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Friday, December 25, 2009

Former Galatasaray Defender Abel Xavier quits football and becomes Muslim!.

Former Galatasaray and Portuguese international player Abel Xavier has announced his conversion to be a Muslim.

Xavier held a press conference in the Ras Al Khaimah stadium in the UAE before a league match in which he announced his conversion and his new name – Faisal.

The former Galatasaray defender held the press conference in the presence of members of the local royal family and announced his official retirement from football. He is now set to take part in a humanitarian project which will benefit the lives of millions in Africa.

"It's an emotional goodbye and I hope to participate in something very satisfying in a new stage of my life," said Xavier. "In moments of grief, I have found comfort in Islam. Slowly, I learned a religion that professes peace, equality, freedom and hope. These are foundations with which I identify. Only after a thorough knowledge and an intense experience, I took this decision. I'd like to thank the royal family for its love and affection. They embraced me and made me feel special."

The 37-year-old Xavier last played for Los Angeles Galaxy. He launched his career in Portugal and pursued it in Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Turkey, Germany, and ultimately the
USA.

Source : Wires

Monday, December 21, 2009

DOES TRABZONSPOR HAVE A FINANCIAL PROBLEM?.HUGO BROOS SPEAKS OUT....

If you look at the Black Sea Region top team Trabzonspor, lately, there is a lot of weird things happening with this team....

They have wasted and sacked a lot of coaches in the past ten years....

They hired the coach that was sacked by their own hands, three times and rehired for the fourth time after they sacked Hugo Broos.

According the http://www.superlignews.com web site article, Hugo Bross, gave a recent interview to Belgian media and Broos, spoke about Trabzonspor's financial problems....


It was absurd to bring Senol Gunes for fourth time , when he announced in Korea he was going to rest for six months, after finishing his coaching career in S. Korea.....

They even went out of their way. to go to S.Korea to bring Senol Gunes to Trabzon...

They were desperate,,,,

Senol Gunes was going to be their savior....

For how long, I don't know?...

You could bet your money, If Gunes, loses three matches back to back or loses to Besiktas and Galatasaray, you could see him out the door too....

Because,that is how, things operates in Trabzon and in the most of the Turkish Super League teams!


Hugo Broos claimed, He and most of the players did not get paid for two months....

And the club officials wanted, Gokhan Unal and Alanzinho to be in the starting line up, from him...

Here is the whole remarks from Hugos Broos on http://www.superlignews.com ,web site...


After you read the interview and what Broos said , you are going to be shock!

But, I am sad to say, this this is what happens in the most of the Turkish soccer clubs in Turkey..

We have to admit this.....


But, This has to change...........

With professionals, running the teams and the league.........


HUGO BROOS SPEAKS OUT....


HUGO BROSS:

"The players wages were not paid for months, since the 28th of June no player wages has been paid. Only the players who had been left out of the squad, received their wages and they only did that because they were afraid of the players complaining to UEFA about their treatment by the club [since they are not receiving playing time either]."

"I myself didn't get paid between October and November, the board's president Sadri Sener had told me that the players wages had to come before my own and that they had a tight budget."

"Alanzinho was bought for 4 milion Euros and Gokhan Unal was bought for 6 million Euros. They wanted me to play them in the starting 11 even if they were off form, or were not motivated enough. If I didn't play them their values would drastically drop, they even had the assistant manager pressure me to try and play them both in the starting line up."

"Another situation that upset me at the club was the treatment of Ibrahima Yattara, he was forced to train even when he was injured the club expected too much of him. They even had the clubs doctor say he was fit to play even when he was clearly unfit! He came into training on one leg sometimes."

"There is also a problem with Tony Silva who wants to leave the club because he didn't manage to find a proper school for his child."



Sunday, December 20, 2009

Trabzonspor v Fenerbahce 1-2.... FENERBAHCE ON TOP OF THE TURKISH SUPER LEAGUE!

Fenerbahce captured the top spot in the Turkish Turkcell Super League, in the last match of the weekend and last match of the first half of the season.

Fenerbahce beat Trabzonspor in away match with Guiza's only goal.

The 17th week, saw three teams on top , Friday it was Bursaspor. who beat Besiktas and on Saturday, it was Gaatasaray, who beat Genclerbirgi with Harry Kewell's goal, now Fenerbahce after beating Trabzonspor, in Trabzon with one goal.

Spanish International player Daniel Guiza's goal moved Fenerbahce on top of the Turkish Turkcell Super League with 37 points.

Galatasaray who has 36 points finished the first half, on
second, Bursaspor on third and Kayserispor on fourth, Besiktas finished the first half in the fifth place with 32 points.

Trabzonspor and their new coach Senol Gunes missed a great opportunity to beat Fenerbahce at home and be a part of the chase for the top!....

Turkish Turkcell Super league will have a one month winter brake.. .

Here are the scores from 17th week....

20th December 09
Trabzonspor 0 - 1Fenerbahce
Ankaraspor 0 - 3Istanbul BB

19th December 09
Galatasaray 1 - 0 Genclerbirligi
Ankaragücü 2 - 3 Sivasspor
Kayserispor 1 - 2 Antalyaspor
Eskisehirspor 0 - 0 Diyarbakirspor
Gaziantepspor 2 - 1Denizlispor
Kasimpasa 3 - 1Manisaspor

18th December 09
Besiktas 2 - 3 Bursaspor

Friday, December 18, 2009

Besiktas 2-3 Bursaspor

Besiktas loss to Bursaspor, at home with the score of 2-3.

With this score, Bursaspor moved to the first place in the Turkish Turkcell Super League, on Friday night ,

Besiktas dropped down to fifth place with 32 points..

On Saturday, Kayserispor will be home aaginst Antalayaspor while Galatasaray will host Genclerbirligi. Galatasaray and Kayserispor both has 34 points , and the pressure will be on them on Saturday.

On Sunday, Fenerbahce will travel to Trabzon to play Trabzonspor. Fenerbahce also have 34 points

On the other hand this will be, the real test, for new Trabzonspor coach Senol Gunes. If Trabzonspor wins this , they too will be in the race for the top with 30 points.

Here is the Saturday and Sunday matches in the TSL...

Saturday
Eskisehirspor v Diyarbakirspor, Gaziantepspor v Denizlispor Kasimpasa v Manisaspor , Kayserispor v Antalyaspor ,Ankaragucu v Sivasspor ,Galatasaray v Genclerbirligi

Sunday
Trabzonspor v Fenerbahce

TURKEY'S SOCCER(FOOTBALL) ATTENDANCE IS NOT SO GOOD!

When I was reading the blog called "thebesteleven.com" I could not believed what I saw ..

In the attendance list Turkey was below MLS....


That is absurd and ugly, in my opinion....

The teams are talking millions and billions of dollars and there is not enough spectator to come to watch them!..

Something is wrong with Turkish football(soccer)!


The other major problem , no team or league(TSL) announces the attendance of the matches during or after the match....

That is also absurd....

So, to see Turkey, in the 17th place , in the attendance list was shocker for me...

Here is the list from www.thebesteleven.com .....

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009
World Soccer Average Attendance List
This is a ranked list of all the world soccer leagues (that I could find fairly recent numbers for) whose average game attendance was at least 5,000 per game.


41,914 - German Bundesliga
35,599 - English Premier League
29,124 - Spain La Liga
25,379 - Mexico Primera Division
23,180 - Italy Serie A
21,050 - France Ligue 1
20,886 - Argentina Primera Division
20,195 - England Football League Championship
19,827 - Dutch Eredivisie
19,278 - Japan J-League
17,601 - Brazil Campeonato Serie A
16,482 - China Super League
16,460 - Major League Soccer
15,550 - Germany 2.Bundesliga
14,915 - Scottish Premier League
14,058 - Turkey Super Lig
13,334 - Russian Premier League
13,242 - South Korea K-League
12,966 - Australia A-League
11.369 - Belgium Jupiler League
10,917 - Switzerland Super League
10,438 - Norway Premier League
10,390 - Portuguese Liga
10,326 - Vietnam V-League
10,258 - Sweden Allsvenskan
9,552 - Colombia Copa Mustang
9,338 - Austrian Bundesliga
9,216 - Iran Premier League
9,052 - Ukrainian Premier League
8,814 - Denmark Superliga
8,599 - France Ligue 2
8,112 - Spain Segunda Division
8,324 - England Football League One
7,622 - Greece Super League
7,526 - South Africa Premier Soccer League
7,336 - Uzbekistan League
7,329 - Poland Orange Ekstraklasa
7,219 - Brazil Campeonato Serie B
7,072 - Japan J-League 2
6,147 - Chile Primera Division
6,044 - Romania Divizia A
6,026 - Italy Serie B
5,453 - Germany Regionalliga Nord
5,305 - Israeli Premier League
5,147 - Czech Premier League

Turkish Super League weekend schedule...WEEK 17

Playing on Friday Besiktas v Bursaspor (1800)

Playing on Saturday Eskisehirspor v Diyarbakirspor (1130) Gaziantepspor v Denizlispor (1130) Kasimpasa v Manisaspor (1130) Kayserispor v Antalyaspor (1130) Ankaragucu v Sivasspor (1400) Galatasaray v Genclerbirligi (1800)

Playing on Sunday Trabzonspor v Fenerbahce (1800) *Ankaraspor v Buyuksehir Bld. Spor

* Ankaraspor have been relegated after their links to top-flight rivals Ankaragucu were deemed to be anti-competitive by the Turkish football authorities. A 3-0 victory will be awarded to the opposition in all matches involving Ankaraspor.


Source: Wires

Monaco 0-4 Lille - Full Highlights and Goals

Fenerbahce's opponent is French team Lille...

Can Fenerbahce have good fight with Lille?

Atletico Madrid Vs Real Madrid 2-3 All Goals (7-11-2009)

Galatasaray's oppennent in the Europa League is Th other Madrid team, Atletico Madrid...

What do you think?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Besiktas vs CSKA Moscow highlights... 1-2

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&from=sp&fg=shareEmbed&vid=1ce6000f-32bd-46f0-87f6-73c3e9855699" target="_new" title="CL Highlights: Besiktas/CSKA Moscow">Video: CL Highlights: Besiktas/CSKA Moscow</a>

Monday, December 7, 2009

Besiktas faces CSKA Moscow

CSKA Moscow needs to beat Besiktas in Istanbul and hope that Manchester United avoids defeat against Wolfsburg if the Russian side is to advance to the Champions League knockout stage on Tuesday.

United holds a three-point lead over Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow, which beat the German club 2-1 in Moscow.

United, which will secure top spot with a draw at Wolfsburg on Tuesday, leads the group with 10 points. Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow each have seven points. Besiktas has four. The top two teams in each group advance to the knockout stage.
CSKA Moscow comes into the game in poor form. It has just finished fifth in the Russian Premier League, its worst result in eight years.

The team will wear black armbands in memory of the 112 killed during a nightclub fire in the Urals city of Perm over the weekend.
CSKA will be without Chilean midfielder Mark Gonzalez, who is recovering from a long-term injury but expects to return next year.
"The team is ready to fight,'' Gonzalez said. "It will be a really hard game, but I predict a 2-0 win for us.''

Besiktas is third in the Turkish league, but will hope to draw inspiration from its 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford last month that ended a 23-match unbeaten home record in the Champions League for the English champions. United hadn't lost at Old Trafford since AC Milan triumphed there in February 2005 en route to the final.

Now, Besiktas is hoping to end its own drought at home where the hosts have yet to score a goal or win a point at the Inonu Stadium in this season's competition.
"Forget about the other game. Concentrate on your own game against CSKA. Your priority is to beat the Russians in front of your supporters,'' daily Sabah quoted Besiktas Coach Mustafa Denizli as saying on Monday. "We can take a look at the United-Wolfsburg result after our game and decide on what to do.''

CSKA Moscow coach Leonid Slutsky, whose team has been training at the Mediterranean resort of Belek in Turkey, said he expects a tough game.
"Besiktas is playing well at the moment. Every team has a leader, but we will be taking precautions against Ernst and Bobo,'' Slutsky was quoted as saying in Turkey's Radikal newspaper on Monday.

Besiktas has several injury concerns ahead of the game. Midfielder Erkan Zengin, goalkeeper Hakan Arikan and defender Ibrahim Kas are all likely to miss the game. Defender Matteo Ferrari missed training on Sunday due to a stomach infection and along with striker Filip Holosk is also a doubt.
The game will be refereed by Sweden's Martin Hansen, who failed to spot Thierry Henry's handball during the second leg of the France-Ireland World Cup playoff last month.


Source: Wires

Sunday, December 6, 2009

TURKISH SUPER LEAGUE REVIEW.THE WAY I SEE IT!

KAYSERISPOR CLAIMS THE TOP SPOT FOR THE FIRST TIME....

WHAT A WEEKEND IT HAS BEEN.....

I MEAN, IN THE NAME OF UPSETS, NOT IN THE NAME OF GOOD FOOTBALL....


By now, you probably herd, none of the big three's are on the top of the Turkish Turkcell Super League at the end of 15th week.

If you read my blog ,last week, in that review, I talked about this...



In the beginning of the weekend matches on Friday Besiktas had a chance to claim the first place from Fenerbahce if they were to beat Diyarbakirspor at home.

But instead. they gave a point to Diyarbakirspor with foolish mistakes on missed goals..

I do not understand, what Besiktas coach Mustaf Denizli wants from Nihat Kahveci...

It has been 15 week and he is still insisting on Nihat Kahveci...

Of course, Nihat was not the only one missed the goals ...

And the match ended with big 0-0 tie..

So, that was on Friday...

Besiktas could not cash in .....

On Saturday , Fenerbahce went down to the city, sits on right smack of Anatolia ,called Eskisehir.....

They said, they were going to challenge Fenerbahce and they will not be easy team for Fenerbahce.



Fenerbahce after winning in Holland, against Twente team was a little tired and missing some important players...



Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos was not included on the roster because he said he was leaving Fenerbahce.


If you add Kazim Richards and Guiza not playing to this...it was a dark day for Fenerbahce In Eskisehir...

Eskisehir means "Old City" in the Turkish language ..that "Old City" became, brand new City with this win on the Turkey's football map.

With the help of full house in the stadium, Eskisehir beat Fenerbahce 2-1 ....

They scored two unanswered goals back to back,,,,,,

Fenerbahce's goal came in the last minutes of the match....


It was litle to late...

What is so interesting is, against Twente and against Eskisehirspor, goals were scored by defender Lugano.


So, On Saturday, Fenerbahce, after falling to Eskisehirspor,three teams were making plans to capture the first place in the Turkish Super League on Sunday...

KAYSERISPOR.....BURSASPOR AND GALATASARAY..........

On Sunday, in the very important Anatolian Clash, Kayserispor beeat Burspo with clear 3-0 score and shocked everybody...

Azizz Makakula,reached to 12th goal in the fifteen matches and he is the top scorer in the Turkish Turkcell Super football League.

After this score we knew one thing, If Galatasaray wins at home against Istanbul BB, they will be the number one team at the end of 15th week,in the standings.

It looked that way until the last seconds of injury time..................

Young player from Istanbul BB Hasan Ali, silenced the Galatasaray fans in the very last seconds of the match.


Galatasaray scored one goal and slept on it...

Like Besiktas on Friday Galatasaray players like Arda, Elano, Nondo and more players missed very good opportunities during this match...

Galatasaray lost to Manisaspor just like this too..

This was heart breaker for Galatasaray fans ...they only not loss points they lost the first place in matter of seconds...


There will be a lot of Rijkaard talk this week....

Former Turkish National team coach Senol Gunes won his first match with Trabzonspor on Sunday after becoming the new coach for Trabzonspor .


Tranbzonspor beat Ankaragucu at home 3-0....


So, At the end of the 15th week, we see brand new League leader on top...

Whether Kayserispor could stay there , we don't know that just yet....

There are two more weeks left until the winter break in the league....


And they hold the lead only buy goal diffrence...

Other two teams, Fenerbahce and Besiktas also have 31 points...

But, because of goal difference , Kayserispor on top...

That should give the city of Kayseri big morale ...


LOOKING AHEAD......................

In the 16th week, This time Glatasaray will go first and they will travel to Antalya to play Antalyaspor..on Friday.

Antalya will not be easy team for Galatasarray............

On Saturday, Fenerbahce will play their second silent football match against Ankaragucu and that could be really bad for Fenerbahce players........

Because, they don't perform when there is no fans in the stadium....

As far as TFF , still using this punishment, you readers know my opinion....it sucks!...


On Sunday in the early match Leagues new top team will face the team who stopped Galatasaray, Istanbul BB.

And, Besiktas, the team who started this weekend on Friday will close the curtains in the 16th weekend,,,

They will travel to Manisa to play Manisaspor ...


THE MUCH OF SURPRISES WILL NOT STOP, AS LONG AS WHEN WE WITNESS INCONSISTENCE FOOTBALL IN TURKEY.


LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO SIVASSPOR IN THE LEAGUE.............

THEY ARE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL ...............

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AGAIN,

HERE IS THE RESULTS FROM 15TH WEEK


Galatasaray 1 - 1 Istanbul BB
Trabzonspor 3 - 0 Ankaragücü
Ankaraspor 0 - 3 Manisaspor
Gaziantepspor 1 - 1 Antalyaspor
Genclerbirligi 2 - 0 Denizlispor
Kayserispor 3 - 0 Bursaspor
Eskisehirspor 2 - 1 Fenerbahce
Kasimpasa 2 - 2 Sivasspor
Besiktas 0 - 0 Diyarbakirspor





















Tuesday, December 1, 2009

TURKCELL SUPER LEAGUE REVIEW..WEEK :14,

With out of doubt Besiktas is the biggest gainer of the week in the Turkey's Turkcell Super League.

You have to remember , Besiktas was behind 12 points Fenerbahce at one point....

But, last eight weeks it is been perfect for Besiktas.

At the end of the 14th week, Besiktas captured the second place and they are only one point behind league leader Fenerbahce.

The top team of the League Fenerbahce who has 31 points, after losing to Besiktas a week before this time they lost to no name team Kasimpasa...

Another Turkish Giant Galatasaray, went down in Bursa on Friday with one goal...

If you look at the first seven weeks of the Turkcell Super League, you would see Fenerbahce and Galatasaray in the most form....


But, from 7th week to 14th week , you see teams like Besiktas , Bursaspor , Kasimpasa and Kayseri teams put on the clutch in the league....


League Leader Fenerbahce, in the last 6 weeks only earned 10 points...

Out of three home matches they only earned 4 points....in the last 6 weeks.

If we were to look at the last 6 weeks standing we would see Besiktas in the first place Bursaspor in the second place and Kayserispor third place....

So, if we want to look at the league we have to look at two parts of the first half of the season.


But, this does not mean it will stay like this...


There will be a lots of change on the top in the middle and bottom of the league ...


WE know one thing though....

There are four teams for the title race for now.....

Fenerbahce.....Besiktas.....Bursaspor.....Galatasaray


While Fenerbahce and Galatasaray losing blood in the league while other teams gaining in the league.

In the 15th week, Besiktas will open the weekend on Friday against Diyarbakir and Fenerbahce will face Eskisehirspor on Saturday in Eskisehir.

On Sunday, Galatasaray will face Istanbul B.B. and Kayserispor will host Bursaspor in Kayseri.

The out come out of these matches will effect the top race in the league....


Senol Gunes Signed with Trabzonspor...

Trabzonspor has a new coach.. this will be forth term for Senol Gunes as a coach of Trabzonspor..


I really don't think , the problem is coaches....

It is their current board officials who are in charge..........

Like the other coaches , don't be surprised if they throw Senol Gunes, under the bus, at the end of this season...


This is Trabzonspor!....


Here is the 14th week results....


Bursaspor 1-0 Galatasaray

Fenerbahce 1-3 Kasımpaşa
Antalyaspor 2-0 Genclerbirligi
İstanbul BB 1-1 Gaziantepspor
Manisaspor 0-1 Kayserispor
Ankaragücü 1-0 Denizlispor
Trabzonspor 2-1 Eskisehirspor
Sivasspor 0-1 Besiktas
Diyarbakırspor 3-0 Ankaraspor


UEFA Europa League.................


UEFA Europa League takes to the stage on Wednesday and Thursday night.

Current champions, Shakhtar Donetsk and last season's UEFA Cup finalist Werder Bremen, ensured

their place in the knockout phase on Matchday 4, along side Galatasaray. Wednesday night, will

see the top two in Group H meet, with Fenerbahce looking to ravenge a 2-1 home defeat

against FC Twente, while the following evening will see Panathinaikos looking to improve on

their 3-1 home loss to Galatasaray on opening night.