I missed this at the weekend but the Galatasaray team that started the stroll past Ankaragucu was 100% Turkish and 8 of the 11 were aged below 24, of course Hakan raised the average age to about 35!! On the bench were 3 players who had never played in SuperLig....
Doubly ironic then that the supporters of Brazilbahce were celebrating the other day due to the TFF's change of foreigner policy so that they can bring in a few more South Americans instead of developing local players .........and still not be top of the Lig.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
All too easy
Another trip to Ankara and another 3 points collected putting Galatasaray back at the top of the Lig after a brief flirtation with Sivas.
A reasonable performance today in the frozen wastes of Anatolia with 4 different scorers and Nonda who has been in excellent form recently not even playing.
Not a very difficult match today and it was basically killed off with three goals in seven minutes in the first half when Hakan, Arda and Umit scored. After that it was a non event really with Ankargucu looking as uninterested as their chairman who did not even bother to stay until the end!!! Serkan's late goal was an bonus for the average.
Considering who is missing the team is playing well and is still top despite the list of absentees who for today were:
Injured: Nonda, Ayhan, Linderoth, Lincoln, Hasan Sas, Okan and Hakan Balta,
Suspended: Baris
African Nations Cup: Song
So despite missing those players we are top. Cant help but feel there is something ironic in that. It amazes me that there are some Galatasaray supporters who consider Feldkampf should be got rid of despite this and Lucescu brought back. Okay, do that at the end of the season maybe but not right now, if anything Feldkampf's disciplinarian methods have improved the fitness and strength of the team and with the limited cash available he has blended a good strong team.
Looks like the wheels may be starting to fall of the Sivas wagon, it will be interesting to see how they react next weekend after Saturday's result.
A reasonable performance today in the frozen wastes of Anatolia with 4 different scorers and Nonda who has been in excellent form recently not even playing.
Not a very difficult match today and it was basically killed off with three goals in seven minutes in the first half when Hakan, Arda and Umit scored. After that it was a non event really with Ankargucu looking as uninterested as their chairman who did not even bother to stay until the end!!! Serkan's late goal was an bonus for the average.
Considering who is missing the team is playing well and is still top despite the list of absentees who for today were:
Injured: Nonda, Ayhan, Linderoth, Lincoln, Hasan Sas, Okan and Hakan Balta,
Suspended: Baris
African Nations Cup: Song
So despite missing those players we are top. Cant help but feel there is something ironic in that. It amazes me that there are some Galatasaray supporters who consider Feldkampf should be got rid of despite this and Lucescu brought back. Okay, do that at the end of the season maybe but not right now, if anything Feldkampf's disciplinarian methods have improved the fitness and strength of the team and with the limited cash available he has blended a good strong team.
Looks like the wheels may be starting to fall of the Sivas wagon, it will be interesting to see how they react next weekend after Saturday's result.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Story about Sivas in the Gruaniad
See the link to the Guardian for a story about how Sivasspor may upset the Istanbul clubs this season. Somehow I cant see it but I still hope they win on Saturday and lets hope for the sake of the SuperlIg that they do not disintegrate like Vestel Manisaspor did last year.
No comments about the new blog template????
No comments about the new blog template????
Monday, January 21, 2008
Your dinners in the dog....
Had to repeat this here.
Thanks to Murat over at Amerikan Turk and his contacts for this excellent piece..still does not alter the fact that your dinners in the dog though....
Rules of Men
via my friend, Jack Daley (who sometimes comments here with the moniker "nhrider". I've embellished it a bit!
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. (I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear " the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers, and do not aspire to be, ever.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports: It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1.. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it! (My favorite! -Murat)
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one .
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials...
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle. (My other favorite -Murat)
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf or soccer or bicycle racing.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape! (Murat takes exception to this one.. Round is FAT)
1. Thank you for reading this.
Thanks to Murat over at Amerikan Turk and his contacts for this excellent piece..still does not alter the fact that your dinners in the dog though....
Rules of Men
via my friend, Jack Daley (who sometimes comments here with the moniker "nhrider". I've embellished it a bit!
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down. Finally, the guys' side of the story. (I must admit, it's pretty good.) We always hear " the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side.
These are our rules! Please note.. these are all numbered "1 " ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers, and do not aspire to be, ever.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports: It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1.. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one: Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it! (My favorite! -Murat)
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one .
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials...
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle. (My other favorite -Murat)
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf or soccer or bicycle racing.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape! (Murat takes exception to this one.. Round is FAT)
1. Thank you for reading this.
Feast then famine
It had to happen, after the 5-2 tea session in Rize it was back to earth with a thud against Bursaspor on Sunday.
A 1-0 win against the 14th placed team was not exactly inspiring but at least it was 3 points and a return to the second place in the Lig after Sivas and the others all won.
The most positive element was Nonda scoring again, which makes 13 for the season with 10 in the league and 4 in the three games since the winter break. Thans good ness he is on form as no one else appears to be.
Bit of a short post today, teething issues the last couple of days.......
A 1-0 win against the 14th placed team was not exactly inspiring but at least it was 3 points and a return to the second place in the Lig after Sivas and the others all won.
The most positive element was Nonda scoring again, which makes 13 for the season with 10 in the league and 4 in the three games since the winter break. Thans good ness he is on form as no one else appears to be.
Bit of a short post today, teething issues the last couple of days.......
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Five Tea .....
So the SuperLig restarted after its winter break this weekend and it was a good weekend for Galatasaray who enjoyed five tea on the Black Sea Coast.
A modest 5-2 win at Rize stirred the emotions and was a good way to blow the dust of last year and get the New Year underway. A good performance all round although Rize did not exactly pose a big threat even when the equalized in the first half.
Nonda with a hat-trick together with Servet and Arda did the damage and put GS back to the top of the league for a day until Sivas beat Trabzon today to go back to the top. Anyway it looks like this will be a tight race for the Championship this season with the top 4 clubs separated by 4 points only with a large gap down to the 5th team. Personally I think we could just take all the points available for the top 4 against the rest and award it already and then we can take 4 months off and play the last 3 matches against each other when the weather warms up in May.....
Well can anyone seriously suggest there is any excitement left in the Super Lig for the supporters of anyone other than GS, FB, BJK or Sivas??????
A modest 5-2 win at Rize stirred the emotions and was a good way to blow the dust of last year and get the New Year underway. A good performance all round although Rize did not exactly pose a big threat even when the equalized in the first half.
Nonda with a hat-trick together with Servet and Arda did the damage and put GS back to the top of the league for a day until Sivas beat Trabzon today to go back to the top. Anyway it looks like this will be a tight race for the Championship this season with the top 4 clubs separated by 4 points only with a large gap down to the 5th team. Personally I think we could just take all the points available for the top 4 against the rest and award it already and then we can take 4 months off and play the last 3 matches against each other when the weather warms up in May.....
Well can anyone seriously suggest there is any excitement left in the Super Lig for the supporters of anyone other than GS, FB, BJK or Sivas??????
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Cup football
Bit of a disappointing result on Saturday with a 2-2 draw away at Bursaspor in the Turkish Cup. Still with the cup format we have another chance to progress.
Unlike the FA Cup which is pure knockout and this weekend saw the end of Bolton, Blackburn, Everton from the Premier League beaten by teams form the lower divisions. I guess in some cases the Premier Teams like Bolton are not too bothered as the Cup may distract them fro surviving in the League but still with the talent at their disposal you would think that even the reserve team should beat a lower division team. However the Cup has a way of leveling things out, unlike in Turkey where we have groups and endless matches to get to the final. I assume that is to make sure only the Istanbul clubs get to win the Cup and monopolize the UEFA cup positions.....
Bad news heard recently is that Linderoth is probably out for the rest of the season so its just as well we bought Gungoren from Ankargucu as a replacement. The age of the GS is very young in general so its a bit worrying as the level of experience is low so we could do with a couple of the experienced players back.
Unlike the FA Cup which is pure knockout and this weekend saw the end of Bolton, Blackburn, Everton from the Premier League beaten by teams form the lower divisions. I guess in some cases the Premier Teams like Bolton are not too bothered as the Cup may distract them fro surviving in the League but still with the talent at their disposal you would think that even the reserve team should beat a lower division team. However the Cup has a way of leveling things out, unlike in Turkey where we have groups and endless matches to get to the final. I assume that is to make sure only the Istanbul clubs get to win the Cup and monopolize the UEFA cup positions.....
Bad news heard recently is that Linderoth is probably out for the rest of the season so its just as well we bought Gungoren from Ankargucu as a replacement. The age of the GS is very young in general so its a bit worrying as the level of experience is low so we could do with a couple of the experienced players back.
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