The Goal Machine comes to a grinding halt
By: Musab |
5 Comments
As we went through 6 wins and a draw in our first 7 games, many expected Galatasaray to perform well away at Ankaragucu. Nobody expected the 3-0 defeat we suffered. The game was one of extreme frustration as Galatasaray boasted 69% ball posession and yet conceded 3 goals in the last 7 minutes of the game. However that posession consisted of back passes and defenders passing amongst themselves. Ankaragucu played a thoroughly defensive game, put pressure on the Galatasaray players as often as they could, and tried to break through with counter attacks. At around the 20th minute I openly declared that we would not be able to win this game.
The problem with this Galatasaray team is very simple. If it can’t find open spaces where it can play football, it simple doesnt have the strength to defeat its opponent. Our defenders are unable to play the ball succesfully and our star players are easily lost when they aren’t given the ball. Rijkaard is trying to overcome this by playing players out of their natural position in defense (Caner Erkin as a left back) And while this sometimes works, overall it isnt as succesful. During the transfer window, before we went and got Elano, I stated on this site that Galatasaray needs to spend very big money (~$10 million) on a very high class defender that can use the ball effectively. Unfortunantly we went into the season with only adding Gokhan Zan as a central defender on a free transfer.
Another important point is the fact that Mustafa Sarp has strayed away from his early season form and I believe that it is time we give him a break. Unfortunantly both Mehmet Topal and Ayhan are playing way under their ability. This would be the perfect time for Linderoth to come in and save the day but unfortunatly the Galatasaray board dont see any problem with paying a million dollar salary to a player who hasnt played in 15 games for us in three years.
Category: Postmatch
GSTV has hit the web
By: Musab | 2 Comments
Are you constantly craving some Yellow-Red info every night and day? Do you need your CimBom fix in order to start your day? Is your Galatasaray obsession so mind-numbingly powerful that you wake up at night with the thought of “I need me some CimBom!!!”? Well we now have a simple solution.
Galatasaray has launched galatasaray.com (galatasaray.org is the club’s official webpage) where you may now watch the club’s official broadcast channel GSTV online for FREE.
GSTV is pretty impressive with a wide variety of programming to choose from. You may watch the club’s own news reports, view one-on-one interviews with the players and coaching staff (for all of you that just can’t get enough of Rijkaard), or you may watch Classic Galatasaray Games and watch us tear apart Barcelona, Milan, and Fener, at home and away.
Needless to say, the channel is in Turkish (we aren’t Barcelona yet), but the language of football is universal. The broadcast is in its infancy so we can only expect it to get better with time.
Category: Daily NewsGalatasaray comes out on top against the Green Greeks, Panathinaikos 1-3 Galatasaray
By: Musab | 12 Comments
I predicted that we would struggle a bit against Panathinaikos after our 3-0 victory against Besiktas and especially after the loss of both Gokhan Zan and Servet Cetin to injury. However it seems that I under estimated the goal machine that is Galatasaray. We thoroughly outplayed them with great performances across the field. After a huge defensive blunder on the Greek side, Elano was able to slot home our first goal before Milan Baros made it two and Elanos free kick was terribly directed into the net by a Panathinaikos defender. All in all, a good game for the CimBom.
PANATHİNAİKOS-GALATASARAY: 1-3
Venue: Athens OAKA Stadium
Referees: Paolo Tagliavento, Luca Maggiani, Elenito Di Liberatore (Italy)
PANATHİNAİKOS: Galinovic, Sarriegi, Leto, Salpingidis, Gilberto Silva, Hristodoulopoulos (min. 50 Petropoulos), Bjarsmyr, Marinos, Karagounis, Katsouranis (min. 50 Ninis), Spropoulos
Head Coach: Henk Tenk Cake
GALATASARAY: Leo Franco, Sabri, Emre Aşık, Emre Güngör (min. 23 Uğur Uçar), Hakan, Mustafa Sarp, Mehmet Topal, Keita (min. 72 Barış), Elano (min. 61 Arda), Kewell, Baros
Head Coach: Frank Rijkaard
Goals: min. 5-min. 56 Elano, min. 47 Baros, min. 77 Salpingidis
Yellow Cards: min. 19 Sarriegi, min. 44 Leo Franco, min. 56 Spropoulos; min. 69 Emre Aşık, min. 87 Uğur Uçar
Overall I was pleased with the performance Galatasaray put out. The defense was very effective given the injuries the have befallen it. Despite the consolation goal Panathinaikos won, we saw good, effective performances by Emre Asik and Hakan Balta. Keita once again showed his class as he danced around the Panathinaikos players with the ball ans was a threat to their defender throughout the game.
Milan Baros seems to get his goal scoring boots in place as he continues scoring in the games he plays in, in the League, Europe, and for his country. Let’s hope for more goals in the future. It was interesting to see young Arda sit on the bench for this game especially as he started to show signs of fatigue. Elano took his place in the starting 11 and responded with two goals in an equally good performance from the Brazilian playmaker.
This was probably our most challenging game and after coming through with a victory, its fair to say our chances of getting past the group stages are pretty high. Lets hope we can keep the momentum going this weekend as we travel to lowly Kasimpasa. Expect some serious squad rotation.
Opinions? Thoughts? Leave a comment below and join in the discussion!
Category: PostmatchLooking Ahead Yet Again
By: Musab | 3 Comments
I was really glad that my predictions of havng five victories in our first five games gives me great pride especially with our 3-0 victory over rivals Besiktas. We’re sending the message that the title this year belongs to us. Would have been better if Fener didn’t match our record though. As we stand we have scored 16 goals in 5 games while conceding 4. I predicted that Galatasaray would score 13 goals while conceding 4, so it would seem that I’ve pretty much hit the target on that as well. Also worth pointing out that we havent conceded a goal in the past two games. Is it a sign that the team’s defensive play is slowly settling in? Hope so.
Let’s now take a look ahead at our next couple of games:
1. Panathinaikos Away (UEFA Europa League)
A trip to Greece will be very tough as the fans will be expecting a victory on both sides. I believe that Galatasaray has the tools to master a victory but will Panathinaikos be able to resist? They have so far NOT CONCEDED A SINGLE GOAL in their domestic league. The Galatasaray goal machine will have to put up a fight if it hopes to get away with something.
Prediction: 1-1
2. Kasimpasa Away (Turkcell Super Lig)
Kasimpasa were relegated at the end of the 06/07 season but managed to yo-yo back to the top flight once again. Unfortunantly for them, the season has been very poor for them as they have zero points in 5 games. This is probably not the best time for them to take on The Aslanlar.
Prediction: 0-5 to The CimBom
3. Eskisehirspor Home (Turkcell Super Lig)
Eskisehirspor are without a doubt one of the most improved teams of the new season. After spending the first part of their season last year in the bottom rungs, Eskisehir now boast a very respectable side that includes our old striker Umit Karan (no goals yet). I can see the CimBom struggling in this match but I believe that our fans will give us that little boost to allow us to win this game.
Prediction: 2-1 to The CimBom
4. Sturm Graz Home (UEFA Europa League)
Sturm Graz are old foes that we have taken on before in the Champions League. Unfortunantly we weren’t able to beat them as they frustrated us both home and away. This time around I predict it to be different as we must beat them handily. Let’s be honest, they play in a far more inferior league than ours and our players should be able to defeat them.
Prediction: 2-0 to The CimBom
It looks like the good times will roll on for Galatasaray. Let’s hope it goes on this way for the rest of the season. Opinions? Predictions? Leave a comment below!
Category: Looking AheadGalatasaray take on Besiktas – Weekend Preview
By: Musab | 5 Comments
The first Derbi of the season sees The CimBom play host to last years title winners Besiktas (my stomach still turns when I think of that, does yours?). With a refurbished squad, Galatasaray has so far taken all 12 points from 4 games while scoring 13 goals. Besiktas on the other hand have struggled with three draws and a victory so far. The sound of dissent can be heard from their camp toward the adminstration as well as coach Mustafa Denizli (a man whom I have always hated). Needless to say, a victory on Saturday would severely damage their season hopes, while make sending a clear message that we are definitly the favorites to win the league this season. If we can get a big victory, let’s say 4-0 and the like, we might even see Denizli gone after their trip to Man United.
The Lineup
Tactically, Rijkaard have an embarassment of options with which he can plot out our victory. Reports coming in say that Elano will start on the bench after his games with the Brazilian national team and the long plane trip back to Istanbul taking a toll on him. That said we will probably see Arda moved to Elano’s “Number 10″ position and Arry Kewell taking his spot on the left wing. Keita will stay on his right side while last years top goal scorer Milan Baros will be our lone forward. Milan scored a hat trick against Besiktas last year and we will expect him to do at least the same this weekend.
In the central midfield we can expect on-form Mustafa Sarp to take his place and help out and win the ball from the opposition. However his usual midfield partner Ayhan is out injured and so we can expect Mehmet Topal to take Ayhan’s place. Ive always been a fan of Mehmet and believe that he will show his class in the match. Baris Ozbek can also be expected to come into the central midfield as well.
The back four will probably be made up of Hakan “I play top class football week in week out” Balta, Servet “I could kill Nihat with my bare hands” Cetin, Emre “I care about the children and the children only” Asik, and Sabri “I thank God for my speed every single day” Sarioglu. Franco will take his place between the sticks.
The Footy
Besiktas have a very weak defense. Erhan Guven and Ismail Koybasi, their right back and left back respectively, have a certain penchent for allowing technical players to easily get past them. When you consider the fact that they will be going up against Kewell and Keita, two of the most technical players in the league, they will most likely struggle throughout the match as our wingers quickly pierce through their defense and enter the Besiktas penalty box. I expect a penalty awarded for us. Write that down.
Besiktas have tried different combinations of strikers throughout the season, but Denizli has yet to choose one effective attack method. I dont expect an unsettled forawrd line to cause too many problems for us. If Denizli is dumb enough to play Tabata, then we have nothing to worry about.
Prediction
An overall good match for the CimBom resulting in a 3-0 victory for the men in purple. Brazilbahce will be defeated in Bursa against Ertugrul Saglam and we will open up a gap between us and Aziz Yildirims Evil Mercenary Army.
What do you think? What is your starting 11? How will the game turn out for the CimBom? Will Neeskens do a Dutch Jig midway through the game? Will Mustafa Denizli rip out the few remaining hairs he has in anger? Leave a comment below!
Category: Prematch18 Million Euro Tottenham bid rejected?
By: Musab | 8 Comments
The latest transfer rumor is that Galatasaray has rejected an 18 million Euro bid from English side Tottenham Hotspur for our young starlet Arda Turan. Adnan Polat has apparently stated that Galatasaray is not a selling club at this point but that the issue may be discussed again at the end of the season.
I for one feel that the time for Arda to move on to Europe is not now. We raised him and he is now our Number 10 and Captain. We should reap the fruits of our labor. And by reap our fruits I mean win the Europa League this season. Arda is hands down the best player in Turkey right now and has been showing great improvement since he started his first game when he was 16. Arda is a very unique person in that his boyish charm and calm minded temperment allows him to concentrate in his football and is thus succesful with us. Im sure that if he goes to a European club, hell mature even further and really hone his footballing skills.
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonFree Sezer and Ufuk now!!!
By: Musab | 10 Comments
This year the CimBom’s made some pretty impressive transfers and will be expected to be competitive in every competition it takes part in. However something that stands out is the lack of new Turkish players to the squad. Barring Gokhan Zan, Galatasaray haven’t brought any Turkish players despite its history of reaching out and raising new Turkish talent. We now know that club president Adnan Polat is attempting to lure Manisaspor’s two talented youngsters, midfielder Sezer Ozturk and goalkeeper Ufuk Ceylan over to Istanbul.
Both players have publicly stated that they feel it is time for them to leave in order to further their careers with Galatasaray where they will be given top class training and European football. Adnan Polat has made an impressive offer for the two starlets involving a good sum of cash along with a couple fringe players in exchange. The Manisaspor board have flatout refused to accept the offer and demand a lot more cash, around the 5 million mark for the two. Both players will see their contracts end this summer and will then be free to do as they please. Adnan Polat has stated that even if we dont get them this summer, we can simply pick them up for free next year.
What Manisaspor is doing is foolish and is against the benefit of the club. This club has only just emerged from the second league and has not had a particularly good summer in the transfer department. Galatasaray is offering to them Aykut Ercetin, an established goalkeeper who is in his late 20s in exchange for a promising goalkeeper which has no top league experience. We are also offering Mehmet Guven, an effective defensive mdifielder which has seen plenty of first team action along with Yaser Yildiz, a youngster who was the top goal scorer in the second league two seasons ago for Sezer. Add to this the ~1.5 million dollars and this is a very honest and fair deal which will see both sides profit from. Galatasaray gets two talented youngters whom it will develop while Manisaspor gets players that will help it stay in the first league this year along with a good amount of money.
What makes the situation even more bizzare is that Manisaspor has effectively imprisoned Sezer and Ufuk for declaring their desire to move on by putting them in a seperate training regimen and distancing them from their teammates. After this point it is impossible for them to be of any use to Manisa. By cutting two vital players (one of whom is the teams goalkeeper), they have shot themselves in the foot and risk falling back to the second league. It’s obvious that the Manisaspor board dont care about the Manisa fans, but only their pockets.
Should Manisaspor accept the offer? Should Galatasaray pay out what Manisaspor wants? Leave your comments below!
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonLooking Ahead, a new feature on the Galatasaray Offside
By: Musab | 3 Comments
I’d like to welcome you all to Looking Ahead where we’ll be taking a look ahead at what we can expect to happen with the CimBom in a set amount of time. For the inaugural Looking Ahead, we’ll be looking ahead at the next five weeks that lay before us.
This is how our domestic schedule shapes up:
1 Gaziantepspor away
We start off with a tough journey east to the city of Gaziantep to play in particular hostile stadium in oven temperature heat. Last year Fener started off their season with the same fixture and lost 1-0 to Antep. Our quality might be the decisive factor for us here as it will be a hard fought match.
Prediction: 0-1 to the CimBom
2 Denizlispor home
Our first match in front of our faithful fans should be a cracker of a match. We need to send a message to the Lower Ones that they shouldnt even think about challenging us for the title this year because its ours. I expect Rjkaard to lay out a full strength squad and for a full massacre of the young inexperienced Denizli squad
Prediction: 6-0 to the CimBom
3 Kayserispor home
Interesting that we have back to back home games so early in the season. While Kayseri have improved on their squad by adding younger fresher faces, mostly in the attacking department, the departure of Gokhan Unal last season and Mehmet Topuz this year have definitly weakened them and it will take some time for their places to be filled. I expect us to take momentum from the Denizli match and go on to defeat Kayseri handily.
Prediction: 2-1 to the Cimbom
4 Ankaraspor away
This match could prove a bit trickier than the others as we haven’t been too succesful away at Ankaraspor for quite some time. We’re looking for another 3 points here to cement our lead ahead of the following weeks derby. I see the CimBom edging out a victory here as well.
Prediction: 1-0 to the CimBom
5 Besiktas home
A vital derby that comes very early in the season. Last year’s champions will either be soaring or struggling by this point. They will probably be looking to boost their season with a victory away at the Ali Sami Yen but I honestly feel that we have what it takes to win this match. I predict a high scoring affair reminisicent of last year’s shootout.
Prediction: 4-2 to the CimBom
By this table I have us winning all five of our first five games, all very plausible in my opinion. Thoughts on the fixture? Leave a comment below along with your own predictions as we look ahead to the start of the new season.
Category: Looking AheadThe Galatasaray Offside returns with a bang
By: Musab | 3 Comments
Now that I’m back from some overseas expeditions, I can resurrect this blog once again. Big news coming out today is Elanos 11 million Euro move over to Istanbul from Manchester City. City’s summer spending spree has left Elano out in the cold and with the 2010 World Cup just around the corner, that isn’t good for him. So Elano decided to make his way over to us in hopes of getting regular football with a top class team.
For those of you familiar with English football, Elano needs no introduction. A technically gifted player, hes able to use both legs effectively and possess a wicked shot. His free kicks are also something to applaud, as his free kick against Newcastle United two years back points out. After coming through the ranks of Santos, he was snapped up by ex-CimBom coach, Mircea Lucescu for Shakhtar Donetsk. He later made his way over to England where he had two impressive seasons. Elano has also played for the Brazilian national team 35 times. Pretty impressive when you consider the competition for the position.
However what makes Elano special for us is his professionalism and his high level of discipline. Thats something that the SOB Lincoln didn’t have, and so he was a failure. Elano is nothing like Lincoln. Elano will do is job as necessary and will deserve every penny of his 3 million a year contract.
So how will our midfield be next year? With Elano’s arrival, Arda will move back to the left wing where he is most comfortable as Elano takes the “Number 10″ spot and Keita will probably on the right flank. Mehmet Topal and Ayhan will probably make their stand behind this attacking front with Baros as a lone striker up front. One glaring problem with this setup. Harry Kewell will ultimately be left on the bench with this formation, something he doesn’t deserve at all. The only way to accommodate Harry is to go with a single defensive midfielder in Mehmet Topal and put Kewell on the right wing and move Keita up as a secondary striker along with Baros.
This would mean a radical shift in Galatasaray’s preseason plans as Rijkaard had consistently insisted on a 4-3-3 formation. Whether he will go for a squad rotation system to satisfy all the players or make such a shift is something that Rijkaard will have to contemplate. Until then let’s enjoy some of Elano’s magic!
Thoughts? Opinions? Leave a comment!
Category: 2009-2010 PreseasonLatest happenings as the Galatasaray Offside goes on vacation
By: Musab | 2 Comments
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
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