Never mind the bol*****

That right, never mind them, I mean just knee them.

What an idiot is Volkan Demirel the alleged goalkeeper from Kadikoy. There is absolutely no excuse for what he did and all the dribble about how Lincoln insulted his mother, sister, girl friend, auntie, cat, dog etc. etc. are just pathetic excuses from someone who is still in his mind a three year old.

Setting aside the team issue here I am going to comment as a Turkish woman. If Volkan was by a bad chance related to me I would be embarrassed by his display of so-called Turkish manhood. It might surprise you to know that I and many women see nothing heroic, brave or manly about kneeing someone in the testicles in an effort to defend our honour, indeed it sickens me to think that you believe we need such defence. I tell you we are quite capable of defending our own name and honor and do not need hairy arsed men to do that for us. Grow up. No doubt there are also women out there who think what he did was noble and I have the same answer, grow up you dependency freaks.

Anyway back to the game. Galatasaray 2-1 Brazilbahce. 4 red cards, 3 for Brazil and 1 for some unknown reason to Lincoln, maybe for falling over after the kneeing. Anyway this give CimBom the chance for the first silverware of the season if it is the Fortis Cup. In truth I am glad we scored a couple of goals after the dismal performance in the last couple of games.

There was a good quote after the game from some so called manager from the Kadikoy mob."Volkan is not going to be insulted by some Brazilian, he had to defend himself" So what does he do when Zico, R Carlos, Alex etc. call him an idiot ?????? Hilarious

Embarrasingly Inept

I was prepared to give the benefit of the doubt after Thursday's poor performance for a number of reasons. However there is absolutely no excuse for the shambolic performance offered up today. Kasimpasa are crap and doomed as they have no chnace of avoiding relegation and we played worse than crap.

Do the team want to win the Superlig. There will not be too many better opportunities to get a bit of breathing space but no, lets make it difficult and let the Kadikoyzilians believ they can still buy their way to the title.

Serioulsy the players should take a long hard llok at themselves and then donate a weeks salary to a charity of their choice to apologize for such a bloody awful performance.

Bad and better

Well Galatasaray's adventure in the UEFA Cup came to a bad end on Thursday night and no amount of aspirin will kill the pain of the 5-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkeusen. The 0-0 draw the week before had given us a mountain to climb and the wayward finishing in that match being a key factor in the draw. It was pity becasue in the first game we were probably the better team.

In the return match the team never really got started and coceding early was a blow. There have been ocmments around thta relying on young turkish players was a mistake but I do not believe that. Having to play Konya on Monday and then travel to Germany on the Thursdy while no thlping cannot really be used as an exceuse. Sometimes you have games like this where everything the opposition team does ends in a goal and everything you try does not work. I would say it was bad day at the office and thta the younger plyares will benefit from this experience even if it is very depressing. I mean imaging how Man Utd players felt two weeks ago losing at home to Man City but no-one suggests they are not good enough..

Anyway I was cheered up immensley today when the team that is looking to dominate for the next 10 years lost at home to Bursaspor so if we won tomorrow against Kasimpasa who are bottom with only 12 points we will open up a 4 point gap.

Whilst I am glad that Feldkampf has been brave enough to play young Turkish players I am happy that Lincoln is returning from injury as his experience will be helpful during the end of season

Strike one for the Federation

So the game was finally played in Konya today and Galatasaray duly won 1-0 with a goal by Umit Karan and an all round competent performance. Disappointing not to score a couple more goals and I hope the strikers get their eyesight sorted for Thursday against Leverkuesen.

Thats right we have to travel to Germany and take on Leverkeusen with only 2 whole days rest in between matches. Congratulations to the TFF for making sure that the teams representing Turkey in the European games get the best preparation. At least we know who the new President supports. Note that FB played Friday night and play the Chimps League game on Tuesday.

Still a wins a win and it takes us back to the top of the Lig by one point and a better goal average even though we did not spend loads of money on Brazilians. One good thing this season has been the fact that the goals have been shared around, if Hakan (8) does not score Nonda (10) or Umit (9) does and with Arda, Baris and Serkan Calik contributing it has been a healthy haul of goals. In fact CimBom have only failed to score in three Lig Games this season The other thing noticeable is the fact that the team looks much fitter than the last couple of seasons so despite the harshness of Herr Feldkampf's methods it seems to be working. Add to that a single red card to surprise surprise Hasan Sas and its been quite a good season so far. Lets hope they can keep it up.

Snowy Sunday

So the Galatasaray game was postponed due to the weather in Konya today. This means that Galatasaray drop from the top spot in the SuperLig and hands the psychological advantage back to Kadikoy unfortunately as a game in hand is only useful of you win it.

In the real world the fall out from the decision to allow religion to invade Universities continues to rumble on. While I am absolutely not a fan of the AKP, Erdogan and Gul I do not blame them for trying to achieve what Erbakan failed to do a few years ago. Personally I think they will not rest until Turkey is Islamified in terms of its law and culture. The people I blame most for this are Baykal and the intellectual pygmies in the CHP etc. who have failed to provide any form of leadership or counterpoint to the AKP. It seems to me they have been waiting for the Army to intervene and restore them to power if AKP go "too far". Well I am not sure the Army will intervene in this case and I hope they do not but goodness me do we need a credible Political opposition.

I am not exactly holding my breath though for this to happen.

Dohhhh

As Homer Simpson would say "East my shorts". As I would say, WTF? and as Feldkampf is probably saying along with every CimBom fan how did the scroe stay 0-0. Not a wonderful match in Istanbul Wednesday as the snow fell and the aspirin men were in town but we really should have won that game.

Considering the number of goals we have scored recently and the numbre of chances created it was frustrating to say the least. Oh well, I guess we just have to go to Germany and get the job done, I men its not as if Lerkeusen were pvery much better so with a bit of luck and the correct tactics all we need is a goal.

Time flies

Normally the thought of describing a Hakan hat trick even if it was against relegation candidates Vestel Manisa would have me keen to comment and critique etc. Good as it was and refreshing as it is to see CimBom thrashing in the goals left right and centre with an all Turkish team I must admit to a feeling of anger due to events unfolding, or should that be wrapping up in Turkey. I refer to the headscarf issue of course. This issue makes me exceedingly angry and glad that I moved to the US a couple of years ago as I have a hard time with the religious bigorty that is associated with the wearing of such symbols. Anyway enough has been said and written about this topic.

As I mentioned it was the wee ones birthday and my has time flown. Of course she is being brought up correctly in all respects as the picture shows.

Washed, dried and folded

Gentle run out today in Istanbul ended with a 6-3 training day thrashing of a very sorry Vestel Manisaspor.

More later. Guests on the way for Zeyneps 1st birthday.

Lest we forget

This blog is generally about Galatasaray and more generally the beautiful game and how she is practised in Turkey. However tomorrow February 6th is the anniversary of the Munich Air Crash whihc wiped out the 1958 Manchester United Team. Now I know there are many out there who say who cares its only Man Utd but when you check the statistics and look at who was lost it was more than just the death of a club side it also ripped the heart out of the England team and in Duncan Edwards capped 19 times by the age of 22 we lost one of the best English players ever.

Two consecutive league championships, a runners-up place in the 1957 FA Cup final, five back-to-back FA Youth Cups between 1953-57, a place in the 1957 European Cup semi-finals and the same again in 1958.

The average age of the team was 23.

In Ferguson, Manchester United have a manager who carries on the torch Matt Busby started with his Busby Babes, fast, attacking fluent football played by generally young teams. Long may it continue.

In memorium:

Players: Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, Liam Whelan.
Journalists: Alf Clarke, Don Davies, George Follows, Tom Jackson, Archie Ledbrooke, Henry Rose, Eric Thompson, Frank Swift.
Also killed: Walter Crickmer (club secretary), Bert Whalley (chief coach), Tom Curry (trainer), Capt Kenneth Rayment (co-pilot), Bela Miklos (travel agent), Willie Satinoff (supporter), Tom Cable (steward)

Blue Books 0 - Galatasaray 0

Those of you who know what a Blue Book is in Turkey will understand exactly what I mean by this title and if you dont....welll

Good game in the Turkish Cup today and a game that in truth CimBom should have won, Serkan Calik and Umit had great chances as did a host of other Turkish players. The South American budgies were left looking very ordinary, Dunga probably had a wasted journey unless to see the future of the Turkish National team play in black. Given the average age and experience this was a much better performance than last time in Kadikoy and if we carry on paying lke this we should have a very successful season.

Anyway back to the Superbowl.....