Turkish Football Weekly - Episode 12

On tap for Turkish Football Weekly this week, Ata and Bugra discuss the results for week 30 action in the Turkcell Super League, including the Fenerbahce-Besiktas derby in detail. The hosts analyze the final four matches for championship contenders Bursaspor, Fenerbahce, and Galatasaray. Chris Wade (a.k.a. Oz Kanka) of the Round Ball in Ankara blog joins the podcast for a special interview. On the “Get to know…” segment this week, Genclerbirligi and Colin Kazim-Richards are featured. The show wraps up with predictions for week 31 of the Turkcell Super League.

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Beşiktaş file appeal for annulment of the Fenerbahçe match.

Beşiktaş has appealed to the Turkish Football Federation to annul the result of the week 30 match between them and Fenerbahçe. Beşiktaş has accused Fenerbahçe of violating rules as it pertains to Fenerbahçe defender Fabio Bilica's digging of the penalty spot during the 64^th minute of the match, in which Beşiktaş was awarded a penalty. Beşiktaş has noted that Bilica's actions violated the spirit of fair play. Beşiktaş has also claimed that Bilica violated the 22^nd and 24^th provisions of the TFF code, which means that Fenerbahçe would automatically be declared the losing side.

Now regardless of Bilica's idiocy, I think this has to fall on referee Huseyin Gocek's shoulders. Gocek could clearly see that Bilica was digging a divot in the penalty spot, and yet did nothing about it. Bilica had already gotten a yellow for taking down Ugur Inceman in the box, so Bilica should have been sent off as he should have gotten a second yellow in succession. Now it isn't as if this hasn't happened before. I can remember a match in Major League Soccer some time back where a player for the Columbus Crew made a divot on the penalty spot in order to make the opposing spot kick taker miss. It worked. So I don't blame Bilica for trying to keep the advantage for his team. What I have a problem with is Bilica's blatant actions.

I highly doubt that the TFF would even bother with this case. It seems like such a non-issue. However, if the rules have been violated then Fenerbahçe, and Bilica, should be punished for it. Whether the TFF will take up the case is a different story altogether.

 

Bursaspor’s Final Exam

With the Turkcell Super League season now going into its last four weeks, the usual contenders are in the race for the title.  With Beşiktaş losing to Fenerbahçe over the weekend, it seems as though Beşiktaş is out of the title race, leaving Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray to slug it out over the title.  What has been a refreshing surprise, however, is the performance of Bursaspor.  Bursaspor currently lead the Turkcell Super League standings, with a gap of one point over Fenerbahçe and four points over Galatasaray.  With emerging stars such as Volkan Sen, Sercan Yildirim, and Ozan Ipek, and veterans such as Huseyin Cimsir, Leonardo Iglesias, Omer Erdogan, Dimitar Ivankov, and Ali Tandogan, Bursaspor look to be the first team since Trabzonspor last did so in the 1983-84 season to break the Istanbul big three stranglehold on the Turkcell Super League championship.  But with the way their schedule looks in the last four weeks, it looks to be a tough road for Bursaspor to win the title.  These last four weeks may be looked at as Bursaspor's final exam in their quest to be called champions.

Bursaspor's first test will be this coming weekend against Galatasaray.  This will be Bursaspor's only road match to be played in the next four weeks.  Going to Ali Sami Yen stadium is never easy for any opposing team, much less an Anatolian team who have never, before this season, led the standings in the Turkcell Super League at any point during the season.  With Galatasaray still having an outside shot at taking the title, Bursaspor will have to get past a loaded Galatasaray team.  With the likes of Arda Turan, Milan Baros, Abdul Kader Keita, Giovani dos Santos, and Sabri Sarioglu, Bursaspor will have to be on it's A game.  The intimidating atmosphere of the Ali Sami Yen has earned its nickname of "Hell" for good reason.  Galatasaray's home record is outstanding, with only one loss at home in the entire season, with that one loss coming against Fenerbahçe a few weeks ago.  But it should be stated that Bursaspor's road record isn't too bad either, with their road record of eight wins, four draws, and three losses, the best road record in the league.  The pressure will be enormous for Bursaspor, and should they get the win here, it would go a long way for their challenge for the title.

The second part of their test will come the following week against Kayserispor in Bursa.  Kayserispor have perhaps one of the best forwards in the Turkcell Super League in Ariza Makukula.  The defense for Bursaspor will have to find a way to shut him down, because Makukula has exposes many a defense in the Turkcell Super League with his size and scoring prowess.  Also, another player for Bursaspor to watch out for is Franco Cangele.  Cangele is at his best as a support striker for Makukula, and should Bursaspor tightly mark Makukula, it could leave openings for Cangele to leave his mark.  Don't count out Kayserispor's defense either, led by Kayserispor captain Aydin Toscali.  What is advantageous for Bursaspor is that this match, and its last match to be played this season, will both be home games.  Bursa Ataturk Stadium has been a fortress for opposing teams.  With the famed Bursaspor supporters group Teksas (and yes, they are named after the state in the USA, but replace the x with ks due to the letter x not being used in the Turkish alphabet) leading the chants, Bursaspor can count on great home support.  Bursaspor's home record is also very good, with a current record of twelve wins, one draw, and two losses.  With the home crowd support, Bursaspor will be inspired and this can light a fire under Yildirim, Sen, Ipek, and the rest of the team.

Bursaspor can take solace in the fact that in these last four weeks, they are guaranteed at least three points in the standings.  In week 33 they get the bye as they would have taken on Ankaraspor, but Ankaraspor's disqualification gives them three critical points at potentially a critical junction of the season.  The last week of the season will see Bursaspor have another huge test, and considering there is the possibility that they might be leading at this point in the season, this match will prove their character.

This is because Beşiktaş comes into Bursa for the final match of Bursaspor's season.  Playing one of the Istanbul big three in one week is tough as it is.  However, playing two of them, in a span of four weeks, makes Bursaspor's work cut out for them.  With this match, there is the possibility that Beşiktaş will be out of contention for the title by this time, if their loss to Fenerbahçe this past weekend is any indication.  With such attacking presence with Rodrigo Tello, and Bobo, Beşiktaş is still a threat to any team during these last few weeks.  Ibrahim Uzulmez, the ageless wonder of Beşiktaş, leads a stout defensive team that features Matteo Ferrari and Tomas Sivok.  But with the match to be played at Bursa Ataturk Stadium, Bursaspor will have all to play for and will be looking over their shoulder at the other title contenders.  Bursaspor is under the gun as it is already.  Should they be leading the standings going into the last week of the season, and there is a good possibility of that happening, Bursaspor will be under tremendous pressure to finally win a championship.  Many of their younger players in their squad will certainly be under the microscope.  With this match as their final match of the season, those players will have to shoulder the pressure and make sure that they don't get affected by it.

Bursaspor have the toughest road ahead of them if they want to claim the Turkcell Super League title.  Manager Ertugrul Saglam is perhaps the one manager that is under the most powerful microscope.  He will be the one who will have to handle the pressure of trying to lead his club to heights they have never achieved.  Considering that Saglam is not the typical over-emotional Turkish coach, and him having experience coaching one of the big three (Beşiktaş), and having Champions League experience (coached Beşiktaş in the 2007-08 Champions League), he will most likely relish the pressure of trying to lead Bursaspor to its first title.  No Anatolian teams, other than Trabzonspor, have ever won the Turkcell Super League since the league was established in 1959.  Perhaps if any team deserves to win it this year, it should be Bursaspor.  Bursaspor is the team to watch going into the last four weeks of the season, because they could finally break the Istanbul deadlock, and it would be a great story, and perhaps benefit Turkish football as a whole.  If they do win the Turkcell Super League title, considering their last four weeks is the toughest schedule out of all the championship contenders, Bursaspor can definitely say that they earned it.

Turkish Football Weekly

There is a podcast now available in the English language about Turkish football. I found this while bored on the internet. It can be downloaded through iTunes or through World Soccer Reader. Go ahead and start downloading it, I hear it's really good.





Then again, I'm the one doing the podcast. Go me. :)

Turkcell Super League – Week 23 recap

With the disappointment of both Turkish teams getting knocked out in the Europa League, it was back to business as usual. Week 23 of the Turkcell Super League season was another one of those weeks where things seemed to be business as usual. Some teams would be disappointed, some teams would feel elated. The drive for the title would produce excitement this week.

Trabzonspor was looking to keep up a very interesting streak of sorts. Trabzonspor has not lost at all in the calendar year. But with a draw last week, they would look to win against Antalyaspor. It looked good for Trabzonspor in the fifth minute. Selcuk Inan's corner was headed into the net by Burak Yilmaz, and it sent the Trabzonspor fans into a frenzy. Antalyaspor would answer back. In the 16^th minute, Veysel Cihan's pass found Necati Ates in the box, and Ates made Trabzonspor pay for their defensive lapse and tied the match. The rest of the first half saw chances, but the teams did not put their attempts on net. The second half saw Trabzonspor come out more aggressively. Selcuk Inan's free kick in the 50^th minute barely missed the goal. In the 57^th minute, Engin Baytar made a terrific pass to Inan finding Inan with a golden opportunity for the goal. But Inan's resulting shot went out, to the disbelief of the Trabzonspor fans. Trabzonspor had another chance in the 70^th minute, but the Antalyapsor defense held. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Trabzonspor still has yet to lose in the calendar year, but rues the opportunity to at least get a win, against an opponent they considered before the match started to be "like sugar". That probably meant that Trazbonspor would get a sweet win, but it was not to be.

Bursaspor seems to be having a dream season so far. With their comeback victory over Fenerbahçe last week, many would be looking to see what they could do for an encore against Sivasspor. Bursaspor came out aggressively, as Turgay Bahadir barely missed shots in the 3^rd, 8^th, and 11^th minutes. It seemed as though who was winning was determined in those first eleven minutes. In the 30^th minute, Sivasspor's Ibrahim Dagasan found Bursaspor's Ivan Ergic, setting up a free kick for Bursaspor. Pablo Batalla fired the free kick into the net to put Bursaspor up 1-0. In the 31^st minute, Ali Tandogan's cross from the right flank was headed toward goal by Ozan Ipek, but Sivasspor goalkeeper Akin Vardar had to stretch out to save the attempt. Bursaspor went into the halftime break up 1-0, and with plenty of confidence. They came out all guns blazing in the second half. In the 48^th minute, Ali Tandogan's free kick from the left wing was headed in by Turgay Bahadir and Bursaspor was up 2-0. In the 50^th minute, Ozan Ipek received a long pass from midfield. Ipek shot the ball as he went into the box. After a defensive block, Ipek got another shot, and put the ball in the net to give Bursaspor a three goal lead. Bursaspor seemed to dominate the entire match, and after the third goal, the match was pretty much over. Bursaspor beat Sivasspor 3-0 and could potentially be a serious contender for the championship. Bursaspor still has a game in hand and if they continue their run of current form, it is possible that Bursaspor could at least get a Champions League spot, or become champions.

The match of the week this week feature Beşiktaş travelling to the Kadir Has stadium to face Kayserispor. With the recent earthquake in Chile, Beşiktaş' Rodrigo Tello was playing with a heavy heart, and wore a black armband to show solidarity to his country. He would make his presence known in the 2^nd minute, as after receiving a pass from Michael Fink, Tello blasted the ball past Kayserispor goalkeeper Hamidou Souleyanou to give Beşiktaş a quick 1-0 lead. It seemed the match would be over by the 13^th minute, as Bobo's shot hit the post and almost gave Beşiktaş a 2-0 lead. After having the bye week last week, it might be observed that Kayserispor was a bit off this week. In the 30^th minute, Tello started another attack and passed to Bobo. Bobo then found Ekrem Dag, and Dag scored to put Beşiktaş up 2-0. Beşiktaş seemed to have control for the rest of the first half and were up 2-0 at the break. Beşiktaş seemed to take it easy in the second half, but Kayserispor seemed to increase the tempo. Kayserispor would draw one goal back in the 81^st minute, as Ariza Makukula scored. But Kayserispor could not find the net again as Beşiktaş went on to win 2-1. Beşiktaş crawled closer to a Europa League spot, which looked improbable considering their start to the season.

Without a win in their last six competitive matches, Fenerbahçe looks like a team in turmoil. With perhaps their title chances slipping away, Fenerbahçe looked to get back on the winning track again against Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. It didn't look good for Fenerbahçe as Istanbul BB struck first. Ali Guzeldal passed a through ball to Iskender Alin, leaving him behind the Fenerbahçe defense. Alin then avoided the charging Volkan Demirel, and put the ball into the net to give Istanbul BB the 1-0 lead. Fenerbahçe thought they had tied it a few minutes later, but when Deniz Baris shot the ball into the net, Andre dos Santos made a slight attempt to play the ball from an offside position, and the goal was called back. The second half saw Fenerbahçe put added pressure on the Istanbul BB goal. Fenerbahçe got the tying goal in the 57^th minute. After Dani Guiza's shot was blocked, Gokhan Gonul got the ball and advanced down the right flank. Gonul's cross was struck home by a volley by Alex de Souza. Some controversy came about in the 69^th minute. A long pass from Fabio Bilica was intended for Dani Guiza, which would have left him with a one on one situation with Istanbul BB goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic. However, Guiza was pushed down by defender Ekrem Eksioglu. Normally, the play would have resulted in a direct red card, but referee Firat Aydinus gave Eksioglu a yellow card. Achieving at least a tie would get harder for Fenerbahçe, as in the 79^th minute, Alex de Souza got a direct red card for putting his studs on Mahmut Tekdemir's thigh in a rash challenge. Istanbul BB took advantage of the ejection, and Iskender Alin scored in the 82^nd minute to give Istanbul BB the lead and the win. The Fenerbahçe winless streak went to seven competitive games and Fenerbahçe are seeing their title chances slip away.

With Fenerbahçe losing, Galatasaray looked to pad their lead in the Turkcell Super League standings. Kasımpaşa came into the Ali Sami Yen stadium, which has become a fortress for Galatasaray, as Galatasaray have yet to lose at home this season. The action got started in the 2^nd minute. Kasımpaşa's Sahin Aygunes shot a ball that was saved by Galatasaray's Leo Franco. Emre Toraman put the ball into the net, but since Toraman was in an offside position when Aygunes shot the ball, the goal was called back. If Toraman had left it for the advancing Yekta Kurtulus, the ball certainly could have ended up as a goal. In the 29^th minute, Abdul Kader Keita had a shot blocked and ended up being headed forward by Servet Cetin. Jo got the ball in the penalty area, passed the ball to Arda Turan, and Turan scored to put Galatasaray up 1-0. Galatasaray went into the halftime break with the 1-0 lead and confidence. In the 55^th minute, Giovani dos Santos fired a shot from just outside the penalty area, but the shot was saved by Kasımpaşa goalkeeper Murat Sahin. Kasımpaşa had a chance in the 57^th minute, as Ali Gunes fired a shot from 30 meters out and barely missed the post. Kasımpaşa got the tying goal in the 65^th minute, as Yekta Kurtulus scored. Galatasaray got the lead back in the 75^th minute. After a Giovani dos Santos shot was saved by Murat Sahin, Arda Turan headed the ball towards Abdul Kader Keita. Keita hit the volley off a bounce into the net. In the 82^nd minute, Jo was fouled in the box by Kasımpaşa defender Koray Avci, which led to Avci being sent off via a direct red card. Avci was the last defender when Jo made his attempt towards goal. Jo the converted the penalty to give Galatasaray a 3-1 lead. Two minutes later, Keita scored again to make the final score 4-1. With the win, Galatasaray pads their lead in the standings.

Other results in the Turkcell Super League were as follows: Gençlerbirliği 0-1 Ankaragücü, Gaziantepspor 1-1 Eskişehirspor, and Manisaspor 2-1 Diyarbakirspor. The top five of the Turkcell Super League standings as follows: Galatasaray is in first place with 50 points, Bursaspor climbs to second place with 46 points and a game in hand, Fenerbahçe falls to third place with 45 points, Kayserispor is in fourth place with 42 points and a +17 goal difference, and Beşiktaş is in fifth also with 42 points, and a +13 goal difference. Beşiktaş, like Bursaspor, also have a game in hand. With Bursaspor's and Beşiktaş' matches soon to be made up on March 10^th, the standings will be evened out, and will provide a clearer picture of how the league will play out. But there is still a long way to go.