Latest happenings as the Galatasaray Offside goes on vacation
By: Musab |
1 Comment
Is he really leaving or not? That’s the question the CimBom fans have when it comes to Servet Cetin. Seemingly concrete reports are coming out now that Galatasaray have accepted a 8.5 million Euro offer from Marseille for arguably the best Turkish central defender, Servet Cetin. Servet’s physical strength and height along with his great marking abilities make him one of the stars of this squad. After arriving from Sivasspor for $500,000 two seasons ago, to see a 8 million Euro profit come out of it would be fantastic.
However is this deal right for Galatasaray? It sure is a lot of money but we will need another player to take over Servet’s place. I don’t like the idea of selling players that we need, unless we can find someone to fill in his place. If Servet leaves, that means we will need to sign TWO central defenders. If we imagine that we buy a Turkish defender from one of the Anatolian teams, that can cost an even million for say Ediz from Ankaraspor. We then have 7 million to use as we like.
There is also the issue of what to do with all the surplus players. Umit Karan, Necati Ates, Mehmet Guven, Volkan Yaman, and Shabani Nonda don’t seem to have a place in this team anymore (you could add more). However there wages are pretty sizeable with around 6-7 million dollars a year being spent on these players. Cutting them off will open up that cash that we can use as well. However with few buyers on the market, the board have a serious problem on their hands.
This post will be the last one for a month as I will be heading to Germany until the end of July on a University program in the city of Kassel. I plan to visit other European cities as well during my stay so I will be pretty much always on the move. However I do plan on visting Galatasaray’s summer training program in Bochum which runs from July 1-12 and plan to watch at least one of the exhibition matches against Bayer Leverkusen, Al Ahly, and Esperance. Hopefully I can get some great photos of the team and perhaps even snag some autographs.
Until try to catch some CimBom news of other sites or even Galatasaray’s official site galatasaray.org which does a pretty good job of keeping fans informed about the what’s going on at the club in Turkish, English, and French. Feel free to leave comments below to keep each other informed about CimBom news as well.
Category: 2009-2010 Preseason
Mustafa Sarp officially presented, word on other transfers
By: Musab | Add Comments
Today another Lion was inducted into the ranks as 28 year old Central Midfielder Mustafa Sarp put pen to paper on a 3 year contract with the CimBom. The son of Diyarbakir immigrants to Istanbul, Mustafa Sarp admits to being a CimBomlu as a child. After playing for Ankaraspor, Kayseri Erciyesspor, and Bursaspor, Mustafa will now ply his trade with us wearing the number 16.
I personally feel that this was a smart acquisition. Mustafa is a tall, 6 foot 2 player with a strong, well built frame, just what this team of kids and toothpicks need. In order for us to be succesful in all three competitions, we need a squad which has depth, able to recover from any injury or crisis before it. Mustafa also brings to us the grit and determination that will help us this season. He has been one of the stars of Bursaspor for a good two years now and the fact that were getting him on a free transfer is a big plus.
In other news, Rijkaard his returned to his lair in Holland where he is reportedly watching DVD’s of Galatasaray’s matches from last season and will soon present teh board with a detailed list of players who will be shown the door as well as what players he wishes to bring to the team. The media is calimign that Rijkaard is going to want a central defender and a forward that will be able to compete with Baros for a first team spot. He will also deliver a verdict as to whether a goalkeeper should be brought in.
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonGalatasaray goes Oranje
By: Musab | 13 Comments
After all the whining and name calling over who will be our next manager, the 46 year old Dutchman Frank Rijkaard put ink to paper on a 2 year deal yesterday to great fanfare by the media and fans. Frank Rijkaard is a man who needs no introduction with a very distinguished footballing career. After coming through the Ajax youth system, he eventually made the move to Italian giants A.C Milan where he was part of the magic Dutch trio along with Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten.
As a manager he coached the Dutch National Team before moving onto Sparta Rotterdam and then to the Catalan giants Barcelona. At Barcelona he formed the club’s playing style to how he saw fit, even though it took some time for his tactics to take hold. He insisted on a 4-3-3 style formation with the two wingers also coming into the penalty box to join in the attack. By playing a methodical passing game, Barcelona was able to both play attractive football which brought the fans to the stadium, and defeat their opponents through sheer quality.
Rijkaard is the one who brought Ronaldinho to the club and fashion him into the superstar he was during his heyday. He’s the one that pulled Messi into the first team and give him the chance to develop at a young age. He brought in top class players such as Samuel Eto’o, Deco, and Rafa Marquez. He was able to get the best out of the youth system product players such as Carles Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta. After forming the team he wanted, he went on to win two La Liga titles, two Spanish Cups, and the 05/06 Champions League title. Without a doubt, Frank Rijkaard has all the credentials.
So how will this affect our club? I would argue that it isn’t going to be too hard for Rijkaard to bring the same kind of change he brought to Barcelona to our club. He will most likely build the team around our own superstar Arda Turan, just as he built Barca around Ronaldinho. I expect him to use Milan Baros as our lone striker and for Arda and Kewell to come into help them. That would effectively be our “forward 3″.
The next part of the equation is the “middle 3″. So far the only player that I can confidently say will have a place in this three is Mehmet Topal. Will Ayhan be able to match this year’s performance? Rijkaard will probably make that decision during this summers training camp. Another question mark is whether or not Lincoln will have a place in this team. Quite frankly, he doesn’t deserve it all. If it was up to me he would be sent off as soon as possible. However theres every chance that Lincoln might feel the great need to impress his new manager. Another decision Rijkaard will have to make this summer. Other possibilities for the “middle three” include Tobias Linderoth (if he ever returns from the hospital), Baris Ozbek, Aydin Yilmaz, Mustafa Sarp, or of course we could always go shopping for a new player.
The final piece in the jigsaw is the “back four”. We can say with confidence that Hakan Balta will start as left back and Servet will play as central defender. However I believe that we will need to go shopping for a new central defender, preferebly an expensive (I’m talking around 10 million Euros), superstar central defender. I’ll leave the name of that signing to Rijkaard himself. Ugur Ucar would be my choice to start Right back, along with his number 3 jersey, but Serkan Kurtulus might be able to surprise us this season. One thing is certain, Sabri has no place in this squad and he needs to understand that. If he’s content with sitting on the bench and keeping his mouth shut, he’s welcome to stay. If not, he can piss off.
I guess if we can get a good goalkeeper on the cheap, we should get him. Leo Franco’s a name that get thrown around a lot. He would be ideal, but I doubt he will actually come. Otherwise I guess it’s back to Aykut and Orkun again.
As I’ve laid out, Rijkaard will only need to make one signing, a central defender, but he probably will want to make a couple of his own signings so that he can put an imprint on the squad. I’m very optimistic for the future of this club. Rijkaard is the kind of big name this team needs to reach its full potential.
Opinions? Thoughts? Leave a comment below!
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonBREAKING NEWS: FRANK RIJKAARD SIGNS WITH GALATASARAY ON A 2 YEAR DEAL
By: Musab | 1 Comment
I’ll have a full write-up later tonight but Rijkaard has been officially unveiled as Galatasaray’s manager and has arrived in Istanbul as well. As soon as his press conference concludes I’ll have it up here as long with my views on the situation. Rejoice CimBomlus! Rejoice!!!
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonThe offseason begins with a bang
By: Musab | 4 Comments
Now that the season is finally over we can get to the dirty work of discussing what is to happen now. Today Bulent Korkmaz lost his position as manager of Galatasaray after less than half a season in charge. As I’ve stated before, the only reason why Bulent should be sacked is if we can get a top-class manager to take his place. When I say top-class I mean someone who’s actually won MULTIPLE trophies and understands what it’s like to manage a big-name club where the fans will demand nothing less than immediate success. Nothing less will do at this point.
Possible candidates? Bernd Schuster, Paul Le Guen, and Co Adriaanse are all viable targets and the Turkish media are yellnig up and down that Galatasaray are dealing with them as well as Juande Ramos and Gerard Houllier. My pick would be either Paul Le Guen or Juande Ramos.
Le Guen has trophies on his side as he was able to guide a strong Lyon side to consecutive titles. Our squad is hands down, man to man, the best squad of the Turkish league. Despite that we finished in 5th place. Le Guen will not have to actually spend too much money but if he can just manage this star-studded squad, he will be succesfull. Word has it that he’s asking for a hefty salary to come over.
We need someone who knows how to manage this club. Ramos is also a viable option. Ramos is known for instituting effective training regimens and making sure the footballers were following a healthy diet to ensure they wouldn’t be injured. This is what we need as well. I can’t remember a match last season where we were able to play our first choice squad.
Galatasaray also completed its first signing of the offseason as the 28 year old midfielder Mustafa Sarp comes over to us on a free transfer from Bursaspor. Mustafa Sarp was lauded as one of the best central midfielders in the league last season with his cool demeanor and his physical strength. And that’s exactly what this squad needs, a strongman to boss the midfield through sheer strength. Mehmet Topal and him would go good together says me.
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonBack to work…
By: Musab | 2 Comments
My final papers have been handed in and my brain is filled with knowledge just waiting to put pen on paper for my final exams. Guess that means I can start to slowly resurrect the Galatasaray blog.
One of the biggest developments since I’ve been gone is the fact that every semi-respectable Spanish footy journal under the sun is screaming that Galatsaray is on the brink of bringing ex-Real Madrid manager Bernd Schuster to Istanbul on a three year 18 million dollar contract. Schuster is no stranger to the football world as being the ex manager of Real Madrid and was able to bring (straight out of his wiki entry) “beautiful football to the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with Real Madrid having the strongest offence, not beaten at home from the start of the league” He led Madrid to a title on a record amount of points in Spanish league history. He was also succesful with lesser Madrid club, Getafe.
What’s my opinion on Schuster? If you can get him, sign him. At this point we need a manager that can juggle the many stars on this team and turn them into a goal scoring machine that we know it can be. We need his discipline and his German tactical prowess. Barring a second place finish, (i.e, a miracle) it looks like Bulent will not be at the helm next year. To be honest I am kinda dissapointed in Bulents stint with us. I understand the terrible conditions under which he took over, but I at least expected him to reinvigorate the side, something I never really saw.
Coming to the sticky issue of transfers, both in and out, it looks like the Two Stooges will again try to go out and “find new talent”. Something that apparently “never ends at Galatasaray”.
Much talk has been made of the future of Umit Karan and Hasan Sas. Hasan’s contract ends this year while Umit hasn’t scored a single league goal this season. Lets not forget that Umit has scored 133 goals in the past 13 seasons, a respectable 10 goals per season ratio. While the Turkish media are swearing on their mothers graves that both won’t be part of the set-up next season, I don’t really expect either of them to leave. I predict that they’ll give Umit another chance next year and for them to keep Hasan as an older “good influence” on the kids. Which is would be the right decision.
So what do you guys think? Schuster in? Hasan and Umit out? Any suggestions for next year? Leave a comment below!
Category: Daily NewsQuick Review- Galatasaray 1-0 Ankaragucu
By: Musab | 1 Comment
I didn’t watch this match so I’m not going to say much about it other than some thoughts for the remaining matches.
GALATASARAY: 1 ANKARAGÜCÜ: 0
Stadium: Kadir Has
Referees: Suat Aslanboğa, Özgür Çetiner, Selçuk Kaya
GALATASARAY: De Sanctis, Serkan (min. 77 Sabri), Emre Aşık, Emre Güngör, Hakan, Barış, Ayhan, Mehmet Topal, Arda (min. 92 Kewell), Lincoln, Baros (min. 89 Nonda)
Manager: Bülent Korkmaz
ANKARAGÜCÜ: Serkan, El Yasa, Bouzid, Dos Santos, İlkem, Semavi, Kerem, Ceyhun, Barbaros, Iglesias (min. 58 Jaba), Mehmet Yılmaz
Manager: Hikmet Karaman
Goal: min. 13 Baros (P)
Yellow Cards: Baros, Lincoln, Emre Aşık, Ceyhun, Jaba
Red Card: Bouzid
A case of too little too late as Galatasaray are now seven points away from new leaders Besiktas. Second place and the Champions League spot that goes with it is 5 points away. Given the fact the we play the second place team, Sivasspor on the last game of the season, nothing is impossible, but we need to win our games.
Reports are coming this week that Galatasaray will try to replace Bulent with Bernd Schuster after the season ends. I’ve always stood up for Bulent and have protected him from the harshest of critics. But if we can bring someone with the experience of Bernd Schuster, then I wouldn’t have a problem with seeing him go. If you can get a better manager then fine, fire him. But if your going to bring another lower class manager (see:Skibbe), then dont even bother.
Category: PostmatchCelebrating Children’s Day, CimBom style
By: Musab | 1 Comment
Children’s Day is a pretty big holiday in Turkey with the little ones being given gifts and having special celebrations for them. In addition, the President, Prime Minister, cabinet members and other goverment officials all turn their offices over to the kids for the day and they enact laws relating to children, education, and the enviornment.
In our own little celebration of Children’s Day, let’s take a look at some videos of our little Lion Cubs:
Our super starlet Arda was also a kid once (I would argue that he still is) and even as a kid he loved the CimBom so very much. As he says in this commercial, “Ben dogusdan Galatasarayliyim“, “I was born into Galatasaray”.
And of course you’ve gotta pay it back, as he does here with fellow team mate Emre Asik:
Let’s not forget that our entire history is based on raising these young kids and turning them into star players. From Bulent to Tugay to Arda and to the future, Galatasaray has always been respoinsible for discovering young talent and using these homegrown players in its lineup. Our future looks good especially since our youth team were champions three times in the past four years. With other kids such as Semih Kaya, Serkan Kurtulus and Aydin Yilmaz also starting to take part in the first team, we can’ help but feel proud of our kids.
Category: Other StuffHarry Kewell: Reborn at Galatasaray
By: Musab | 5 Comments
Our squad is full of some very classy foreigners such as Baros, Lincoln, and Nonda, but even though he just arrived this year, Harry Kewell has already won the hearts of the CimBom faithful. Harry brought that extra bit of technique and finesse that this squad sorely needed, as shown with his 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games.
Harry came to us after a long and bright career with Leeds United and Liverpool, winning the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 in Istanbul. However his career was blighted with injuries that hampered his playing time. He fell out of favor at Liverpool and eventually moved to his new home with us on a free transfer.
I predicted that Harry would find peace and comfort with Galatasaray and that he would be very successful. In a career riddled with injuries, Harry has come through for us suffering only one minor injury towards the end of the first half which was taken care of. He shows that he has the desire to win trophies with Galatasaray, and the fans have paid it back with their support.
Recently Harry starred in a commercial for Galatasaray’s new cell phone service, GSMobile;
“It is such a privilege to be a part of Galatasaray” Well said Harry. There is always room on this team for whoever understands how important that Yellow-Red jersey is.
And a taste of his goals:
Let’s see some more of those goals Harry, let’s win those trophies that we know you want so bad!
Category: The SquadHow much bribe money is it going to take?
By: Musab | 2 Comments
With only 6 matches left in the season, it’s time to add up our chances to actually win something this year. It isn’t ideal, but the CimBom still has a chance to win the title. Here’s the league table:
Sivasspor 57
Besiktas 56
Trabzonspor 53
Galatasaray 51
Fenerbahce 48
Bursaspor 45
Needless to say it’s gonna take a mighty strong push by our boys to pull this off. But it’s not impossible. Let’s take a look at our remaining matches:
Ankaraspor (H)
Hacettepe (A)
Ankaragucu (H)
Genclerbirligi (H)
Besiktas (A)
Sivasspor (H)
Wihout a doubt we have the easiest schedule of matches of all our rivals. We only leave Istanbul once in order to play against relegated Hacettepe. What makes our schedule so good is that thigns are in our own hands. If we can defeat Besiktas and Sivasspor we can definitly be looking at an 18th title. If not that we can at least try to come in second place for a champions league berth, something we sorely need.
This weekend will see Sivas host Trabzonspor, both teams being ahead of us. In a weeks time Fener will take a trip to Besiktas, a game they might win. Our opponents have difficult games ahead of them and we need to win our matches in order to capatalize on any chances.
I know that the past is in the past, but if we had gained those extra 4 points against Trabzon and Fener, we would only be 2 points adrift of Sivas in second place. I always said that the late 2-2 draw against Trabzon would carry severe consequences for us.
So what do you guys think? Does the CimBom have a chance of winning the title? What about second place? Leave your thoughts and comments.
Category: Numerology
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