Fenerbahce vs Marseille Preview

Fenerbahce will host Marseille in Istanbul  tonight....

After saying good bye  to Champions League, Fenerbahce will play their first match in the Europa Cup..

In front of full packed Sukru Saracoglu stadium, Fenerbahce wants to start with a win tonight....

Fener's Senegal striker Moussa Sow knows what to expect from Marseille, having played in France - the country of his birth and which he represented at under-21 level - for six years with Rennes, Sedan and Lille.

"First of all, this match will not be easy," he told reporters . I think it will be difficult. Marseille have started well in the league this year and won five games in a row."

The 10million euro signing has faced criticism this season after scoring only twice in five games and acknowledged: "I came to Fenerbahce to score goals and that is what they signed me for.

"But a striker is not only there to score goals, but also to play deeper, make key passes and help the team as a whole."

Dirk Kuyt and Mehmet Topal have joined Milos Krasic on Fener's injury list, and there are also doubts over Serdar Kesimal and Egemen Korkmaz.

Marseille's  defender Nicolas N'koulou  knows the feeling at Sukru Saracoglu and he said he is looking forward to play there,,,,

"Playing there is special, especially with the atmosphere, and I want to experience that," he said.

"They are a team to take seriously, a big club with a big history. We will do what we can to get something from the game."

Fenerbahce and Marseille will face each other for the first first time....

Joey Barton could make a start for French team tonight...

Raul Meireless will  start for Fenerbahce ....

If Dirk Kut plays , he could be the go to guy for Fenerbahce in this match....

I think, Fenerbahce  will win this match.....

And they should in front of their own fans!

The match will start at 20:00 local Turkish time(13:00 ,ET )

Close, But Not Enough for Galatasaray to Upset ManU

 In the close match ....

Galatasaray played , Manchester won!

Except  the first six minutes of the match .....

 Galatasaray had many chances , off the woodwork shots and two important penalty kicks not called by German referee!

Galatasaray was rusty and nervous in the beginning of the match...

A mistake by the whole defense coast the early goal!

Red Devils made a strong start and  scored in the seventh minute of the match.....

Carrick got the ball just out side of the box and went around two defender and keeper Muslera and scored !


This was the only goal in  the match......


After the goal, Galatasaray  missed a couple of good opportunities  but just could not put the ball in the back of nets.

Umut Bulut's early injury changed Terim's game plan early in the match....

For Umut Bulut , Elmander came in.......

Unlucky , Galatasaray just could not pass the woodwork!

It was three times by Amrabat, Hamit Altintop and Selcuk Inan.......

Galatasaray  was unlucky to find that equalizer goal.....

In the second half, Man U's Nani missed the penalty kick ,

 The other way to say it....

Galatasaray's keeper Muslera saved  his penalty shot......

Galatasaray kept  the pressure in the last second of the match but just could not score....

Overall, Galatasaray lost the match but , Manchester United barely won the match...

This Manchester United could well be beating in Istanbul next time around in this group....

Both teams want to get good score in their first match in the group....

That is why Sir Alex Ferguson talked about very important to start the Champions League with a win.....

On the other hand, Fatih Terim new  it wasn't going to be easy to win at Old Trafford, against Manchester United but 

he really pep talked his team to believe in the winning this match....


Lastly, German referee Wolfgang Stark made very crucial call in this match for both ways!

But, he butchered two of Galatasaray's penalty kick in the box ,for sure .....


Manchester United's Turkish fright turn in ti Turkish delight for Manchester United thanks to the woodwork and a little help from the German man, Mr.Stark!

My man of the match,  Hamit Altintop and Muslera ......

Instead of Fatih Terim and Galatasaray making history in the Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson made the history with 

winning his 100th match in the Champions League...

He is the first and only coach won 100 matches  so far....

My hats off the great football man, Sir, Alex Ferguson...

Manchester United sits tied  with Cluj in  Group H........

Cluj  beat  Braga in away match 0-2 .

Historic Night for Galatasaray and Fatih Terim

This will go in to the books as one of the most important matches in Galatasaray and coach Fatih Terim's history ! 

It will be Fatih Terim's first ever match in  Old Trafford Stadium.....

Terim's Galatasaray team, if they overcome the Red Devils in  Old Traffard  stadium on Wednesday night, they will accomplished ,what their rivals(Fenerbahce and Besiktas ), accomplished in the past.....

That is why , Fatih Terim and his team, wants to win this match so bad......

At the press conference on Tuesday, Terim said "We have drawn at Old Trafford in the past, but now we hope to follow them. We want to achieve something exactly as our rivals did. "

As both coaches said at the press conference, who ever has the best defense in this match, will win the match..

I agree.....

Galatasaray defense should play flawless match against Manchester United.....

With 4-4-2 formation Galatasaray will have very good names in the line up....

And they have the international talent who could do this job....

In goal, from Uruguay National team, Fernando Muslera, on defense Brazilian Cris, Eboue , 

in the midfield Brazilian  Melo and Turkish internationals, Selcuk Inan , Hamit Altintop

 and up front guys like  Elmander and Umut Bulut will make a difference in this match....

The mastermind  will be Selcuk Inan in the middle for Galatasaray .....

It has been six years  for Galatasaray, not competing in the Champions League....

They are starting this adventure, against world class Manchester United  at Old Trafford......

A win will be Turkish delight for Galatasaray and Fatih Terim....

Back to Turkish Super League : Week 4

Turkish Super league's week 4, will take a start on Saturday with three matches and there will be four matches on Sunday and two matches on Monday.

TSL's first place team Galatasaray and second place team Kasimpasa will play on Saturday...

Before the big match against Manchester United next week,  Fatih Terim would like to win  this away match in Antalya before heading to Manchester, England.

Antalyaspor is on third place with 6 points in three matches,,,,,

On the other hand , Galatasaray is on top with 7 points....

So, two of the matches on Saturday could be very tough going.....


Fenerbahce and  Trabzonspor  will play on Sunday while Besiktas will play on Monday.

Fenerbahce will be at home in front of ladies and kids only fans against Mersin...

Trabzonspor also will be at home against very good Sivasspor.....

On Monday, Besiktas will host Elazigspor at home....

Here is the full fixture for week 4 in the TSL.....

Saturday, September 15 (GMT)

Kasimpasa 3-0 Gaziantepspor (1500)

Antalyaspor 0 -4 Galatasaray (1730)

Bursaspor 4-1 Karabukspor (1730)

Sunday, September 16 (GMT)

Eskisehirspor  4-2Genclerbirligi (1500)

Trabzonspor 1-0 Sivasspor (1500)

Akhisar Belediyespor  0-4Buyuksehir Bld. Spor (1730)

Fenerbahce 2-1 Mersin Idmanyurdu (1730)

Monday, September 17 (GMT)

Besiktas  3-0Elazigspor (1700)

Orduspor  3-2 Kayserispor (1700)

Standings....

#	team	points	g.dif.	win-draw-loss
1	Galatas.	7	2	2-1-0 (3)
2	Kasimp.	6	3	2-0-1 (3)
3	Antalya	6	2	2-0-1 (3)
4	Besiktas	5	3	1-2-0 (3)
5	Fenerb.	5	3	1-2-0 (3)
6	Gencler.	5	2	1-2-0 (3)
7	Orduspor	5	2	1-2-0 (3)
8	Siva	5	1	1-2-0 (3)
9	Akhisar	5	1	1-2-0 (3)
10	Trabzon	4	1	1-1-1 (3)
11	Belediye	4	0	1-1-1 (3)
12	Eskisehir	3	-1	1-0-2 (3)
12	Bursa	3	-1	1-0-2 (3)
14	Gaziantep	3	-3	1-0-2 (3)
15	Mersin	2	-2	0-2-1 (3)
16	Karabuk	1	-4	0-1-2 (3)
17	Kayseri	1	-4	0-1-2 (3)
18	Elazig	1	-5	0-1-2 (3)

Turkey wins 3-0 against Estonia at home

Turkish National team beat 3-0  over 10-man Estonia in their 2014 WC qualifier, securing their first three points in Group D after an opening defeat by Holland.

Estonia defender Enar Jaager was sent off for a 19th-minute foul on Burak Yilmaz but Turkish National team could not capitalize  most of the first half.....

But they managed to score just before the end of first  half,,,, 

A minute before halftime  captain Emre Belozoglu scored from Arda Turan's pass....

Turkey, beaten 2-0 by the Dutch in Amsterdam on Friday, increased the pressure in the second half, creating several early chances.

Striker Umut Bulut headed home at the near post on the hour from Sercan Sararer's left-wing cross.

And Turkey made the score 2-0...

Most talked man, before the match, Selcuk Inan came in and  added a third goal 15 minutes before the match ended....

After the match Turkish National Team coach Avcii said " I congratulate all of my players today."

He went on to say, Hamit Altintop and Selcuk Inan are part of this team and he said he has known  Selcuk Inan, since his days with Junior level national teams....

Turkey against Estonia

TURKISH NATIONAL TEAM COACH ABDULLAH AVCI . (photo by TFF )



After losing first match in the group against Holland on Friday, Turkish National team will face Estonia in Istanbul,Turkey on Tuesday, September 11th,2012 at 21.00 local Turkey time(2:00 PM<ET )

At the press conference today, Turkish National team coach Abdullah Avci said, they respect Estonia team but they want to win  against Estonia....

He also said , he wants to see every fan who is coming to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium to wear Turkish National team uniform , red and white colors  ...

Abdullah Avci was under-fire  by Turkish press ,not playing Gokhan Gonul and master brain of the Turkish National team Selcuk Inan, after losing to Holland....


In that matter he said, "All the players in the Turkish National team are valuable players, he would play Selcuk Inan , when the time is right !"

I still, think it was a huge mistake by him not playing Selcuk Inan....

I think, he knows he was wrong but just won't admit, he made mistake...

Instead , the reason for not playing him, is nonsense......

So, I think, against Estonia, he will start with Selcuk Inan, in the midfield ...


Lastly, if  Turkey comes up with a win on Tuesday against Esttonia ,( They should win) ,month of  October  is very important for Abdullah Avci and Turkish National team...

October 12th, Turkey will face Romania in Istanbul then  four days later October 16th, they will travel to Hungary to face Hungary national team.

Starting tomorrow, Turkey has three very important matches before 2013 comes around...

So, if Abdullah Avci want to show Turkish fans, he is a clutch coach, he has to proof him self with his realistic tactics and basic play of football!

That is smart football.... not changing teams line-up every match..

Because, football is simple....

He has to make it simple for Turkish National team players...

And be more realistic....

(The match will be broadcast by ESPN3 in the United States on line.

Game time is at 2:00 ET, ....)

Turkey loses opening World Cup qualifier to Holland

Netherlands 2-0 Turkey

Two new coaches and two young team....

Louis van Gaal, for Dutch team.......

And, Abdullah Avci , for Turkey.....

One, former World class player and second time  with Dutch National team ......

The other one, made his name in Turkish football with U-17 National team and Municipal Istanbul team , Buyuk Sehir in the Turkish Super League.....

Fresh start for both of them....

First match for both of them with their teams in this qualification group..

This was the team , Turkey  could beat or at least get a draw!

Because, Dutch had a very young team  on the pitch.....

On the other hand ,Abdullah Avci, shoot him self  in the leg, with not playing the  brain of the team, Selcuk Inan!

His reason was , he did not play him because of  His tactic against Holland team!

Do you buy that?

I dont.....

Any way not starting with Selcuk Inan  in the midfield and Gokhan Gonul on the right full back was big wrong..

Instead , He played , Hamit Altintop on right full back instead of right midfield...

That is why, whole match ,Turkey's right side was like a big hole.....

They could  not stop Holland  from right side....

 Turkish National team , started with a loss in the WC qualifier...

Next Tuesday they face Estonia at home in Istanbul...



Match  Report......


Robin Van Persie opened the scoring in the 16th minute and Luciano Narsingh added a second in stoppage time as the Dutch registered a morale-boosting victory following their poor Euro 2012 showing.     Turkey posed a threat to the Dutch goal from the very first whistle, and inside a minute had forced a corner from which Omar Toprak flashed a header just wide.   Turkish National team continued to press and in the fifth minute Emre Belozoglu's low drive was charged down by Johnny Heitinga.   Toprak was again in the thick of the action from another corner in the 14th minute but this time directed his header straight at Tim Krul in the Holland goal.   Given all of their early pressure Turkish National team  will have been frustrated to fall behind against the run of play in the 16th minute.   United new boy Van Persie has started the new season like a train for the Old Trafford club with four goals in three league games, and he transferred that form to the international stage tonight with his 30th goal for the Oranje.   Van Persie   nodded home with a header  Wesley Sneijder's set-piece.   Sneijder stung the palms of Tolga Zengin in the 23rd minute as the hosts looked to doubled their lead, but Turkey fired a warning of their threat within a minute as Arda Turan twice fired just wide.   And the Dutch had a lucky escape in the 40th minute when Tunay Torun's free-kick was met by the head of Umut Bulut but the ball came back off the crossbar.   Turkey continued to press after the break and in the 57th minute Hamit Altintop's powerful effort from 25 yards produced a superb save from Krul.   Leroy Fer eased the pressure on the Dutch goal with a hopeful effort in the 62nd minute that was always rising, but within three minutes Turkey were on the attack again, Sercan Sararer heading just over from six yards.   Mehmet Topal also went close for the visitors in what time remained, but try as they might the equaliser just would not come.   And that allowed the Dutch to add a rather flattering gloss to the scoreline in the third minute of injury time as Narsingh picked the ball up on the edge of the Turkey area and netted with a cute lofted finish.   There was still time for the hosts to threaten a third, but Van Persie blazed over after connecting with Sneijder's centre.