Ankaragücü 1-1 Menemen

 

Ankaragücü drew 1-1 in their latest pre season match yesterday with Ante Kulusic scoring again after Menemen had taken the lead. The team line up remains unknown as media weren’t allowed in due to COVID-19 measures.

Ankaragücü have also agreed terms with Congolese winger Jonathan Bolingi from Antwerp, Croatian centre back Zvonimir Sarlija from CSKA, Serbian Winger Luka Adzic and Turkish youngster Erdi Dikmen. We are now just awaiting on the club removing the transfer ban before the deals are made official.

Ankaragucu release new kits!

 

The wait is finally over as Ankaragucu released the much awaited Dalton strip which is a throwback from the 1970s, and they didnt disappoint. The Jersey sold out at the clubs store within a couple of hours and i also managed to order one online to be sent to Scotland. 

The club released for new strips yesterday which you can see here on the Ankaragucu Website. The club and Nike have done a great job with all of them and have even drawn praise from fans of other clubs including Rangers, Go Ahead Eagles, Besiktas and many more. 

Ankaragucu fans in particular are very pleased with the design, as the club have listened to their wishes. Imalat I-Harbiye who played such a big role in the formation of the Republic of Turkey and the founders of Ankaragucu proudly see their name on the front of all 4 jerseys.

On the transfer front Erdi Dikmen from Keciorengucu has agreed a move to Ankaragucu which he announced on his Instagram yesterday. The 23 year old Central Defender was one of the stars of Lig 1 last season and is very highly rated. Left footed with a good turn of pace the young defender will be relishing the opportunity to play in the Turkish Super Lig. 

Congolese Striker Jonathan Bolingi is also reported to have agreed a move to the club according to the Belgian Press. Bolingi announced that he is leaving his current club Antwerp and is well known to Ankaragucu coach Luc Nilis from his time in Belgium.

We will keep you posted with all the latest developments!

Ankaragucu 2-1 Goztepe

 

Ante Kulusic and Stelios Kitsiou scored the goals last night as Ankaragucu won 2-1 against Goztepe at the Afyon training camp.

Goztepe took an early lead in the 2nd minute after poor defending from Ankaragucu, but goals from Kulusic and Kitsiou gave Ankaragucu a hard fought win. There was a lot of secrecy surrounding the Ankaragucu team with rumours of some trialists playing. 

We are still awaiting official news regarding the transfer ban, but things are looking positive and we hope to have an update in the next couple of days. 

Ankaragucu transfer update!

 

Before we look at the latest transfer news, we have a couple of updates from the last couple of weeks. Ankaragucu have appointed Fuat Kapa as the teams new Manager after a successful spell keeping Kasimpasa in the Super Lig last season. He brings with him former Belgian International Luc Nillis with him as his assistant. His appointment has been received positively by the Ankaragucu fans who see him as the right man to take the club forward and also play an attractive style of football. 

The club have this week announced that the new kits will be released on Thursday and will go on sale shortly after. Nike will be the kit maker again and 3 new strips are expected to be released with the club also going back to its traditional Yellow and Navy colors.

So onto the transfer news next. Firstly we take a look at the players who have left the club.Konrad Mikhalak announced yesterday that he has signed with Caykur Rizespor after Ankaragucu failed to take up the option to make his move permanent. Gerson Rodrigues wont be back either after Fuat Capa stated that he did some good things for himself on his loan spell but not the team. Ankaragucu are looking to bring in players who will fight for the jersey and not individuals who only care about themselves. 

Mehmet Sak has signed with Hekimoglu Trabzon on a free transfer after 3 years with the club. Youngster Ahmet Can Arik who was with the club since 10 years old signed with 68 Aksaray while Alihan and Aydin are on their way to Altay. Dever Orgill completed his free transfer to Antalyaspor on a 2 year contract. Ricardo Faty also announced his departure from the club and looks set to move to a lower league Italian side.

So far the club have failed to renew the contracts of Gelmin Rivas, Nduka Ozokwu, Sedat Agcay, Mahmut Akan, Enes Kubat and Oscar Scarione.

Now onto the players coming in. Everything still depends on removing the transfer ban with Fatih Mert announcing this morning they are waiting to hear back to get the go ahead to start signing players after discussions with Alessio Cerci, Thomas Heartaux and Lukasz Szukala who are the 3 players owed their salary.

All going well Ankaragucu have reportedly agreed transfers with numerous players pending the removal of the Transfer ban. Some of these names were seen on Fatih Mert Instagram post last night, which he deleted soon after. We take a look at the players names linked and await the news becoming official.

Andrei Ciobanu - Romanian midfielder who has represented the National team at every level apart from Senior. The 22 year old currently plays for Viltorul in the Romanian Premier League. 

Harry Arter - This would be a massive coup for Ankaragucu if they sign the Bournemouth midfielder and Rep Ireland International. The 30 year old has fell out of favor at Bournemouth and has had a few loan spells of late including newly promoted Fulham. Plays a more defensive role in midfield and has a great attitude and work rate. 

Luka Adzic - After a promising start to his career in Serbia and winning a move to Anderlecht, his career seems to have stalled of late. A loan spell at Emmen last season saw him only play 5 games and the 21 year old winger will be looking to kick start his career again in Turkey. 

Philip Zinkernagel - This would be another excellent signing for Ankaragucu. The Danish Winger has been in excellent form for Bodo Glimt in Norway. Excellent goal scoring record for a Winger and at 25 years old is in his prime. 

Joseph Paintsil - Very highly rated 22 year old playing in Belgium for Genk. Can play on either wing and would be a surprise signing if Ankaragucu can pull this one off. 

Yevgen Shakov - Tall Ukranian midfielder currently playing with Lecce in Italy. I watched him a few times last season and he has good technique and is a big lad. Looks like he would do well in Turkey. Not the quickest but can pick a pass and shoot from distance. 

Kevin Bua - Midfielder available on a free transfer after leaving Basel where he had a successful 4 years at the club. Only 27 years old so still in his prime and comes with excellent experience. 

Michael Krmencik - Czech Republic International who currently plays with Club Brugge. Had a very successful career in Czech Republic with Viktoria Plzen and at 6ft 3 will remind Ankaragucu fans of former favorite Robert Vittek. This would be an excellent signing for the club.

Nelson Monte - Defender who has spent his full career with Rio Ave in Portugal. Can play Right Back and Center Half.

Tiago Illori - Former Liverpool defender who also plays in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon. Born in England, the 27 year old plays at Center back. 

Denis Alibec - Plays his football for Astra in Romania. Very skillful with fantastic technique. At 29 years old brings a lot of experience with him. Ankaragucu face competition from Gaziantep and Samsunspor for his signature. 

Sinisa Sanicanin - 6ft 3 Center back from Bosnia who has been playing his football in Serbia with Vojvodina. 

Jaka Bijol - Talented youngster who plays in midfield for CSKA Moscow. More of an attacking midfielder who also plays for the Slovenian national team and is 21 years old. 

Zvonimir Sarlija - Fuat Capa had him on loan from CSKA Moscow last season and will look to bring the 23 year old Center back to Ankaragucu too.

Joher Rassoul - Senegelese Center back who formerly played with Anderlecht and Adana Demirspor but has been without a club for the last year. 

Erdi Dikmen - Young Center back who has impressed with Keciorengucu and has been watched on numerous occasions by Ankaragucu. It looks like Kecioren will allow him to make the move this summer.

Cekdar Orhan - Former Galatasaray youngster who now plays for Akhisar. The 22 year old plays as an attacking midfielder.

Taskin Calis - Has impressed in the lower leagues with Menemen and has now been linked with a move to Ankaragucu. The 27 year old attacking midfielder has spent most of his career in Germany and Turkish Lower leagues. 

Atakan Cankaya - Turkish youth international who has agreed a move from Osmanlispor. Tall physical midfielder who has a great attitude and work rate. Its good to see Ankaragucu signing young Turkish talent too. 

Taylan Antalyali - Was fantastic at Erzerumspor before winning his big move to Galatasaray which hasn't worked out. Midfielder who is a leader on the park, good passer of the ball and technique and will also work hard for the team. 

The players above have all been linked with a move to the club. We just need to wait and see which ones go through once the ban is lifter. Mustafa Amini who plays for Arhaus in Denmark claims the club offered him a contract 2 weeks ago worth 650,000 Euros per year only to cancel it 10 days later. This has been reported in Australia, UK, Turkey and all across Europe which doesnt sit well for the reputation of the club if its true. 

Ankaragucu saved by the vote!

Ankaragucu were thrown a lifeline yesterday after the TFF announced that there will be no relegation and the league will be extended to 21 teams for the 2020/21 season and 20 teams in the 21/22 season. There had been talk for months that no relegation would take place, but it was confirmed after 13 of the Super Lig clubs had voted on Tuesday against any relegation.

That means Ankaragucu, Kaysrispor and Yeni Malatyaspor will remain in the Turkish Super Lig while Hatayspor and Erzerumspor will join them after winning promotion. The winners of the playoff final from Adana Demirspor vs Fatih Karagumruk will also go up.

The Turkish Super Lig is in a bad way financially at the moment, and things are going to get worse when you take into consideration the implications of Covid-19. The sensible decision was to save the 3 clubs from relegation and protect the teams from joining a host of other former Super Lig clubs who face bankruptcy.

Fans of other clubs have criticised the decision stating that 21 teams is too much and no thought has went into the process. Ankaragucu fans however wont care, as they will be watching Super Lig football again next season.

Denizlispor 0-1 Ankaragucu!

Ankaragucu only had pride to play for on Saturday as they had already been relegated the week before. Ilhan Parlak scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win for the team from the Turkish Capital. The club will now find out in the next couple of days if they will be relegated to Lig 1 along with Kayserispor and Yeni Malatyaspor. The TFF will decide if relegation stands this season or extend the league to 21 teams due to the coronavirus.

Team - Korcan, Cebrail, Milos, Kulusic, Fatih, Lukasic, Sedat, Saba, Mikhalak, Scarione, Orgill
Subs - Emre. Orkan, Adiguzel, Berke, Ilhan, Rivas, Mahmut, Ender, Imdat

There was a debut for Turkish U19 International Fatih Tultak who played at left back which is an unnatural position for the young centre back. Milos also made only his 2nd start for the club and made the team of the week. Gelmin Rivas came on and set up the winner for Ilhan Parlak while Ender and Ferdi Imdat from the youth team both got run outs.

The question that needs to be asked, is why we persisted so much with the likes of Ricardo Faty and Dever Orgill, when Milos and Rivas contributed more in the limited amount of games they played. So many wrong decisions this season from choosing managers (5 in total over the season), team selections and signings.

Hopefully we have some good news to bring you later this week in regards to relegation. In other news Dever Orgill has reportedly agreed a pre contract with Sivasspor who qualified for the Europa League.

Ankaragucu relegated to Lig 1!

The inevitable relegation to Lig 1 was confirmed for Ankaragucu last night after a disappointing 1-0 home defeat against Antalyaspor. The club has now suffered 3 relegation's in the last 8 years and President Fatih Mert has an extremely difficult job on his hands due to the financial problems and threats of another transfer ban from Fifa.

Team  - Freidrich, Kitsiou, Pazdan, Kulusic, Pinto, Lukasik, Faty, Mikhalik, Saba, Scarione, Rivas
Subs - Korcan, Mahmut, Atila, Fatih, Cebrail, Sedat, Ender, Milos, Orkan, Ilhan

Gelman Rivas was handed his first start for the club after Gerson Rodrigues had his contract terminated during the week, while Dever Orgill missed out due to suspension.

Before we discuss the match, i think its important to go back and look at the Gerson situation again. The Luxembourg international was dismissed from the team last weekend just before the Galatasaray match due to punching Ante Kulusic. The exact same scenario happened just a year earlier when Mostepha El Kabir was sent him, also before a Galatasaray match. Both players were key players for the club with Gerson arguably along with Kitsou the best player in the squad. 

Now what Gerson done was wrong, and deserved punishment, but the players were asked by the clubs senior management if they were willing to forgive the player to allow him to play last nights match against Antalyaspor. The players refused and Gerson had his contract terminated. Ankaragucu had a number of opportunities last night but couldn't take any of them which is extremely disappointing especially after this decision.

On the other hand, Gerson is a player who clearly has talent and is said to be wanted by a number of Turkish Super Lig clubs including Besiktas. However his behavior has been questioned in the past at other clubs, and also with Ankaragucu. You just need to look at his Instagram and it paints a picture of someone who wants to be a film star instead of a footballer.

Ankaragucu didn't play that bad last night, but it was a reflection on how the rest of the season went. Plenty of effort and defended well, but poor in attack with no end product. The first chance of the game fell to Kitsiou who saw his header cleared off the line.

Oscar Scarione had long range effort saved by Kaplan just minutes later, before Rivas and Faty both missed chances to give Ankaragucu the lead. Antalyaspor rarely threatened in the first half, but had a great chance on the 35th minute but Balci blasted over.

Saba Lobjanidze again showed some nice skill and used his pace but when he gets into the final third his play is awful. Too many times he failed to find his man in the box, and then had a chance just before half time but dragged his shot wide.

The one player in this team you have to feel sorry for is Stelios Kitsiou. Again he put in a good performance but had nothing to show for it. He had a chance before half time after creating an opportunity for himself but his shot was deflected just wide.

Into the second half and the best chance of the game came when Thiago Pinto put in an excellent cross for Rivas who volleyed and connected well but his shot was straight at the Keeper Kaplan. He should have scored.

Dogukan and Adis Jahovic had chances for Antalyaspor but one went over the bar and Freidrich made a good save from the other. Ricardo Freidrich then made another excellent save from Fredi after a good counter attacking move from Antalyaspor.

Ilhan Parlak fires well over has been said far too often this season, and he wasted another great chance when he came on. This will hopefully be 1 of many players to move on from Ankaragucu in the summer.

Ricardo Faty had a horrendous last 10 minutes of the game. Firstly he had Freidrich to thank for bailing him out for an awful pass he made. And then a few minutes later he had the best chance of the game to give Ankaragucu the lead. From only 5 yards out and just the keeper to beat he shot straight at Kaplan and that was game over.

Antalyaspor went up the other end minutes later and took the lead through Adis Jahovic who made it 1-0 and gave the visitors all 3 points sending Ankaragucu down into Lig 1.

The end to a bad season for Ankaragucu, but it doesnt say a lot for the Turkish Super Lig when a club who had so many problems off the field, financially and a change of President, that it took until the 2nd last game for them to go down.

Ankaragucu signed 15 new players on the last day of deadline day in January. Only 4 of them started yesterday, Saba, Mikhalak, Lukasik and Rivas. It was also only Rivas first game. The recruitment hasn't been good enough, but when you are left with 1 day to sign new players this is the end result.

The club as usual went through 4-5 new managers in a season too, none of them good enough. This needs to stop and there needs to be some stability. Fatih Mert has to bring in a young manager with a good pedigree that knows the club. Hakan Kutlu and Hakan Keles have both been mentioned. They also need to use the Youth Academy which has been deserted over the last 5 years.

Bringing through young players both from Turkey and abroad and selling them on for profit is the only way the club can survive and see some stability again. Its going to be an interesting few months before the season starts. Lets hope Ankaragucu can bring in the new Manager and players early and dont leave it until the last couple of days again.