What happened in Turkish football today? 30.12

So far Galatasaray and Besiktas are main clubs which particularly focused into transfers.

As we are getting into the mid-season break at the 2015-16 season at the Turkish Super League the biggest attention at the media has been turned into once again into the transfers which will be taking place this winter. One of the main questions among which clubs at big 4 needs more transfers to be made and to what areas.

Despite of being leaders at the league main attention so far was given to the transfer negotiations which are taking place at the Besiktas. It is known that club has mainly focussed to transfer goalkeepers and defence so with high number of attacking football which turn into goals it would also lead to concede few numbers of goals at the league. Great goalkeeper and defence will be big assistance for club to carry on fighting for the league title. So far, club has successful negotiations with Dnipro goalkeeper Dennis Boyko and defender Douglas, who are very close to join club. With both players coming with moderate transfer fee Besiktas will be able to solve defence issue without losing too much cash.

Galatasaray are also among the team which needs lots of transfers and revision at its squad. Club needs more players who are willing to providing fighting spirit in the way as players like Selcuk Inan and Burak Yilmaz provide at their best form. The focus of Galatasaray currently is to make team which will work as one unit and have a will to become champions. Hence, such high number of names at Galatasaray transfer list.

One of the main achievements of 2015 was performance by Turkey at the Euro 2016 qualifier. 

One of the main stories of 2015 has been incredible return of the Turkish national team at its Euro 2016 qualifying stage from where from almost being out of competition it has managed to get to the spot where it has qualified as best 3rd team and got straight tickets to the France with 1:0 victory over Iceland at the last game and big help from Kazakhstan against Latvia.

Even through Turkey was lucky to get that spot, it needs to be remembered that Turkish National
Team didnt lose any single game during whole 2015 with getting an important points from Holland especially and other crucial games during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Turkish National Team head coach Fatih Terim has made players believe that their would succeed and demanded fight until the end. At short, as it said in Turkey "Turks dont say over until the end".

Turkey performance would be among biggest attention given at the Euro 2016 as even through it qualifies rarely whenever it does it becomes most talked team during campaign. Turkey should get through group stage with opponents like Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia.

Arda Turan can make 2016 as his year.

Arda Turan will finally be able to play for his club Barcelona as club ban will be lifted. As been expected, sports media and fans in Turkey were waiting for this to take place for number of weeks and finally in few weeks time Arda will able to make his important start for Barcelona.

Arda Turan could become one of the key players of 2016 in Turkey if he provides great performance both at La Liga with Barcelona, Champions League and Euro 2016. It is really expected that with competing at Barcelona we would even have see stronger Arda Turan with the experience which he will recieve by playing at great club like Barcelona next to players like Neymar Jr, Messi, Suarez and others.

Arda Turan should be among players to be watched not only by Turks but whole world. He could finally prove to whole world why he could be seen as one of the best players who are currently playing football. We really hope he would achieve that.

In other news: 

-Turkish Football Federation: Winning the criminal case against referee Halil Ibrahim Dincdag and high number of changes of head coaches at clubs will be discussed at our meeting in January.

- Antalyaspor are interested to transfer Galatasaray player Emre Colak

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Club Brugge player Thomas Meunier and Gent player Laurent Depoitre.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Nordsjaelland player Emre Mor.

- Fenerbahce aims to convince Lazar Markovic to stay at Fenerbahce next season.

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Sevilla player Ciro Immobile and Sampdoria player Luis Muriel

- Galatasaray has offered 3.5 million euro to Ajax player Tannane.

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Hajduk Split player Lovre Kalinic.

- Antalyaspor are interested to transfer Besiktas player Ramon Motta.

- Fenerbahce has offered 3.5 million euro to Valencia player Sofiane Feghouli

- Besiktas also interested with Malsilya player and Napoili Steve Mandanda and Napoli player Rafael.

- Besiktas has offered 6 million Euro to Ajax player Jasper Cillessen.

- Konyaspor has terminated contract with its player Ozgur Ozkaya.

What happened in Turkish football today? 29.12

Fenerbahce has improved as first half was progressing

Yesterday win against Sivasspor was an important one as Fenerbahce has ended first half of the Super League with 1 point behind from the leaders Besiktas. Club has shown an improving root during first half of the season, with questionable results at beginning but now team is hardly conceding goals.

Fenerbahce as remembered have lost lots number of point at the start of the league and also has been eliminated from Champions League in 3rd qualifying round game against Shakhtar Donetsk. But from mid-October comparing with now we seeing totally different club with playing with much higher motivation which could be seen from way players are playing at field. From beginning of the season head coach Vitor Pereira has stated that his aim was to make an attacking team with strong defence. It does look like players start understanding what Pereira wants him.

Looking at the table with 41 points of Besiktas as leader, Fenerbahce with 40 and Galatasaray 30 points it could be stated that fight is been Fenerbahce and Besiktas. With ways how those teams are competing it could be reasonable to be case at first weeks of 2nd half and looks like both Besiktas and Galatasaray will fight for title until end of the season.

External issues at the Trabzonspor had made difficult first half season for them.

Trabzonspor had bad period during the first half of the Super League season so far, with mainly problems being rooted outside of football results with players not recieving wages at the time being the top reason. In fact, Trabzonspor has started first 5 weeks in very high note with being only big 4 team to beat Besiktas during 2nd week of the league. However, the loss of control at the team by ex-CEO Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu and his agressive talks against referees and match-fixing has made club condition much worser.

After CEO election where Muharrem Usta was selected as club new CEO and appointment of head coach Sadi Tekelioglu there was sense of calmness and raise of morale seen by players even through some results did not bring as good results as were expected. Quite rightly, club is currently looking to end season at highest place as possible, possibly clinching European tournament spots, and focuses into future by appointing possibly Mircea Lucescu and bring long-awaited league title.

The club as been stated now need to get some more points at 2nd half, possibly bring good results
against other big teams in Turkey and get to top 5 positions at the table.

Genclerbirligi sacks Yilmaz Vural after one week at his post.

Genclerbirligi has decided to sack Yilmaz Vural from head coach position after only appointing him last week. The club is known to have highest amount of head coaches and sacking of coach which had most amount of clubs makes things even more ironic.

Yilmaz Vural has only played one game at the Super League against weakest team at league so far Eskisehirspor which it has lost with 2:0 scoreline. Possibly Genclerbirligi CEO Ilhan Cavcav who was expecting to get points from Vural realised this cant happen if club losses to weakest team at the league. But giving him only such short notice is very foolish especially when club is been in big trouble.

With this atittude it is very likely that none of the Turkish coaches would like to work for Genclerbirligi as their would like to get guarentee to keep their job for long time and letting them achieving tasks which been set to them and getting there step-by-step.

In other news: 

- Professional Football Disciplinary Committee has announce fines and bans after Turkish Cup 2nd week games, as it follows: 
- Eskisehirspor and Galatasaray has recieved 15,000 TL fine for the behaviour of fans
- .Konyaspor player Tomas Borek has recived 2 game ban for foul by in game against Etismesgut Belediyespor.
- Besiktas player Alexander Milosevic has released 2 game ban by for foul in game against Sivas Belediyespor.
- Turkish Football Federation has announced referrals to Professional Football Disciplinary Committee, which are as follows: 
- Trabzonspor and Besiktas were referred for fans behivour.
- Bursaspor were referred to for breaking guidelines at the game against Mersin Idman Yurdu.
- Eskisehirspor player Emre Gural was referred to PFDK for the foul against Genclerbirligi.
- Sivasspor has been referred to for 7 players getting yellow cards in one game.
- Besiktas spokesman Metin Albayrak: We are planning to make two transfers until the end of transfer window in January.

- Wolfsburg are interested to transfer Altinordu player CaglarSoyuncu.

- Turkish Football Federation: News that we dont recognise Trabzonspor CEO Muharrem Usta are not true.We still wating for details of CEO election from Trabzonspor.

- Trabzonspor head coach Sadi Tekelioglu:We could have 34-35 points at this point but due of crises at the team we couldn't reach to that mark.

- Konyaspor sports director Murat Erdogan has been sacked from his position.

- Genclerbirligi are interested to appoint head coach Sergen Yalcin as club new head coach.

- French press RMC Sport: Besiktas are interested to transfer Rennes goalkeeper Benoit Costil.

- Union of Football Clubs will have meeting on 7th January.

- Besiktas fan group Carsi has been acquinted from Gezi park protests by court decision.

- Trabzonspor ex-player Stephane Mbia has given 2nd notice to recieve his wages to club ex-CEO Ibrahim Haciosmanoglu asking for 850 thousand euro.

- Genclerbirligi has sacked Yilmaz Vural as club head coach after appointing him last week.

- IbrahimUzulmez: I talk with Galatasaray head coach Mustafa Denizli but there were no talks about me being becoming assistant coach at team

- ShakhtarDonetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu: I have talked with Trabzonspor. I requested for 2 year head coach.

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Sion player Elsad Zverotic.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Boca Juniors player Jonathan Callari.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Altetico Mineiro player Andrede Souza and Botafogo player Henrique Almeida.

- Rizespor are interested to sign Bursaspor players Ertuglul Ersoy and Bakaye Traore.

- It became clear that Bursaspor player Balazs Dzudzsak has travelled to his country without permission from club.

- Galatasaray player Wesley Sneijder might close his season due of seriousness of his injury.

- Kasimpasa player Ryan Donk: I am very glad that I am almost moving to Galatasaray. I would make fans forget about Felipe Melo.

What happened in Turkish football today? 28.12

With more attacking but lack of converting them into goals, Fenerbahce still got an important win against Sivasspor.

Following comfortable win of Besiktas against Konyaspor yesterday evening, it was important for Fenerbahce to get a win to enter to winter break as strong league title contenders with reducing point difference to 1 point once again. Fenerbahce has achieved this task but it was done in not easier way as was expected by most people who were following game.

Sivasspor provided a very strong fight against Fenerbahce especially defensively after 1:1 scoreline as the one point would make them even more comfortable at the top of the table. During the game Fenerbahce has had numerous attacks and very strong position where it could end game as early as first half but it had only managed to score two goals which were scored by Robin van Persie and Simon Kjaer, which means that club still has problems at the attacking side and converting positions to the goals as was seen in previous league games.

However, 4 goals which been scored to Antalyaspor at Turkish Cup in midweek game has undoubtedly led for club to be motivated to do more attacks at the game. Good point that in this game we had saw more hungrier for goals Fenerbahce and one of the main things it needs to focus is to convert positions into goals. Meanwhile, Robin van Persie has scored 2 goals in games back to back which would make Fernandao to be more worried at the back as fight between two players is taking place. In overall, Fenerbahce had a good performance at first half and with Vitor Pereira improving at each game Fenerbahce will be stronger at second half and have strong chances to get league title.

Sivasspor, meanwhile, had provided good defensive game against Fenerbahce and made difficult to score lots of goals with its pressure football and making more difficult positions to convert goals for Fenerbahce. With this game Sivasspor would have strong chances to stay above relegation zone.

Senol Gunes made Besiktas much stronger

Besiktas has had very important win against Konyaspor yesterday as it had in leadership first time after 11 years as 1st half of the league was concluded. It does look like that current head coach Senol Gunes has managed to raise motivation, belief and performance at the team. The club was seen to be starting pretty well at league in past years but didnt manage to conclude. Gunes seems to solve that issue.

Besiktas in this season with the help of Mario Gomez especially had provided more attacking football and managed to convert most of its attacks which led them have highest amount of points. Winning also against derby games has stopped them having bad performance against Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, which was taking place a lot recently.

Besiktas will undoubtedly become much stronger if it manages to transfer Dennis Boyko and Douglas from Ukrainian club Dnipro as it will make its goalkeeper and defence line much stronger, which will also let them stop conceding goals. If Senol Gunes manages to keep focus and morale high at team it could fight for league title until the end.

Mustafa Denizli has trouble at bringing solutions to a team

The sacking of the Hamza Hamzaoglu and appointing Mustafa Denizli as new head coach of Galatasaray was supposed to make a club much stronger but in some aspects it has performed worser. As been stated numerous times Hamzaoglu sacking was wrong time and Galatasaray did show some signs of improvements in games prior to sacking.

Yesterday draw against Kayserispor with very poor performance had once again shown that club has big weaknesses at its performance. Galatasaray game play  didnt work at all and team didnt manage to share its performance with each other during whole game. Kayserispor had much better control of game during the game and was very unlucky not to get a win.

Galatasaray needs many issues to solve apart of ones which could be solved with transfers. It needs to make players which are currently to play better football and start working as a team. Meanwhile, it chances for league title are getting vague with 11 points difference from leaders Besiktas.

Results
Turkish Super League, 17th week
Eskisehirspor 2:0 Genclerbirligi
Fenerbahce 2:1 Sivasspor

In other news: 
- Galatasaray our club has stopped enforcement proceedings regarding of transfers of Trabzonspor player Engin Baytar and Burak Yilmaz.

- Fenerbahce player Diego has become injured during game against Sivasspor.

- Turkish National Team player Selcuk Inan goal against Iceland at EURO2016 qualifier was selected as nominee for best goal of year by UEFA.

- Fenerbahce has offered 10 million Euro to Valencia for Sofiane Feghouli.

- Besiktas will offer its players Alex Milosevic and Ramon Motta to Antalyaspor in return of Emrah Bassan.

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Bordeaux player Diego Rolan and Benfica player Raul Jimenez.

- Roma, Milan and Inter Milan are interested to sign Fenerbahce player Simon Kjaer.

- Liverpool are willing to pay 15 million euro for Galatasaray player Fernando Muslera.

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Mechelen player Milos Kasanovic.

What happened in Turkish football today? 27.12

Besiktas has shown its superiority at the 2nd half against Konyaspor.

Besiktas has got an important and comfortable win against Konyaspor during last week prior of winter break with a scoreline of 4:0.Even through the game could be qualified as game of two halves with poor performance for Besiktas during 1st half, the club has managed to get what it wanted during 2nd half of the game and enter to winter break with high morale and focus into getting league title.

Besiktas needed to win a game today if it wanted to become champions of "autumn" with being one of the best teams for the 1st half of the season. It had trouble at the game in first 35 minutes with possibility of electricity cut affecting their focus. During that time Konyaspor was providing much attacking football with one position hitting to post which lead to leadership at scoreline but if it will become goal it would possibly change whole habit of the game. However, during 2nd half we had seen totally different game by Besiktas which we became used to during whole season this year.

During 2nd half Besiktas once again starting playing more attacking style with providing lots of attacks at the front and converting 4 goals in duration of 40 minutes. Konyaspor didnt have any chance at the game during 2nd half and the fact that goals were scored by 4 different players has also affected to motivation to individual players and whole team especially. Besiktas will be going to winter break with knowing its leader of the league and had provided best performance at the league so far.

Coming to Konyaspor, if to some extend it managed to provide similar game as it did in first half than at least it will not lose game with such big difference. However, Konyaspor will be going to winter break with knowing that it should compete for European spot during 2nd half of the league.

Galatasaray was arleady in winter break mood.

Even through in overall Galatasaray was providing poor performance at the whole 1st half of the season, with good results in last few games it was expected for Galatasaray to get a win against Kayserispor in today's game. However, instead with good play Kayserispor  was very unlucky to not get a win against Istanbul giants.

Kayserispor during most of the games has provided a very attacking football while Galatasaray during 1st half didnt manage to create any positions. Galatasaray seemed like its players mind were arleady in winter break with looking forward how to celebrate New Year as the players had lack of creating any strong positions during the game. It had shown some signs of attacks at 2nd half however with only goal by Sinan Gumus it has managed to get  at least one point very poor performance.

With Besiktas winning also today, it means that point difference between them and Galatasaray is 11 points and even through it doesnt make them out from league title race it needs to very difficult catch up to do with form by Besiktas and Fenerbahce right now. The club as been mentioned will become stronger after winter break but it might have some issues in January with new players getting used to a team, which is expected to be few. Galatasaray needs to start win as soon as winter break over if it wants to compete for title race.

Coming to Kayserispor, it provided very good game against Galatasaray and team should be proud of themselves and focus more into converting goals as it was weakest point of the team at game today. However, this game is good enough even if against bad Galatasaray.

Fenerbahce will come out as strong favourites at the game tomorrow. 

Fenerbahce will be playing its last game of the 2015 against struggling Sivasspor and in fact this game is crucial for both teams as one team aims to fight for leadership after winter break while
Sivasspor aims to be above of relegation zone in upcoming weeks.

With the 4:2 win against Antalyaspor at the Turkish Cup on Wednesday, Fenerbahce has shown to its supporters and critics that it can provide very attacking football with beautiful goals and scoring more than one goal at the game. With the starting 11 being more used to each other at this game it is expected for them their best not to give too much attacks to its opponents during the game. Fenerbahce has all chances to get an important win.

However, Sivasspor still can fight for a win or at least draw as above analysis was based that Fenerbahce will carry on as it did in cup but if it does as it did at the league than Sivasspor needs to provide good defence to have chance to get a point, but the task is harder to say than to achieve for Sivas.

Results: 
Turkish Super League, 17th week
Bursaspor 2:1 Mersin IdmanYurdu
Kayserispor 1:1 Galatasaray
Akhisar Belediyespor 0:0 Osmanlispor
Besiktas 4:0 Konyaspor

Schedule
Turkish Super League,17th week
19:00 Eskisehirspor-Genclerbirligi
20:00 Fenerbahce-Sivasspor

In other news: 
- Trabzonspor: Our team will make transfers with our players sending as exchange due of financial issues. Head coach search would come clear soon, unless of unexpected change of event.

- LigTV: Besiktas has agreed to sign Dnipro player Dennis Boyko and Douglas.

- Galatasaray has decided not to sell its player Sabri Sarioglu.

- Al Ahli has no plans to let its player Moussa Sow to leave the club. There are rumours that Sow wants to return to Fenerbahce.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Sevilla player Ciro Immobile

- It became clear that Turkish Football Federation will provide 3 million TL for assistance of Vodafone Arena to Besiktas

- De Telgraaf: Galatasaray has offered 2 million euro (+1,5 million euro bonuses) to Ajax player Ricardo van Rijn for 3.5 year transfer deal

What happened in Turkish football today? 26.12

Kasimpasa was unlucky to get a draw against Trabzonspor

Last game of the 2015 for Trabzonspor against Kasimpasa has become even more difficult than it was expected and it should consider itself lucky to recieve 1 point as the game has ended with 1:1 scoreline. Trabzonspor as the team has shown lots of improvement at the previous games but it should be clear that club has lots of things to do for improvement at the winter break especially when it play clubs at top positions at the league table.

The main focus at the game was given to once again at the referee decisions including given penalties both to Kasimpasa and one not to given to Trabzonspor which had clearly affected to the result of the game. The penalty position especially by Kasimpasa which was given has risen lots of protests from Trabzonspor players and by arguing at the position it was questionable if there was even penalty at this attack.

Coming to the performance at the Trabzonspor, the team has played very poorly and has problems at controlling and creating moment and in fact should consider themselves lucky to get 1 point from today's result. With the way Trabzonspor shown lack of attacks and mistakes it provided in defence had even made angry Trabzonspor head coach Sadi Tekelioglu during end of the game. Trabzonspor still has some problems at providing full focus at the game against strong teams and hence should work on this issue at the break.

In similar manner as Trabzonspor was lucky to get 1 point, Kasimpasa was very unlucky to lose game. It showed in its football that it wanted to get a win with creating dangerous positions and putting pressure towards Trabzonspor. Club should go however with heads up to the winter break knowing that it had provided good performance at 1st half of the league.

Galatasaray knows importance of victory prior to break.

Galatasaray at the last week of the Super League until winter break will try to regain its 3rd place which it lost to Kasimpasa today in a game against Kayserispor. Even through at game wise Galatasaray is still not providing great performance it still closer to win game with positive results it has provided in last games both in Turkish Cup and Super League. The win would also mean that it will not get far away from leaders of the league before new year.

Kayserispor as a team always had bad results against big 4 teams at the Super League and surely will not appear as the big threat to Galatasaray. As been mentioned in previous blogs, Galatasaray has got lots of motivation during last weeks performance and will aim to carry on with this performance in last game of the season. Galatasaray head coach Mustafa Denizli is pretty sure knows importance of winning game prior to winter break.

Kayserispor is not expected to win Galatasaray however if it provides performance where it will not sure sign of scare from its opponents it can bring surprise result which could affect negatively to Galatasaray season. Kayserispor is not playing against strongest Galatasaray which even slightly raises chances for them at least for a draw.

Attack of Besiktas could bring important win against Konyaspor.

One of the most awaiting games of last week of Super League prior winter break is undoubtedly game between Besiktas and Konyaspor. Konyaspor with a win will have chance to get to top 5 and start focussing into European spots while Besiktas is having a fight for first position with Fenerbahce, so this game is very important for both clubs.

Besiktas is of course will be favourite as it provides very positive football lately which provides results and playing in Istanbul would provide vast amount of pressure towards Konyaspor. The players would only focus only to a win and would provide strong attacks which high possibility to turn them into goals. Even through Besiktas has issues at the back, the forward should not provide negative results with its goal-scoring habit it provides this season.

At tomorrow game, Konyaspor needs mainly to focus into its defence as long their dont make mistakes at defence as there is always chance for Konyaspor to score a goal against Besiktas with unstable defence and attack. However, as stated it needs to defend or scoring 2 goals is not good if you concede 3.

Results
Turkish Super League, 17th week
Rizespor 2:1 Basaksehirspor
Antalyaspor 0:0 Gaziantepspor
Kasimpasa 1:1 Trabzonspor

Schedule
Turkish Super League, 17th week
14:00 Bursaspor - Mersin IdmanYurdu
16:00 Kayserispor - Galatasaray
16:30 Akhisar Belediyespor - Osmanlispor
19:00 Besiktas - Konyaspor

In other news: 
- Mersin IdmanYurdu refusing to play game against Bursaspor due of not receiving wages

- From next year Italian referee Roberto Rosetti would become referee trainer at the Turkish Football Federation.

- It became clear that Palmeiras player Dudu has refused transfer offer from Fenerbahce.

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Basaksehirspor player Volkan Babacan.

- Galatasaray aims to offer Kevin Grosskreutz to Hamburg in return for Mevlut Erdinc.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Schalke 04 player Klaas Jan Huntelaar

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Sporting Lisbon player Teofilo Gutierrez.

- Besiktas are interested to sign Middlesbrough player Tomas Kalas, Basel player Marek Cuchy and Sanliurfaspor player Kubilay Sonmez.

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Ajax player Jasper Cillessen

- Galatasaray player Burak Yilmaz has declined 5 million Euro from Shanghai Shenhua.

- Arabic media: Al Ahli player Moussa Sow would go to Istanbul to have negotiations with Fenerbahce.

What happened in Turkish football today? 25.12

Reserves players at big 4 club help them to be successful at Turkish Cup.

Following Turkish Cup 2nd week games it became even more clear about how seriously does big 4 teams are taking with all of the teams winning the game. Taking account that Fenerbahce, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Trabzonspor did not play with its best starting  11 and using more of the substitute and reserves should be also big plus for those clubs as it clear that it has strong team and have great alternatives when some of starting 11 players will become injured.

With Trabzonspor, Besiktas, Fenerbahce and Galatasaray with winning those games has almost guarenteed to get to last 16 which was obvious looking at the groups of the Turkish Cup. With 4 games at the group stage, all of those big 4 teams can focus into using to maximum also its players who hardly cant play for a long time and get them to the field and be in starting 11 squad when needed at the league.Knowing that those players can help club to get far at Turkish Cup allows them to keep aims high both at the Super League and Turkish Cup.

Now all of the teams need to focus to last games at the Super League this weekend and get into high morale and motivation to the next year where there will continue at Turkish Cup, Super League and for Galatasaray and Fenerbahce at the Europa League. Lots of important games are coming are for all clubs in next year, especially taking account that it is Euro 2016 year.

Trabzonspor will have tough task against Kasimpasa.

One of the key games at the last week of Super League prior to winter break would between Kasimpasa and Trabzonspor which are two strong teams at the Turkish Super League. Especially with performance by Kasimpasa it would try its best to get a win agaisnt improved Trabzonspor team tomorrow.

Trabzonspor will be playing its final game of the 2015 and last game of first half of the Super League against Kasimpasa who are having good season this year. Game should provide high interest as Kasimpasa is having a good season and Trabzonspor start getting results which was aiming for during start of the season.The players has risen high motivation during last games both at the Super League and Turkish Cup which allowed them to be in very high mood in tomorrow game.

Meanwhile, Kasimpasa is currently is at 5th place at the league and have chance at ending first half at one spot above and hence still fighting for the European spot for next season, therefore the game will be very hard for Trabzonspor. Kasimpasa will try its best to get best results at the game tomorrow.

Besiktas sure will get into last 16 of Turkish Cup without giving much effort.

With playing with reserves and substitutes against Sivas Belediyespor at the Turkish Cup, Besiktas didnt get very hard win against team which 2 tier below them at the league system. In similar manner, as other big 4 teams Besiktas has got 2 out of 2 wins at the Turkish cup stage without giving too much effort.

In fact, Besiktas has the easiest group among other big teams with 2 teams from 1st league and one from 2nd. Among Besiktas, Trabzon 1961, pilot club of Trabzonspor, has recieved 2 out of 2 in very comfortable manner and games between two teams should be watchable as Trabzon has shown a great football at the cup during previous reasons. However, as Turkish Cup is 2nd priority with a group it is, Besiktas can afford to lose points against them even if it would mean it would get 2nd place at the group.

Besiktas will get to last 16 stage at the group but it will not play its best football at the tournament very likely as it is main priority is very missed league title. However, last time Besiktas has become Turkish champions there also won Turkish Cup so we see how would Besiktas treat this tournamant and how it will accompany with Super League.

Schedule
Turkish Super League, 17th week
14:00 Rizespor - Basaksehirspor
16:30 Antalyaspor - Gaziantepspor
19:00 Kasimpasa-Trabzonspor

In other news: 
- Turkish Football Federation has announced referrals to Professional Football Disciplinary Committee, which are: 
- Konyaspor player Tomas Borek was referred for breaking rules at game against Etismesgut Belediyespor.
- Galatasaray, Bursaspor and Eskisehirspor were referred to for breaking rules at the field.
- Besiktas player Goran Milosevic has been referred to for breaking rules at the game against Sivas Belediyespor

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Porto player Hernani Jorge Santos Fortes

- There are rumours that Dnipro player Douglas has an injury. Besiktas is having negotiations with Douglas.

- Trabzonspor has principally agreed with Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu.

- It is rumoured that Fenerbahce player Diego Ribas will have transfer negotiations with Corinthians.

- Galatasaray are interested to sign Nice player Kolbeinn Sighorson

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Ajax player Ricardo van Rijn.

- Antalyaspor are interested to appoint Trabzonspor head coach Sadi Tekelioglu

- Galatasaray are interested to sign Juventus player Martin Caceres.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Heracles Almelo player Oussama Tanane

- Besiktas are interested to transfer Hamburg player Rene Adler.

- It is expected that Galatasaray will agree with Kasimpasa for player Ryan Donk today for 1,750 million Euro transfer fee.

What happened in Turkish football today? 24.12

Besiktas has got calm win without giving too much effort

Besiktas has got a comfortable and to some extend modest win against Sivas Belediyespor, which competes at the 2nd league, with goals scored by Cenk Tosun and Mustafa Pektemek. The fact that goal scored by substitutes who used to be a key players in a previous seasons shows that those players still are playing good football and aim to get to starting 11 of the team. But with players like Mario Gomez and Ricardo Quaresma this task could be very difficult.

The fast goal by Cenk Tosun undoubetdly scored by 6th minute had made game easier for Besiktas, as with later first goal would come from strong team might bring unnecessary panic from a team which tend to happen to be big 4 teams. After scoring goal so early Besiktas was able to control game as it wanted and with red card at 14th minute by Sivas Belediyespor player has made task much easier. Only problem which Besiktas is red card recieved by Alexander Milosevic which was needless as Besiktas was coming to a calm win of the game as game progressed.

Another factor was the poor condition of the field which provided lack of playing for both clubs but especially for Besiktas. However, there is no need to get too much criticism for this issue as Sivas Belediyespor is 2nd league team and will be understandable of the condition of facilities for lack of finances. However, the game could be played at different stadium. After this game, meanwhile, Besiktas has got 2 games out of 2 at the Turkish Cup and will play 3rd game against Trabzon 1961, game which would decide which team would pass to last 16 arleady in very likely way.

Coming to Sivas Belediyespor, being a weakest team at the group it will be understanding for them to at least get 1 point or surprise win at this group stage but it almost impossible to qualify next stage even before games were started. However, experienced recieved from playing against Besiktas could be very good for a team.

Antalyaspor win was even bigger win for Ozbayrakli and van Persie.

The game between Fenerbahce and Antalyaspor at the Turkish Cup yesterday has provided incredible opportunity to show themselves to Fenerbahce head coach Vitor Pereira for players who tend to be substituted but were bought to be regulars, namely Robin van Persie and Sener Ozbayrakli.

Sener Ozbayrakli goal has been talked around the world after the game, with Russians going so far to compare it with flying rocket. It is important for Ozbayrakli to make into eyes around the world and also for Fenerbahce to make talking points while it has high expectations to achieve at Europa League. Another factor was two goals scored by Robin van Persie which was observed at the game has risen morale of the player as it was almost first time when Robin van Persie smiled after arriving to Istanbul.

In overall, Fenerbahce has provided a very good performance and will now focus into last game before break against Sivasspor with whole team being determined to win the game and become as big title contenders in winter.

There are lots to do for Galatasaray in winter break.

Even through in game-wise Galatasaray are still far away from perfect football at which it could be stated that it is in level to fight for league title, it still has managed to win 3 official games. Of course the opponents and how team has played can  be questioned, but club has got morale and motivation from this wins which it was lacking just few weeks ago.

Galatasaray as a team will now has two tasks at upcoming weeks, first obviously win against Kayserispor and secondly complete transfer of Kasimpasa player Ryan Donk and look for other options to make squad much stronger. Galatasaray as a team is getting into winning mentality slow but it needs more to provide this spirit compare to now.

One thing is certain team head coach Mustafa Denizli has difficult task awaiting for him in upcoming weeks but he is capable of managing him. Denizli at winter break would work at existing squad at providing them better football and also work with new additions to the team. If this is done in right manner, we will have new beginning by a team in January.

Results
Turkish Cup, Group B, 2nd week
Bursaspor 4:1 Eskisehirspor

Turkish Cup, Group C, 2nd week
Kardemir Karabukspor 0:5 1461 Trabzon
Sivas Belediyespor 0:2 Besiktas

Turkish Cup, Group F, 2nd week
Adanaspor 2:1 Nazilli Belediyespor

Turkish Cup, Group G, 2nd week
Kayserispor 1:0 Inegolspor

Turkish Cup, Group H, 2nd week
Giresunspor 0:1 Tuzlaspor

In other news: 

- Bursaspor will have general meeting on 11th January.

- Eskisehirspor will have general meeting on 9th January.

- Professional Football Disciplinary Committee has announced following fines and bans: 
- fine for 20,000 TL to Kayserispor and 15,000 fine to Mersin Idman Yurdu for behaviour of fans.
- Eskisehirspor has released warning for supporters behaviour from as it happened 1st time in season.
- Mersin Idman Yurdu player Milan Mitrovic has recieved 2 game ban from due of harsh foul.
- Bursaspor CEO Recep Bolukbasi: Everyone who called me a lier is being unfair to other administrators who brought league title to team.


-Basaksehirspor player Mehmet Batdal has extended contract with his club for 2+1 years.

- Galatasaray player Wesley Snejder will not be able to play against Kasimpasa due of injury.

- Genclerbirligi has signed 1,5 year contract with its new head coach Yilmaz Vural.

- Delay of the Timsah Arena is regarding of making electronic ticket system sensor in the stadium. Bursaspor is expected to play its first game in Timsah Arena against Trabzonspor.

-It became clear that Galatasaray will be offering 2,5 year contract to Santos player Damiao

- Trabzonspor CEO Muharrem Usta has returned from Romania after negotiation with Shakhtar Donetsk head coach Mircea Lucescu.


- TurkishNationalTeam will play friendly games against Sweden on 24th March and against Austria on 29th March.

- Besiktas CEO Fikret Orman:The construction of Vodafone Arena is coming to an end but it is too early to give exact day of completion.

- Fenerbahce: Following MR it was observed that our player Ertuglul Taskiran has injury at third-degree tear in the right upper back muscle.

- Fenerbahce: Following MR it was observed that our player Ertuglul Taskiran has injury at third-degree tear in the right upper back muscle.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer AC Milan player Cristian Zapata.

- Trabzonspor are interested to appoint head coach Juande Ramos or Marcelo Bielsa as club new head coach.

- Trabzonspor are interested to transfer Marsilya player Rolando

- Galatasaray has agreed to transfer Kasimpasa player Ryan Donk with 2+1 transfer offer with 1.5 million euro salary

- Barcelona declined to play opening game against Besiktas at Vodafone Arena but will play friendly there prior to next season start.

- Besiktas player Gokhan Tore: I am really sad to see made-up news about me lately. But there is habit for truth to come out one day.

- Bursaspor are interested to sign Akhisar Belediyespor player Guray Vural.

- Kasimpasa coach Riza Calimbay: I will not transfer any players from Mersin IdmanYurdu as I dont want to bring problems to my previous club

- Besiktas managed to reduce salary of Dennis Boyko from 1,1 million euro to 900,000 euro.

- It became clear that Galatasaray player Wesley Snejder tries to convince Al Ahli player Ryan Babel to come to the club.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer PSG player Gregory van der Wiel.

- Besiktas player Tolgay Arslan is expected to recover fully from injury on March.

- FranceFootball: Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Bordeaux player Willy Sagnol

- Galatasaray are interested to sign Nice player Ben Arfa.

- Besiktas is willing to give its player Alexander Milosevic in return to get Serdar Aziz from Bursaspor.

- Fenerbahce are interested to transfer Monaco player Moutinho

What happened in Turkish football today? 23.12

Fenerbahce shows that it wants at least to pass group stage at Turkish Cup. 
Listening to statements prior to Turkish Cup between Fenerbahce and Antalyaspor it will be normal to expect that Antalyaspor was much favourable to win Turkish Cup game. Antalyaspor has mentioned that it wants to play final since final game is in Antalya while Fenerbahce has stated cup is not priority for them. However, with 4:2 scoreline it has shown that its guiet opposite to reality. The biggest role has played a performance by Fenerbahce players who are generally substitutes at the team but not in starting 11 like Sener Ozbayrakli and Robin van Persie.

In fact, out of 4 goals scored at the game by Fenerbahce, 3 has come by those players. The two great goals scored by Robin van Persie has shown that he wants to prove himself to the Fenerbahce head coach Vitor Pereira that he deserves his place more in starting 11 than Fernandao, and his happiness after those goals has shown that. Coming to the game in general Fenerbahce did give some attacks, which is  unusual to the team, to Antalyaspor but this could be explained by players who didnt play much this season. Fenerbahce in general has shown that it is focussed at the Turkish Cup despite of stating opposite to the media.

Fenerbahce reserve and substitute players with today performance also managed to show us that in fact team has a strong squad and will be able to achieve a lot at the Turkish Cup if it provides focus to the tournament. Fenerbahce as the team with today result has shown that it will at least get to last 16 stage of cup.

Coming to Antalyaspor, it has provided poor performance once again against big 4 teams and with Samuel Eto'o not playing is not real excuse. If team really wants to play final in this season Turkish Cup it needs to improve its performance, or it will be hard for them to get to semi-final even.

Chance for reserves to prove themselves to Denizli has been used.

The games between top sight club against teams which can be categorised as amateur at the Cup had been always difficult to prepare for especially when there need to go for rotation to keep fresh key players for league games. The following issue has come to the Galatasaray while playing against
Kastamonuspor at the Turkish Cup 2nd week game. Even through Galatasaray did manage to win game with 2:1 scoreline, it was not easy win and Kastamanuspor did show worth fight at the game.

In the sense of the game gameplay the game was not with lots at attacks as will be expected at the Turkish Cup between big 4 team and weak team. Similar case was with Fenerbahce game against Tuzlaspor last week and similar things likely to happen at game tomorrow between Sivas Belediyespor and Besiktas. Galatasaray with goals by Emre Colak and Umut Bulut, two experienced players at the squad, has brought an important win but when Kastamonuspor has scored its goal in 73rd minute it showed that it will try to fight for at least a draw as Galatasaray head coach Mustafa Denizli has stated after game.

Meanwhile, as Denizli has stated themselves, playing mainly players who are not at starting 11 provides opportunity to figure it out which players are needed at club or which not especially if starting 11 player gets injured. Its true that by putting 2nd-3rd squad at games likes this show that team is not getting cup in serious manner, but still players should play its best football as surely head coaches of club take notes and will thing of selling or not using players which hardly plays in future. This is an opportunity to prove themselves for players like that.

Coming to Kastamanuspor, by losing two games so far it has hard chance of getting into last 16 stage however with today game at 2nd half it can provide some interesting games and points at upcoming games at the group.

Besiktas is strong favourite agaisnt Sivas Belediyespor even with reserves.

As Besiktas is fighting for league title currently at Super League it would be also be unsurprising that team as Fenerbahce last week and Galatasaray this week will provide more game play for players which didnt get much game-time this season, as it did also last week. Besiktas in game against Sivas Belediyespor should also come as favourite as club becomes to the stage that even players who hardly play also provide high performance as it demanded by the club.

With the strength of clubs even to reserves players against clubs at the group stage, its quite normal for them to get points even when it plays with reserves. Most of the teams have trouble at even getting ever to be at Super League. So it can be stated that with so much quality gap the big 4 teams will get to last 16 without even wanting to. However, what some clubs showed that their able to fight against big 4 teams hence bringing some goals and interesting at those cup games.

Besiktas will very likely to win game but it needs to take account even colder conditions in Sivas than in Ankara which it experienced on Monday in more or less stadium which is been played by amateur teams. Sivas Belediyespor might bring those problems as an advantage to themselves meanwhile.

Results
Turkish Cup, Group A, 2nd week
Amedspor 2:2 Basaksehirspor
Sanliurfaspor 0:3 Bandirmaspor

Turkish Cup, Group D, 2nd week
Bucaspor 2:0 Aydinspor 1923

Turkish Cup, Group E, 2nd week
Kastamonuspor 1966 1:2 Galatasaray
Akhisar Belediyespor 0:2 Karsiyaka

Turkish Cup, Group H, 2nd week
Fenerbahce 4:2 Antalyaspor

Schedule
Turkish Cup, Group B, 2nd week
20:00 Bursaspor - Eskisehirspor

Turkish Cup, Group C. 2nd week
12:00 Kardemir Karabukspor - Trabzon 1461
13:45 Sivas Belediyespor - Besiktas

Turkish Cup, Group F, 2nd week
18:00 Adanaspor - Nazalli Belediyespor

Turkish Cup, Group G, 2nd week
14:00 Kayserispor- Inegolspor

Turkish Cup, Group H, 2nd week
16:00 Giresunspor - Tuzlaspor

In other news: 

- Genclerbirligi are close to appoint head coach Yilmaz Vural as club new head coach.

- Trabzonspor CEO Muharrem Usta: We dont need to rush about new head coach in this winter break. We need patience.

- Fenerbahce player Ertuglul Taskiran has become injured during cup game against Antalyaspor.

-Marselya are interested to sign Galatasaray player Aurelian Chedjou.

- EintrachtFrankfurt has loaned Schalke 04 Turkish player Kaan Ayhan.

- It became clear that Trabzonspor administrators start questioning coach Ersun Yanal about his previous period at club during negotiations

- Trabzonspor player Oscar Cardozo won't be playing against Kasimpasa due of injury.

- It became clear that Akhisar Belediyespor players Hasan Kabze and Douglao had fight after Turkish Cup game against Karsiyaka.

- Besiktas are interested to sign Sporting Lisbon player Andre Carrillo.

- Bursaspor will be playing last game at Ataturk Stadium in game against Eskisehirspor tomorrow prior to moving to new stadium Timsah Arena

- Galatasaray are interested to sign Schalke 04 player Joel Matip.

- DanielAmokachi has been appointed to be at scout staff of the Besiktas

- It became clear that Fenerbahce player Lazar Markovic is considering to return to Liverpool at end of the season.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Al Ain player Ryan Babel.

- Galatasaray head coach Mustafa Denizli is against selling its player Umut Bulut this January.

- Fenerbahce administrators will have meeting with Robin van Persie after Sivasspor game regarding of his condition at club.

- Trabzonspor are interested to transfer Kasimpasa player Oscar Scarione.

- Galatasaray are interested to transfer Leicester City player Gokhan Inler.

- Galatasaray administrators will not pay bonuses for Turkish Cup games.

- Fenerbahce is terminating contract with its player Raul Meireles.

- It became clear that Galatasaray player Burak Yilmaz recovery from injury might take 2 months.

- Antalyaspor CEO Gultekin Gencer: Samuel Eto'o didnt travel to Brasil to have negotiation with Ronaldinho. Its to have special game.

- Bursaspor are interested to sign Galatasaray player Sabri Sarioglu