Christoph Daum era in the horizon?
By: j |
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While yet to be officially confirmed by the club, a wide variety of media sources are reporting that Luis Aragonés will be replaced by Christoph Daum, who resigned his post with Bundesliga side Köln. In a prepared statement Mr. Daum noted that he had received a long-term contract offer with a chance for European competition. Should the reports be accurate, it will be the German coaches second time with the club, where he had a very successful run between 2003 and 2006.
After considerable thought this will serve as my final post on the this blog. If you care to apply for this blog please contact Daryl with The Offside (click here) after reviewing the guidelines at www.theoffside.com/bloggers.
Category: Fenerbahce Team News
Daniel Güiza finishes year off with style
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The curtain set on Fenerbahçe’s season with a dramatic last gasp strike by Daniel Güiza providing the needed margin in a 2-1 victory over Trabzonspor. The result bolts down fourth-place in Süper Lig season for Luis Aragonés and provides them a berth in the Europa League.
In what is very likely Mr Aragonés final appearance in-charge of the Yellow Canaries, the hosts took the lead ten minutes in as Gökhan Ünal crossed from the right byline to Umut Bulut and the Turkish international made no mistake from a few metres out. Trabzonspor had the clear run of play after the strike but despite a number of sure-fire opportunities they were unable to add the finishing touch. Finally as the half ticked down Daniel Güiza got on the end of a searching through ball into the left side of the box and after controlling play, sent a low cross that Alex directed in. For much of the final forty-five minutes the match went into overdrive with both sides having ample opportunity to score, however once again the final touch was lacking. Finally as time was winding down, Kâzım Kâzım was lead in on the right channel and after controlling the ball near the byline he sent a low cross into the six-yard box that Daniel Güiza drove in, giving Fenerbahçe the 2-1 victory.
It has been a tumultuous campaign for Fenerbahçe, the difficult days of Champions League and a less than satisfying Süper Lig. However through a resourceful run at the end of the campaign, including an impressive victory over league champions Beşiktaş, they managed to find their way to the European stage. That alone provides hope for a brilliant tomorrow and I am confident that next year the club will once again threaten for the championship.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe drive ahead for spot in Europa League
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Fenerbahçe continued its race for a Europa League spot with a 4-2 victory over Konyaspor at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. In conjunction with Galatasaray’s loss to Beşiktaş, the Yellow Canaries are fourth in the table heading into the Süper Lig final week.
With rumours swirling of his future in Istanbul Daniel Güiza scored twice in the opening twenty minutes in what could be his final home appearance. The first coming at the fourteenth minute as Ali Bilgin’s cross from the right corner was headed back by Alex to the Spanish international for a deftly managed close range goal. Only three minutes later the margin was doubled as the former Mallorca-man sent the ball in from just outside the area with the Konyaspor ‘keeper Oğuzhan Bahadır letting the ball through his grasp. Uğur Boral made it 3-0 with seven minutes remaining in the half as he got on the end of the through-ball down the left channel before showing fine touch by chipping the ball in as the Konyaspor ‘keeper and come too far off his line. Only three minutes later the match was put to rest as Robert Carlos curled a ball around the left of a poorly placed wall into the near corner. The visitors added two second half goals but the outcome was never in-doubt as Fenerbahçe finished its home schedule with a solid 4-2 victory.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsAntalyaspor holds Fenerbahçe even
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Fenerbahçe’s disappointing season continued with a 1-1 draw to relegation concerned Antalyaspor. The result leaves the Yellow Canaries a point above Bursaspor in sixth place and trailing Galatasaray by three points with two remaining match-days.
The match could be referred to as a “strategic affair” if I was inclined to be generous but I am not. In truth it was a dreary evening in which Luis Aragonés’ side played well below their pedigree. With the lush days of summer ahead it remains to be seen if many have already accepted their fate and merely “running out”. Fenerbahçe’s undisciplined play was perfectly evident on Sunday as Antalyaspor, a side with a dreadfully anemic attack, were able to launch forward uncontested on numerous occasions. In a match that should have been played with tactical precision, Antalyaspor was given far too much space and the Yellow Canaries finishing was simply dreadful. Beyond missed opportunities Antalyaspor was highly unfortunate to have a penalty denied when Ali Bilgin pinned Tita in the area. After a scoreless half Mehmet Özdilek’s side grabbed the lead with sixteen minutes remaining as Hakan Özmert, a product of France’s Nantes academy, accepted the ball to the right side of the box and after creating some spaced fired to the bottom near post from roughly thirteen metres. Two minutes later Fenerbahçe squared the match as Robert Carlos, who otherwise was absent with an terribly low work-rate, in-swinging corner from the right was volleyed in by Diego Lugano. The home side poured forward and if it hadn’t been for the work of ‘keeper Volkan Demirel, Fenerbahçe would have left the coastal community with a loss. However the match concluded without further incident, ending 1-1.
Fenerbahçe returns to play next Sunday as they welcome Konyaspor to Şükrü Saracoğlu.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe drops Türkiye Kupası final 4-2 to Beşiktaş
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Beşiktaş continued its push for the double claiming the Türkiye Kupası via a solid 4-2 defeat of Fenerbahçe at İzmir Atatürk Stadyumu.
Fenerbahçe’s hope of ending its twenty-six year drought in the competition took a dark turn early as Yusuf Şimşek gave Beşiktaş the lead six minutes in on a extremely weak effort from the top left corner of the box that caught Yellow Canary ‘keeper Volkan Babacan flatfooted, rolling into the near post. Luis Aragonés’ side fought back and brought the match even three minutes before the half-hour as Daniel Güiza turned in Alex’s provision from close-range. Despite being a wide-open affair the match went to the break deadlocked. However that all changed four minutes before the hour as ex-Corinthians man Bobô gave Beşiktaş the lead via a thunderbolt drive into the net from five metres beyond the box. After Fenerbahçe missed a number of high probability chances to level the talented Brazilian doubled the margin with sixteen minutes remaining as he headed-in a loose ball from just outside the six-yard box. At the eightieth minute Slovakia international Filip Hološko extended the lead to 4-1 after playing a clever one-two sent him free to close out from ten metres. As time wound down Alex added a consolation goal from the spot but it was too little, too late for Fenerbahçe as Beşiktaş won its third Türkiye Kupası in four years.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe maintain pressure on Galatasaray
By: j | 1 Comment
Fenerbahçe kept its Europa League chances alive with a 1-0 victory over Denizlispor at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium. With the victory Luis Aragonés’ side is only one point off Galatasaray as they enter the final three weeks of the Süper Lig campaign.
With Volkan Demirel between the posts the Yellow Canaries were able to control much of the run of play with a number of scoring chances in the opening forty-five minutes. Selçuk Şahin, Devid and Daniel Güiza each probed with high quality efforts before the break but none could find the netting. Nearing the hour mark with the match still deadlocked Luis Aragonés’ summoned Alex from the bench and immediately Fenerbahçe kicked into gear. Fortune was definitely in the home sides favour as five minutes after entering the match, Alex led a quick counter providing the ball to Daniel Güiza near the circle, whose effort from twenty-five metres careened off a Denizlispor defender before rustling in the netting. The Yellow Canaries had ample opportunity to add to the mark later but the match ended without further mark for a 1-0 victory.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsBeşiktaş loses 2-1 to Yellow Canaries
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Fenerbahçe hopes for European football improved with a 2-1 victory over Beşiktaş. With the victory Luis Aragonés’ side are a point behind Galatasaray with four weeks remaining in the Süper Lig campaign.
Just past the half-hour mark the Yellow Canaries took the lead when a ball played in towards Semih Şentürk near the top of the box, resulted in he and Beşiktaş defended Gökhan Zan collided over the ball with it going untouched to Daniel Güiza who then lifted the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper. After taking the lead Beşiktaş continued to fight back but most alarming for Fenerbahçe was that Emre Belözoğlu and Devid had to be separated before a full scale fight broke out. However Luis Aragonés’ side extended their lead nine minutes into the new half as Ali Bilgin cross to Semih Şentürk was closed out from fourteen metres to double the margin. Beşiktaş was within one on Slovakia international Filip Hološko one man effort. Accepting the ball in this one end he charged straight up the pitch before pounding in from just outside the area. Fabian Ernst, formerly of German side Schalke 04, had penalty claims of Selçuk Şahin’s challenge waived off and after holding off a number of menacing opportunities by Beşiktaş, Fenerbahçe left with a 2-1 victory.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe v Beşiktaş match preview
By: j | Add Comments
Entering the final month of the campaign, Fenerbahçe’s hopes of salvaging a disappointing season are growing dim. As Luis Aragonés’ side face rivals Beşiktaş on Sunday at İnönü Stadyumu they not only have a chance to climb back into the contention for a European spot but equally knock the Black Eagles off-course in their pursuit of the Süper Lig crown. However it is a unique situation because the Yellow Canaries have shown a complete lack of discipline over the last month and validating the consensus through their play that Mr. Aragonés will be leaving Istanbul in June.
For Sunday’s battle Fenerbahçe welcomes back Semih Şentürk and Volkan Demirel from the sin-bin but Diego Lugano will continue to watch for the next two weeks. Preliminary injury reports suggest that Gökhan Gönül, Önder Turacı, Deniz Barış and Alex will be available for the match. İnönü Stadyumu has been a fortress for Beşiktaş this year and to earn a win the Yellow Canaries will need to find a deeper sense of pride than what they have shown recently.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe loses 2-1 to Ankaragücü
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Fenerbahçe drifted well off-pace of a Europa League spot with a 2-1 loss to Hikmet Karaman’s Ankaragücü at Şükrü Saracoğlu on Saturday. The loss leaves the Yellow Canaries in fifth place of the Süper Lig table, a full three points behind Galatasaray who have a match in-hand.
Laden with absences due to injury and suspension, the Luis Aragonés-led side lacked the spark needed to finish despite long stretches of controlling possession of the ball. That aside, ball possession was primarily limited to the least threatening variety as the visitors took the lead only four minutes in via Leonardo Iglesias and thereafter following a well laid out approach. Leading by a goal, it was the clear plan to dictate Fenerbahçe through defending tactics and eliminate realistic scoring chances. The hopes of the day turned to disastrous as on the hour Önder Turacı was adjudged to bringing down Jabá (Silvino João de Carvalho) in the area and the spot pointed to. Taking the penalty himself, he crisply converted and the Yellow Canaries were down 2-0. Deivid pulled one back with twelve minutes remaining as he scooped up a loose ball via a Robert Carlos attempt and sent the ball in from ten metres but it was too little, too late and the match concluded 2-1 in favour of Ankaragücü.
Fenerbahçe returns to play against Beşiktaş next Sunday.
Category: Fenerbahce Team NewsFenerbahçe holds Sivasspor to draw
By: j | Add Comments
Holding Sivasspor to a nil draw, Fenerbahçe will now advance to the Türkiye Kupası final as they won the aggregate 3-1. With their position in the Süper Lig race far from stable the notion of ending the twenty-five year woes in the competition could hold the added benefit of a Europa League berth.
With Alex, Emre Belözoğlu, Uğur Boral, Volkan Demirel, Edu Dracena, Gökhan Gönül, Diego Lugano and Semih Şentürk out of the line-up, Luis Aragonés would need to be at his tactical best. Holding a 3:1 advantage going into the match, tactics were clear and the Yellow Canaries went forward looking to kill the match off with a defensive approach. While it might not be remembered for beautiful play it was precisely what was called for as the opening half went at a slow pace. Following the break, the table leaders stirred up the match but through the work of Volkan Babacan and a bit of fortune Fenerbahçe could not be broken through as the match ended as a scoreless draw.
Category: Fenerbahce Team News
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