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Greetings esteemed readers, and welcome to the cronicalling of my quest, or rather the quest of the modern day legend that is Carles Puyol to win everything available to him...again.
Carles has done it all as a player, speanding his entire career with his beloved Barcelona as well as lifting the World cup and European Championships with his native Spain, here's a overview of his acheivments thus far;
Puyol announced his retirement in summer 2013, ending his illustrious career. as a token of gratitude for his years of loyal service, Barcelona bestowed the honour of taking charge of their prodigious 'B' team upon the long haired legend, where he himself once played before his graduation to the first team. Puyol took to management like a swan to water, leading his team of starlets to the Segunda Division crown on his first attempt whilst employing the style of play that has become the hallmark of the first team in recent years, suffering just four defeats along the way and creating a piece of history as Barcelona became the first club to hold the La Liga and Segunda Division titles simultaneously.
Puyol's success quickly lead to approaches for his service both domesticity and from abroad, a deal with Roma looked to be afoot, however Puyol opted to join French side Lyon who had fallen short of expectations in Ligue 1, missing out on domestic qualification, leading to the dismissal of manager Remi Grande. On the 7th of June 2014 Puyol was confirmed as head coach of Les Gones, which is where our story picks up....
Situated in central France, Lyon is a city of just under half a million inhabitants which can trace it's beginnings back to Roman times, nowadays it is a thriving metropolitan city which is ranked amongst the top fifty places to live in the world.
The football club, Olympique Lyonnais (usually shortened to Lyon or simply OL were founded in 1950 but had to wait until 2002 to claim their first Ligue 1 title before going on a record breaking run of seven consecutive championship wins, In 2009 they achived their best position in the Champions League by reaching the semi-final before being eliminated by Bayern Munich.
The club currently plays at the 41,500 seater Stade de Gerland but is set to move to a new 60,000 capacity stadium named Stade des Lumières at the beginning of the 2015/16 season, couple that with excellent training and youth facilities, I could hardly ask for a better platform on which to build.
In my first season in charge I am expected to at the very least qualify for the Europa League, although I'm quietly confident we can finish in the top three and thus the Champions League instead. My squad is reasonably strong, although I will have to sell in order to strengthen at all despite having around £25M in the bank.
I have already swooped to bring in one of my former charges at Barca in the shape of Carles Planas who was released from the Nou Camp this summer;
Right then, Now the hard work begins I guess!...
Dan
itchycoo
KEZ_7
Bafatimbi Gomis
August2014
The crossing of the Pyrenees into France has thus far yielded mixed results for new Lyon coach Carles Puyol, the 36 year old World cup winner has been attempting to drill the philosophies that are taught from a young age at his former club Barcelona into a far more physical side.
Some of Les' Gones have adjusted to the tactical revolution better than others, Yoann Gourcuff looks at home pulling the strings from his playmaker role whereas Bafetimbi 'Baby Drogba' Gomis has impressed with the ball coming to his feet as opposed to head as the hot shot has become accustomed.
Puyol may however be concerned as to how many clear cut chances his back line have afforded the opposition, with strikers racing through with nary a challenge several times throughout games, perhaps a result of being asked to play a higher line than in the past, nonetheless the leaks will need plugging if Lyon are serious about their Champions League ambitions this season.
August produced three wins and two defeats for Puyol's men, beginning with a solid win against Lens before a sub-standard performance at Toulouse, a Gomis strike ensured a return to winning ways against Reimes but OL came unstuck at Rennes in a lacklustre display the following week. Finally things began to click into place with the visit of Bastia, Lyon playing some exemplary possession based football, claiming a massive 66% of the ball throughout as Gomis again made a nuisance of himself up front, netting a brace to ensure a throughly deserved victory. Puyol's side finish the first month of the season in sixth place in Ligue 1.
Thus far only two new faces have arrived at the Stade de Gerland, defender Carles Planas followed his namesake from Barcelona, thus far only featuring as a substitute, however the capture of Juventus wing back Marco Motta for just £1.2M looks like being a real shrewd piece of business;
With the transfer window now shut Puyol will have to make do with what he has at least until January, but many claim the side could do with another striker in case an injury should befall either Gomis or Yassine Benzia. A new goalkeeper may also be on the shopping list to replace the ageing Remy Vercoutre.
Thanks guys.
Dan
Clement Grenier
September2014
September proved a fruitful month for Olympique Lyonnais as L'OL recorded three wins from four games, continuing their upheaval under Carles Puyol;
Bafatimbi Gomis's rich vein of form continued as the former Saint-Ettienne man netted a further three goals to add to the three he chalked up in August. Gomis will need to maintain his hot streak though as he now faces stiff competition for a place in the team with the £4M arrival of Emmanuel Riviere from Monaco as Lyon took advantage of the Joker transfer window which allows French sides to sign one domestic based player outside of the wider European transfer windows.
Riviere has made an impressive start to his Les Gones career, scoring on his début against Evian and then again on his first start in the defeat to Lille, the challenge for Puyol is finding a balance that will keep Riviere, Gomis as well as Yassine Benzia happy, a tinkering with 4-4-2 has already been witnessed in the later stages of all three games that Reviere has featured.
October will be an important month for L'OL with ties against Marseilles and Bordeaux, both important games as Carles Puyol's men look to establish their credentials in Ligue 1.
KEZ_7
Great start to the season
SR67
Yeah I was very pleased to get him, and at £4M it was really quite a bargin.
Great start to the season
Hmmm, I'm not sure beating PSG to the title is really on the agenda this season, qualification to the Champions League and the financial incentive that goes with it remain my priority. If we can achieve more then obviously that would be great.
Bafatimbi Gomis in action against PSG
October & November 2014
I have skipped ahead a bit in the telling of this tale after becoming somewhat enthralled, which can surely only be a good thing?
My team have picked up some big results, wins over rivals Marseilles and PSG will go a long way in our bid to be playing Champions League football next season, however we have slipped up against sides we are expected to beat, the defeat to Bordeaux can perhaps be excused, however being held by the likes of Guingamp and then beaten by Lorient is unacceptable.
We also fell at the first hurdle in the League cup which was disappointing as I'm eager to finish my first season outside of Spain with some silverware, unless something dramatic happens in Ligue 1, the French cup is my only remaining opportunity in which to do so.
Despite those disappointing results, we have climbed to third in Ligue 1, which will be good enough to achieve my ambition of Champions League qualification should we still be there at the end of the campaign.
Dan
Remy Vercoutre
December 14' - January 15'
A run of seven consecutive wins have transformed our season, we have abruptly gone from merely wishing to partake in next season Champions League by grace of finishing within the top three to perhaps competing in Europe's première competition as the actual champions of France...
It was the surprise win over PSG that kick-started our season, instilling a new found sense of belief among the ranks, and seemingly planting seeds of doubt within the Parisian camp as Laurent Blanc's side have gone from having lost just once before meeting us to four defeats after suffering reverses against Guingamp and Sochaux, had we not faltered at Bastia recently we would be just a single point behind PSG. still four points is by no means insurmountable and with us due to visit the Parc des Princes at the end of April it could yet be a very interesting climax to the season.
Bafatimbi Gomis continues to attract visiting scouts from Europe's biggest clubs as he took his tally for the season up to sixteen in Ligue 1, keeping pace with Falcao and Cavani which shows just how good 'baby Drogba' is.
Unfortunately we were disappointing in the cups this year as we crashed out early in both, Guingamp dumping us out of the French cup which I was far from pleased about, perhaps I should I take the blame though as I fielded a heavily rotated team with a couple of inexperienced youngsters included. speaking of youngsters I have a new signing....
Ricardo joins from Portuguese second division side Varzim for £450k but I immediately received a loan offer from Beira-Mar to take the 17 year old back to Portugal, as he doesn't feature in my immediate first team plans I accepted. Still he looks as if he may develop into a fantastic defensive-midfielder in the years to come.
On a personal not I have been linked with moves to both Roma and Athletic Bilbao recently but denied interest in either, I signed a two year contract with Lyon and intend to honour that whatever happens this season.With the exception of Barcelona I don't think any club job would lure me away at the moment as I'm really enjoying life with Lyon now that my team has fully integrated the style of play I brought over from Barca, I don't just want to win, I want to win in a certain way.
Dan
Maxime Gonalon
February - May 2015
Sorry, I got carried away and skipped ahead right to the end of the season.
We finish as silver medallists in what in the end was a one horse race, at no time did we get closer than four points in our bid to close down Zlatan Ibrahimovic's PSG, despite getting favourable results against the Parisians in both of our encounters this term;
The defeat at Monaco was the knock-out blow as it allowed PSG to get seven points clear, which deep down we all knew they wouldn't allow to slip, after that it became merely a matter of pipping Monaco into second and thus a better seeding for next season's Champions League.
I'm very happy with the way my first campaign in France has gone, We achieved baptising our new stadium with Champions League football when we move in this summer, a prospect I'm looking forward to and am hoping we will at least graduate from the group stage.
Bafatimbi Gomis finished the season with 25 goals to his name which won the big man not only the French golden boot, but the European accolade as well!
How important he will be as we bid to conquer Europe! New faces are lined up in the summer, some deals are done already as I am set to patch certain areas of the squad to galvanise for a serious title challenge next term. more info in my next update.
Sam77
Welcome back esteemed readers as we turn our attention to the 2015/16 season, one Lyon supporters will be awaiting with baited breath as they prepare to move into the 58,000 seater Stande des Lumieres, due to open shortly before Christmas. This season promises double excitement as Lyon return to the Champions League after a year without any continental football in 2014/15, can Les Gones impress in this years competition whilst attempting to dethrone PSG domestically?
Carles Puyol has rung the changes in central France this summer with six players in and as many out, let's take a look;
Almost £25m spent and little over £1m gained, the summer has not been a profitable one for L'OL, however a bit of Champions League revenue should help balance the books.
The Swiss international will provide competition for the often complacent Emmanuel Riviere, talented winger who doesn't mind tracking back when needed.
One of three South American imports this summer, it is unclear if Monetti will be #1 right from the word go or if he will have to play understudy to ever reliable 35 year old Remy Vercoutre, Monetti will have to wait a while to find out through as a wrist injury has ruled him out until at least September.
Strong English centre back who can play his way out of trouble when needed, just the sort of defender Puyol favours, should form a formidable partnership with Samuel Umtiti.
It has emerged that Brazilian Jeferson was actually a signing brought about by L'OL's head of youth development Stephane Roche, however Puyol would be hard pressed to deny the potential the youngster has, for the time being he has been loaned to Ligue 2 side Nimes as he gets to grip with the European game.
Another Brazilian who will provide stiff cometition to Marco Motta in the right wingback area, more adventurous than Motta, Gilberto is of the Dani Alves mold of attacking fullback.
One of Puyol's former Barcelona B charges, Carles couldn't resist bringing in the playmaker who can play either flank but looks most effective in the middle of the park, Clemant Grenier will not be easy to displace though.
Here is a look at the Lyon squad as a whole;
Whilst PSG's squad is probably the stronger, L'OL have more than enough quality to push the Parisians all the way again this season, Puyol may be somewhat concerned about strength in depth however as his side look to compete in four competitions this term.
August 2015
2015/16 is off to a fairly good start for Lyon, ten points from a possible fifteen isn't bad, however Carles Puyol's side will need to address certain inconsistencies if they are to seriously challenge PSG and Monaco for the title, both of their rivals have also had a slow start however as Valenciennes sit top of Ligue 1 after five games.
L'OL couldn't have asked for a tougher start to the season with both PSG and Monaco waiting straight away. The curtain raising clash with Laurent Blanc's PSG yielded three points as Lyon twice came from two goals behind at half time to win 3-2, Bafatimbi Gomis continuing the sort of form that saw him claim the European golden boot last season.
With the momentum gained from the victory over PSG you may have been forgiven for giving the edge to L'OL as they travelled south to uber-wealthy Monaco, however Puyol's men failed to get to grips with the pace of Monaco's attack as a brace from former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling and a stunning freekick from £51M man Falcao sunk Lyon before half time.
Lyon can look forward to beginning their Champions League adventure in September, Puyol won't be disapointed with draw his side were handed for the group stage;
Yoann Gourcuff
September 2015
September has not been one of Carles Puyol's more memorable months from his illustrious career, two wins, two defeats and two draws forge a pattern of distinctly mixed results as the Catalan looks to mount a serious title challenge this season as well as advancing from the group stage of the Champions league, unless things pick up quickly neither looks likely for Lyon this year, failing to beat the likes of Rennes and Guingamp in particular will have L'OL supporters concerned if not yet in a panic.
willz121
Good luck with this, been a good read so far!
Tommo.
Fernando Monetti
Lyon have shown a glimmer of improvement throughout October as they picked up wins over Brest and Evian as well as a credible draw with Bordeaux, there was also a first win in the Champions League to ensure Carles Puyol's men remain with a good shout as the race for the knockout rounds heats up.
Puyol has reason to be optimistic approaching the tumultuous festive period, talismanic striker Bafatimbi Gomis appears to be finding form again, if 'Drogba Jr.' can attain the kind of goalscoring prowess that clinched him the European golden boot last season L'OL are sure to begin looking more like title contenders than throughout the early stages.
In addition to Gomis's recover, Puyol has also been able to hand a debut to Argentine keeper Fernado Monetti who had been incapacitated by a wrist injury since his arrival in June, The 26 year old made his bow in Lyon's 4-1 victory over Feyenoord, impressing with his abilities with both his hands and feet, a true 'sweeper keeper'.
With both Lyon and PSG having suffered somewhat slow starts, Monaco have taken advantage, opening a seven point gap between their rivals. Bordeaux and Saint Ettienne have also begun brightly, however their title challenges aren't expected to go the distance by all but the most ardent of their supporters.
L'OL remain in with a good chance of reaching the last sixteen of the Champions League after crushing Feyenoord 4-1 thanks to a Alexandre Lacazette hat-trick, Puyol is often frustrated by the wingers fluctuating form, however when on his game the French International is utterly unplayable Feyenoord found out to their cost. Can Lyon do the same when they visit Rotterdam next month?
Tommo.
Marco Motta
November 2015
Things are starting to simmer nicely in Ligue 1 as we approach the halfway stage with a chasing pack slowly closing in on leaders Monaco, Michael Laudrup's side have a game in hand over second placed PSG and surprise package Saint Ettienne, however Carles Puyol's Lyon seem to be hitting form as of late and currently have two games yet to play, should L'OL win both (vs. Valenciennes and Stande Riems) they could be level on 36 points should Les Monegasques slip up against Saint Ettienne.
Lyon enjoyed a fairly easy month, with just four games in all competitions, staging a two goal comeback in Rotterdam to earn a point against Feyenoord in the Champions League before two 1-0 victories over Bastia and Lorient gave their Ligue 1 campaign a shot in the arm.
Unfortunately for L'OL their hopes of reaching the last sixteen of the Champions League hang by a knife edge after an 82nd minute Danilo penalty and a susequant red card for culprit Marco Motta condemned them to defeat against Porto, the game had been a close run thing up until that late flash point. Lyon must now secure all three points against Schalke in Gelsenkirchen next month to progress.
I'm hoping our upturn in form can be sustained, I'm sure Monaco will slip up eventually which will leave the door open for us and PSG, It's just a matter of whether we have managed to eliminate our damned inconsistency.
EOF Gizmo
Stande des Lumieres
December 2015
What should have been a monumental month for Olympique Lyonnais turned into a disastrous one for Carles Puyols men as they received the keys to their sparkling new 58,000 seater stadium but found home warming a difficult process as L'OL failed to win a single game over Christmas, exiting the Champions League and slipping a likely insurmountable fifteen points behind runaway leaders Monaco.
Puyol will be deeply concerned by his side's drop in form, most notable their inability to convert chances at the moment with L'OL not managing to score twice in an game since the 2-2 draw with Feyenoord seven weeks ago. Perhaps Puyol may live to regret his decision to turn down a move to Inter Milan this month.
Lyon will likely now have to switch their focus to merely qualifying for next years Champions League in third rather than as French Champions as supporters had hoped. L'OL's exit from this years competitions means they will now drop into the first knockout round of the Europa League along with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, where they will meet Spanish outfit Sevilla with the first leg at home.
With the transfer window opening next month, Puyol may be tempted to bring in a new striker to try and get the net bulging at the new ground.
Thanks mate, glad you like it.
The Game is excited to announce the exciting news that Lyon head coach Carles Puyol has agreed to take up the reigns at Juventus after seemingly being hand picked for the role by Juve owner Andrea Marotta just days after the dismissal of club legend Antonio Conte from the job.
Marotta is said to have been impressed by the style of football Puyol instilled at Lyon, favouring a methodical possession based game which should suit Juve to a tee given their ageing but technically gifted crop of players. The old guard may well find themselves under threat however as Puyol's history would suggest he may shake things up in favour of more youthful stars.
The Serie A champions have floundered this season and are well out of the title picture in ninth place, a huge eighteen points behind surprise leaders Sampdoria with nine games remaining. Puyol however will inherit a side that is still active in the Champions League with the second leg of their last-16 tie with Valencia coming up in a weeks time, the first leg having finished a goal-less draw. The Old Lady are also through to the Italian cup final where they will meet the impressive Sampdoria on the 1st of May, Juve have not won the Coppa Italia since their 1995 triumph over Parma.
Puyol however jumps ship from Lyon where he has struggled to build upon taking the runners-up spot in Ligue 1 despite having very little in the way of funds to work with last season, Lyon much like Juventus have failed to impress this season, well adrift of the honours race in seventh place. Can the former World cup winner get back to winning ways in Turin?
Johno
My first starting line-up;
This win moves us up a place to ninth, It's going to require a lot of help elsewhere but if we can keep on winning games like that we could still sneak into the top three and the Champions League. It's going to take a bit of luck though.
I intended to, but after no wins in nine games and a board meeting saying win your next game or your fired I decided to jump before I was pushed, still I have landed on my feet by getting picked up by Juventus so quickly.