Broken down in the game, are Lyon required to recruit this winter?

In OL Park,

Champagne football is definitely flowing in 2022 on the side of Hahaha. In fact, the Lyonnais have just had two successes in
League 1 for the first time since September. And this each time with the score 1-0 thanks to a penalty scored by Moussa Dembélé, in Troyes last week, then on Friday during a mediocre derby (1-0). Jokes aside, this is the proof, 13 days after an OL-PSG in which the Lyonnais dedicated themselves to defending (1-1 but 31.6% possession of the ball), which
Peter Bosz It has changed a lot since last summer. To the point of hearing this disciple of Johan Cruyff loosen up after the painful victory against the neighbor Saint-Etienne: “If we win all the games 1-0, I will be very happy”.

A supposed and surprising 180° turn, for the dogmatic Dutchman, or a temporary adaptation due to the terrible end of 2021 for OL and the pressure for results put on before Christmas by Jean-Michel Aulas? We tend to opt for the second scenario, as the person in question was so passionate and pedagogical when presenting his love for intense pressure and “appealing, attacking football” on arrival in Lyon. This project probably did not survive the Christmas season and the troublesome 13th place in Ligue 1.

Needs in the wings and in the tip?

This game plan dilemma raises another underlying question: will Lyon take advantage of this winter transfer window to offer signings to Peter Bosz that will allow him to resume his forward march? At least not to start a match with a defensive triplet Lukeba-Mendes-Da Silva to contain the only Nordin (1.70 m), as happened on Friday.

Moussa Diaby-esque winger profiles, whom Peter Bosz blew up at Bayer Leverkusen, appear to be a priority, given that they are lacking in this lopsided squad, especially to line up his favorite 4-3-3. A powerful reinforcement wouldn’t hurt at the front of the attack either: Moussa Dembélé is doing a little better (2 penalties scored in five games), but tino kadewer (back from the CAN unlike Islam Slimani) missed the opportunity to score his first goal of the season against the Greens (1-0, 74th).

Jeff Reine-Adelaide as the only “rookie”?

The options, therefore, are reduced up front, especially in the absence of Karl Toko Ekambi, still in conflict with his Cameroonian team. “There is a lack of goals, it is at this point that confidence is fishing on our side at the moment, points out Maxence Caqueret. All of that will have to be fixed. It will not be welcoming the Iranian Sardar Azmoun, Bosz’s top priority but who just missed OL (just like Ajax goalkeeper André Onana did last summer) when he signed with Bayer Leverkusen this Saturday. Without the slightest reinforcement so far, could this OL (provisionally 10th) really launch a true series and fight for European places?

“We didn’t play a very good game, but above all we needed the victory to move up the table”, he justifies Maxence Caqueret. This performance in the derby does not worry us because we have seen good things in our last few weeks. That was a day without, we couldn’t find ourselves well to create chances. With a team roster made up of eight defensive-minded players, that’s not a surprise. And in the worst case scenario, if Peter Bosz fails to land a new player by January 31, he will be surprised to see his chairman tweeting about “the club’s prestigious recruit, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, back after a long injury”. The rope is too big, so it can only tempt JMA.