The enchanted bracket of Lyon followers lasted solely a month. They’ve managed, due to this unprecedented truce associated to the World Cup in Qatar, to brush the whole darkness through which their staff finds itself underneath the carpet. They have been even shocked to regain hope, as Laurent Blanc introduced that his group would take the chance to recuperate at a sporting stage. However a month after the restart, with two new defeats (0-1 to Clermont and 1-2 to Strasbourg) and a ninth place in Ligue 1, the frustration is absolute.
To make issues worse, the winter switch window, which was the principle reason behind hope for the membership’s takeover by American John Textor, is approaching an incomprehensible, even grotesque, 5 days from the tip. Jean-Michel Aulas talks a couple of “nice transfer of winter” this Thursday, however Dejan Lovren is the one recruit thus far, whereas not one of the undesirables (Aouar, Dembélé, Boateng, Reine-Adélaïde) ought to go away. Solely the mortgage of Karl Toko Ekambi has simply been formalized by Rennes. Folder by folder Twenty minutes tells you the way a lot this switch market sums up OL’s ills.
- Dejan Lovren, 9/10 on the Boateng scale and 6/10 on the Tolisso scale
A double blow formalized from January 2 to assault this important switch window with fanfare, who says higher? Specifically, a participant who has been controversial for the reason that finish of the World Cup for singing a Croatian nationalist track and even making a fascist salute. Suffice to say, recruiting Dejan Lovren ensures an ideal inaugural week dangerous noiseand even a protracted matter media half. From the outset, the media galley resembles that of one other defender, Jérôme Boateng, employed by OL a 12 months and a half earlier. He needed to seem in courtroom in Munich for home violence in opposition to his ex-girlfriend… 4 days after his first coaching session in Lyon.
Equally, this “return to the DNA of Lyonnais”, established by the Aulas-Ponsot-Cheyrou trio, already has actual limits. Particularly contemplating Corentin Tolisso has solely performed one full recreation since August after 4 years affected by bodily glitches at Bayern. And there Lovren indicators a contract till June 2025, regardless of his 33 years and twenty matches performed within the season since 2018. Furthermore, in contrast to Corentin Tolisso, the Croatian left good recollections throughout his first go to (from 2010 to 2013). may be counted on the fingers of 1 hand.
- Karl Toko Chief, 9/10 at Beauvue-Marcelo Bar
Bronca, adopted by insults in opposition to him on January 14 in opposition to Strasbourg undoubtedly marked the purpose of no return. If there’s one departure that OL needed to finalize at any value this winter, it is Karl Toko Ekambi. This is applicable to each his disastrous season in each respect (no objectives since mid-September) and the stormy relationship with the northern nook. Celebrating a purpose in opposition to Montpellier (5-2 on April 23) with a finger in entrance of his mouth as a provocation, the Cameroonian worldwide alienated Dangerous Gones for good, as did Claudio Beauvue and Marcelo earlier than him. after comparable episodes.
However that is only a paid mortgage (€1.5m + €1m bonus) at Rennes (hiya FloMau), with no buyout choice, removed from the €15.5m compensation Lyon settled at Villarreal. So OL may have fairly a headache in six months as Toko Ekambi may have one other 12 months on his contract earlier than he can commit the place he desires as Moussa Dembélé and Houssem Aouar put together for this in the summertime. Lyon followers, we will solely advise in opposition to OL-Rennes on April 9. Spoiler: 1-5, hat-trick of the unplayable tenant Toko.
- Joao Gomes, 10/10 on the Onan-Azmoun scale
The jackpot of this switch window to piss off Lyon followers. Specifically the participant that OL is looking at whereas the media has repeated Joao Gomes’ need to favor Wolverhampton from the beginning. Whereas that’s the case, Bruno Cheyrou himself has confided to the press that he desires to recruit Flamengo’s sidekick, a technique that not often bears fruit. “He is a participant we have been anticipating a 12 months and a half,” stated Lyon’s recruitment director Crew February 17. The window has opened and we are attempting to run inside. I like him loads and would like to recruit him. A “candy dream” that may subsequently not materialize, and this participant search time “a 12 months and a half in the past” is a reminder of how a lot Juninho, who was nonetheless OL’s sporting director, had a valuable eye on the younger Brazilians.
It’s now troublesome for Lyon followers to contemplate recruiting virtuosos like Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta. 9 days after speaking to Bruno Cheyrou, and regardless of his journey to Rio, but in addition John Textor to attempt to persuade Joao Gomes, the latter joins the checklist of André Onana and Sardar Azmoun. Specifically, these gamers whose arrival OL considered a lot that they didn’t plan an actual plan B. The proof of the declining attractiveness of the membership for 2 years was the favored Onana Inter Milan, Azmoun Bayer Leverkusen, Joao Gomes Wilki (seventeenth place in PL), and the French striker Wilson Isidor (22, Lokomotiv Moscow), who’s being adopted by Lyon, appears to see them extra usually at Lorient than at OL. And this isn’t uncommon.
- Romain Faivre, 8/10 on the terrier scale
Do you keep in mind Brest’s untenable attacking midfielder Romain Faivre, then a double at Lorient on March 4, 2022, one month after arriving in Lyon? This has been lacking for lengthy weeks, and he has solely three (bland) begins this season with OL. Even when he is solely 24, it is onerous to see how he bounces again in a Lyon staff in disaster. The dearth of character that Romain Faivre suffers from pertains to the deadlock the Martin Terrier discovered himself in within the context of Lyon (from 2018 to 2020) earlier than exploding at Rennes.
Revealed in modest Ligue 1 groups (Strasbourg and Brest), Terrier and Faivre could not have been constructed underneath 25 to withstand the stress of a membership set to combat for promotion to the Ligue des champions. Final week, Laurent Blanc confirmed the stakeholder’s spleen: “I really like him, however he has not been comfortable at Lyon for greater than three months and desires to go away. It is onerous as a result of there is a deal [jusqu’en 2026] and the membership put numerous bets on him.” Precisely €15m (+ €2m in bonuses) which Lyon have little likelihood of recouping given their poor kind. However we would not be shocked if he confirmed off rapidly when he joined Merlus Régis Le Bris.
- Mohamed El Arouch, 7/10 on the Martial scale
Someway accidentally this Thursday we found the youthful face of Mohamed El Arouch (18) throughout the coaching of the skilled OL staff. That is the primary case involving Laurent Blanc because the promising midfielder has made his approach up the ranks. That is primarily the results of media stress from his surroundings, which unfold his alleged needs, regardless of the contract along with his coaching membership till 2025.
Can the winner of the final Gambardella Cup grow to be the brand new Anthony Martial till January 31, who left AS Monaco on the age of 18 for pennies (€5 million) after solely 4 appearances with the professionals in Lyon? Two years later, he was bought for €80m (together with bonus) to Manchester United. Jean-Michel Aulas is essentially afraid of such a situation for Mohamed El Arouch. Even perhaps this winter he realized that it was illogical to see such potential in 0 minutes of enjoying within the first division when Mendes, Faivre, Aouar and Reine-Adélaïde, who’re removed from their finest stage this season, nonetheless have an opportunity.
- Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, 6/10 on the Réveillere-Fekir scale
Is it potential to recuperate from two torn cruciate ligaments in 14 months? The query inevitably arises as Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, the most costly rookie in OL historical past in 2019 (€25m), is overdue. The change of surroundings this winter could have relieved everybody and freed up a spot within the workforce for Mohamed El Arouch. However as nothing is easy on the Lyon aspect, a €12m mortgage supply from Sevilla flew away on Tuesday for medical examination.
Crew reveals that the Andalusian membership has been alerted by the JRA’s “lack of rhythm”. The identical one viewers at Parc OL watch each week. Among the many well-known instances of Lyon gamers leaving however lined with medical exams, we consider Anthony Réveillère at PSG in 2012, after which Nabil Fekira at Liverpool in 2018. Besides the return of those two captains was not seen as dangerous information within the sport on the time. .
- Malo Gusto and Rayan Cherki, 7/10 at Ndombele-Mendy Bar
In the summertime of 2019, Jean-Michel Aulas hit the jackpot with a complete of €113 million (together with bonus) for the signings of Tanguy Ndombele (Tottenham) and Ferland Mendy (Actual Madrid). Two Ligue 1 seasons within the legs and the brand new tricolor left Lyon rapidly. Three and a half years later, the timing of the departures of the most effective juniors appears much more untimely. Malo Gusto and Rayan Cherki are solely 19 years previous (in comparison with 22 and 24 then for Ndombele and Mendy) and above all, they have not even had a full Ligue 1 season as holders.
This winter, nevertheless, their names are firmly related to Chelsea and PSG. The quantities talked about (round €20m) are much less insane than in 2019 given their nonetheless restricted references. There is no such thing as a doubt that shedding two symbols of success from the Lyon academy could be a coup de grace for the followers. Even when they really feel that they’ve acquired it many instances in latest months.