I know I can be annoying with my constant idolization of Jeremy Toulalan, but this time he's actually done something that has me so horrified and terrified that I had to make a new category just for this post.

Recently, the club had a photo shoot for their 2009 calendar, which naturally features the players.

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I know I normally do a post match write up after CL matches, but I'm running short of time and won't be able to do the usual photo and video fest. Plus most of what needed to be said has already been posted in the comments of this thread. So here are some additional thoughts:

1. Lyon are taking the concept of "the best defense is a good offense" a little too far.

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Remember how I said that China were becoming Lyon's new best friends? Well, it looks like Aulas takes this BFF business seriously because today Lyon launched a Chinese version of their official website, thanks to a partnership with TitanSport, a Chinese sports media giant.

Pretty soon OL will be signing token Chinese players a la Manchester United.

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It must have been quite a reunion for the 2Bs.

Oops, how did this picture get in here?

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These 3-0 losses are starting to turn into a yearly ritual. A humiliating one.

The game was so bad that Lyon's official website posted a highlight video that was only three minutes long - usually they are around twenty minutes. Watching it, I realized why. Apart from Mickael Pagis's three goals, not much else happened.

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Match pictures and highlights at the bottom of the post.

THE GOOD:

Definitely the man of the match...on both sides.

Hugo Lloris.

He's definitely shaken off the jitters that afflicted him in the Fiorentina match.

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Blue days at the Allianz Bate and Bayern had the same idea in the second halves of their respective matches. Hold on for a home draw. However unlike Bate, Bayern Munich happened to be one of the 10 richest clubs in the world. Lyon visited the Allianz tonight and scraped by with a 1-1 [...] Click to continue reading...

Several players have been called up for international action next week. For many countries, this is the last opportunity to get things sorted before World Cup qualifiers start this fall.

France (vs. Sweden - 08/20/08): Hugo Lloris, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jeremy Toulalan, Sidney Govou, Karim Benzema

Sweden (vs.

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Excuse this blatant excuse to pimp Jeremy Toulalan some more, but I can't help myself. Thanks to the amazing detective powers of Jennifer, we now have further proof of Toulalan's adorableness dorkiness.

Please watch the following video (at the 11 second mark) to see La Toule show off his moves.

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It's a slow news day, so while we're stuck twiddling our thumbs for Sebastien Squillaci's transfer to Sevilla to be finalized, here is a short, two minute video tour of the Stade de Gerland. It's an "insiders" tour, meaning you get to see some of the VIP suites as well as restricted areas such as the locker rooms, tunnels, etc.

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Lyon had their first summer friendly this afternoon against Nimes in Albertville. Goals were scored by Juninho (10), Yannis Tafer (40), and Anthony Mounier (63). This was Claude Puel's first match in charge, and for many of the players, their first match in an OL jersey.

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Disclaimer: I know that it's been a week now since Hatem Ben Arfa left Lyon for Marseille. Both John and Magnusson have covered this topic very thoroughly, so most of you are probably tired of hearing about it.

But I just can't let this go.

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I've totally been avoiding writing about this because part of me still believes that it's only a nightmare...But man, out of the eleven OL players in Euro 2008, only one will be showing his face in the quarterfinals.

I have nine other identical pictures just like this.

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...Just busy.

For the rest of the month, I'll mostly be over at the France World Cup Blog or on ESPN Soccernet. But I will have a post up tomorrow about the progress of our international players at Euro 2008. There isn't anything to report on the transfer front, but don't worry, I'm still on the lookout for interesting news.

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Neither Thierry Henry nor Patrick Vieira were fit to face Romania, so Nicolas Anelka and Jeremy Toulalan started. France generated very little going forward. Anelka headed one over. Benzema hit one or two right at the keeper. Gomis, when he came on, could hardly get a touch.

There was a short spell at the start of the second half when France looked ok, but for most of the game, they didn't look like they deserved any more than a point against Romania. Click to continue reading...