Its not that I dont like Christmas or the New Year, or should I say the Holiday Season as its referred to here in the You Ess of Ay but I am glad that it is almost over. The pressure to spend way too much money, buy useless crap for your family and generally over indulge is relentless. I am glad that Thanksgiving is so close to Christmas tat the pressure is not as intense as say in the UK.
Anyway looking back on 2007 I think that over all Galatasaray have under and then over and then under performed. The feeling that they gave up at the end of last season still refuses to go away but some good and relataively cheap buys i the summer seemed to have got the tam back on track, leading the Super Lig until the very last weekedn when a draw to the Oftas team put us third. Having made such a good start it was disappointing to allow the other teams to catch us up in November and December as the team struggled to maintain consistency. I hope the injured players soon get fit and back in the team so we can get off to a better start and then maintain that form for the rest of the season.
It will be interesting to see who stays and who arrives during the transfer window as we need a couple of midfield players, a defender and a creative attacker to hep Arda etc.
Good to see that work has, finally, started on Aslantepe so we will soon have by far the best stadium in Turkey, no Migros here......
Looking forward in hope to the New Year...
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Off with the Tas....
Bloody awful, thats all I can say and if Gulay was posting she would undoubtedly say the same but as she is a tad depressed at the moment about the GS meltdown that has enabled various second rate and substandard teams to claw their sorry asses to the top two places
...actually she has had flu and is not feeling too good hence I am posting on Christmas Eve...
Actually though the last couple of GS matches have completely underwhelmed us...where is the swagger, the fire of the first 10 or 12 matches of the season...I guess injuries might be one reason and fielding a relatively young and inexperienced team but there seems to have been a collective failure of will....and where was Umit Karan on Sunday.....
Still when you consider the money wasted on the Asian side of the Bosphorus to try to ensure success for the so called peoples team. Well the superior types really don't care about the blue collar oiks and once Aslantepe is completed with its decent communications, no Migros in the basement for us, chaps..direct Metro link, good car parking....not a market place in Kadikoy, I mean why are they so proud of that very badly situated stadium anyway....does not even have a sliding roof.....peasants.....
In other news Man Yoo continue to chew at L'Arse's heals in the EPL while Chavski continue to be a fading force with lucky results, and as for the Scousers, f*** em, .....at least there is plenty of footie on the tube this next couple of days, of course here in the Yoo Ess of Ehhh Boxing Day is not a holiday, heathens.... so I had to take a days vacation to have a proper Christmas (had to work a half day today as well, my goodness.) but that will be brightened by a full day of footie...excellent.
Anyway as 2007 peters out all I can say is the Duvel is excellent, the weather fresh, and that football is the stuff of life.....as Bill Shankly once said,
"Football is not about life or death.......its more important"
And on that note from Gulay, Leana and I
Feliz Nevidad, Iyi Bayramlar, Mutlu Yillar,
and
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.....
The Husband.
...actually she has had flu and is not feeling too good hence I am posting on Christmas Eve...
Actually though the last couple of GS matches have completely underwhelmed us...where is the swagger, the fire of the first 10 or 12 matches of the season...I guess injuries might be one reason and fielding a relatively young and inexperienced team but there seems to have been a collective failure of will....and where was Umit Karan on Sunday.....
Still when you consider the money wasted on the Asian side of the Bosphorus to try to ensure success for the so called peoples team. Well the superior types really don't care about the blue collar oiks and once Aslantepe is completed with its decent communications, no Migros in the basement for us, chaps..direct Metro link, good car parking....not a market place in Kadikoy, I mean why are they so proud of that very badly situated stadium anyway....does not even have a sliding roof.....peasants.....
In other news Man Yoo continue to chew at L'Arse's heals in the EPL while Chavski continue to be a fading force with lucky results, and as for the Scousers, f*** em, .....at least there is plenty of footie on the tube this next couple of days, of course here in the Yoo Ess of Ehhh Boxing Day is not a holiday, heathens.... so I had to take a days vacation to have a proper Christmas (had to work a half day today as well, my goodness.) but that will be brightened by a full day of footie...excellent.
Anyway as 2007 peters out all I can say is the Duvel is excellent, the weather fresh, and that football is the stuff of life.....as Bill Shankly once said,
"Football is not about life or death.......its more important"
And on that note from Gulay, Leana and I
Feliz Nevidad, Iyi Bayramlar, Mutlu Yillar,
and
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.....
The Husband.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Aspirin anyone
So after the bore draw with Austria Vienna, a game so lacking in action I could find nothing to blog about....we have been drawn with Bayer Leverkuesen in the next round of the UEFA Cup. All I can say is that we had better start playing like we were at the start of the season or else its thank you and good night...lets hope for a start that Lincoln and Linderoth are back. I really don't want to spend 90 minutes hearing how poor Turkish soccer is!!! from the match commentators.
Sunday sees CimBom head to the frozen wastes of the capital to take on the Genlirbirlgi first team or G Oftas. Three point is a must as it has all got very tight at the top of the Lig and it would be good to go in at the winter break on top....
Sunday sees CimBom head to the frozen wastes of the capital to take on the Genlirbirlgi first team or G Oftas. Three point is a must as it has all got very tight at the top of the Lig and it would be good to go in at the winter break on top....
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Mixed fortune
The weekend started off good enough with Galatasaray struggling to a 2-0 win over Sivas and going back to the top of the Lig. It was a struggle though. The changing point was probably Balili going off although it still took a long time for CimBom to capitalize. Still no Linderoth, Lincoln or Ayhan and Hasan Sas suspended so the team again had a youthful look to it. The win took GS back to the top of the Lig whatever happened the rest of the weekend albeit with a reduced points advantage.
Super Sunday came and went in England with two games of high intensity if not too much technical skill but played at 200kph, although playing at that speed and intensity takes a lot of skill as well. Exciting to watch with Man Utd and Arsenal demonstrating why the championship will probably be between them this year.
Of course Genc had to spoil the mood by losing at home but you cant have everything I guess!
Super Sunday came and went in England with two games of high intensity if not too much technical skill but played at 200kph, although playing at that speed and intensity takes a lot of skill as well. Exciting to watch with Man Utd and Arsenal demonstrating why the championship will probably be between them this year.
Of course Genc had to spoil the mood by losing at home but you cant have everything I guess!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
How sad...
What next, the Cross of St George (a Turkish knight apparently) and the flag of England to be considered offensive to Muslims as well??????? I think this over-excited FB supporter should calm down and re-read his history books..See in the Telegraph
Inter Milan football strip 'offends Muslims'
By Megan Levy
Last Updated: 2:23am GMT 13/12/2007
A football strip worn by Italian team Inter Milan is at the centre of a legal row after a lawyer claimed it offended "Muslim sensibilities".
Inter Milan jersey
The 'offensive' Inter Milan strip
Players wore the new strip – a white shirt with large red cross on it – in a Champions League match last month against Turkish team Fenerbahçe to celebrate the club’s centenary.
But a Turkish lawyer, Baris Kaska, took exception to the "Crusader-style" cross which he said symbolised "Western racist superiority over Islam".
He claimed the offending shirt reminded Turks of an emblem of the Christian order of the Knights Templar.
Mr Kaska, who specialises in European law, has lodged a complaint in a local court against the club.
He is seeking damages, and is appealing to Uefa to annul the match, which Inter Milan won 3-0.
Mr Kaska told the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia: "That cross only brings one thing to mind - the symbol of the Templar Knights.
"It made me think immediately of the bloody days of the past. While I was watching the game I felt profound grief in my soul."
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He said the court had contacted both Uefa and Fifa to convey his demand that Inter Milan should be "heavily fined for displaying an offensive symbol".
Inter Milan officials are reportedly "astounded" at the controversy.
They have pointed out that a red cross on a white background was the symbol of the city of Milan, and that many Italian football clubs have incorporated the cross on their shirts.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Charity to the poor
Its that time of year again, you know when poor disadvantaged people need help and charity to get them through the holiday season. Obviously Feldkampf and his players were in a generous giving mood and fielded what is definitely not the first team, no Lincoln, Linderoth, Hasan Sas or Ayhan. Lost of young players in the team with Umit and Hakan on the bench.
First half was relatively even except for Songs very generous decision to play Semih onside when all he had to do was step up and it would have been offside, or maybe not as we shall see later. The worrying thing from CimBom's point of view was that they were not creating too many clear cut chances and testing one of the weakest goalkeepers in Turkey. However FB's defense has obviously been absorbing more and more South American influence as the cynicism with which any GS attack was ended with a foul to break up rhythm was noticeable.
So the second half. It would of course not be an Istanbul derby hosted in Kadikoy without some controversy regarding the referee, have you ever noticed this only happens in Kadikoy though and rarely on the historical and culture rich side of the Bosphorus. There was no foul on Semih, Ugur won the ball but somehow this becomes a free kick from which the ball pinballs its way in to the net. Now contracts that decision with the inexplicable decision to award only a corner when Lugano made no effort to take the ball and simply cleared Nonda's legs from beneath him in the penalty area. One of the clearest penalties you will ever see, unless of course you are the referee when FB are at home to Galatasaray. Contrast that with the penalties FB regularly get when Alex gets breathed on and you will understand all GS fans frustration. Comparing the penalty Ronalda got for Man Utd earlier in the day with the non-penalty here really makes me wonder sometimes about the need for video referring being added.Would it have changed the eventual result, may be not as GS did not deserve to win, not enough chances made, but I guess we will never know.
Deivid should really know better as well, his reaction making it clear that he knew he had head butted a GS player, maybe he was provoked but retaliation will always be more severely punished. The only surprise was that Alex had not been penalized for a similar incident a few minutes earlier when he clearly kicked out at Ugur when he refused to play the ball out just because some FB player was feigning injury on the pitch. The unwritten law has been set aside, as long as the ref does not stop play the players don't have to.
All in all a reasonable performance from the Carling Cup team. IF thats the best FB could do against our second team then I would much rather be in the position Galatasaray are in than FB I have to say.
First half was relatively even except for Songs very generous decision to play Semih onside when all he had to do was step up and it would have been offside, or maybe not as we shall see later. The worrying thing from CimBom's point of view was that they were not creating too many clear cut chances and testing one of the weakest goalkeepers in Turkey. However FB's defense has obviously been absorbing more and more South American influence as the cynicism with which any GS attack was ended with a foul to break up rhythm was noticeable.
So the second half. It would of course not be an Istanbul derby hosted in Kadikoy without some controversy regarding the referee, have you ever noticed this only happens in Kadikoy though and rarely on the historical and culture rich side of the Bosphorus. There was no foul on Semih, Ugur won the ball but somehow this becomes a free kick from which the ball pinballs its way in to the net. Now contracts that decision with the inexplicable decision to award only a corner when Lugano made no effort to take the ball and simply cleared Nonda's legs from beneath him in the penalty area. One of the clearest penalties you will ever see, unless of course you are the referee when FB are at home to Galatasaray. Contrast that with the penalties FB regularly get when Alex gets breathed on and you will understand all GS fans frustration. Comparing the penalty Ronalda got for Man Utd earlier in the day with the non-penalty here really makes me wonder sometimes about the need for video referring being added.Would it have changed the eventual result, may be not as GS did not deserve to win, not enough chances made, but I guess we will never know.
Deivid should really know better as well, his reaction making it clear that he knew he had head butted a GS player, maybe he was provoked but retaliation will always be more severely punished. The only surprise was that Alex had not been penalized for a similar incident a few minutes earlier when he clearly kicked out at Ugur when he refused to play the ball out just because some FB player was feigning injury on the pitch. The unwritten law has been set aside, as long as the ref does not stop play the players don't have to.
All in all a reasonable performance from the Carling Cup team. IF thats the best FB could do against our second team then I would much rather be in the position Galatasaray are in than FB I have to say.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Anticipation
Big weekend coming up with the derby match over in Asia against some team called FB. Its also the Basketball derby as well where the caffeine addicts take on the biscuit boys of kadikoy.....
So it could well be a bad weekend for me or a good one. I have to say though that I am not optimistic. The last few seasons apart from the Turkish Cup triumph in 2005 at 5-1 we have struggled to beat the blue collar team from the poorer side of the water.....as was said about those who settled in what was chalcedon.... why???????? when you have the golden horn to live near??
SO is this me getting my excuses in early, hell yes but also being realistic. Normally these games are hyped up and the match itself is not that good, remember when CimBom had four player sent off a couple of seasons ago??? Mind you I also remember last year when Mondragon was deafened and blinded by a flare thrown by a so-called supporter and then in the return match the players were weaving between seats etc....
I am sure Firat Aydinus will have things under control,can we not put in a last request for Rob Styles though....Alex would definitely be red carded in that case...
UEFA cup results did not go our way. We could win the last match and still not qualify, losing at home was not a good idea.....however the Husband was born in Bolton and his Mum still lives theer so he is feeling happy but worried tonight. Fancy that they beat Red Star in Belgrade with their B team, the first English Club to do that and now the destiny is out of their hands despite not losing a game and even drawing with FC Hollywood.
Heres hoping.......
So it could well be a bad weekend for me or a good one. I have to say though that I am not optimistic. The last few seasons apart from the Turkish Cup triumph in 2005 at 5-1 we have struggled to beat the blue collar team from the poorer side of the water.....as was said about those who settled in what was chalcedon.... why???????? when you have the golden horn to live near??
SO is this me getting my excuses in early, hell yes but also being realistic. Normally these games are hyped up and the match itself is not that good, remember when CimBom had four player sent off a couple of seasons ago??? Mind you I also remember last year when Mondragon was deafened and blinded by a flare thrown by a so-called supporter and then in the return match the players were weaving between seats etc....
I am sure Firat Aydinus will have things under control,can we not put in a last request for Rob Styles though....Alex would definitely be red carded in that case...
UEFA cup results did not go our way. We could win the last match and still not qualify, losing at home was not a good idea.....however the Husband was born in Bolton and his Mum still lives theer so he is feeling happy but worried tonight. Fancy that they beat Red Star in Belgrade with their B team, the first English Club to do that and now the destiny is out of their hands despite not losing a game and even drawing with FC Hollywood.
Heres hoping.......
Sunday, December 02, 2007
Good and bad
So this week has seen the good and the bad side of CimBom.
The good side was the 3-0 win over Panionis which means we still have a chance of qualifying for the next round of the UEFA cup.
The bad was the first half performance today against the Municipality team. Horrible does not even come close.
Slightly better was the second half performance and at least we managed a point with Umit as he has done very often scoring right at the death. I have to say that if this was last season we would have lost tis match and it seems like GS have the determination back again. Also good was Hasan's red card as this means he will miss the FB match next weekend and as he a shadow of the player he used to be that is a good thing, he has become a liability, always walking the line to a red card.
Looks like Turkey may wit a bit of luck have three teams in the next stages of the European competitions. With the changes to the qualification criteria this is probably a good thing as the Lig will get more points.
Well with Sivas losing this keeps GS top but now only 4 points to the Kadikoy mob and its the big derby next weekend in Kadikoy. With Galatasaray's recent history against FB I am not overly optimistic I have to say but football is a funny game, look at Bolton's game against Liverpool today, Liverpool won 4-0 thanks to an offside goal, a very generous penalty one good goal and one lucky one, if Anelka had not missed an open goal at 1-0 then the result may have been very different.
Game of two halves thats what football is......
The good side was the 3-0 win over Panionis which means we still have a chance of qualifying for the next round of the UEFA cup.
The bad was the first half performance today against the Municipality team. Horrible does not even come close.
Slightly better was the second half performance and at least we managed a point with Umit as he has done very often scoring right at the death. I have to say that if this was last season we would have lost tis match and it seems like GS have the determination back again. Also good was Hasan's red card as this means he will miss the FB match next weekend and as he a shadow of the player he used to be that is a good thing, he has become a liability, always walking the line to a red card.
Looks like Turkey may wit a bit of luck have three teams in the next stages of the European competitions. With the changes to the qualification criteria this is probably a good thing as the Lig will get more points.
Well with Sivas losing this keeps GS top but now only 4 points to the Kadikoy mob and its the big derby next weekend in Kadikoy. With Galatasaray's recent history against FB I am not overly optimistic I have to say but football is a funny game, look at Bolton's game against Liverpool today, Liverpool won 4-0 thanks to an offside goal, a very generous penalty one good goal and one lucky one, if Anelka had not missed an open goal at 1-0 then the result may have been very different.
Game of two halves thats what football is......
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