To everybody out there who reads this blog I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
(Delete as appropriate for religious preference)
And remember the Empire will strike back.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Winter blues
So its 12 Celsius, sunny and a bit windy and its the 24th December here in New Jooisy. what the hell is this, where is the snow, where is the ass-freezing, brass monkey affecting, cold weather!!!!! The Husband is not complaining he's out on his bike making room for the turkey and potatoes but me I just think there is something wrong about having nice weather at this time of year, unless you are in the Southern Hemisphere of course where Christmas is spent with a barbecue and a cold beer!!!!
No real football to talk about as the Turkish season is of course in hibernation until the real bad weather starts in mid January in Turkey. I do not count the Fortis Cup as that seems to be a tournament for the reserve teams at the moment. Of course if Galatasaray win it will be a different matter, like a couple of seasons ago when we won with the 5-1 thrashing of the hooligans.
So I am being forced to watch all the EPL games and even some rugby. IN the US footie is transmitted by Fox Soccer Channel which covers the EPL, French, German and yawn Italian leagues where you play spot the crowd. Then there is Setanta who also provides the missing EPL games as well as rugby, ozzie rules and various other odd games. So we spent all Saturday watching the EPL but today nothing!!!!!! What to do???? Luckily there is a James Bondathon on Spike TV today so thats sorted along with Sponge Bob!!!!
Actually I am glad the weather is good as taking the dogs for a walk can be a problem when it snows. We recently had a fence put around the yard though so when the weather is bad we can just let them in the yard.
Anyway time to go, You Only Live Twice
No real football to talk about as the Turkish season is of course in hibernation until the real bad weather starts in mid January in Turkey. I do not count the Fortis Cup as that seems to be a tournament for the reserve teams at the moment. Of course if Galatasaray win it will be a different matter, like a couple of seasons ago when we won with the 5-1 thrashing of the hooligans.
So I am being forced to watch all the EPL games and even some rugby. IN the US footie is transmitted by Fox Soccer Channel which covers the EPL, French, German and yawn Italian leagues where you play spot the crowd. Then there is Setanta who also provides the missing EPL games as well as rugby, ozzie rules and various other odd games. So we spent all Saturday watching the EPL but today nothing!!!!!! What to do???? Luckily there is a James Bondathon on Spike TV today so thats sorted along with Sponge Bob!!!!
Actually I am glad the weather is good as taking the dogs for a walk can be a problem when it snows. We recently had a fence put around the yard though so when the weather is bad we can just let them in the yard.
Anyway time to go, You Only Live Twice
Saturday, December 16, 2006
And now what???
So its Saturday night and Galatasaray beat Kayserispor in the Turkish Cup and now what!!!
No Super Lig until January guess I will have to watch all the English PL games. Not that I don't already but there will be no sanity break, in the unending display of bling, shaved heads and money for a few weeks.
Actually right now I am watching the NBA, New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately I rarely get to see Orlando or Utah! I sometimes also get to see the Euroleague and have seen Efes Pilsen play.
Why I hear you ask? Well that's who Hidayet (Hedo) Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur play for and whilst I appreciate Jason Kidd et al I would rather watch the Turkish Players. I know I never mentioned basketball before but I have always had an interest in basketball and years ago, pre-Husband, dated a guy who played for Galatasaray in the Turkish League. Had to use an orange box to kiss him!!!
Here in NJ the weather is far from December, in fact its more like April! Won't last of course but we are making the most of it. Had a fence put up in the yard recently so that we can let the dogs out whenever we want without them running off. This will be important when its snowing horizontally!
Both the husband and I have been enjoying some Winter Ale from Weyerbacher. One good thing about living in the US is that it has more breweries than any other country, although the consumption per head is not that high. Weyerbacher is about a one hour drive from where we live and they make some excellent beers. Apologies to all those in Turkey who unless they can get to Taps in Istanbul do not exactly have a large choice of beers, not that theres anything wrong with Efes of course but sometimes variety is nice!!!
So enough for tonight, Sunday brings Chavski and then the Man Utd game so thats the day sorted!!!!!
No Super Lig until January guess I will have to watch all the English PL games. Not that I don't already but there will be no sanity break, in the unending display of bling, shaved heads and money for a few weeks.
Actually right now I am watching the NBA, New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons. Unfortunately I rarely get to see Orlando or Utah! I sometimes also get to see the Euroleague and have seen Efes Pilsen play.
Why I hear you ask? Well that's who Hidayet (Hedo) Turkoglu and Mehmet Okur play for and whilst I appreciate Jason Kidd et al I would rather watch the Turkish Players. I know I never mentioned basketball before but I have always had an interest in basketball and years ago, pre-Husband, dated a guy who played for Galatasaray in the Turkish League. Had to use an orange box to kiss him!!!
Here in NJ the weather is far from December, in fact its more like April! Won't last of course but we are making the most of it. Had a fence put up in the yard recently so that we can let the dogs out whenever we want without them running off. This will be important when its snowing horizontally!
Both the husband and I have been enjoying some Winter Ale from Weyerbacher. One good thing about living in the US is that it has more breweries than any other country, although the consumption per head is not that high. Weyerbacher is about a one hour drive from where we live and they make some excellent beers. Apologies to all those in Turkey who unless they can get to Taps in Istanbul do not exactly have a large choice of beers, not that theres anything wrong with Efes of course but sometimes variety is nice!!!
So enough for tonight, Sunday brings Chavski and then the Man Utd game so thats the day sorted!!!!!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Europe Calls
So the Kadikoy mob got through to the next round of the UEFA Cup albeit with 7 minutes to spare!!! Good job too so that the Turkish League gains some points for the next seasons. If it wasn't for that fact I would definitely have not been supporting them.
Given the recent poor performances of Turkish teams in Europe I am not exactly holding my breath for their long term involvement though. Lets face it any team that loses to Newcastle United cannot be that special as the Geordies are not exactly setting the EPL alight this season.
Next up is Besiktas and here's hoping that they also get through so the SECOND city crowd might, just might get a sniff of Euro footie next season when they finish below the first city teams (as usual)!!!
One other good thing is that with hopefully both the other Istanbul teams involved in the UEFA then they may get a bit stretched and leave the door open for another successful domestic season for Galatasaray. It also of course depends on how many players leave Kadikoy in January as it seems that a few are wanted by other clubs, especially Appiah, Alex, Tuncay etc.
Anyway thats all for now....
Given the recent poor performances of Turkish teams in Europe I am not exactly holding my breath for their long term involvement though. Lets face it any team that loses to Newcastle United cannot be that special as the Geordies are not exactly setting the EPL alight this season.
Next up is Besiktas and here's hoping that they also get through so the SECOND city crowd might, just might get a sniff of Euro footie next season when they finish below the first city teams (as usual)!!!
One other good thing is that with hopefully both the other Istanbul teams involved in the UEFA then they may get a bit stretched and leave the door open for another successful domestic season for Galatasaray. It also of course depends on how many players leave Kadikoy in January as it seems that a few are wanted by other clubs, especially Appiah, Alex, Tuncay etc.
Anyway thats all for now....
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Poor but victorious
Not quite a vintage performance today more a shocker actually but 3 points is 3 points. Beating Bursaspor 3-1 was a result but should have been a bit easier than it actually was.
The first half was appalling, absolutely terrible...the defence was poor, the midfield non-existent and the attack barely functional. In addition the inept performance of the referee was not helping either team I mean there were three fairly clear penalty situations in the first half, one for Bursa and two for GS which he failed to notice, the one on Ergun being particularly blatant.
At least the second half was better from GS although it simply could not have been any worse than the first. Mondragon kept us in the match at times with a few excellent saves and the three goals were well taken even if Okan's was a bit fortunate. Sabri's goal was the best of the lot running the length of the pitch and chipping over the keeper, excellent.
So its into the winter break in second place, 7 points behind the Kadikoy mob. Sound familiar well it should as it was the same situation last season and we all know what happened then!!!
Of course there may be a lot of changes before the league restarts not least of which may be a new coach, I hope not but lets see what hasty badly informed decision the board makes. There may be some new players as we badly need an improved defence for the second half of the season and a holding midfielder, Saidou is badly missed.
Anyway now all I will be watching is the EPL where money bags Chavski are not having it all their own way this year, thankfully with teams standing up to them for once.
Bye for now.....
The first half was appalling, absolutely terrible...the defence was poor, the midfield non-existent and the attack barely functional. In addition the inept performance of the referee was not helping either team I mean there were three fairly clear penalty situations in the first half, one for Bursa and two for GS which he failed to notice, the one on Ergun being particularly blatant.
At least the second half was better from GS although it simply could not have been any worse than the first. Mondragon kept us in the match at times with a few excellent saves and the three goals were well taken even if Okan's was a bit fortunate. Sabri's goal was the best of the lot running the length of the pitch and chipping over the keeper, excellent.
So its into the winter break in second place, 7 points behind the Kadikoy mob. Sound familiar well it should as it was the same situation last season and we all know what happened then!!!
Of course there may be a lot of changes before the league restarts not least of which may be a new coach, I hope not but lets see what hasty badly informed decision the board makes. There may be some new players as we badly need an improved defence for the second half of the season and a holding midfielder, Saidou is badly missed.
Anyway now all I will be watching is the EPL where money bags Chavski are not having it all their own way this year, thankfully with teams standing up to them for once.
Bye for now.....
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
And the penalty is????
So Galatasaray won a meaningless game 3-2 against Liverpool tonight. Although they won, the usual problems surfaced especially with the defnece whihc has been the weak spot all this season. Lets hope the management recruit a couple of players in the January transfer window.
I also note from the Turkish media that Gerets is on his way out and that the short list includes Co Adriaanse, Ersun Yanal and unbelievably Graham Souness. So last season we won the championship and this season Gerets is not good enough despite not being able to recruit new players whihc is hardly his fault and then the board decide to play the European ames at the Olympic Stadium!!! Idiots.
Talking of idiots lets see whether the TFF have grown any testicles at all in dealing with the appalling behaviour of the Kadikoy mobs so called supporters during the derby match. It seems like all other teams get penalised if their supporters swear but for the Kadikoy lot no such penalties seem to apply. Whilst you can expect no better from the rubbish that passes as management over there and the crap that turns up at games with smoke bombs HOW the hell did such an object get smuggled in, one can only assume the polis are also on the payroll.
Forget whether GS should have had a penalty for the clear handball in the second half why was the match even going on after the smoke bomb incident. Selcuk Dereli should have had more concern for the safety of the players as obviously it cannot be guaranteed by the Kadikoy morons and the game should have been stopped. How embarrasing is it for the manager of the opponents to turn up with stitches in his head after being it by thrown objects.
Forget about fines and closed stadiums there is only one correct sanction for this, points deduction and blocks on transfer activity into the club like Roma recieved last season.
I also note from the Turkish media that Gerets is on his way out and that the short list includes Co Adriaanse, Ersun Yanal and unbelievably Graham Souness. So last season we won the championship and this season Gerets is not good enough despite not being able to recruit new players whihc is hardly his fault and then the board decide to play the European ames at the Olympic Stadium!!! Idiots.
Talking of idiots lets see whether the TFF have grown any testicles at all in dealing with the appalling behaviour of the Kadikoy mobs so called supporters during the derby match. It seems like all other teams get penalised if their supporters swear but for the Kadikoy lot no such penalties seem to apply. Whilst you can expect no better from the rubbish that passes as management over there and the crap that turns up at games with smoke bombs HOW the hell did such an object get smuggled in, one can only assume the polis are also on the payroll.
Forget whether GS should have had a penalty for the clear handball in the second half why was the match even going on after the smoke bomb incident. Selcuk Dereli should have had more concern for the safety of the players as obviously it cannot be guaranteed by the Kadikoy morons and the game should have been stopped. How embarrasing is it for the manager of the opponents to turn up with stitches in his head after being it by thrown objects.
Forget about fines and closed stadiums there is only one correct sanction for this, points deduction and blocks on transfer activity into the club like Roma recieved last season.
Dead men walking
Well here it isn't. What should have been a pulsating emotion filled evening in the cauldron that is Ali Sami Yen is going to be a meaningless affair played out in the echoing wastelands of the Olympic stadium. My goodness who would have thought when the groups were drawn that this would be the outcome. I thought we should at least have qualified for the UEFA cup and I guess we still can if we win about 6-0 and Bordeaux lose unless its done head to head when it is a truly meaningless game!!!!
From reports it seems that both teams will be effectively fielding reserve teams so I guess Hasan and Hakan will get games for once. Oh how the mighty have fallen!!!!!
With the lack of success in Europe it is getting harder and harder for Turkish teams to qualify and when they do they do nothing. It seems thath all teams want to do is win the Super LIg and have no other ambition. If it carries on like this we can expect to get headlines such as Stuffed Turkeys again when the National Team play becaues thie eventual lack of success will affect the National team.
Now I know that some countries have successful National Teams without strong National leagues or occasional strong teams, Norway, Denmark, Sweden immediately spring to mind. However when you look at where the plpayers earn their money most do it outside of their country in the EPL especially and elsewhere around Europe. In turkey however we have only one player in the EPL, Emre, a couple in the Bundesliga, one in Spain when he's not injured and that's pretty much it. Okay you say then we use home based players. Look at the rosters and Fenerbahce for example have not that many national level Turkish players (Tuncay excluded) as they rely on imports, Galatasaray have a few such as Arda coming through the ranks and the rest are playing for??????????
Is that depressing or what!
From reports it seems that both teams will be effectively fielding reserve teams so I guess Hasan and Hakan will get games for once. Oh how the mighty have fallen!!!!!
With the lack of success in Europe it is getting harder and harder for Turkish teams to qualify and when they do they do nothing. It seems thath all teams want to do is win the Super LIg and have no other ambition. If it carries on like this we can expect to get headlines such as Stuffed Turkeys again when the National Team play becaues thie eventual lack of success will affect the National team.
Now I know that some countries have successful National Teams without strong National leagues or occasional strong teams, Norway, Denmark, Sweden immediately spring to mind. However when you look at where the plpayers earn their money most do it outside of their country in the EPL especially and elsewhere around Europe. In turkey however we have only one player in the EPL, Emre, a couple in the Bundesliga, one in Spain when he's not injured and that's pretty much it. Okay you say then we use home based players. Look at the rosters and Fenerbahce for example have not that many national level Turkish players (Tuncay excluded) as they rely on imports, Galatasaray have a few such as Arda coming through the ranks and the rest are playing for??????????
Is that depressing or what!
Sunday, December 03, 2006
When is handball not handball
When its the 88th minute in Kadikoy apparently. My goodness I think the referee was probably the only person who thought Turaci's use of the elbow to deflect the ball away from Hasan Kabze was not a deliberate handball. I challenge any of the Kadikoy mobs rabble out there to justify otherwise, if you do then you obviously cannot be a true football supporter. Plus Alex, what a diving complaining cheat.
Anyway it was the typical game of two halves. Galatasary were definitely second best in the first half but were by far the better side in the second half and created virtually all the chances with Umit and Necati denied by Volkan. Despite the loss it was good to see Galatsasaray play some better football, which is a good sign for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately it means there is now 9 points gap at the top of the Lig but think back to last season it was somewhat the same so it does not mean the seaons is over but some of the other teams have got to step up and kick the budgies off their perch.
bye for now....
Anyway it was the typical game of two halves. Galatasary were definitely second best in the first half but were by far the better side in the second half and created virtually all the chances with Umit and Necati denied by Volkan. Despite the loss it was good to see Galatsasaray play some better football, which is a good sign for the rest of the season.
Unfortunately it means there is now 9 points gap at the top of the Lig but think back to last season it was somewhat the same so it does not mean the seaons is over but some of the other teams have got to step up and kick the budgies off their perch.
bye for now....
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Medium day coming up
So tomorrow the match is in Kadikoy against the budgies. Seems like the media and all the kadikoy mob are hypeing this up to be THE MOST IMPORTANT MATCH OF THE SEASON. What a laugh. To be honest with you I am not worried about the result of the game at all.
This may be surprising and I will explain why.
Given the money that the Kadikoy mob have spent over the last couple of seasons just being able to compete with them is a minor miracle. Given the disparity in finances winning the championship last season was an incredible result which was probably a one off. The desperation to win anything is flowing out of the FB camp so obviously that all the other teams and supporters can feel it.
It is my belief that all the pressure is on them, not Galatasaray. If they don't win easily then that is an indictment on the team, manager and money spent. If Galatasaray can get some kind of result then I will be happy as it will keep the points to a sensible number. However give the run of results in the last few years Galatasaray will be lucky to get anything at all. Hence no stress for me.
I must say I am really glad that I do not support Trabzon, what happened to them. I mean they started off poorly and then get worse when they sacked the foreigner and brought Ziya Dogan. I am hoping they can improve as the wheels fell off the Vestel wagon, the second city teams are inconsistent as are Besiktas. Otherwise the Turkish league will become weaker and weaker as the Kadikoy mob simply buy their way to success!!
What will be will be........
This may be surprising and I will explain why.
Given the money that the Kadikoy mob have spent over the last couple of seasons just being able to compete with them is a minor miracle. Given the disparity in finances winning the championship last season was an incredible result which was probably a one off. The desperation to win anything is flowing out of the FB camp so obviously that all the other teams and supporters can feel it.
It is my belief that all the pressure is on them, not Galatasaray. If they don't win easily then that is an indictment on the team, manager and money spent. If Galatasaray can get some kind of result then I will be happy as it will keep the points to a sensible number. However give the run of results in the last few years Galatasaray will be lucky to get anything at all. Hence no stress for me.
I must say I am really glad that I do not support Trabzon, what happened to them. I mean they started off poorly and then get worse when they sacked the foreigner and brought Ziya Dogan. I am hoping they can improve as the wheels fell off the Vestel wagon, the second city teams are inconsistent as are Besiktas. Otherwise the Turkish league will become weaker and weaker as the Kadikoy mob simply buy their way to success!!
What will be will be........
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Gokdeniz bets again????
So after all the bluff and bluster Trabzon produced a lacklustre performance against the Kadikoy mob, contracts that to their performance against Galatasaray. Wonder how much Gokdeniz had on this match??????
So that leaves them 6 points ahead with the derby match next week. Lets just hope that Galatasaray get their act in gear and at least get a point. The only positive is that Volkan is a terrible goalkeeper so lets see if we can exploit that....small crumbs of comfort.
Meanwhile over in England the Man Utd-Chavski match ended 1-1. Having watched the game Chavski would be the more grateful as they were the beneficiary of the one or two poor decisions made by Howard Webb who otherwise had an excellent game. I refer to the elbow from Ballack, who looks increasingly like a waste of money, on Ronaldo and then the quite clearly deliberate elbow by Drogba on Vidic which was a truly Sheareresque nastiness, I mean he checked where he was and made sure it connected. So besides those two missed red cards and tow bad misses by Utd as well as a clear push on Ferdinand and the usual histrionics from Chavski they were probably glad to get a point.
So that leaves them 6 points ahead with the derby match next week. Lets just hope that Galatasaray get their act in gear and at least get a point. The only positive is that Volkan is a terrible goalkeeper so lets see if we can exploit that....small crumbs of comfort.
Meanwhile over in England the Man Utd-Chavski match ended 1-1. Having watched the game Chavski would be the more grateful as they were the beneficiary of the one or two poor decisions made by Howard Webb who otherwise had an excellent game. I refer to the elbow from Ballack, who looks increasingly like a waste of money, on Ronaldo and then the quite clearly deliberate elbow by Drogba on Vidic which was a truly Sheareresque nastiness, I mean he checked where he was and made sure it connected. So besides those two missed red cards and tow bad misses by Utd as well as a clear push on Ferdinand and the usual histrionics from Chavski they were probably glad to get a point.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Definite improvement
After Wednesday's debacle it was important for Galatasaray to get back on track in the SuperLig to keep the pressure on the Kadikoy mob. And back on track they got against Sivasspor with a comfortable 3-1 victory to go within 1 point of the lead.
It was good to see the positive manner on which CimBom started today and although they were 2-0 up after just 10 minutes it should perhaps have been more as there was at least one penalty when Arda was brought down and maybe another when Song was taken out. Still 2-0 and the game was effectively over once Umit Karan scored the third after just 38 minutes. I must admit that I thought the team was playing well and that we could have had 4 or 5 on the first half.
Of course the second half was not so good and as usual the team gave me some hard and nervous times when I thought they might throw all that good work away. That was the case when Sivas scored. More very poor defending from the lads left Mondragon with absolutely no chance and it seemed like they would continue to do that. Tomas and Song are definitely not on song this season. looks like we need to buy a defender in January or get Orhan back and fit.
The most worrying part of the afternoon was the site of Arda being carried off. He has been one of our best players recently and with the match in Kadikoy next week this would be a bad time for him to be injured.
Lets hope Trabzon remember how to play tomorrow and do the business so that the gap is reasonable by next week. I have to admit though that I am not very optimistic about the result I have to say as our recent form against the mob has been unimpressive to say the least. Anyway one can but hope.
Excellent match in the EPL today with Bolton ruffling the aristocratic feathers of Arsenal and a former Kadikoy member scoring two goals, thats right Anelka managed his first goals for Bolton.
And tomorrow its Chelsea Man Utd.......
It was good to see the positive manner on which CimBom started today and although they were 2-0 up after just 10 minutes it should perhaps have been more as there was at least one penalty when Arda was brought down and maybe another when Song was taken out. Still 2-0 and the game was effectively over once Umit Karan scored the third after just 38 minutes. I must admit that I thought the team was playing well and that we could have had 4 or 5 on the first half.
Of course the second half was not so good and as usual the team gave me some hard and nervous times when I thought they might throw all that good work away. That was the case when Sivas scored. More very poor defending from the lads left Mondragon with absolutely no chance and it seemed like they would continue to do that. Tomas and Song are definitely not on song this season. looks like we need to buy a defender in January or get Orhan back and fit.
The most worrying part of the afternoon was the site of Arda being carried off. He has been one of our best players recently and with the match in Kadikoy next week this would be a bad time for him to be injured.
Lets hope Trabzon remember how to play tomorrow and do the business so that the gap is reasonable by next week. I have to admit though that I am not very optimistic about the result I have to say as our recent form against the mob has been unimpressive to say the least. Anyway one can but hope.
Excellent match in the EPL today with Bolton ruffling the aristocratic feathers of Arsenal and a former Kadikoy member scoring two goals, thats right Anelka managed his first goals for Bolton.
And tomorrow its Chelsea Man Utd.......
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Thanksgiving Turkeys!!!!
What an embarrassing performance last night from Galatasaray against Bordeaux. It was only after Arda had got himself stupidly sent off that the team even looked like playing but by then it was too late.
I really think Tomas is not going to be at the club much longer if he keeps on playing like he did last night. Song was better but not by much and in general it was a very poor and embarrassing performance.
Given the lower quality of the Turkish league it was always going to be a struggle to qualify but it has not been helped by not playing home games at Ali Sami Yen and thereby giving up probably 3 points straight away. I don't care if the stadium is small the atmosphere intimidates the opposition and gives the team a lift, well normally it would but with this squad I am not so sure!!!
So looks like we will not even have the pleasure of UEFA Cup football unless we can stick about 5 past Liverpool and Bordeaux lose. Not much chance of that though.
I guess we can concentrate on the League from now on and make sure we win the Championship or at the least finish second.
Until the weekend and Happy Thanksgiving
I really think Tomas is not going to be at the club much longer if he keeps on playing like he did last night. Song was better but not by much and in general it was a very poor and embarrassing performance.
Given the lower quality of the Turkish league it was always going to be a struggle to qualify but it has not been helped by not playing home games at Ali Sami Yen and thereby giving up probably 3 points straight away. I don't care if the stadium is small the atmosphere intimidates the opposition and gives the team a lift, well normally it would but with this squad I am not so sure!!!
So looks like we will not even have the pleasure of UEFA Cup football unless we can stick about 5 past Liverpool and Bordeaux lose. Not much chance of that though.
I guess we can concentrate on the League from now on and make sure we win the Championship or at the least finish second.
Until the weekend and Happy Thanksgiving
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Late birthday present
Excellent result today in Kadikoy with Besiktas drawing 0-0.
Now there is only 6 points between the top 5 teams I think which sets up the rest of the season quite nicely on the assumption that Galatasaray, Manisa, Kayseri, Besiktas and surprisingly Ankaragucu who are storming up the table having decided along with CimBom to not go for the draw title.
I guess the only people not happy are supporters and management of the Kadikoy mob who seemed to spend all their time complaining about the referee;s decisions. I tell you if Phil Dowd had been the official then there would have been a 7-a-side match going on out there. For those of you who did not watch the Blackburn-Tottenham game today Mr Dowd had a stinker and Tugay had one of those hero/villain days. First Tugay scored a screamer and then managed to get himself sent off for an imaginary trip on Ghally. So Tugay got a red card and Spurs a penalty which they scored from. Later Mido who was lucky to still be on the pitch handled the ball clearly in the penalty box and as he was on a yellow already everyone expected him to be off the pitch. But no, no card and no penalty....bizarre. So like I say be grateful for small merceis all the sari lacivert out there.
I was doubly glad as it was my birthday this weekend, good results and a good night out at Sultans Turkish Restaurant in Hackettstown, NJ. Most of the friends we were with we have met as a result of walking our dogs. Great things dogs for social contact!!! The exception is Mert who is our neighbour!!!!! Of course ot turns out he is a supporter of the Kadikoy mob, poor man but its incredible that we live next to each other in this corner of New Jersey!!!! Here is a picture of the Husband enjoying the attentions of the entertainment.......draw your own conclusions
Now there is only 6 points between the top 5 teams I think which sets up the rest of the season quite nicely on the assumption that Galatasaray, Manisa, Kayseri, Besiktas and surprisingly Ankaragucu who are storming up the table having decided along with CimBom to not go for the draw title.
I guess the only people not happy are supporters and management of the Kadikoy mob who seemed to spend all their time complaining about the referee;s decisions. I tell you if Phil Dowd had been the official then there would have been a 7-a-side match going on out there. For those of you who did not watch the Blackburn-Tottenham game today Mr Dowd had a stinker and Tugay had one of those hero/villain days. First Tugay scored a screamer and then managed to get himself sent off for an imaginary trip on Ghally. So Tugay got a red card and Spurs a penalty which they scored from. Later Mido who was lucky to still be on the pitch handled the ball clearly in the penalty box and as he was on a yellow already everyone expected him to be off the pitch. But no, no card and no penalty....bizarre. So like I say be grateful for small merceis all the sari lacivert out there.
I was doubly glad as it was my birthday this weekend, good results and a good night out at Sultans Turkish Restaurant in Hackettstown, NJ. Most of the friends we were with we have met as a result of walking our dogs. Great things dogs for social contact!!! The exception is Mert who is our neighbour!!!!! Of course ot turns out he is a supporter of the Kadikoy mob, poor man but its incredible that we live next to each other in this corner of New Jersey!!!! Here is a picture of the Husband enjoying the attentions of the entertainment.......draw your own conclusions
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Fun in the sun
Another day another win for the mighty CimBom and a rise to second place in the League.
I will be the first to admit that this was a fortunate win courtesy of lucky own goal, but a win is a win and at least we did not need referee or hand assistance. There were a few other chances but in reality neither Galatasary or Antalya played particularly well. Umit seemed to be keen to get the ball out of the ground with every chance he had and the rest of the team was struggling to pass the ball to each other. I wonder whether the problem was that Antalya were playing in the same white colours as Galatasaray played in last week!!! A notable exception from the mediocrity was Arda who once again had a good game.
I was also watching the Middlesborough - Liverpool game at the same time and with the lamentable quality on display from both games I have to say I dozed off a couple of times.
Elsewhere in the league Vestel Manisa got things back on track or at least stopped losing with a 2-2 draw, Oz Kanka is very happy and Sir Eski less so as Genc won and Ankargucu drew.
So lets hope the Eagles chew the budgies tomorrow to tighten things up at the top of the league.
I will be the first to admit that this was a fortunate win courtesy of lucky own goal, but a win is a win and at least we did not need referee or hand assistance. There were a few other chances but in reality neither Galatasary or Antalya played particularly well. Umit seemed to be keen to get the ball out of the ground with every chance he had and the rest of the team was struggling to pass the ball to each other. I wonder whether the problem was that Antalya were playing in the same white colours as Galatasaray played in last week!!! A notable exception from the mediocrity was Arda who once again had a good game.
I was also watching the Middlesborough - Liverpool game at the same time and with the lamentable quality on display from both games I have to say I dozed off a couple of times.
Elsewhere in the league Vestel Manisa got things back on track or at least stopped losing with a 2-2 draw, Oz Kanka is very happy and Sir Eski less so as Genc won and Ankargucu drew.
So lets hope the Eagles chew the budgies tomorrow to tighten things up at the top of the league.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
What are they thinking
So the Turkish National team managed a draw against the World Champions, Italy for those of you with a short memory, 1-1 in Bergamo. Does this make Turkey the joint best team in the world??????
I guess not.
I did not manage to see the game as I could not find it on the Internet so all I know is the reports. Anyway it was good to see Emre starting his first game after the Blatter ban.
Not so good was the fact that Fatih Terim cannot find an alternative to Hakan or at least cannot bear to start someone else. What is his problem. I know Hakan scored four goals in the last real match but even so I wish he would stop and save what is left of his form for the true cause!!!
Nice to see Kadikoy players helping the cause of Turkish football again by gifting a goal to the Eyetalians, if Volkan is the second best keeper then I say carry on Rustu as long as possible....did I really say that.
I was also so happy that it was Masseratti who scored the own goal, I mean it could not happen to a nicer player really, is he aware that 70's style facial hair is out in the rest of the world!!!!
Looking forward to the weekend when Galatasaray look to continue their winning run to stay ahead of the chasing pack, or at least Ankaragucu (amazing), with a three point certainty against Antalyaspor if we can get through the hordes of Russian hook..........holidaymakers!
I guess not.
I did not manage to see the game as I could not find it on the Internet so all I know is the reports. Anyway it was good to see Emre starting his first game after the Blatter ban.
Not so good was the fact that Fatih Terim cannot find an alternative to Hakan or at least cannot bear to start someone else. What is his problem. I know Hakan scored four goals in the last real match but even so I wish he would stop and save what is left of his form for the true cause!!!
Nice to see Kadikoy players helping the cause of Turkish football again by gifting a goal to the Eyetalians, if Volkan is the second best keeper then I say carry on Rustu as long as possible....did I really say that.
I was also so happy that it was Masseratti who scored the own goal, I mean it could not happen to a nicer player really, is he aware that 70's style facial hair is out in the rest of the world!!!!
Looking forward to the weekend when Galatasaray look to continue their winning run to stay ahead of the chasing pack, or at least Ankaragucu (amazing), with a three point certainty against Antalyaspor if we can get through the hordes of Russian hook..........holidaymakers!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Finally
So finally something to be happy about, a Galatasaray win!! And a comprehensice one at that 4-0 over Sakarayaspor. And with Besiktas and Vestel Manisa losing and Denizli drawing this puts us up into 3rd spot 6 points of the lace. And with the programme over the next couple of weeks the season may not be all over just yet!
Admittedly the win was over the second from bottom team but a won is a win and it was good to see the team play a bit better than recently. The defence still looks a bit shaky, note to Gerets see if you can find a centre half in January, but managed to keep a clean sheet. One real plus is the form of Arda, he has been one of the few players to play consistently over the last few weeks and he was very good today. Midfield was solid f not spectacular and Hasan Kabze proved that he still remembers where the goal is. Nice to see Hakan get a few minutes and a goal. However I would have thought that Carrusca should have been given a few mnutes once the game was won so that we can have more of a look at him.
I am still not convinced that this is a genuine Galatasaray team that can challenge for the SuperLig crown this season, mind you I thought that last season as well and look what happened, but we have a good blend of experience and youth and if Gerets gets the mix right we will be there or there abouts. Lets hope we can get through to the Uefa Cup with some positive results in the remaining Chimps League games as well so we have something else to play for and give the younger players some more experience.
Anyway I guess the Kankas will also be happy this weekend following wins for all 3 of the Ankara teams!!!!!
Bye for now....
Admittedly the win was over the second from bottom team but a won is a win and it was good to see the team play a bit better than recently. The defence still looks a bit shaky, note to Gerets see if you can find a centre half in January, but managed to keep a clean sheet. One real plus is the form of Arda, he has been one of the few players to play consistently over the last few weeks and he was very good today. Midfield was solid f not spectacular and Hasan Kabze proved that he still remembers where the goal is. Nice to see Hakan get a few minutes and a goal. However I would have thought that Carrusca should have been given a few mnutes once the game was won so that we can have more of a look at him.
I am still not convinced that this is a genuine Galatasaray team that can challenge for the SuperLig crown this season, mind you I thought that last season as well and look what happened, but we have a good blend of experience and youth and if Gerets gets the mix right we will be there or there abouts. Lets hope we can get through to the Uefa Cup with some positive results in the remaining Chimps League games as well so we have something else to play for and give the younger players some more experience.
Anyway I guess the Kankas will also be happy this weekend following wins for all 3 of the Ankara teams!!!!!
Bye for now....
Finally
So finally something to be happy about, a Galatasaray win!! And a comprehensice one at that 4-0 over Sakarayaspor. And with Besiktas and Vestel Manisa losing and Denizli drawing this puts us up into 3rd spot 6 points of the lace. And with the programme over the next couple of weeks the season may not be all over just yet!
Admittedly the win was over the second from bottom team but a won is a win and it was good to see the team play a bit better than recently. The defence still looks a bit shaky, note to Gerets see if you can find a centre half in January, but managed to keep a clean sheet. One real plus is the form of Arda, he has been one of the few players to play consistently over the last few weeks and he was very good today. Midfield was solid f not spectacular and Hasan Kabze proved that he still remembers where the goal is. Nice to see Hakan get a few minutes and a goal. However I would have thought that Carrusca should have been given a few mnutes once the game was won so that we can have more of a look at him.
I am still not convinced that this is a genuine Galatasaray team that can challenge for the SuperLig crown this season, mind you I thought that last season as well and look what happened, but we have a good blend of experience and youth and if Gerets gets the mix right we will be there or there abouts. Lets hope we can get through to the Uefa Cup with some positive results in the remaining Chimps League games as well so we have something else to play for and give the younger players some more experience.
Anyway I guess the Kankas will also be happy this weekend following wins for all 3 of the Ankara teams!!!!!
Bye for now....
Admittedly the win was over the second from bottom team but a won is a win and it was good to see the team play a bit better than recently. The defence still looks a bit shaky, note to Gerets see if you can find a centre half in January, but managed to keep a clean sheet. One real plus is the form of Arda, he has been one of the few players to play consistently over the last few weeks and he was very good today. Midfield was solid f not spectacular and Hasan Kabze proved that he still remembers where the goal is. Nice to see Hakan get a few minutes and a goal. However I would have thought that Carrusca should have been given a few mnutes once the game was won so that we can have more of a look at him.
I am still not convinced that this is a genuine Galatasaray team that can challenge for the SuperLig crown this season, mind you I thought that last season as well and look what happened, but we have a good blend of experience and youth and if Gerets gets the mix right we will be there or there abouts. Lets hope we can get through to the Uefa Cup with some positive results in the remaining Chimps League games as well so we have something else to play for and give the younger players some more experience.
Anyway I guess the Kankas will also be happy this weekend following wins for all 3 of the Ankara teams!!!!!
Bye for now....
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Other Istanbul teams blog
Looks like we have an addition to the rollcall of English Blogs about Turkish Soccer. Unfortunately its about Fenerbahce but well each to his own. I mentioned this blog a couple of post ago and so far it seems that Nathan the author is somehat touchy and does not like being wound up as he has not seen fit to add links to either the Kankas or my blog to his site, well what can you expect from a budgie fancier. Anyway in the spirit of encouragement I have added a link to me page so that if you wish to read about the Kadikoy Mob you can do, but why, I mean really!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Read the tea leves
Another disaster for Galatasaray today with losing to Rizespor. Its not just that they lost but the way they lost that upsets me. More poor defending and an inability to really step up the pace when it was needed. The players seemed to have no heart unlike last season when they fought for every point and in every game as if it were the last match they would ever play and of course eventually they were rewarded with the Championship.
I dont think that is going to happen this year though!
Players like Song and Tomas are not performing as well as last season and there is not much goal threat this year. Our main summer signings were Inamoto and an Argentinian who hardly gets to play! I know there is not much money at the club but were these the only players we could find to take the club forward. There are plenty of good young Turkish players coming from the youth team so maybe the club has to accept that this year is a rebuilding year and give those players their chance to show what they are made of.
Its ironic that in the weekend that Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 20 years in charge at Man Utd that it seems inevitable that Gerets will be on his way in the near future due to the short sighted instant success culture that is Turkish football. He has done a lot to give young players a chance and whilst some of his decisions during games may be questioned he led a group of players to an unlikley triumph last year. However football is a results business so I expect that the board will sack him sooner rather than later even though the board handicapped him with their decision to play the Chimps League games away from Ali Sami Yen. I also imagine that there may be wholesale changes during the January transfer window, certainly a new defence is needed and a striker who regularly scores!
Looks like th wheels have fallen off the Vestel wagon in spectacular fashion after their 4-0 loss to Bursaspor this weekend. A pity as I would like to see any team other than the Kadikoy mob at the top of the Super Lig. So it looks like Aziz will get his championship this year as I really don't see any team with the quality to mount a sustained challenge out there. Just like in England with Chavski it seems like a team can buy its way to the top spot.
I notice that the eski will be tormenting the oz up in the snowy second city afer todays game!!!
Until next time
I dont think that is going to happen this year though!
Players like Song and Tomas are not performing as well as last season and there is not much goal threat this year. Our main summer signings were Inamoto and an Argentinian who hardly gets to play! I know there is not much money at the club but were these the only players we could find to take the club forward. There are plenty of good young Turkish players coming from the youth team so maybe the club has to accept that this year is a rebuilding year and give those players their chance to show what they are made of.
Its ironic that in the weekend that Sir Alex Ferguson celebrates 20 years in charge at Man Utd that it seems inevitable that Gerets will be on his way in the near future due to the short sighted instant success culture that is Turkish football. He has done a lot to give young players a chance and whilst some of his decisions during games may be questioned he led a group of players to an unlikley triumph last year. However football is a results business so I expect that the board will sack him sooner rather than later even though the board handicapped him with their decision to play the Chimps League games away from Ali Sami Yen. I also imagine that there may be wholesale changes during the January transfer window, certainly a new defence is needed and a striker who regularly scores!
Looks like th wheels have fallen off the Vestel wagon in spectacular fashion after their 4-0 loss to Bursaspor this weekend. A pity as I would like to see any team other than the Kadikoy mob at the top of the Super Lig. So it looks like Aziz will get his championship this year as I really don't see any team with the quality to mount a sustained challenge out there. Just like in England with Chavski it seems like a team can buy its way to the top spot.
I notice that the eski will be tormenting the oz up in the snowy second city afer todays game!!!
Until next time
Friday, November 03, 2006
From worse to worser
Not sure if thats correct English but it adequately describes the state of Turkish teams in Europe at the moment with Besiktas following their usual dismal showing by losing to Dinamo Bucharest. It seems like The Eagles are simply useless in Europe as they never seem to win games at all, last year failing to beat even workmanlike teams like Bolton! As for the GS PSV match seems like most commentators agree that we were unlucky and that the sending off changed the game, typical!
PSV are usually one of the contenders for the Dutch League but I remember a few years ago they came to Istanbul in the Chimps League and we played them off the pitch at Ali Sami Yen. Maybe the idiots who decided we should play at the Olympic Stadium should think about that and learn from it.
As for the state of Turkish soccer this is seomthing that concerns me as you all know and I have posted on this before so I will save my fingers. But if this carries on the only chance the Ankara boys of seeing Euro football next season is by watching it on TV. Any more poor results and we may end up having to start in the first qualifying round in July with only one team. Suddenly the Intertoto Cup looks appealing.
Anyway this weekend Galatasaray will enjoy a fresh cuppa at Rizespor whilst the mid table teams play for bragging rights in the Chopin!!
Elsewhere Gaziantep carry the hopes of the other teams, even they are entering the Bermuda Triangle of referees and lets hope Vestel cne get back on track against Bursaspor
PSV are usually one of the contenders for the Dutch League but I remember a few years ago they came to Istanbul in the Chimps League and we played them off the pitch at Ali Sami Yen. Maybe the idiots who decided we should play at the Olympic Stadium should think about that and learn from it.
As for the state of Turkish soccer this is seomthing that concerns me as you all know and I have posted on this before so I will save my fingers. But if this carries on the only chance the Ankara boys of seeing Euro football next season is by watching it on TV. Any more poor results and we may end up having to start in the first qualifying round in July with only one team. Suddenly the Intertoto Cup looks appealing.
Anyway this weekend Galatasaray will enjoy a fresh cuppa at Rizespor whilst the mid table teams play for bragging rights in the Chopin!!
Elsewhere Gaziantep carry the hopes of the other teams, even they are entering the Bermuda Triangle of referees and lets hope Vestel cne get back on track against Bursaspor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)