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!

The wall of shame:

1. Emre Gungor
2. Ugur Ucar
3. Tobias Linderoth
4. Aydin Yilmaz
5. Baris Ozbek
6. Hasan Sas
7. Mehmet Topal
8. Harry Kewell
9. Sabri Sarioglu
10. Arda Turan
11. Serkan Calik
12. Umit Karan
13. Orkun Usak

I dont think that this has ever happened before in footballing history. So what will Skibbe do to fill in the gaps? Go back to the youth academy teenagers of course. It just wouldnt be a Galatasaray season without the kiddies holding up the team on their shoulders.

Skibbe has given orders for Murat Akca, Alpaslan Erdem, and Serkan Kurtlus to be ready for Sunday. Official team idiot Sabri maaaaay make a return if he’s lucky. Take into account that our two first choice left wing players Kewell and Arda are also out means that the CimBom will have a hard time against a determined and ready Bursa. We can expect the following line-up:

Shabani Nonda-Milan Baros
Ayhan Akman-Lincoln-Mehmet Guven-???
Hakan Balta-Servet Cetin-Fernando Meira-???

This is really embaressing for us. How can 13 players be out????? Club President Adnan Polat is equally furious as he has called for a report from the club doctors and physios as to what’s wrong with these paid “professional” players. He has also asked Skibbe and his assistants if their is anything wrong with the training schedule.

But I’m sure Polat can find the answer if he looks into it. The reason for all these injuries is that the club physios and doctors aren’t worth shit. We have a couple of Turks who don’t know much except for giving a simple massage along with using those “magic sprays”. We don’t have any nutrition experts, no top class European physios, no high quality masseurs. Until this changes, we’ll be seeing more injuries in the future.

Advantages

1. Youth
If our youngsters are able to show their desire to win, I truly believe they can wipe the floor with the mob from Kadikoy.

2. Home field advantage
Its a known fact that our fans are able to strike fear into the hearts of our opponents. The Ali Sami Yen stadium will be on fire tomorrow, lets hope that the boys will understand how serious this match is. Let’s also hope the scum understand why they shouldn’t be expected to win.

3. Match-ups
There are several key matchups in which we are superior to them. See below for more details.

Disadvantages

1. Theres no manager in charge
After Feldkamps departure the team has won every single game with the help of caretaker manager Cevat Guler. However everyone is asking as to whether Guler has enough real experience to manage the big matches.

2. Inexperience
At the end of the day, 7 out of 11 of our players are under the age of 24. Our youngsters have endured a lot this season and have done much more then could be expected of them. However now they have to pull together for one final push for the trophy that we rightfully deserve.

Key Matchups

1.Mehmet Topal (GS)-Alex (FB)

Fenerbahces captain, Alex de Souza can be considered the best player in Turkey right now. His intelligent play, amazing free kicks and pinpoint passes have led Fenerbahce to their recent trophies. However I doubt that Alex will be able to do anything this Sunday. Reason? Mehmet Topal. Mehmet has been one of the best players in the league this year. Mehmet will be able to cut him completely from the game. His long legs compared to Alex’s 5′5 frame wont even be a challenge for our golden boy.

2. Servet Cetin (GS)- Mateja Kezman (FB)

Kezman has been in horrible form these past couple of weeks (did you see that miss against Denizli??? Who knew this guy played for Chelsea?). However the Serbian “star” can always be a threat. However Servet’s muscular build will be enough to leave him all by his lonesome this Sunday.

3. Shabani Nonda (GS)- Edu Dracena+Diego Lugano (FB)

After Umit Karan’s terrible injury last week against IBB, Shabani Nonda has had to step up to the plate. I see Nonda as the favorite in this match up. While the two foreigners have been in great form recently, Nondas sheer strength will be too much for them both to handle. Let’s not forget that Nonda just dosen’t miss.

Without a doubt Galatasaray are underdogs. We’re missing all of our important players; Lincoln, Linderoth, Hasan, Ayhan, Nonda, Song, and Barusso are all out. The Fenerli’s on the other hand are expected to field a full strength squad with their 16 foreign players and two quasi-Turks. Galatasaray are expected to field only their Turkish players, of which 9 will be under the age of 23. Amazing. On paper, we have no chance. However their are a couple of strengths we have over them.

1. We’ve got a real manager in charge: On the one hand we’ve got the 73 yr old veteran manager Karl-Heinz Feldkamp. He knows who to play and how to play them. Fener on the other hand has Zico, a man who knows shit about managing a professional European club.

2. We still got our spirit: I believe the biggest plus that Turkish players all have is that they have that spirit. That “Hirs”. Which will make them fight to the death. Our players do have that “hirs” and maybe that will be enough for something. The Brazilians on the other hand are really carefree, even when they’re losing. And besides, being underdogs must count for something.

3. Guess who’s coming for dinner?: The coach of the Brazilian national team, Carlos Dunga has arrived in Istanbul to watch Fenerbahce’s many many Brazilians. I predict that the Brazilians will all try to show off their non-existent skills in a vain attempt to be called up for the sham that is the Brazilian national team. I predict that this will cause them to make too many mistakes and that will be their downfall.

Today our young starlet Arda Turan made an appearance on GSTV and stated that everyone on the team is prepared to do their best for the team and that no one is intimidated. Good try kid. Maybe you’re right.

All I want is a draw or at least a 1-0 loss. That way we can crush them when they come to our Ali Sami Yen stadium.

And finally I have a message for my dear Fenerli friends out there. Most likely you guys will win on Sunday. You guys may even beat us 6-0 again. You guys may extend your winning streak aginst us to 8 games at your stadium. However who do you guys think is really winning in the big picture. All you guys have are 35 year old Brazilian has beens. We on the other hand are building a strong squad reminiscent of the great squad that conquered Europe. Our 20 and 21 yr olds are gaining vital experience that will help them grow into the stars everyone knows they will become. While you guys are gonna keep wasting your cash on cheap third class Brazilians. And watch, in a couple of years when these boys return to Saracoglu stadium, what they are gonna do.

I’ll say it flat out. I’m expecting a loss. However we must at least get one goal something I think we can get. That’s why I’m predicting a 2-1 loss. However I’m sure we’ll beat them at home and thus we’ll make it through. Let’s just hope everything will turn out right.

Lincoln is set to return while Nonda has been ruled out for another 10 days. I’m sick and tired of all these injuries. I hate the fact that we can’t get one decent full strength squad. I despise the fact that we have never taken on Fenerbahce with a full strength squad. I think it’s utter and complete bullshit that all other teams play so rough towards our team and the referees litterally laugh while anyone who even touches a Fenerli players is automatically shown the red card.

If we become champions this year, I’m gonna make a vicous rant.

Herr Feldkamp has been saving Lincoln and Linderoth to play in this match, so we can expect them on the field. If everything goes Feldkamp’s way, this is the lineup:

Umit Karan-Shabani Nonda
Arda Turan-Lincoln-Baris Ozbek
Linderoth
Hakan Balta-Servet Cetin-Rigobert Song-Hasan Sas

It is interesting to note that Helsingborg have never played against Turkish teams, let alone even visiting Istanbul. God bless their poor souls. They know not of what hells await them.

It is a known fact that the Galatasaray players play with much more fury and determination in Avrupa maclari, European matches. I myself predict a 3-0 victory for Galatasaray. Helsingborg didn’t have a good season this year, while Galatasaray is leading the table in Turkey and is playing inspirational foot ball at the moment.

Another interesting note is the fact that two great legends of European football, Galatasaray’s Hakan Sukur (shown with the UEFA cup from 2000), and Helsingborg’s Henrik Larsson. both were great back in their day but now their both 36 years old an dpast their prime. Hakan and Henrik met back in 2002 during a world cup qualifying match between Turkey and Sweden. Hakan’s header brought Turkey up before Henrik tied it up 1-1, the final score.

Galatasaray: 24 points
Sivasspor: 22 points (no real chance of actually winning the championship)
Besiktas: 21 points
Fenerbahce: 19 (also no real chance of actually winning the championship)

Match is going to be in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, 50000 seating capacity, fan support is so pathetic, its more like 18 fans and two rats. Fenerbahce is under pressure by their fans and a loss would mean an 8 point gap with us. I could live with that, no wait i would love that.

Its worth noting that Fenerbahce Besiktas matches are always so dramatic. Three years ago Besiktas beat fenerbahce 3-4 at Sukru Saracoglu, despite playing with ten men for the last 15 minutes after their goalkeeper was sent off and Gabirel Pancu, a striker, had to serve as an emergency goalkeeper. Last year in the second leg of the Turkish Cup semifinal, the referee refused to award fenerbahce not one, but two penalties and punish besiktas with a red card. Besiktas won 1-1 and proceeded to the final which they won.

A win by Fenerbahce would damage Besiktas as they would fall to fourth and would remain 6 away from us, but this would give the Fenerliler morale, especially since we’ve got to visit them in a couple of weeks also.

All in all, a draws pretty good. Hopefully it will be a 5-5 draw that will haunt the Fenerliler and the Besiktasliler for years. Besiktas would be 5 adrift and Fener would be 7. I can live with this also. Its worth noting that Besiktas have not lost at Fenerbahce in 3 years.

Stadium:Denzli Ataturk Stadium
Referee: Bünyamin Gezer
Weather: Light rain expected throughtout the city towards the evening
Injuries: Ayhan Akman, Okan Buruk, Sabri Sarıoğlu, Cassio Lincoln, Hakan Şükür

Evaluation: This shouldn’t be so hard a match, however we have struggled before at Denzli, getting two draws and a win in the last three years. Lincoln wont join us so i guess Hasan Sas will get a chance to play. We must hold Denizlispor’s veteran playmaker Yusuf Simsek, that guy has at least one goal and an assist in every match. Id ask Linderoth to play a little rough on him. Brazilian duo Julio Cesar Moreira and Adriano Nascimento must also be watched out for.

My expected Lineup:
Shabani Nonda- Umit Karan
Arda Turan
Hasan Sas- Linderoth- Baris Ozbek
Hakan Balta-Rigobert Song- Servet Cetin- Ugur Ucar

Denizlispor’s last five matches:
10/20/2007 Gaziantepspor 1-2 Denizlispor (Turkcell Süper League)
10/6/2007 Ankaraspor 0-0 Denizlispor (Turkcell Süper League)
9/30/2007 Denizlispor 2-0 Kayserispor (Turkcell Süper League)
9/22/2007 Beşiktaş 3-2 Denizlispor (Turkcell Süper League)
9/15/2007 Denizlispor 0-1 Kasımpaşa (Turkcell Süper League)

Galatasaray’s Last five matches:
10/25/2007 Bordeaux 2-1 Galatasaray (UEFA Cup)
10/7/2007 Kayserispor 1-1 Galatasaray (Turkcell Süper League)
10/4/2007 Galatasaray 5-1 FC Sion (UEFA Cup)
9/29/2007 Galatasaray 2-1 Beşiktaş (Turkcell Süper League)
9/23/2007 Kasımpaşa 0-1 Galatasaray (Turkcell Süper League)

Head to Head: 33 matches, 19 wins for Galatasaray, 8 draws, and 5 for Denzlispor.