Flyby News Dump

By: Martha | August 5th, 2008

“So you’re hanging around, then? Sweet.”

•I don’t care how old Cyril Rool gets, I will never not be excited to hear that he’ll be around a little longer. For this reason, the news that he’d signed his long-awaited (by me, anyway) extension today was a source of great joy — and the fact that David Hellebuyck also signed one isn’t bad, either. Cyril #1 will now be at the club through 2010, while Hellebuyck will, at least on paper, be around through the end of the 2011-2012 season.

•In significantly less good news, meanwhile, Vincent Hognon, who picked up a knock against LOSC on Saturday, missed training today and is no longer certain for the Le Havre match. He’ll face a fitness test later this week, at which point a decision about his availability will be made. Good lord. No Apam, no Rool, no Hognon? I hope you’re reading this Rémy — goals are needed. For real.

•Speaking of the Lille match, they’ve put highlights up on their website (they start about two minutes into the video) and, while he makes a couple alert stops, Letizi looks really bad on the second and third goals: They’re both from corners, and he flaps terribly at the crosses both times. Based on his performance at the end of last season when Lloris was out, I went into the summer totally fine with Letizi being first choice, but the last couple friendies have me inching closer and closer to being in the “If Ospina can say ‘I,’ ‘you’ and ‘away,’ lets give him a shot” camp.

•For no discernible reason, the official site has put up a gallery of training pictures from today. Also, there’s (non-official site) video from the open training session here, including brief interviews with Ben Saada and Rémy. Notice how they keep the mic far away from Ospina, but make sure to dwell on his tantalizing skillz.