Casillas ruled out against Galatasaray!

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has said that Iker Casillas will not even be on the bench for the Champions League quarter-final first-leg against Galatasaray on Wednesday.

The Spanish captain has recently returned to full training after breaking a bone in his hand back in January. However, after another fine performance by Diego Lopez in Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Real Zaragoza on Saturday, Mourinho said it will be difficult for Casillas to regain his place.

“On Wednesday Casillas won’t be a substitute. Against Levante he will be in the squad,” he told a press conference.

“I can never say that a player will start for the rest of the season, but I can say that once more Diego Lopez has played very well and helped the team obtain a result. 

“Playing as he has in games with a high grade of difficulty like Barcelona and Manchester United and playing as he is currently playing, he is important for the team.

“In football we have to try and be honest with ourselves and our players. In this form it will be difficult for him to not start in goal.” 

Mourinho recognized  the problems his side are having at the other end of the pitch after his strikers once again failed to find the net at La Romareda.

“The reality is we are not scoring many goals. It is one of the differences with respect to last season.

“Everyone’s number of goals has reduced and the team feels it. The goals will arrive though, if not in this match then in the next.” 


Source :Wires 

Third time is the charm for Fatih Terim with Galatasaray

Fatih Terim and Me ( Ahmet B Turgut ) -1997


His first time was  back in 1996 with  Galatasaray.....

And it was filled with a lot of  achievements!

Winning the European Cup for the first time as a Turkish team and setting records for four years in the Turkish Super League,,,,,,

Winning the Championship for  four strait years in the Turkish Super League,,,,,

 The most important one was winning the European Cup back in 199 -2000 season!

Before the Galatasaray years, Fatih Terim made his name with Turkish National team back in starting 1995

I met  Fatih Terim for the for the first time back in 1990's in New York..........

 Fatih Terim came to New York with Senez Erzik at the time he was Turkish Football Federation President...

I also saw him when he came to Toronto, Canada with Turkish National team  back in 1995 and  when he brought Galatasaray team to USA tour back in 1997........

Terim, got his guiding ship under Sepp Piontek whem he was assistant coach at Turkish National team back in 1990!

With a good generation of players at Galatasaray and in the Turkish National team helped Terim's career to achieve a lot of his goal along with experience players like George Hagi and other Romanian player on the team....

In his first four years at Galatasaray ,Terim had a impressive record!

Winning 133 games out of 204 matches and 44 draw and only 27 loss......

But ,his second  time with Galatasaray  was not that great!

  it was a failure......

His unsuccessful  foreigner players transfer cost Galatasaray big time.....

His second term  did not less that long at the end of one and half season he resigned!

THIRD TIME IS THE CHARM !'

Fatih Terim returned to Galatasaray for a third term back in may of 2011 , when Galatasaray team was really struggling in the league!

With current Chairman Unal Aysal winning the election  , Aysal hired and shook hands with Terim !''

In 2010-2011 season exactly this time Galatasaray was in the 14th  place in the Turkish super league when Terim took Galatasaray team!

With Unal Aysal and his committeemen new vision , Galatasaray with Fatih Terim has been the talk of the Turkish Football around the world.!

Nearly bankrupt Galatasaray team manage  to pay the debt they owed and  got  world class players like Drogba and Sneijder at the January transfer window thanks to Unal Aysal's vision ....

Winning games and being in the Champions League tournament helped Galatasaray pay some of those money that they owed!

What ever the case, Galatasaray is  on right-track so far with Unal Aysal and Fatih Terim...

They are in  the elite eight of the Champions League !

And they will face  world's one of the best teams Real Madrid, come Tuesday......

World's top ten, two coaches Mourinho and Terim will be against each other!

They are friends of the pitch  but they will fight with their tactics on the sideline this Tuesday ...

On the paper, there is no doubt Real Madrid is much stronger team....

But, Terim's motivation from sildeline and his experience player like Drogba, Sneijder and Hamit Altintop  could well cause damage to Real Madrid on Tuesday,,,

Also Galatasaray's goal scoring machine Burak Yilmaz and mastermind  at the midfield Selcuk inan could be a factor in this match....

Fatih Terim's dimond at the midfield  if it works like he wants it, Real Madrid will be in trouble .....

Galatasaray scoring goals in Madrid will help the second match in Istanbul.....

Biggest problem I see with Galatasaray is their defense !

They have to have  a flawless match....

On Tuesday, Galatasaray will be on front of world's eyes, against one of the worlds best team, Real Madrid!

That is good thing for Turkish Football and Turkey.....

CRITICAL WEEKEND IN THE TURKISH SUPER LEAGUE

Only seven weeks to go in the Turkish Super League and things are getting very critical on top and bottom.

Before big show down in Europe for Galatasaray and Fenerbahce ,this weekend ,could be very painful and stressful .

Galatasaray will travel to play Europe big guns Real Madrid  in Madrid  and  Fenerbahce will host Lazio after this weekend matches....

But first they have to pass the Super league hurdle this weekend....

They both play in Istanbul ....

Galatasaray plays on Saturday at home against  Istanbul Buyuksehir while Fenerbahce faces Akhisaspor on Sunday at home.....

Galatasaray and Fatih Terim will face former Galatasaray player now coach at Istanbul Buyuksehir Bulent Korkmaz,

It will be very interesting to see Fatih Terim go against his former player from Galatasaray and Turkish National team !

On the paper, Galatasaray should not have any problem but, will Galatasaray be focused to this match or the Champions League match against Real Madrid?

That is the biggest question!

 They have to win  against Buyuksehir.....

A draw and loss will bring the gap to very close with Fenerbahce and other teams....

As of now ,before 27th weekend, Galatasaray sits on top with 50 points, Fenerbahce on second with 46 and Besiktas on third with 43 and there are two teams with 40 points  Kasimpasa and Bursaspor who will face each other this weekend in Istanbul.

If Fenerbahce wins against Akhisar and Galatasaray lose point or points, this race will be very interesting/

That is why this weekend is very interesting and critical  on top as well as on the bottom of the league....

It is so intense, Trabzonspor could find them self in the fire if they lose at home against Antalya this weekend.

There is a huge pressure at the bottom and mid level in the league....

Teams like, Akhisar, Ordu, Karabuk, Elazig, Trabzon,, Gaziantep and Istanbul Buyuksehir, feeling the heat !

Mersin , is pretty much done this year....

But, who will be the other two teams will say good bye to Turkish Super League ?

That is the real question!

It is all win win from now on all the teams who are feeling the heat...

Winners will go on and  loser will probably  bite the dust  at the bottom....

So, in away, this weekend is very critical all around in the league...

27th weekend matches will start on Saturday  and end on Monday night....

There will be three matches on Saturday , four matches on Sunday and two on Monday night.

Galatasaray plays on Saturday, Fenerbahce and Trabzspor on Sunday and Besiktas plays on Monday night in Mersin.

Will there be surprises ?

I think so........

Here is the 27th weekend matches ..... 

10:00	Gaziantepspor	? - ?	Eskisehirspor
13:00	Galatasaray	? - ?	Istanbul Buyuksehir
13:00	Sivasspor	? - ?	Orduspor
March 31
06:30	Kasimpasa	? - ?	Bursaspor
09:00	Trabzonspor	? - ?	MP Antalyaspor
12:00	Elazigspor	? - ?	Genclerbirligi
12:00	Fenerbahce	? - ?	Akhisar Belediye Genclik Ve Spor
April 1
13:00	Karabukspor	? - ?	Kayserispor
13:00	Mersin	? - ?	Besiktas

World Cup Hopes Pretty Much Over for Turkey !

 It was to be or not to be in this group for Turkish National team and coach  Abdullah Avci and they could not do it in front of their home turf at Fenerbahce's Sukru Saracoglu stadium.

Although, Turkey went ahead with Burak Yilmaz header first a huge mistake by defender Semih Kaya cost Turkey  a win !

Hungary scored with Daniel Bode on Semih Kaya's mistake.......


Turkey's goal came from Burak Yılmaz on 63rd minute while, Bode equalized the score for Hungary on 71st minute.

Hungary had the first chance in the sixth minute, but Adam Szalai hit his shot straight at Turkey goalkeeper Onur Kivrak. Turkey forced a succession of corners and then Alper Potuk shot wide for the home side, who lost the reverse fixture in October 3-1.

With nearly 20 minutes gone Szalai tried another shot from distance, which was again off target, as was Alper Potuk when he shot from long range. But just three minutes later Hungary twice went close to taking the lead, only to be denied by Onur Kivrak.

Balazs Dzsudzsak's free-kick was headed by Szalai but the effort was parried by Onur  Kivrak, who also saved Tamas Kadar's follow-up shot. Nuri Sahin shot over the bar and then Selcuk Inan  saw his effort blocked by  defender Jozsef Varga.

Hungary keeper  parried a shot from Arda Turan before  Burak Yilmaz shot wide. Turkey should have taken the lead, but  Alper Potuk missed the target with a shot from close range and then Kiraly tipped over a 25-yard shot from Nuri Sahin

.

Burak Yilmaz shot over the bar and Hungary's Tamas Hajnal fired wide as both sides started the second half well.  Burak Yilmaz finally made the breakthrough on the hour when he headed in Arda Turan's cross from close range.

Hungary  were level with 20 minutes to go when substitute Bode shot home from close range. The visitors nearly took the lead when Vladimir Koman's shot was blocked, but neither side could break the deadlock in a frenetic finish.

In the other matches , Netherlands beat Romania 4-0 while, Estonia defeated Andorra 2-0.

Referees: Milorad Mazic, Milovan Ristic, Dalibor Djurdjevıc (Serbia)

Turkey: Onur Recep Kıvrak, Gökhan Gönül, Bekir İrtegün, Semih Kaya, Hasan Ali Kaldırım, Arda Turan, Selçuk İnan, Nuri Şahin (Min. 90 Kerim Koyunlu), Alper Potuk (Min. 70 Hamit Altıntop), Umut Bulut (Min. 80 Mevlüt Erdinç), Burak Yılmaz

Hungary: Kiraly, Vanczak, Kadar, Varga, Meszaros, Korcsmar (Min. 46 Guzmics), Dzsudszak, Koman, Pinter, Hajnal (Min. 68 Böde), Szalai (Min. 78 Elek)
Goals: Min. 63 Burak Yılmaz (Turkey), Min. 71 Bode (Hungary)

Yellow Cards: Min. 48 Varga, Min. 58 Dzsudzsak, Min. 75 Bode, 90+2 Kiraly (Hungary), Min. 59 Bekir İrtegün, Min. 87 Burak Yılmaz (Turkey)

 FIFA 2014 World Cup European Qualifications Group D Standings:

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1.NETHERLANDS	6	6	0	0	20	2	18
2.HUNGARY	6	3	2	1	13	8	11
3.ROMANIA	6	3	1	2	10	10	10
4.TURKEY	6	2	1	3	7	7	7
5.ESTONIA	6	2	0	4	3	9	6
6.ANDORRA	6	0	0	6	0	17	0

 Turkey  needs miracles to go to World Cup 2014 Tournament in Brazil , now !

Abdullah Avci did  not serve what he promised , when he took over from Guss Hiddink !

He spoke way too early, in my opinion !

CRUNCH TIME FOR TURKEY !

Turkish National team coach Abdullah Avci feeling the heat  and Turkish National team star player Selcuk Inan  at the press conference today .Photo (A.A) 

It is to be or not to be for Turkish National team and coach Abdullah Avci on Tuesday!

After losing two very important matches against Hungary and Romania back last October , every match is final for Avci  and Turkish National team  now...

After winning  in away match against amateur looking team Andorra with only 2 goals, Turkish National team did not look good on the pitch!

Where everyone was expecting them to score like 5 , 8 goals , they took very few shot on a goal keeper that was awful !

On Tuesday, against Hungary , Young Turks has to be Hungary for Hungary....

A win, should keep Turkey in the quest for World Cup 2012 !

That is , if they win pretty much every match , including  the Tuesday night match....

Who ever plays in goal has to have flawless ,match...

Midfield diamond  is very important too

Hamit , Arda and Selcuk for sure will be on the pitch.....

That  triangle is very important for Turkey.....

Burak Yilmaz and  Umut Bulut  will probably play on  top against Hungary ..

Turkey loss to Hungary  3-1 ,in  Hungary......

A win, will bring Turkish National team  within one point with  Hungary....

That is why, this match is crunch and clutch match for  Turkey and Abdullah Avci !

They could prove  this with winning every match in the group....

Remaining  matches......

06/09/13  .....  Turkey vs Andorra 

10/09/13 ........ Romania vs Turkey 

11/10/13 .........Estonia vs Turkey 

15/10/13 .........Turkey vs Netherlands

Andorra 0 Turkey 2

 Turkish National  team  struck two first-half goals to beat bottom side Andorra 2-0 in a World Cup Group D qualifier on Friday although an unimpressive performance did little to boost confidence about their prospects of reaching the finals.

 

 

Turkish National team went ahead on the half-hour with a free kick by Selcuk Inan from the edge of the area that flew into the far corner of Josep Gomes net after Burak Yilmaz was fouled.

 

 

Burak Yilmaz doubled Turkey's lead just before the break with a cross-shot from a narrow angle after being put in by Umut Bulut though they failed to capitalise on any more chances.

 

 

Turkey, who are struggling in fourth place in the six-team group with six points from five matches, host Hungary on Tuesday having lost the away fixture 3-1 in October. 

Source :Reuters and edited by this blogger

Why Real Madrid should be very wary about the threat of Galatasaray

By  Chris O'Donnell

http://cfccod.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/why-real-madrid-should-be-very-wary-about-the-threat-of-galatasaray-2/

Mourinho v Drogba. Sneijder and Altintop back to face their former teams. The two top scorers in the competition come face to face. Without a doubt, Real Madrid v Galatasaray is

one of the most exciting Champions League Quarter-Final ties.

Nobody can question the quality Real Madrid, with one of the strongest squads in Europe and looking for their record 10th Champions League triumph makes them the favourites for this tie. But their opponents, Galatasaray, pose a massive threat and are certainly no push-overs.

The key factor for Galatasaray being within a chance of progressing is the 2nd leg being held in İstanbul. The atmosphere at the Türk Telekom Arena on that night will be electric, louder than any other of the ties, especially if Galatasaray are in with a chance. Galatasaray must keep it tight in the first leg in Madrid, with the aim to take a decent result back home. I think Galatasaray will have to score an away goal or two, which they’re well capable of. Any more is a massive bonus

Burak Yılmaz has scored 8 out of Galatasaray’s 11 Champions League goals so far, but they’re by no means a one-man-team. New marquee signings Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder have yet to fully make their mark on Turkish football, but I have no doubt that in time they will. Both aren’t fully fit at the moment and Fatih Terim is yet to find a position to suit Sneijder without affecting the balance of the Galatasaray team. He has time now to find out before the Real Madrid tie, he’s a fantastic coach and I’m sure he will. Drogba and Sneijder should be fully fit and fresh for the games against Real Madrid and their Champions League experience will be a massive lift to the team.

They have a fantastic young goalkeeper in Fernando Muslera, his great display against Schalke in the 2nd leg was a massive factor in Galatasaray progressing. Without him, they would most likely be out and Schalke would be playing against Real Madrid. The midfield is strong with Felipe Melo doing the hard work and set piece specialist Selçuk İnan pulling the strings and making those killer through balls into the strike force of Burak and Drogba. We all know the quality that Wesley Sneijder posesses and if he’s on top of his game then Galatasaray should give Real Madrid a real game. Out wide, Hamit Altintop and Nordin Amrabat and good but nothing great. They will have to track back a lot as Madrid pose world class wingers in Ronaldo and Di Maria.

The weakness in the Galatasaray team is the defence. Eboue, Semih, Dany and Riera will be the likely back 4, and are very prone to mistakes. Melo, Selçuk and the wide men will have to help out the defence big time as Real Madrid pose a huge attacking threat.

At the end of the day, it’s about the team who scores the most goals. When Galatasaray get into their attacking stride they’ll be very hard to stop. They just have to find that balance between attack and defence. One thing is for sure, the fans will be right behind Galatasaray. From the minute the Real Madrid players and staff arrive in the airport in İstanbul to the minute they leave, the intimidating Galatasaray faithful won’t give them any peace.