THE `SENSIBLE` STRATEGY OF A FOOTBALL CLUB

Greeting Kankas and Kankies.

Following on from all the `hueing and crying` in Gencler circles recently, it is time to bring some common sense into the equation about football club strategy.

Perhaps we can learn something about loyalty and strategy from the Board of Directors of Edinburgh Hibernian Football Club.

Oz Kanka mentioned in a very recent post about the demise of Gencler’s Coach that he doubted that The Directors of Gencler visited this site. Fair comment, and no doubt true. However, I am posting this in the hope that someone `out there` can direct them to our site !

In a recent statement, the Hibs Directors said that their strategy is….. SES. Not …. SOS as presently applies to The Gencler’s Board Strategy !!

I quote from the Hibs Website……

Quote…..

`Successful - because the Board is determined to see Hibernian compete each year at the upper echelon of Scottish football, achieve European football on a regular basis, and remain secure for future generations with a first-class infrastructure.

Exciting - because we want to play an entertaining brand of football and thereby provide a return for every supporter who invests in a ticket for the match or a season ticket.

Sustainable - because we must always remember that the long-term stability of the club is paramount. The Board would be negligent if it tried to pursue short-term success at the expense of long-term stability. Our job is to develop the Club in a way that ensures it will be here for generations to come. So that’s our vision – successful, exciting and sustainable football. To deliver that vision, the Board has to balance many factors. A number of key aims are contained within the Board’s strategy, these include:

* developing a first-class training centre to support the development of our talented footballers

* completing Easter Road as a top quality, modern stadium that provides the Club’s supporters with the best possible facilities

* and, of course, providing the Manager with the support he needs to build and develop his squad. This is done in an incremental and sustainable way, adding to costs when increased levels of revenue are achieved or foreseen`…

Unquote….

Impressed ?

I liked the bit where they give responsibility to the Coach-Manager for developing the team and building for the future. It doesn’t happen in a day or months or even 1 or 2 years….. it takes time !

Hibernian Football Club is only one of a few teams in Scotland who own their own Stadium, but they have still managed to open a 5 Million Pounds Sterling `State of the Art` Training Centre recently in my home county, East Lothian, which is a major achievement.

The Board is also committed to extending the capacity of Easter Road Stadium from its present 17,000 to 25,000 in the next few years.

I have mentioned before in previous posts on the Blog that Hibs Youth Policy is the envy of many Clubs in the UK, and again, this is down to the Manager-Coach to promote this very important function. But…… it doesn’t happen in a day !!! It takes time to build contacts and develop talent !

So, what I am saying is….. if anyone reading this Blog has access to Mr Cavcav and Mr Aydin, then please explain it to them and ask them to contemplate the message for the good of their Footie Clubs and not their own prestige !!!

Strategy is all about building for the future …… SUCCESS of the Club and not the individual !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Korkmaz sacked... how fucked is Gencler?

If it is records that Genclerbirligi are going for we may well be doing well. This evening we sacked our coach... not that Miilyet or Hurriyet could be bothered reporting (at least not in their internet editions late on Tuesday night).

Looking at the news at Alkaralar.com (and informed to me by "fenerfan" in comments in a previous post - thanks mate) it seems as if we have sacked Bulent Korkmaz and signed our old coach Mesut Bakkal to take over for the next week (sorry, I meant, season).

I admit that Genclerbirligi have not been doing well this season but I do ask you all whether it is a good idea to change coaches every couple of weeks. If Bakkal does become the Gencler coach then we will have had five coaches this season.

My point? This is bloody pathetic. Not everything that is wrong with the team can be laid down at the coach. Where is our transfer policy? When the hell are we going to buy a striker?

The latest sacking is clearly the tactic of one old, scared chairmain - Ilhan Cavcav.

Mr. Cavcav, you have done some wonderful things in your time as Genclerbirligi chairman. You have built the team up, you have kept the team in the black, you have presided over some brilliant runs in the Turkish Cup and the UEFA Cup. There are many other things which you should be praised for, and for those I have forgoıtten I apologise.

But please... please... hand the running of the team over to someone younger. It is time for you to retire. Genclerbirligi are becoming a joke.

Of course, Cavcav will never read this plea... So I guess we are fucked.

Last second goal sinks Genclerbirligi (and Oz Kanka runs out of beer)

Yet again I missed the start of the match. Dinner and the fact that I completely forgot meant that I only managed to turn the radio on with two minutes to go in the first half with the scores on 1-1 and the commentator saying that midfielder Mehmet Nas was having a bad game.

Mmmm. Anyone remember the couple of games when he and Nick Carle played together and the two lookalikes played as if they were twins? Nick Carle, of course, has now left the club and is plying his trade at Bristol City. City's gain, our loss.

In fact Carle gave me a call a few weeks ago. I was on my second or third beer at a party in Sydney waiting for the fireworks on New Years Eve when Carle phoned asking for some help in getting his visa to the UK sorted out. Carle was in Ankara and had no idea I was half cut in Sydney at the time.

Anyway, I tried all I could to ensure he couldn't get his visa and therefore would be forced to stay at Genclerbirligi... but to no avail.

Back to the match... Well having listened to almost none of it I can't say much, except that Mr. Fish Grape scored for Gencler in the 21st and then Bursa equalised 11 minutes later.

Genclerbirligi really need to win this one... so do Bursa as well. Whomever loses will be in the relegation zone. If it stays like this Gencler will stay in the second last position. C'mon Gencler!

Bursa have had their captain sent off just a few minutes into the second half and the crowd are clearly swearing in unison and stuff is being thrown onto the pitch. The commentator says it was a harsh decision.

So, heaps of time (we are in the 59th minute) and all to play for.

Bursa almost score, just 23 minutes to go... It's all Bursa at the moment, attack after attack, perhaps the bonuses promised by the Bursa chairman have inspired them. Oh God, another huge chance for Bursa but the ball goes out... phew.

Oh dear... Isaac Promise is coming on. Prove me an idiot Isaac!

Oh come on Gencler... they are a man down. Attack!

With a bit over 10 minutes to go it sounds like the game has bogged down. Still 1-1.

Shit. Disaster... I've run out of beer. Arrrggghh

El Saka almost scores for Bursa. 82nd minute... Corner cleared.

Promise excites the commentator but in the end he fails to get a shot in or offload... sound familiar?

This time our man Promise is offside... about five minutes left.

Bursa have a corner... ball goes off the post, and off the post again .... and now Gencler go on the counter... Promise with the ball... runs and runs, Promise shoots! and ..... out.

And now we are taking off midfielder Mehmet Cakir, he is only our leading goalscorer this year.

89th minute and still 1-1. Not looking good.

Mehmet Nas gets himself sent off for a second yellow. Now we are into extra time.

Oh my God! Final seconds and disaster... Bursa score and I'm off to cry in my beer. Shit... I forgot I've run out. This truely is a nightmare season for Gencler.

Bursa 2 - 1 Genclerbirligi


Nick Carle applauds the crowd after Bristol City beat Blackpool 1-0. Why did we let him go?

ANKARAGUCU - FIRST HOME DEFEAT RANKLES

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

ANKARAGUCU received their first home defeat of the season last night in bitterly cold Ankara. What rankles though is that it was at the hands of an Istan….spit….bul team !!

ANKARAGUCU 0 Galatasaray 4

It was all upbeat in The Cappadokia Bar pre-match when I joined the kankas where the Basement Bar had been `taken-over` ! It was an amazing sight to see about 30 kankas gathered together, and finding a seat proved to be a daunting task !

Too many kankas to mention, but all the `regulars` were there and lots of Moutaineering Kanka Robbie’s Bilkent Babes (oh yes….. and ….. after-thought…..there were some Bilkent Boys there too !).

No probs getting into the Stadium which was about full by KO time. Lottsa singing with the ANKARAGUCU tribunes drowning out the Galatasaray Mob. Our own Trekking Kankie Nicky was Chief Kanka Cheer Leader and doing a great job too (well, at least for the first 37 minutes of the match when we had something to cheer about !!).

It was a tight struggle up to that point with both teams taking time to settle and testing each others defences.

Then in an 8 minutes spell just before half-time the singing was interrupted and shock took over !

The first goal on 37 minutes was a defensive nightmare. A fierce shot at goal brought a great instinctive save from Serkan and the second shot from the rebound was again saved, but the ball rebounded to the unmarked Hakan who had the easiest of tap-ins. During all this fiasco, the defence were standing admiring Serkan’s heroics and Galatasaray's shooting practice !! No doubt Hakan Kutlu will be conducting a post-mortem this week on this aberration ??!!

4 minutes later another schoolboy error set-up the 2nd goal. Murat Duruer taking the ball out of defence allowed himself to be tackled and dispossessed instead of passing the ball and Arda ran through unchallenged between FOUR defenders to give Serkan no chance !

2 minutes later and the goal of the match. A break along the left wing, look up, cross to the unmarked Umit Karan to half volley in past the helpless and exposed Serkan. Kirita and Paulauskas were both marking Hakan and were unaware of Umit’s run. Of course, Paulauskas should have been marking him, but he is a central defender normally and was playing out of position at left full back in place of the suspended El Yasa. However, no excuses for leaving a striker of Umit’s predatory talents unmarked !!

So, 3 defensive blunders and 3 `presents` to Galatasaray and the half-time whistle came as a relief !

Not much to say about the 2nd half, except that ANKARAGUCU did not allow their heads to go down. All credit to them for that at least ! Bebbe and Diawara both had good chances to score but it was not to be.

Galatasaray’s Serkan added a 4th near the end but it was purely academic by then.

So, what now ? ANKARAGUCU is now 10 points behind 5th placed Kayseri and I have to be realistic and concede that the UEFA Cup dream is now on-hold until NEXT season !

It’s the Gencler v ANKARAGUCU derby next weekend. Details to be announced by Oz Kanka when known.

All the best from an extremely disappointed Eski Kanka Jim

PS…… I just heard that Gencler were drawn against Adana Demirspor in the quarter final of the Turkish Cup. I can see Oz Kanka grinning from here !!!

Once upon a time we used to be considered a "power"

Genclerbirligi lost last night 3-2 away to Trabzonspor in a Cup match that meant nothing... they were already through to the next round anyway... so instead of giving a report on that I thought I'd share with all three of you an article I found in the Guardian today. Turkish delights continue to surprise

Some snippets:

This weekend unfashionable Sivasspor have the chance to put a rocket up the Istanbul hierarchy of Turkish football with a fury not seen since Lagari Hasan Çelebi flew a gunpowder-powered jetpack over the Bosphorus in 1633.

Sivasspor, in case you haven't been paying attention, are the surprise leaders of Super Lig, and the first team to threaten the Besiktas-Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray stranglehold in a generation. They have been propelled to the summit by incredible home form: played 10, won 10, scored 20, conceded three. In the second half of the season Sivasspor face each of the big three at home. A win over Fenerbahçe this Sunday will set up the most exciting Turkish title race in recent memory.

The article goes on to look at how Sivas play an unfashionable style of football that nonetheless gets results.

A rookie coach, Uygun credits his managerial success to the influence of Carlos Alberto Parreira, the manager who schemed Brazil's unBrazil-like 1994 World Cup triumph and was responsible for Fener's mid-90s revival. But equally key to Sivasspor's success is Uygun's own training system (nicknamed "Turbulence") in which players alternate between performance-enhancing fitness binges and prolonged rests, the idea being that form-sapping fatigue can be meticulously scheduled against breaks in the fixture calender.

The author then quotes some media pundits (why didn't they give us a call?) who all think Sivas will stumble at some stage. Then comes a killer quote from Ebru Koksaldi of Fanatik newspaper.

"Nobody can say they will be the champions," says Koksaldi. "But it is clear that they will be the new power in the Turkish league, like Genclerbirligi and Gaziantepspor once were."

"Once were", she says. Ouch.

THE TURKISH CUP - ANKARAGUCU GO OUT WITH A WHIMPER !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

On a depressingly disappointing Wednesday at the end of a depressing a bloody cold January, the ANKARAGUCU Cup dream came to an end on the Black Sea coast..... says Eski Kanka popping in another anti-depression pill into his glass of luvvlie EFES !!!

Rize 1 ANKARAGUCU 0

No details of the match known as I write this, but who the f**k cares who scored the f******g goal in Rize anyway !!!

The sad fact is that ANKARAGUCU let themselves (and the fans) down and it goes back to the defeat in The Stadium from Hell on the 6th of January. Hakan Kutlu's team selection was OK for Antakyaspor, but someone should have told him we weren't playing them that day !!!

However, all credit to Rize for topping Group A ahead of the hated Sekiztrash. Hakan Kutlu can say all he likes to journalists about his wish to take ANKARAGUCU to the Cup Final, but the bottom line is............ actions speak louder than words !!!

My last word on this season's Turkish Cup........ C'mon Gencler and OFTAS !!!

Back to League business on Sunday and surely we can beat those upstarts from the wrong side of the Bosphorus and get the show back on the road ?! So..........

C'mon ANKARAGUCU ...... let's bite their legs !!!

All the best from ...... hey, I was going to say a depressed Eski Kanka Jim, but....... f*****n 'ell, these anti-depression pills are working...... yeah, must get another prescription for more for next season's Turkish Cup !!!!

See y'all on Sunday.

ANKARAGUCU - A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY MISSED

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

With Denizli having to field 4 `non-regulars` in the team yesterday, ANKARAGUCU missed an opportunity to take all 3 points.

Denizlispor 1 ANKARAGUCU 1

Goalkeeper Suleymanolu was in Africa for the African Cup and 3 other `names` were under suspension. So, under those circumstances, it was a disappointing result.

Unfortunately, no details of the match are available, except to say that Diawara opened his scoring account for ANKARAGUCU with a penalty half-way through the 2nd half having replaced Jaba a few minutes beforehand. A wonder why Kirita didn’t take it ??!! Denizli equalised near the end.

Interesting to note that both Jaba and Bebbe were substituted in the 2nd half which speaks volumes about the support which Jaba DOESN’T give up front !! A message for Hakan Kutlu……. Isn’t it time to start the match with Diawara up front with Bebbe and have Gokhan and Duruer on as support from attacking midfield positions ??!!

Ibrahim Ege was shown a Red Card shortly after Diawara’s goal and this brought a smirk to my face. I recall describing him to Battle Damaged Kanka last week as a `Fox Terrier` of a player ! In other words, the type of player which coaches and fans (like us) love to have in the team ! However, for some reason, referees don’t much like them. I wonder why ??!!

Looking to upcoming matches then……

It is Cup business for ANKARAGUCU in Rize on Wednesday KO 1.30pm. As I said in a previous post, ANKARAGUCU must win by at least 2 goals to have any chance of qualifying for the next stage and hope that Ankaraspor don’t score too many in Diyarbakir.

Travelling to Rize in past seasons has not been every teams `cup of joy` against a team with an infamous uncompromising defence. However, that has not been the case this season with Rize leaking 36 goals so far in the League, which means they have the 2nd worst defence in the League.

So, an ideal opportunity for Hakan Kutlu to show his credentials and send out an attacking team in 4-3-3 formation !! Apologies for repeating myself on this subject but there are times when it must be done and this is one of them !

Also on Wednesday KO 7pm, Gencler travel to Trabzon in a match which Trabzon must win to have any chance of qualifying.

Next weekend sees the visit of Galatasaray to take on ANKARAGUCU on Sunday KO 7pm. Meeting in The Cappadokia Bar at around 5pm and I will be coming there direct from School. Wouldn’t miss this one ! I just love to see those `Ankara based` CimBom people (can’t call them supporters !!) silenced when their team is losing !!!

Gencler is away in Bursa on Monday 28th KO 1.30pm. Why Monday ? Good question. Any ideas ?

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Why didn't I go to the match!

Suffering from jet lag and a severe fear of the cold I decided not to go along today to Genclerbirligi's match against Rize and instead I'm snuggled in next to my computer listening to the radio.

Typical though... I was late in getting set up and as soon as turned on the radio they had just finished describing the first goal... So all I can say is that at the 32nd minute Mehmet Cakir scored.

Gencler 1 - 0 Rize (32nd).

The strange thing as I'm listening I'm actually supporting Ankaraspor. Don't worry, I haven't lost my complete indifference to Gokcek's boys, just that they are up against Manisa today and Gencler need Manisa to lose if we are to still hope tıo stay in the top flight next season.

Anyway, half-time just popped up.

Genclerbirligi 1 - 0 Rize (HT).
Ankaraspor 0 - 0 Manisa (HT).
Denizli - Ankaragucu (who will have to wait for Sir Eski for that one).

So here it is at half time and a great opportunity for TRT radio to give us some insight into the progress of the games happening around the country. Instead we get a 10 minutes of Turkish dance-pop crap. Idiots.

Second half and while you could actually hear the Genclerbirligi fans singing (Alpine Kanka Wolfgang is there I think), the commentator said the pace was "very slow". Sounds like I'm not missing much.

Suat fouls Burhan in the box.

Penalty to Genclerbirligi!

And and and

Up comes Okan Ozturk and .... goal!!!!

Genclerbirligi 2 - 0 Rize (59th minute).

What the f... TRT radio have matches on all over the place and now they are giving us a preview of Antep-Fener. Take over the league, hog all the limelight, get on the telly every week and now we get to hear all about Fener's preparation for a match later on. Bollocks to that.

And now Ankaraspor have scored meaning that if the results stay like this Genclerbirligi will get out of the relegation zone (by just a point mind you).

Oh dear... Now Rize have got one back.

Genclerbirligi 2 - 1 Rize (74th).

And then just a minute later Okan Ozturk scores again.

Genclerbirligi 3 - 1 Rize (76th).

About 15 minutes left. "Hang on Gencler!"

Oh God, 3 p.m. and the Fener match has just started and my bet is that they won't even bother to go back to the other matches.

Well, actually they did return to the other matches.

And another!!!!

Mehmet Cakir scores after a defensive nightmare from Rize.

Genclerbirligi 4 - 1 Rize (85th)

Full time and we have a victory!!!!

Genclerbirligi 4 - 1 Rize (FT)

I have no idea who played well or not, TRT radio isn't very good at quick summing up of performances, but I don't care. Gencler have won, just our fourth victory of the season. And to think I decided to stay at home.

Oh, and Gokcekspor won as well meaning we are out of the relegation zone.

Curse of the African Cup of Nations

Fortress Fratton will rise once more from the ashes of the African Cup of Nations, believe me! Our Africans will have ingested the requisite amounts of jungle juice, rubbed themselves all over with monkey blood and had themselves beaten into a frenzy by the local witch doctor - and if that doesn't work then we'll all have to rely on 'arry giving them one of his top team talks.

Derby at home today; surely we can break our scoring duck against them? Pleeeeeeeese! They must be the worst outfit to have graced the hallowed world of the English Premiership? It's amazing that we haven't scored at home since September when we beat Reading 7-4; we must be approaching some kind of record now. Still, we're only 5 points off 4th place, we've signed Diarra from Arsenal for 5 mill, and he's supposed to be the dogs. So, Derby today, Plymouth at home in the cup next week (a match otherwise known as the uneducated person's local derby – there is about 200 miles between the two cities) then Man Utd away, oh dear!

Talking of Man Yew, they are here in Riyadh from tomorrow evening, playing an exhibition match against Al Hilal, so I'm probably going to go and watch that with a few others. Tickets are a tad expensive though, SR380 (about £50). Anyway, it'll break the tedium for a few hours hopefully. It's also been rumoured that the team will be paying a visit to our delightful little Compound, perhaps to use the football pitch, although I can't see Sir Alex allowing his multi-million pound footballers to use a pitch where the sprinklers have a habit of jumping out at you and causing trivial injuries like broken ankles and twisted knees! Or maybe they’ve heard about the local brew, which can have the effect of deadening those after match strains!

Me and my family are all off to Beirut in February for a week, do a bit of skiing, drink a few local beers, etc, etc. Our next door neighbours are also coming along, Aussie family, but we'll try and overlook that shortcoming for a few days (sorry Chris)! With a bit of luck, we'll also be able to dodge the car bombs downtown!

Finally, good luck to Ankaragucu and ….. I can’t remember the name of that other team in Ankara …. ah yes, Ankaraspor – I think that covers the top teams in the area!!!!

Play Up Pompey!

THE KANKALAR GROUP'S MR STYLE !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It was no contest at the 19 Mayis Stadium last Wednesday night when the voting for Best Dressed Supporter went unanimously to our own Battle Damaged Kanka Damon.

It would appear to me at the half way point in the season that Battle Damaged Kanka has his eyes on the prestigious award of Kankalar Group Kanka of the Season.

Previous winners who have claimed this coveted award have been –

Oz Kanka for his efforts in setting up The Round Ball in Ankara.
Sir Eski Kanka awarded his Knighthood by Oz Kanka for services to Ankaragucu.
Mountaineering Kanka for taking the Ankaragucu flag to the top of Mount Kilemanjaro.
Maniac Kanka for his heroics in defending the kankas at the Battles of Sakarya Caddesi Mk I and Mk II.

In fact, Battle Damaged Kanka was indeed fortunate in being able to join us in Maraton last Wednesday. The Police at the Stadium Gate No 7 was clearly shocked that he should be entering along with all of us hooligans. The Policeman was determined to escort him around the Stadium to Protokol (VIP area) until Battle Damaged Kanka was able to explain that he was a bone fide Kanka !

As you can see from the photo above, Battle Damaged Kanka was a worthy winner. The cloth on his cashmere ankle length coat obviously came from an animal in the Andorra Mountains and was probably styled and made in Italy.

He was too modest to admit it but his white shirt had all the hallmarks of a Vakko creation. His jacket too, but we found out later that it was from one of the famous boutique’s in Rome.

His tie was an exquisite blue with adorable white flowers and no ordinary tie this. Putting aside his love of Italian style, he chose this from Paris and the silk touch of the tie was as soft and smooth as a baby’s bottom !

However, what really must have swung the voting in Battle Damaged’s favour was the shoes. Pure Italian black leather (they match jolly well with his black leather gloves) with delightful silver buckles. My guess is that the buckles were pure silver and probably mined in the foothills of the Italian Alps !

So, our congratulations to Battle Damaged Kanka Damon for this well deserved award. He has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that in addition to being a man of substance, he is also a man of considerable style !!

As for The Kankalar Group’s Kanka of the Season, this will be revealed at the End of Season Bar-B-Q. A likely contender for this award to challenge Battle Damaged Kanka will no doubt be Mini Alpine Kanka Christoph for his services to youth football. A difficult choice for the judges !

All the best from `Style Reporter` Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - CUP HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

On a night of high hopes and near misses, ANKARAGUCU gave themselves a slim chance of Cup qualification.

ANKARAGUCU 1 Besiktas 1

Maniac Kanka and I met in the Cappadokia full of optimism and expectation. Hakan Kutlu had promised Maniac Kanka 100% endeavour for this one and that is exactly what we got !

The ANKARAGUCU 4 tribunes in the Stadium were surprisingly full for a 4pm KO, and the singing was high volume as usual. The Sekiztrash end was about half full and they were `silenced` every time they tried to sing !!

ANKARAGUCU made their game-plan clear from the outset and went into attack mode. Passes were sticking and tackles were going in hard. Hakan in the Sekiztrash goal was the busier goalkeeper and ANKARAGUCU went close with long range efforts from Bebbe and Gokhan.

Battle Damaged Kanka’s new hero, Gokhan, was having a great game down the right and causing all sorts of problems for Sekiztrash.

Serkan saw his first real action on 30 minutes when he tipped a certain goal over in the top right hand corner of the goal. Great save and a wake-up call, if one was needed !

At that point, we were joined by latecomers Battle Damaged Kanka and Mountaineering Kanka who had arrived direct from work.

Good timing from them when shortly after their arrival the opening goal came. A fast move down the left wing, with Erdogan prominent, cut the Sekiztrash defence wide open. Gokhan, who had drifted across from the right was on hand unmarked to sweep the ball in for a classic goal to send us all into raptures. Strike up the Olay…. Olay…. Olay…. song !!

5 minutes later it was half time and we were thinking the unthinkable. With ANKARAGUCU attacking the Gecikondu end, would we bury Sekiztrash ?!

Hmmmm… we had a rude awakening when Sekiztrash came out all fired up for the 2nd half and took the game to ANKARAGUCU. Just when I was thinking that we had weathered the storm of the first 10 minutes, the equaliser arrived, but for God’s sake Serkan what were you thinking about !! Having had a very good match thus far he went and spoiled it all by making another one of his schoolboy blunders !

The cross came over in a crowded penalty area, and fair enough, Serkan couldn’t make a clean catch, but at least he could have punched the ball out to safety. However, he didn’t and he fumbled the ball which was begging to be struck. Unfortunately, El Yasa was leaning backwards on the line when he tried to clear and it rebounded off his knee into the path of the lurking Bobo who said …. thank you very much as he despatched the ball in for a goal !

A scrappy goal and a real sickener !

However, all credit to ANKARAGUCU for not losing the plot. Heads stayed up and the match developed into an end to end affair until the last 10 minutes when ANKARAGUCU took complete control. Bebbe had countless opportunities to put the match beyond Sekiztrash, but luck was with them last night when all the chances were squandered.

Then `hard man` Baki Mercimek was sent off for a 2nd yellow card with 10 minutes to go and the pace was upped by ANKARAGUCU seeking the winner. It was total attack now as they threw everything at Sekiztrash. However, having mentioned `Lady Luck` in yesterday’s post, she was not wearing Sari/Lacivert last night !!

All credit to ANKARAGUCU for giving 100% for the 90 minutes, and on any other night they would surely have won it.

So, what now ? Well it is really quite simple. Besiktas will make it through by virtue of their superior goal difference. However, ANKARAGUCU can still do it, but they must beat Rize away next week by at least 2 clear goals. They must also hope that Ankaraspor don’t win by more than 2 goals away to Diski. A tall order perhaps, but I’m sure stranger things have happened in footie before ??!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

PS... and away from footie. There was a competition in the Stadium last night for Best Dressed Supporter. The result will be published soon on this Blog with a photo of the lucky person. Watch this space for the exciting news of the winner !!!

PPS......The Round Ball in Ankara...... the blog that doesn't ignore fashion !!!

THE TURKISH CUP - GENCLERBIRLIGI QUALIFY IN STYLE

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Gencler qualified for the Quarter Finals of the Turkish Cup in style last night in Ankara.

Genclerbirligi 1 Adana Demirspor 0

`Cup shock specialists` Adana were brought down to earth in Ankara with an early goal by Mehmet Cakir.

Sorry to say that I have no further details of the match, but if any kanka was there then please make a comment on this post.

Some people (not me !) would argue that Gencler was drawn into the `easiest group`. However, I'm sure that Trabzon supporters would hardly agree with that statement !!

The Cup is all about taking your chances, and of course, there is always the fact that `Lady Luck` will also play a part. So, well done Gencler for topping Group B with 8 goals and zero conceded, and being the 1st team to qualify for the Quarter Finals.

Next week's trip to Trabzon will not affect Gencler's position.

Who will join them from Group B is anyones guess, with goal difference likely to play a part between Adana, Trabzon and Manisa.

Today it is all eyes on Group A and the ANKARAGUCU v Sekiztrash match which is a `Must Win Nothing Else Will Do` match for ANKARAGUCU !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

MANIAC KANKA IT REMAINS !!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

After an impassioned plea from Maniac Kanka and Battle Damaged Kanka it has been unanimously agreed that Maniac Kanka Harun can retain his famous kanka name !

However, I am sure that he has learned his lesson about the conduct expected of kankas, especially when in public.

There was a previous incident of this nature a few years ago when Marash Kanka Hakan was caught drinking Orange Fanta in the Sahil Restaurant in Genclik Park. I can assure you all that he suffered long term verbal abuse, and of course, Eski Kanka does not forgive such misbehaviour easily !!!

The photo above shows the `real` Maniac Kanka Harun drinking the Amber Nectar in The Cappadokia Bar with Rip Off Kanka Erman, Battle Damaged Kanka Damon and Eski Kanka Jim with his new ANKARAGUCU Anti-X scarf (a present from their leader Hakan).

Warning...... I shall be keeping my beady eye on Maniac Kanka from now on and trust there will be no repitition of this un-kanka behaviour !

All the best from forgiving Eski Kanka Jim

MANIAC KANKA'S REPUTATION IN DANGER ??!!

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

You've seen the photo and no doubt you all gasped in surprise with such comments as..... golly gosh or gee whiz or shock horror or........ probably something stronger !!

Maniac Kanka drinking Ayran in The Cappadokia ? Can't be real, or can it ?!

For those of you with long memories, Harun was named Maniac Kanka many moons ago by the now legendary Kirkcaldy Kanka Martyn.

He has proved worthy of his Kanka name at the Battle of Sakarya Caddesi Mark I and Mark II and we have always been proud of our very own Maniac.

However, I have to ask the question....... does drinking Ayran in public constitute a crisis in Kanka circles and is it time to consider a new name for Harun ??!!

Look forward to hearing from you all with your decision.

All the best from a very disturbed Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - SAME OLDE CLICHE

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Apologies for the same olde cliché of ……… a match of 2 halves !!

ANKARAGUCU 1 Ankaraspor 1

Yesterday on a freezing cold (-10 degrees C), but sunny, Ankara afternoon, Maniac Kanka and Yankee Kanka met up at the Cappadokia Bar, but I was 1st into the Stadium direct from work to see the players warming-up. It has to be said (before someone else says it) that this was a first for Eski Kanka ! First time into the Stadium without any alcohol on his breath !!

We were joined by Rip Off Kanka and Battle Damaged Kanka prior to KO and the Stadium was almost full at the ANKARAGUCU ends. Maniac Kanka counted 38 Ankaraspor fans !!! Lots of pre-match singing and euphoria with lots of anti-Gokcek chants, which was to be expected facing the hated Ankaraspor !!

Into the match and it was all Ankaraspor with ANKARAGUCU pinned back into defence and I was screaming for them to break out of defence and attack (nothing new there I can hear you say !)

ANKARAGUCU was attacking into the Gecikondu end and we only saw 2 serious attempts at goal in the 1st half. However, it has to be said that Ankaraspor’s attacks, although frequent and dangerous, were not producing anything. Also, the usual long balls up to Bebbe and Jaba were being dealt with at ease by the Ankaraspor defence !

Ahem…… that was until Ankaraspor prised open the ANKARAGUCU defence after only 15 minutes with a classic move.

The ball was played down the left wing with the ANKARAGUCU defence bunched together in the centre. The ball was swung over high to the unmarked Murat Tosun on the right who had all the time in the world to control the ball, take it forward, wait for Serkan to commit himself and slot it in right to left off the post for a well deserved goal right out of the training ground manual !

Eski Kanka’s head was in his hands (again !) but all 4 tribunes upped the volume of their songs ! I was screaming at the ANKARAGUCU players to play footie and use the spaces on the wings, but, unfortunately and as usual, nobody was listening to me !

So it continued until ANKARAGUCU were awarded a penalty for hand-ball after a rare incursion into the Ankaraspor penalty area. Kirita stepped up and we all rose to applaud the inevitable goal…….wrong !!

As usual, it was a screamer, with the goalkeeper praying to God that he didn’t connect with the ball, but, it hit the crossbar and rebounded too far out for the inrushing forwards to cause any danger.

Half time was approaching and we were thinking negative thoughts when in only the 2nd serious ANKARAGUCU attack on goal, the ball was played out of the Ankaraspor penalty area to the unmarked Gokhan (recently signed from Boluspor) who was well outside the penalty area. He met it first time on the half volley and drilled in a rocket of a low shot which deceived everyone. 1-1 and we were all up singing, shouting and baying for more. The Olay… Olay… Olay… song was in full swing, but the wake-up call came too late and it was half time.

Why does it need a `half time talk` to wake ANKARAGUCU up ?? This was a different team now. Passes were going where they were meant and now it was Ankaraspor on the back foot.

Jaba, who had been ineffective in the 1st half, was replaced by Diawara and suddenly there was more movement and a target man up front.

`New Boy` Gokhan was having a great 2nd half and giving lots of problems to the Ankaraspor rear-guard with his speed and touches. I think his partnership with Bebbe and Diawara has grounds for optimism for the future.

Bebbe was his usual self – running, making spaces and giving it his all. Kirita is maturing into a great Club Captain and was solid at the back and leading by example. Some of his tackles were of the `oooo-ahhhh` type, but he is a real Pro and knows when to commit himself !

Lots of chances created in the 2nd half, the best being a Diawara glancing header in the final minute which went over the bar. In the end, I suppose it was, on the balance of play, a fair result. On this performance, Ankaraspor will not be in the relegation dog-fight at the end of the season.

At the risk of repeating myself from previous posts, ANKARAGUCU will have to play for 90 minutes on Wednesday against Besiktas and be more consistent if they are to win the match. In my opinion, there is only one way for ANKARAGUCU to play in this league and that is to …….. ATTACK !!!

Back to The Cappadokia Bar and a chance to thaw out with some heat and liquid refreshment. Not much post-match talk – all our frustrations were vented at the match ! We contented ourselves with watching Sivas give Trabzon a footie lesson live on TV.

The ANKARAGUCU v Sekiztrash Cup match on Wednesday is a 4pm KO. As I write this, I am not sure if we will be in the Stadium or Cappadokia to watch it. Details coming up nearer the time.

In the other Cup match, Gencler will play Adana Demir on Tuesday KO 4pm. As I reported a few days ago, it may not be in the 19 Mayis Stadium. If it isn’t, I will send out an email when the details are known.

Next weekend’s league fixtures are on Sunday 20 January KO 1.30pm –

Denizli v ANKARAGUCU
Gencler v Rize `Tea Boys`

League standings are –

ANKARAGUCU in 9th position on 24 points. Gencler is still 3rd bottom on 15 points.

Sivas is still on top with 40 points. Still a long way to go before YooRo qualification slots are decided, so the `dream` is still alive……. But only just !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

HIbs 3-0 Inverness

At last, some good news about Hibs.

Not only have they managed to appoint a manager they have also won a game for the first time since the 10th November.

Mixu Paatelainen has been unvieled as the new Hibs manager after John Collins walked out on the club last month. Mixu had two spells playing for Hibs and will always be remembered for his hattrick against Hearts in our 6-2 win in 2000.

Mixu's first game in charge was Saturdays Scottish Cup match against Inverness. Inverness had beaten Hibs up in Inverness a couple of weeks ago and were favouites to win the Tie even though in was being played in Edinburgh.

The Hibs players responded to big Mixu in the best way by getting back to the free flowing football were used to. A hattrick, this time from Dean Shiels, guided Hibs to a comfortable win. Now that is something I have not had to say in a while.

The only down side to the game was Hibs Morais and Inverness's Maguire being sent off. Both were on a yellow card when they decided to go head to head after a harmless challenge.

Dean Shiels was not really used by John Collins and was on the verge of leaving Hibs in search of a regular game. He is a very popular player with the Hibs fans and hopefully will now get a chance to show what he can do on a regular basis.

Hibs reward for winning their cup tie is a home match against Rangers.

Next Saturday Hibs travel across Edinburgh to play Hearts, both teams had been going through a pretty bad spell but all that seems to be changing just in time.

Hearts played well in their cup tie but were held at home by Motherwell 2-2. This was Motherwells first game since Phil O'Donnel died and turned out to be a match fit to honour Phil.

Hibbee Kanka

THE GENCLERBIRLIGI STALEMATE

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Just a short post to give you the result of the Gencler Derby match today from freezing cold Ankara.

Genclerbirligi 1 OFTAS 1

I'm sorry to say that I have no details of the match because none of the Gencler Kankas have been in touch with me, and I'm writing this at midnight, which as you all know is well past my bedtime, and yes..... before anyone says it..... I do need my beauty sleep !!!

Call me cynical if you will, but I wonder if Cavcav had something to do with OFTAS giving Gencler a `helping hand` today and a valuable one point ??!!

Look forward to some comments appearing from kankas who were at the match !!!

As for tomorrow's match, it's revenge time for ANKARAGUCU against the hated Ankaraspor in retribution for our Cup defeat last week !

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU AND GENCLERBIRLIGI - LEAGUE BUSINESS RESUMES

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

It is back to League business tomorrow. The Turkish Cup is therefore `on hold` until next week.

First up is the Gencler `Derby` match. Tomorrow (Saturday 12th) KO 1.30pm. I'm not sure of the meeting arrangements, but I guess Flying Dutchman Kanka and Alpine Kanka will have arranged something. Meeting in The Chopin ?

Next day (Sunday) is the `other` Ankara `Derby` with ANKARAGUCU at home to Ankaraspor and out for revenge after the Cup reversal last week. KO 1.30pm. Contact Maniac Kanka for meeting arrangements. The Lacivert ?

I can't go to either of the matches due to pressure of work. However, I can meet up with the kankas on Sunday at 3.30pm in The Lacivert for post match celebrations.

I am sure that Hakan will have Kirita, Bebbe, Diawara and possibly Jaba in the starting line up this time !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim


EDIT..... Saturday....

My programme has changed and I will therefore attend the match tomorrow. However, I will be going direct to the Stadium from School. We will be sitting in Section 7/8 in Maraton. Hope to see you all there.

THE TURKISH CUP - GROUP `B` STANDINGS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Some very interesting results in Group `B` yesterday !

First up, well done Gencler !

Kirikkale 0 Genclerbirligi 4

This puts Gencler firmly in the driving seat in Group `B` and only a screw-up against Adana Demir of the 2nd League next week can prevent Gencler qualifying for the KO stage.

Yesterday, the goals came from Mehmet Cakir, Kahe and Erhan in the 1st half and Promising Isaac near the end of the match.

However, the shock of the day was.......

Adana Demir 1 Trabzon 0

A fantastic result for Adana Demir against The Black Sea Storm who had their full team out, including Ceyhun, Gokdeniz, Umut and Huseyin.

The standings in Group `B` are -

Gencler P2 W2 D0 L0 F7 A0 Pts 6
Adana D P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A1 Pts 6
Trabzon P3 W1 D0 L2 F5 A4 Pts 3
Manisa P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3 Pts 3
Kirikkale P3 W0 D0 L3 F1 A12 Pts 0

Gencler will be at home against Adana Demir next week (details not known yet), and in the meantime, I'm sure Bulent Bey will be studying a recording of the Adana Demir v Trabzon match !

3 points from that one will be enough to make the journey to Trabzon the following week an academic exercise.

PS...... Hey, have you noticed that Gencler are starting to play a bit now that they have got rid of that Aussie geezer ??!! Moral of the story....... Aussies should stick to playing Aussie Rules and The Funny Shaped Ball games !!!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

THE TURKISH CUP - GROUP `A` STANDINGS

Greeting Kankas and Kankies.

A very interesting scenario is developing in ANKARAGUCU's Group `A` in the Turkish Cup.

Last night Sekiztrash beat Ankaraspor 3-1 (I didn't know whether to laugh or cry !!), and Rize `teaboys` beat Diski 2-1.

Rize scored the winner in the 4th minute of time added on which could come back to haunt ANKARAGUCU at the end of the day !

So, with the next Group matches coming up next Wednesday, the standings are as follows -

Besiktas P3 W2 D0 L1 F8 A3 Pts 6
Rize P2 W2 D0 L0 F4 A2 Pts 6
A'spor P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3 Pts 3
A'gucu P2 W1 D0 L1 F3 A3 Pts 3
Diski P3 W0 D0 L3 F2 A9 Pts 0

As I said in last weekend's match report, all the pressure is now on ANKARAGUCU after the unnecessary loss to Ankaraspor last Saturday. Only wins at home to Sekiztrash on Wednesday and away to Rize the following Wednesday will keep them in contention.

For those of you with long memories, it was goal difference which eliminated ANKARAGUCU last season !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

THE STADIUM FROM HELL

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Welcome to The Stadium from Hell (my description) !!!

This photo was taken by Rip Off Kanka Erman at last Saturday's match. He was the only kanka brave enough to go to Hell !!

For those of you new to this Blog this is the home of the hated Ankaraspor. It is situated well outside Ankara in the district of Yenikent on the Ayas and Istanbul road in the middle of nowhere !!

Maniac Kanka, Yankee Kanka and I went there last August to see ANKARAGUCU beat them in the league and thank God we don't have to contemplate another journey there until next season. Definitely not my idea of a pleasant day out for footie !

Thanks again for sending the photo Rip Off Kanka and hope to see you on 16 January for the Sekiztrash match.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

GENCLERBIRLIGI - OFF TO A GOOD START

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

On a freezing Ankara afternoon yesterday, Gencler kicked off their Cup campaign with a convincing win.

Genclerbirligi 3 Vestel Manisa 0

With Oz Kanka still Down-Under, and no contact from any kankas, I don't know if any of the kankas attended. I was working yesterday and I only have Hurriyet's report at the moment, so if any of the kankas were there perhaps they can make a comment on this report.

The breakthrough for Gencler came half way through the 2nd half with 2 goals in quick succession from Kahe and Okan. The 3rd goal was scored by Kahe almost on the final whistle.

So, this win puts Gencler in the driving seat of their group with the `easy` match coming up on Wednesday away to Kirikkale.

Hurriyet also reported that the TFF is unhappy with staging further matches of this type, ie, a low turnout, in The 19 Mayis Stadium. They have proposed using the old Cebeci Stadium !

Hardly surprising with only 565 Gencler supporters and 11 Manisa supporters in the Stadium yesterday !! However, I'm sure that Cavcav will be fighting his corner on this one !

So, well done Gencler. All being well, we might see at least one Ankara team in the knock-out stage !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

ANKARAGUCU - CUP ASPIRATIONS ON HOLD !

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Another `bad day at the office` for Hakan Kutlu !!

Ankaraspor 2 ANKARAGUCU 0

ANKARAGUCU's Cup aspirations were dealt a severe blow in the `Stadium from Hell` yesterday with both teams playing on a disgraceful surface of ice and not grass. The match was therefore a lottery with Ankaraspor twice hitting the jackpot !

Rip Off Kanka Erman was the only kanka able to attend, but I unfortunately don't have the benefit of his match report. However, I'm sure he will not have been a `happy bunny` !

I met Maniac Kanka Harun last night in The Lacivert Pub and we were told that Hakan Kutlu had Kirita, Bebbe and Jaba on the bench. An amazing decision given his comments the previous day in the Hurriyet that his ambition was to take ANKARAGUCU to the Cup Final !

Granted, Kirita and Bebbe were brought on in the 2nd half, but by then the damage had been done ! Another case of ..... too little too late !

Murat Erdogan took the captain's armband for the match in place of Kirita.

Well, after 3 or 4 beers (or was it more ?!) Maniac Kanka and I were still incensed about Hakan Kutlu's decision and our frustration of `throwing away` 3 points. So much so that he decided to phone Hakan Kutlu to express our anger and ask for an explanation.

Hakan said that his decision was based on the fact that all 3 players had returned to their home countries for Christmas and New Year and therefore were unable to train with the team in preparation for the Ankaraspor match.

OK, so it's his call as team coach, but what I think is not able to be printed here !!! All 3 players are professionals who were given persmission to go home and should therefore be trusted to return fit to play !

ANKARAGUCU is now left with a mountain to climb if they are going to qualify for the Knock Out stage of the Cup.

At home to Sekiztrash on 16 January now becomes a MUST WIN match. So, having `shot ourselves in the foot` we heap extra pressure on the players for that match and also the final one away to Rize.

Well, at least we poured ourselves out of The Lacivert in a happier (intoxicated ?!!) frame of mind than that in which we had entered !!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim