Olympique Lyonnais 2009/2010 – The Onslaught Begins…

Over the last decade Olympique Lyonnais have emerged to become true giants of the French game and mini-giants on the European stage. Regulars in the Champions League and undisputed kings of their home territory, where they won the league seven years running, Les Gones‘ ‘big club’ status in the modern era is assured.

So it was a seismic shock to everyone involved at the Stade Gerland last season when they not only failed to retain the league title but conspired to finish in lowly third place (lowly by their own eminently high standards) – an outcome that now departed striker Karim Benzema despondently described as a “catastrophe”. Quite aside from the club’s own personal dismay, 3rd also means Lyon must pre-qualify for the Champions League group stages for the first time in almost a decade.

Heading into 2009/2010 then the objectives for coach Claude Puel and his team are clear: regaining the national title is an absolute imperative. With the recent year-on-year improvements at Marseille and champions Bordeaux this is no simple task, but Lyon engaged in some pretty heavy duty restructuring this summer with several transfer ins and outs and millions of Euros spent. Can they quickly reclaim the crown they have become accustomed to possessing? And who will be the key men for OL?

First a look at their business over the summer:

TRANSFERS IN:

Aly Cissokho (FC Porto, €15m), Michel Bastos (Lille, €18m), Bafetimbi Gomis (Saint-Etienne, €13m), Lisandro Lopez (FC Porto, €24m + add ons).

TRANSFERS OUT:

Karim Benzema (Real Madrid, €35m), Juninho Pernambucano (released), Fabio Santos (released), Kader Keita (Galatasaray, €8.5m), Sandy Paillot (Grenoble, €2m), Frederic Piquionne (Portsmouth, loan)

Lyon’s summer spending comes so far to a total of €70 million Euros, a huge outlay for a club with an annual turnover of around £160 million pounds, especially one in the process of a £150 million stadium redevelopment project. It was of course offset by the sale of Benzema to Real Madrid, but Benzema has everything needed to become one of the world’s best strikers and is a major loss for Lyon. Can the players drafted in adequately replace his goal threat? Either way, the high profile signings of Lopez, Bastos, Gomis and Cissokho are expected to inject much needed verve and vigour into the squad.

Going into 2009/2010, Claude Puel has a number of highly talented players at his disposal and the sheer size and variety of the squad means he can readily employ different tactical systems depending on the occasion.

Defensively it goes without saying that Hugo Lloris will be the number one choice in goal. In a disappointing 2008/2009 campaign Lloris was one of the few bright lights for Lyon and is a keeper tipped for a big future. Cris and Jean-Alain Boumsong are the main centre backs, although Puel is trying to convert Mathieu Bodmer from midfielder to centre half, while Francois Clerc and Anthony Réveillère will battle for the right back position. New signing Aly Cissokho automatically becomes first choice left back, but Fabio Grosso is still an option even though the Italian is currently out of favour at the club.

In midfield Puel has plenty of options, principally Jérémy Toulalan, Jean Makoun, Ederson, Kim Källström, Miralem Pjanic and Cesar Delgado. A lot in this area will depend on formations. 4-5-1/4-3-3 or 4-4-2? A 4-5-1 allows more room for defensive midfielders, so Toulalan and Makoun can be called to sit in midfield with Ederson, Pjanic or Delgado as the attacking spearhead of a midfield three.

In a 4-4-2 one of Toulalan or Makoun sits out (most likely Makoun given how pivotal Toulalan is to Lyon) and Delgado, Pjanic or Ederson occupy the attacking midfield role so masterfully carried out by Juninho over the last eight years. All three offer excellent technique and vision, but each has certain weaknesses in their game and a lot to prove to sceptical fans. Brazilian playmaker Ederson will most likely be the number one pick there.

In attacking areas, despite the loss of Benzema Lyon still appear well equipped thanks to the signings of Bastos, Gomis and Lopez. Michel Bastos was one
of Ligue 1’s true stars in 2008/2009 playing for Lille and will be first choice down the left flank, while veteran Sidney Govou brings a decade’s experience at Lyon down that right hand side. Having returned from injury Govou has also been named captain.

Upfront, again it all depends on the system. In a 4-4-2 Lisandro Lopez and Bafetimbi Gomis will be the front two. In a 4-5-1 Lopez will get the nod for now but a lot depends on form. Lopez is Lyon’s most expensive ever signing at €24 million plus bonuses, and the Argentine striker will have the weight of the Stade Gerland’s expectations on his shoulders from day one as Lyon look to replace Benzema’s goal threat.

Gomis too is a curious case. Two years ago he was a hero at Lyon’s great rivals Saint Etienne thanks to an impressive strike rate of 1 in 2, but last season’s erratic form purported a fall from grace for the French international. Lyon nonetheless see something in Gomis, and for €13 million he now becomes only the 6th player ever to swap Saint-Etienne green for Lyon white.

In the buildup to the new Ligue 1 season a lot has been made in the French press about title contenders Bordeaux and Marseille and the cosy relationship that exists between the two coaches and good friends Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps. But, lest anybody forget, Lyon are the contemporary big dogs of French football. They have been for many years now. As 2009/2010 gets underway Les Gones will be looking for nothing less than major honours. Any failure on Claude Puel’s part will not be excused by Aulas, and to an extent the sword of Damocles already hangs over the former Monaco and Lille coach.

A new chapter is beginning in Lyon’s history and the quest to reclaim their old crown begins in earnest.

Credits: Photo 3 courtesy of sissaperotta on Flickr.

France, French Ligue 1, Olympique Lyonnais