After last weekends disastrous defeat at Pazarspor, the Ankaragucu players will be looking to get back to winning ways and save their playoff aspirations. Its difficult to see this Ankaragucu team going on a winning run as they have failed to show any real form this season. Mustafa Kaplan defended his players last weekend and the conditions they had to play on at Pazarspor. He also slammed the Turkish FA claiming they didn't give Ankaragucu enough time to prepare for the match after their match in Rize after their midweek cup win at Tavsanli.
The visitors Kocaeli Birlikspor must not be mistaken for our friends Kocaelispor. The later are playing in the Turkish amateur leagues after coming into similar financial difficulties to Ankaragucu. Sundays opponents Birlikspor won promotion from Lig 3 last season and are only 2 points behind Ankaragucu sitting mid table.
As we have see already this season, there are no easy matches any more for Ankaragucu, the team will need to up their performance if they want to take the 3 points from this match on Sunday afternoon.
Umut Nayir and Gokhan Akkan were both centre of praise this week from the Ankara media for their impressive performances this season. Gokhan has saved 3 penalties and has been in excellent form, while Umut is the teams top scorer although he missed a penalty last week which he will be disappointed with. Umut although has done well so far this season, needs to find more to reach last seasons heights. Much of that depends on his striker partner Levent Kale.
Levent has yet to score a goal all season, and looks a shadow of the player who was so important to the team last season. If i have one criticism of Mustafa Kaplan in his second spell in charge, its that he has persisted with Levent instead of bringing in Emir Ozbey. Bringing Levent on in the second half and building his confidence is just as important as building his fitness.
With the news the Mehmet Yiginer has handed his resignation to the board of directors, we will see if the Ankaragucu support who have boycotted return. There are no excuses now, they have got what they want, so lets see you back at the stadium cheering on the team!!!
I know there will be much cheering and merrimaking in certain quarters to celebrate Mehmet Yigner's resignation, but I will NOT be joining them.
ReplyDeleteEvery ship needs a Captain at the helm and I just don't see that man at the moment. Mustafa Kaplan will take the helm to steer us on course for the time being, but what of the long term ? The future looks bleak from where I'm sitting at the moment.
There can be no excuses for a draw or loss on Sunday. There must only be 3 points. Nothing else will do to keep the ship on course !
As for certain Ankaragucu 'supporters' who have made our team an object of mirth these days ......... I turn my back on them. I wonder sometimes if there really is any loyalty left in some of the groups.
From my vantage point it looks bleak as well. Can't see anyone or anything saving us at this point. Hopefully this is just my lack of optimisim and imagination.
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