Lyon in the CL and i'm so stoked with the victory in Anfield. Fantastic fightback from the team after a shaky first half. They totally dominated the midfield in the second half which helped exploit Liverpool's defense. It was great to see Puel use the substitutions effectively bringing in Gomis, which added another dimension to Lyon's forward push.

Overall, it's been a great week for French football with victories to Bordeaux and Marseille in the CL as well, and Lille's win in the Europa League.

[noobie]

From Sky Sports:-

Quote

Cissokho dreams of England

Highly-rated Lyon full-back Aly Cissokho has conceded he would one day love to play for either Manchester United or Liverpool.

The talented 21-year-old only moved to France in the summer from Porto after a switch to AC Milan was scuppered by a problem with his medical.

Cissokho has quickly acclimatised to life in Ligue 1 having not let his hefty €15million (£13million) price tag weigh on his mind.

It has been reported some of Europe's biggest clubs are monitoring his progress at Lyon and, should interest ever be expressed from England, it would appear the feelings would be reciprocated.

"I have always loved the Premier League," he told Le 10 Sport.

"Manchester United and Liverpool are teams that make me dream. Why not?"

Lyon only just signed him for a price tag £13 four months ago, isn't a little bit fast for Cissokho for saying this so soon .

[Tresh]

I doesn't really mean anything, it's a sign of ambition...

[noobie]

Quote

Bastos the boy for Brazil

Michel Bastos admitted it was “a dream come true” after the Lyon star received his first call-up for Brazil with the Seleçao coach Dunga naming him in the squad for next month’s friendlies in the Middle East.

Bastos has already played for his country at junior level, but his impressive displays in Ligue 1 have now earned him a chance to make the step up to the senior ranks when his nation plays England in Qatar on 14 November before taking on Oman three days later.

"I knew that at 11 o'clock in the morning in Brazil there was going to be a press conference where the coach was going to name his squad," explained Bastos. "My wife was sat in front of the computer, as she has done for recent squad announcements, to see if I had been called up or not. I was in the city centre, and I have to say I didn't expect it all that much. "My wife called me and started to cry. Then my telephone didn't stop ringing. My family and my friends are really happy for me because playing for Brazil is the dream of every child who plays football."

Bastos had made no secret of his desire to play for his country at next year's World Cup finals, and admitted his summer move from Lille to OL was in part motivated by that ambition.

"I'm very happy, because I've never lost my belief and it's a dream come true. I'm happy, but now it's up to me to do everything to ensure that I'll have another chance. I have to continue putting in good performances with Lyon, and the rest will come."

Read full article here : ligue1.com

Bastos called up for Brazil today, this is a good news ! Congratz to Michel Bastos, let's hope that he can secure himself a place for Brazil in the World Cup.

[Tresh]

Gomis goal does for former colleagues

Lyon substitute Bafétimbi Gomis scored an 82nd minute winner on his first return to former club Saint-Etienne to move the seven-time champions above Monaco and into second place in the table, two points behind leaders Bordeaux.

AS Saint-Etienne / Olympique Lyonnais : 0 - 1

Lyon came into the game off the back of two Ligue 1 defeats in a row and could ill-afford another slip-up. Both teams had their preparations perturbed. Sidney Govou was stripped of the OL captaincy for an off-field indiscretion, though kept his place on the right side of attack, while Saint-Etienne's Brazilian striker Ilan was absent because of swine flu.

Saint-Etienne also came into the local derby having lost twice in a row in Ligue 1. The match started at breakneck pace with Kévin Mirallas with the first chance for Saint-Etienne, before Lisandro Lopez struck a post at the other end. Les Verts suffered a blow when skipper and midfield inspiration Blaise Matuidi was forced off with an ankle injury.

Bergessio hits bar

Saint-Etienne coach Alain Perrin led Lyon to the title in 2008 before being forced out of the club and would dearly have loved to put one over his former club. Argentinian striker Gonzalo Bergessio nearly put the hosts 1-0 up, hitting the bar with a header from a Dimitri Payet corner after beating OL keeper Hugo Lloris to the ball.

Bosnian midfielder Miralem Pjanic and Govou got efforts in on goal early in the second half as OL began to assert their authority. After beating the offside trap to meet Aly Cissokho's pass, Lisandro saw his close-range shot diverted on to the bar by Jérémie Janot, the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper in search of his first win over OL at the tenth time of asking.

Gomis, go score!

Gomis replaced Lisandro with 20 minutes to play and was booed on to the field by supporters who had been on his case in his final season as a Les Verts player as well. Gomis' form this season in his new colours has seen him force his way back into the France reckoning and there was a certain sense of inevitability about Gomis scoring the winner. Janot pushed a corner from Gomis' fellow sub Kim Källström straight into the 24-year-old's path and he had the simplest of tasks of stabbing the ball into the back of the net for his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the season.

A vital three points for OL, who climb to second and maintain the pressure on Bordeaux. Saint-Etienne stay in 16th place, a single point above the relegation zone.

OL with the perfect tonic ahead of their return to Champions League action in midweek with Liverpool the visitors to the Stade Gerland. Lyon have a perfect record after three games in Group E.



Unlucky there from ASSE... the keeper knew he should have done better.

Sakrill, don't forget to watch your Champions League match.

[DaGunners]

Miralem Pjanic is the best U20 CM on the planet. He's like an 18 year old clone of Xavi.

[Th3-One-and-0nLy]

DaGunners, on 02 November 2009 - 05:40 AM, said:

Miralem Pjanic is the best U20 CM on the planet. He's like an 18 year old clone of Xavi.

Finally someone says something good about him. Wonderful player, Lyon are very lucky to have him. He got injured in yesterday's game so he isn't sure if he will be playing against Portugal. He has a great future in front of him, if he continues like this he will turn out be a great CM for any club he plays for. So proud of him .

Whats your guys thoughts about him?

Lyon have a great and young squad full of amazing players. I just gotta say they will become champs of the Ligue 1 this year again, hopefully it happens again. They seem to be doing amazing in the CL as well, hopefully they can go far.

[DaGunners]

I just really love the way Pjanic goes about playing the position. He is always availiable for a pass and keeps play ticking over and dominates the midfield. But defensively he is so far advanced for his age and doesn't get nearly enough credit. His positioning is excellent and he presses tirelessly. Never looks like he is breaking a sweat, a true 90 minute player. Also, he has the final pass in him and goals as well. I would not be surprised to see Barca, Madrid, or United going after him.

[Th3-One-and-0nLy]

DaGunners, on 06 November 2009 - 07:51 PM, said:

I just really love the way Pjanic goes about playing the position. He is always availiable for a pass and keeps play ticking over and dominates the midfield. But defensively he is so far advanced for his age and doesn't get nearly enough credit. His positioning is excellent and he presses tirelessly. Never looks like he is breaking a sweat, a true 90 minute player. Also, he has the final pass in him and goals as well. I would not be surprised to see Barca, Madrid, or United going after him.

Yeah, you see some people don't consider him good for his age, I rate him as one of the best mids under 20. Would be nice if he went to Barcelona or United, Madrid just NO!. He wouldn't play there as much, they already got a dominating midfield, so thats why he should go to a different club thats big as Madrid. I just love the way he plays, always positive in his games and give 100%. I just hope nothing bad happens to him, if he keeps playing the way he does now, he can become a huge star imo.

[DaGunners]

Ahh, I see you're Bosnian, so its natural you're a big fan

[Th3-One-and-0nLy]

DaGunners, on 06 November 2009 - 08:38 PM, said:

Ahh, I see you're Bosnian, so its natural you're a big fan

Ha ha, yeah, biggest Pjanic fan (L) btw, I added you on msn, you sent it to me on MKB! Mine is like dude_dude something like that

[noobie]

Quote

18 Feb 2010

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has revealed that two players will be leaving the club in June.

Lyon beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League match this week, but they have had a disappointing season in Ligue 1 and changes are expected in the summer.

Midfielder Ederson had been expected to leave for Lazio or Rennes in January, while Francois Clerc and Sidney Govou are also thought likely to move on. Aulas refused to name the players who will be sold but confirmed the deals are in place.

"The departure of two players will be confirmed in June," he said. "These deals are planned, although [the details] remain confidential.

"Some players had hoped to leave the club during the transfer window, but we did not want to let them leave as we want to give ourselves the best chance of success until the end of the season."

"Aulas refused to name the players who will be sold but confirmed the deals are in place" - I also think the mentioned players will be either Ederson, Clerc or Govou. Let's hope it's not Lloris or Toulalan, as this will be a big lose and blow for Ligue 1

[nakuu]

I should change the subtitle for this thread.

I know somewhere out there, Inara is ecstatic

Massive win for Lyon and congrats to them for finally overcoming a hurdle they have failed to pass in recent years. This is an incredible accomplishment for a team that has had to sell off many star players in the past few seasons but still manage to come back strong.

I questioned Pjanic's presence on the team but he did manage to score a goal so some good did come out of it.

Horrible miss by Lisandro in the end who just looked really lazy and fatigued although Delgado also had the chance to make it 2-1.