Gencler goes into sixth

As I was in Eskisehir this weekend I can't say much about Genclerbirligi's 3-1 win over Istanbul BBS. But I can post a youtube goals clip. Hopefully someone who was actually at the match will be able to fill in the blanks sometime soon.

ESKI GOES TO ESKI WITH THE KANKAS

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

Eskisehirspor 0 ANKARAGUCU 0

It was off to Eski's home city yesterday when the kankas went to Eski City on the High Speed Train. Thanks for arranging the train tickets go to Battle Damaged Kanka and for the Match tickets to Onur in Eski City (Roger's brother-in-law).

In attendance was Battle Damaged Kanka Damon, Kaleci Kanka Tansu, Connect Kanka Steve, Philly Kanka Jamie, TaffyBach Kanka Richy and yours truly.

We left at 9am and arrived in Eski City at 10.30 after a smooth and comfortable train journey. We met up with Oz Kanka Chris and Eskisehir Kanka Roger for some pre-match refreshments after a walk around this very impressive city and a walk along the river side.


The Stadium is a bit spartan with only one side covered, and needless to say, the away end was like a pig-sty. It had wooden walkways and about 1,000 plastic seats resting on metal struts. Well, there WAS about 1,000 when we arrived, but only about 700 when we left the Stadium after the match !! Those 300 'missing' plastic seats had been trashed and destroyed during the course of the match by the Ankaragucu Gecikondu and Anti-X Boys. Photos of that, courtesay of Connect Kanka, coming soon !

In the pre-match build-up in the Stadium, I was thinking it was going to be another Battle of Kayseri when the Gecikondu Boys started to chant obsenities to the Eskisehir Tribunes and vice versa. Then came the plastic seats being ripped-up and thrown down to the peritrack. Scary moments, especially when a large brick came flying over the 'protective fence' and landed not far from us, which fortunately didn't hit anyone.

The match was underway by this time and I must confess to having only one eye on the match and the other watching for the shadows of any missiles heading towards us !


The team -

Senecky
El-Yasa, Abdullah, Broggi, Brabec
Hurriyet, Mehmet Cakir, Aydin, Adem
Vassell and Meye

You will be forgiven if the think that is the Ankaraspor team !!!

Well, to be honest, it didn't really matter too much about the nonsence going on all around us because the footie was abysmal to say the least. The was little or no cohesion in Ankaragucu's footie and the same could be said for Eskisehir. At least Eskisehir was creating the more dangerous moves in the first half and Senecky saved us on several occasions - a big improvement on his performance from the Kasimpasa match 2 weeks ago !

Ankaragucu made no impact on the Eskisehir goal in the first half and giant goalkeeper Ivesa had practically nothing to do except eat-up all the speculative high balls being pumped into his vicinity.

Half time came as a relief and still more oral hatred was being vented back and forward between the tribunes. One of the main reason for this was no doubt connected to the almost fatal stabbing of two Ankaragucu supporters in the city prior to kick-off which Oz Kanka mentioned in his brief report. More of that when details emerge.

The 2nd half was a different story with Ankaragucu taking the initiative and playing the ball around a bit more. However, Vassell was not having an easy time of it out on the right wing - admittedly, not his preferred position. But, Meye was starting to look more dangerous and he almost opened the scoring with a screamer which Ivesa tipped over.

Again, Meye was put through but he sent a lame shot at Ivesa when the cool-head would have taken the obvious route to the corner of the goal. Other chances came and went for Ankaragucu but Man of the Match, Ivesa, kept a clean sheet.

There were two red cards. Doga of Eskisehir had the first one half way through the 2nd half - I must admit to missing that one with all the problems and bedlam going on around us. Brabec received the other 10 minutes from the end for a 'fair' challenge, in my opinion.

The referee, Cuneyt Cakir, couldn't hide the fact (from me anyway) that he had forgotten about the 1st half yellow he gave Brabec. There was a delay in pulling out the red card after the 2nd yellow. In my opinion he had obviously forgotten about the earlier yellow and had no other option but to follow through with his TWO mistakes by giving him a red. Rough justice, but of course, he will never admit it !!



Back to the City Centre one hour later to join up with Oz and Roger. We were 'detained' by the Police for our own safety !!!

However, apart from only winning one point, it was a really enjoyable visit to a great city. The riverside walkways with its many cafes, restaurants and pubs would put many other Yooro cities to shame. Shall we go again next year ? Mmmmmm, I suppose it will depend on how deeply the animosity develops after yesterday's stabbings.

If I was an Eskisehir supporter, I would NOT come to Ankara in the 2nd half of the season !!!

Next up is the home match against 2nd bottome Club Denizlispor next Sunday KO 2pm.

Most of the kankas will be out of town next weekend during the Kurban Bayram holiday so I may well be there on my own. I'll be in The Chopin at midday if anyone can make it.

Photos coming up - taken by Connect Kanka Steve and posted by Oz Kanka Chris.

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

The weekend action

Just a short note from Eskisehir where Ankaragucu played out a boring 0-0 draw in a match that was marred by some stabbings before the game. Back in the capital Genclerbirligi defeated Istanbul BBS 3-1. Reports from Flying Dutchman Kanka and Sir Eski will be coming soon.

THE TURKISH CUP - GROUP STAGE

Greetings Kankas and Kankies.

The draw has been made for the Group Stage of the Turkish Cup. Ankaragucu's Group is as follows -

Trabzonspor
Galatasaray
ANKARAGUCU
Orduspor
Denizli BBS

Yes, a tough group, but aren't they all at this stage ? Notwithstanding the turmoil within the Club at the moment, I would say that we have nothing to fear. No doubt Battle Damaged is thinking .......... but, Eski would say that wouldn't he ???!!!

So, diaries out ....... and these are the important dates in the Group Stage, but as there are 5 teams in the group I don't know which date is the Ankaragucu (rest or by match). I'll make a post when the details are known.

23 December - Denizli BBS v ANKARAGUCU
10 January
13 January
17 January
27 January

The Quarter Finals will be played home and away on 3 and 10 February.

The Semi Finals will be played home and away on 24 March and 14 April.

The Final will be played on 5 May.

Hope the Final is in Izmir so that we can all go and see Ankaragucu win the Cup in their Centenery Year and then celebrate in Kibris Sokak after the match !!!

All the best from Eski Kanka Jim

Vassell's Turkish Nightmare

According to News of the World, Darius Vassell is looking for an escape route out of Ankara and Turkey. That escape route may very well lead to Bolton. For more on the story, here is the link.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/football/exposed/598165/VASSSELL-EYES-BOLTON-ESCAPE-ROUTE.html

Are Bebbe, Serkan, and Ceyhun also looking for a way out? Is Ankaragucu becoming less Ankaragucu and more Ankaraspor with each passing day? At what point does the team stop being the team?

Ankaragucu’s Logo Wars

The current Ankaragucu emblem: depending on how you look at it, it can represent either a shield or a projectile. This signifies an impregnable defense and an armor piercing offense. Don't forget what the team's origins are: http://www.mkek.gov.tr/

According to former Ankaragucu chairman and current member of the board of directors Serdar Ozersin (as quoted in Haber Turk, Hurriyet, Fanatik and a number of other sources), Ahmet Gökcek and his regime are planning to change the Ankaragucu logo.

The former chairman said, "There have even been a variety of meetings held on this topic. Such a thing is not even open to discussion. As long as there are Ankaragucu fans, no one has enough power to change either the team's name or its logo. No power in Ankara would dare change Ankaragucu's name or logo."

Sound familiar?

Can you think of any power in Ankara who has tried to change an important traditional symbol in Ankara? Need a hint?

Pretty clear Ahmet is not a terribly original thinker.

Note: photos nicked from the newspaper Radikal

Now Karaman has been kicked out

You would be crying, if you weren't laughing. Actually, it is probably the other way around.

What the hell is happening at Ankaragucu? In the last two days we have had the coach and players showing up to training sessions that were apparently cancelled by the management. We have had Bebbe and Vassell kicked out of their hotel rooms at the Crowne Plaza after the club reportedly failed to pay. Now we have reports that Karaman has been sacked.

Actually, it is a bit more than that... Karaman has been sacked by Little Gokcek.

Speaking to the press this afternoon, Little Gokcek says he is after Hagi. A man who has done nothing.

Bloody sad stuff but all predicted here by at least some of us at "The round ball in Ankara". Mess with them Gokcek's at your own peril. This isn't about politics, it is about competence.

In the meantime though. Enjoy the fun and games of Darius Vassell's website. http://www.vassell.net/Darius/Welcome.html

Having been kicked out of the Crown Plaza, Vassell has been inundated with offers to take up the couch at various Gucu houses. (please note that Eski Kanka would have offered a place to stay but the Dragon wasn't really that enthusiastic)

Unfortunately we have parted company with our coach this week. It is always a bad situation to say goodbye but we can now look forward to a new beginning and continue to push this team in the right direction... (I'm sure Hikmet shares those sentiments - Oz Kanka) I personally thank him for his efforts and hard work and wish him the best of luck in his future..

Alot of questions have been asked to me recently about me leaving my hotel and unfortunately i dont have any answers i have been honest and forthcoming about everything and i will make the necessary steps to resolve my problems. Ankaragucu fans have offered me their help and support via email and i really appreciate their offers but i have found refuge in another hotel for the time being.

Ankaragucu kankas! Time to start voicing your opinion. Was Karaman a bucket of lard? Is Gokcek still the messiah? Do you have a spare room? Are you all fucking mad?