Comments on: Lille Draws Nice

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:51:09 +0000

Yikes — I do mean the Mali game.
(that’s embarrasing)
And yeah — I agree. It wasn’t entirely Lloris’ fault. That second goal was stoppable, but you’re right — there were other factors. It’ll be interesting to see what happens. I read that Coupet might want to go abroad, so there may be an open spot for Lloris which would be good for him (and I know you’d be happy). Any idea which of the two RayDom favors?

By: Inara

Inara — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:58:30 +0000

Richard, if you mean the Mali game (the Congo game was 0-0, and in that game, Lloris was the better of the two keepers), Domenech changed nearly the entire back line, which caused a lot of confusion and instability. It’s hard to be tossed right into the middle of a game with so much turnover. There were problems all over the pitch for France, and the goals conceded weren’t entirely Lloris’s fault.

Lloris has been in the top flight for three years and is pretty much the only reason Nice wasn’t relegated the last two years. Mandanda came from L2 and fit right into L1. So both have talent. The big tests for them will be what will happen if Lloris goes to a bigger club and faces European competition, and can Mandanda back up his the next two years?

By: Corey

Corey — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:45:55 +0000

Manadana is a good player, but the necessary measurement for goal keepers is consistency and room for improvement. Mandana has alot of room for improvement, but his biggest test will be staying consistent next year, which will be his second year in the top flight.

Lloris will be on his 3rd, so consistency is not his problem, is his technique and cross handling that needs work. I prefer Lloris because I think his style will lead him to being more succesful in the long run, he has great reflexs but is awful very good at coming off his line, something I do not think Mandana is adept at.

Both are former u-21 keepers, so both have a good chance of getting it, but then again players like Riou, Itandje, Carrasso and Gavanon have fallen by the way side in recent years.

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:21:55 +0000

agreed!
well said, Lloris is incredible — and maybe you’re right about the media not really giving him much credit because of the team he’s from. I also think that he’d look a lot better at the heart of a better defense.
That said; Mandanda is still my #1.

Look at the Congo A’ game.
Mandanda left the field with a clean sheet, and Lloris (in fairness, the entire A’ defense) blew it.

By: Inara

Inara — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 01:40:28 +0000

I’ve been hugely impressed with both, though at the end of the day, you can only pick one. They have different weaknesses – Lloris’s is his recent indecisiveness (maybe it’s the transfer talk that’s disturbing him), though I suppose all gks are prone to that every once in a while. Mandanda’s is his lack of concentration on certain aerial battles and kicks, though again, it’s something that he will certainly improve on. But both are young and have time on their side.

Mandanda is being pushed by the media (rightfully so), but Lloris is given zero media coverage because of the team he plays for. If he played for a team like Lyon, he would receive the same amount of attention.

If Lloris wants to make sure that Mandanda doesn’t eclipse him, he’ll have to leave Nice at the end of this season for a bigger club, which I think he will. He’s getting interest from clubs like Arsenal, Milan, Espanyol, Lyon, and Lazio, though it might be better for him to stay in L1. I’m really hoping Lyon pick him up (there’s gotta be a reason why we paid an extra two million for Ederson, right?).

FYI, I love both guys and wouldn’t mind either as the #1 in France, but I just don’t think the battle between the two is as straightforward as some would like it to be.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:43:52 +0000

Corey, you see Lloris (not Mandanda) as the next #1?
Lloris is good but he’s no Mandanda.
(He’s also no Seb. Frey, either)

By: Corey

Corey — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:42:21 +0000

What was Antonetti so angry about? He mouthed off for awhile, I am surprised he wasnt sent to the stands.

Nice has a very good team, Apam, Ederson and Kone all impress me week in week out and Lloris is surely the next Les Blues #1. Lille did well to get a draw away from home to such a good team this year.