Topic: Spyin' Kop - Galatasaray away UPDATE

[Raul!]

When the draw for this year's Champions League group stage came out, more than a few Liverpool fans would have been licking their chops at a return to the stage of perhaps the most famous victory in our history.   The fact that the group has already been decided with Liverpool as winners might have reduced the number of potential visitors to the 'Bul and the sting out of this potentially tricky away fixture but this lot clearly still need their fix:

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=154878.0

Matchday 6 now affords Rafa Benitez the opportunity to rest his big guns ahead of this weekend's fixture against Fulham and the busy Christmas programme to follow later in the month. 

Galatasaray v Liverpool
Matchday 6
Tuesday 5th December, 2006
Ataturk Olympiat Stadium
Kick Off: 7.45pm

For Rhi's excellent background to Gala, please see:

http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=145021.0

Recent European record - key details (from uefa.com)

UEFA club competition milestones

• Galatasaray made history in 1999/00 when they defeated Arsenal FC on penalties in the UEFA Cup final in Copenhagen to become the first Turkish team to triumph in a UEFA club competition. Fatih Terim's side held their nerve in the shoot-out after 120 goalless minutes, running out 4-1 winners and going on to overcome Real Madrid CF 2-1 in Monaco in August to add the UEFA Super Cup to their trophy cabinet.

• The Istanbul club are regular participants in Europe's premier club competition, and reached the semi-finals of the European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1988/89, losing 5-1 on aggregate to eventual runners-up FC Steaua Bucuresti. Galatasaray have reached the competition's quarter-finals on three further occasions, but were defeated by AC Milan - who went on to lift the trophy - in 1962/63, Legia Warsawa seven years later and Real Madrid CF on their sole appearance to date in the last eight of the UEFA Champions League, in 2000/01.

UEFA club competition honours
• UEFA Cup: 1999/00

Ten-year record (including current season)
Galatasaray are appearing in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the first time in three seasons, having defeated FK Mladá Boleslav in the third qualifying round. Before missing out on European competition altogether in 2004/05, the Turkish team had appeared in seven successive editions of the UEFA Champions League, reaching the last eight in 2000/01.

1997/98: UEFA Champions League - group stage
1998/99: UEFA Champions League - group stage
1999/00: UEFA Cup - winners (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League, first group stage)
2000/01: UEFA Champions League - quarter-finals
2001/02: UEFA Champions League - second group stage
2002/03: UEFA Champions League - first group stage
2003/04: UEFA Cup - third round (having transferred from the UEFA Champions League, first group stage)
2004/05: Did not participate in UEFA club competition
2005/06: UEFA Cup - first round
2006/07: UEFA Champions League - group stage

2005/06 season
Domestic record: Galatasaray claimed the Turkish Superleague title for the first time in four seasons by pipping Fenerbahçe SK on the dramatic final day of a gripping title race. A run of six successive league wins seemed to have put Galatasaray in pole position to triumph, but a 4-0 defeat at Fenerbahçe left them level on points with their rivals with three games to go. That was still the situation ahead of the 34th and final round of matches, when Galatasaray's defeat of Kayserispor gave them the championship by two points.

European record: The Turkish team's participation in the UEFA Cup lasted only two matches as a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Tromsø IL in the first round first leg proved costly. The Turkish team fell further behind on aggregate midway through the opening period of the second leg and, although Hakan Sükür scored a late equaliser on the night, Galatasaray bowed out 2-1 on aggregate.

Key facts
• Galatasaray have played 196 games in UEFA club competition. To date, the Turkish club have recorded 70 wins, 50 draws and 76 defeats. In that time, they have scored 251 goals with 288 conceded.

• In the European Champion Clubs' Cup/UEFA Champions League, Galatasaray have played 130 matches. In that time, they have won 47, drawn 32 and lost 51 with 169 goals for and 185 against.

• In the UEFA Champions League (group stage to final only) proper, Galatasaray have faced 73 foes with 18 wins, 19 draws and 36 defeats. In that time, the Turkish side have scored 70 goals and conceded on 113 occasions.

Short notice and an understandable lack of enthusiasm for Europe, especially in view of the derby against bitter rivals Fenerbahce means that only two of the fine denizens of http://www.cimbombom.net were able to answer the usual questions but they have made a fine fist of it.

Many thanks to Yusha and cimbomparis for playing along.

1. How has the season been shaping up so far? Sorry to see your European campaign end soon but what of the domestic season?

Yusha: the season didn't start strong, but now we are back in the race for the championship...4 pts behind fener before the match in kadikoy and in 2nd place. we were disappointed with the UCL results but we looked better than alot of people expected in the matches with Liverpool and PSV in Istanbul...we have a league to win now.

cimbomparis: We had definitely a bad start with many draws. Our opponents lost points too, therefore with some recent wins we managed to reach the 2nd place. Today we are 4 points behind Fenerbahçe and we play the derby against them.

2.  What are your expectations for this season? Have they changed from day one?

Yusha: the expectations were to be Turkish champion and advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League...now we have one goal (well, two): TUrkish league and Turkish Cup..maybe 2 or 3 yrs til we can challenge Europe like we became famous for

cimbomparis: Like every season, our goal is to be champion. Yes our expectations changed : Galatasaray didn't play the CL for 3 years, and every fan expected Galatasaray to make an impressive come back. We were very disappointed by our European campaign, because we are used to better.

3. Who do you think is your most important player(s)?

Yusha: most important players: all of them.

cimbomparis: For this season, I would say our most important player is Arda Turan, who comes from our formation center. He is a great talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5LN5lcnoXo

4. Your worst player(s)?

Yusha: worst players: the team cannot pick a worst player without laying blame on itself first.

GS#1: I think out of the starters, Tomas is our worst player

cimbomparis: This is not in GS mentality to blame only one player. Galatasaray has a tradition of a big team spirit. This is what usually allows us to do better than people expect from us.

5.  Do you have a particular memory of any previous meeting between our clubs? Say something that happened to you that day or a decision you disagreed with? Memories from the reverse fixture at Anfield?

Yusha: the match at Anfield was good for us the first 20 min...then our defense fell apart (I think our players were still in awe of playing in such a famous and great football ground) I prefer to remember the meeting in 2002 

cimbomparis: I remember the Galatasaray-Liverpool game in 2002 in Ali Sami Yen that I watched in a Cafe in Paris. We had drawed in the first 3 games, and it was disappointing : we were leading 2-0 in the Nou Camp, but Barcelona scored twice and the game finished 2-2. Against Roma, we were leading 1-0, but Roma equalized in the injury time. After a draw in Anfield, it came as a big relief when Radu Niculescu scored at the end of the game. I really believed we were holding our first win and I went home after it.

When I was in the metro, I got a sms and I learned that Emile Heskey equalized and we drew again. Awful... Finally, we drew 5 times, and we had to win our last game at home against Barça : we lost on an off-side goal and missed the quarter finals.

6. Any young up and coming players in the squad that we might not know about?

Yusha: 1. ARDA Turan M 2. FEVZi Elmas GK 3. AYKUT Ercetin GK 4. MEHMET Topal M 5. MEHMET Guven M 6. OZGURCAN Ozcan F 7. AYDIN Yilmaz M 8. SABRi Sarioglu 9. HASAN Kabze F 10. Marcelo Adrian CARRUSCA M

cimbomparis: Hands off guys !   I remember how you recruited Florent Sinama Pongolle and Anthony Le Tallec.

7. What sort of line-up will be put out against us, especially since it is now a dead tie?

Yusha: I think the starting 11 will be young... GK: AYKUT D: Cihan, Song, Tolga, Sabri M: Carrusca, Inamoto, Mehmet, Arde F: Hasan Kabze, Ilic.

cimbomparis: Lol do you work by any chance for Benitez ?

Joke aside, our coach has often strange choices so I can't tell you for sure, what the line-up will be.

8.  Do you have any favourite/best chant(s) and songs and perhaps any that require an explanation?

Yusha: all of them since they're in Turkish : P but the best is:

CiMBOMUM SEN COK YASA
CANIM FEDA OLSUN SANA
HiCBiRSEYE DEGiLSiMEZ
SENiN SEVGiN BU DUNYADA

My CiMBOM long life to you
I sacrifice my life for you
Nothing compares to you
You cannot be replaced

something like that : )

cimbomparis: We often use the word CimBom in our songs, which is our nickname. You can't learn the origin of this word here : http://www.cimbombom.net/cimbom/index.html

We are the first Turkish team to have its anthem and fans still sing this anthem today, it is a great tradition : the song says Re Re Re Ra Ra Ra Galatasaray Galatasaray CimBomBom ! You can download it here : ftp://ftp.e-kolay.net/galatasaray/rerere%20rarara.mp3

9.  Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Yusha: Of course, Steven Gerrard is the best, but we fear no one, except God.

cimbomparis: Peter Crouch. I can't forget his scissor kick.

10. Care to predict the score?

Yusha: Final result: 2-1 Galatasaray wins

cimbomparis: No I'm bad at predictions. 

11. Finally, any memories from the last time we were in Istanbul, on and around 25 May, 2005???

Yusha: LIVERPOOL CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE  I saw the Liverpool guys with Galatasaray flags and we supported youuuu - by the way your away shirt this year is great yellow-red.

cimbomparis: Most Galatasaray fans were supporting Liverpool and there were even ultraslan banners among Liverpool banners (ultraslan is Galatasaray main fan group). I was really happy that you guys won. (check this topic  : http://www.cimbombom.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=318 )

We tried to make the same scenario in Anfield this year but we couldn't equalize. Lol at least we tried.

12. Other remarks

Yusha:  Rica ederim. : ) selam, peace

© Raul 2006

[Fitzy.]

Yusha: worst players: the team cannot pick a worst player without laying blame on itself first.

Sounds like a Chinese proverb.

[BCCC]

Good effort Raul.

9.  Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Yusha: Of course, Steven Gerrard is the best, but we fear no one, except God.

And nice to see Robbie is still feared across Europe. 

[MightyReds]

9.  Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Yusha: Of course, Steven Gerrard is the best, but we fear no one, except God.

[/left]

We have one, number 9.

BCCC: You're a min faster than me.

[BazC]

Thanks for that Raul.

I hope Robbie starts this one 

[The Cappuccino Kid]

Good read that.

Well done Raul.

[Raul!]

Would love to see Robbie start but am more excited about being able to see some of the youngsters in a "real" game.

Shame the tie is dead - would otherwise have made for a particularly atmospheric game.

[Fitzy.]

Shame the tie is dead - would otherwise have made for a particularly atmospheric game.

Kind of a shame - glad we don't need a win though.

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

Cheers for that mate. Off there in the morning if the trains can get me out of Liverpool today.

[Raul!]

Cheers for that mate. Off there in the morning if the trains can get me out of Liverpool today.

What's the Turkish real ale like then?

[Jonathan Hall ☆☆☆☆☆☆]

What's the Turkish real ale like then?

No idea, think i might se if anyone does decent Turkish red wine.

[-HH-]

Cheers for that mate. Off there in the morning if the trains can get me out of Liverpool today.

Don't count on it, took me over 12 hours yesterday

[Garstonite]

Cheers Raul. Very good work.

Loved this:

cimbomparis: Peter Crouch. I can't forget his scissor kick

[Мерфи]

Well done Raul (with an assist to Rhi)

To use a poker euphemism - Galatasaray are drawing dead.  Which means we should see more young guys and edge of the squad players in the game.  No pressure, they're distracting with the up and coming 6 pointer with thier arch rivals - We'll thrash them!  Agger to swerve another in from 35 yards?  3 - 0 us.

[Barenco Saragih]

Good read Raul...

[kim66]

dont we so much much want one of the kids to shine tomorrow!
Lets hope.
YNWA

[Raul!]

A late response, thanks kink

What are your expectations for this season? Have they changed from day one?

Well as any big team in a country...silverware! The League will be tough to regain so a CL spot would be good. Of course winning the league is what we all want but second best option would be a qualifying spot for the CL.

Who do you think is your most important player(s)?

Definitely our senior guys. Sukur, Sas, Mondragon(Gk) who have been there for years. But in saying that the whole squad is important cause you cant win any trophies with a shoe-string squad.

Your worst player(s)?

There are a few rotten apples within the bunch but i'm not going to single out individuals. They're our club, our players, even if they play with one leg we still stick by them.

Do you have a particular memory of any previous meeting between our clubs? Say something that happened to you that day or a decision you disagreed with? Memories from the reverse fixture at Anfield?

I vaguely remember i think it was a pre-season friendly at Anfield. Pretty sure it was a 4 team tournament(im sure some of the 'pool fans would have a better memory). Apart from that the recent match at Anfield was a good spectacle after our boys relaxed and started to play some football.

Any young up and coming players in the squad that we might not know about?

Arda Turan is definitely somebody to look out for. One of the better talents i've seen come out of the academy. I've seen glimpses of another young lad by the name of Aydin Yilmaz who stood out in the games he played for us but he makes very rare appearances.

There's a good bunch of the younger kids coming through although the majority are struggling to find a first team place, im sure we will be seeing them in the future.

What sort of line-up will be put out against us?

Well it's hard to say, Eric Gerets i think will give some of the other lads a go and rest a couple of first teamers for the weekend clash. Expect a similar line-up from the match at Anfield with most likely a handful of changes.

Do you have any favourite/best chant(s) and songs and perhaps any that require an explanation?

Yeah a few of the other guys have already pointed out the main ones.

Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Where do i begin? I think Crouch, I always tell my mates Liverpool cheat with a player of his height Laughing You would think a guy of his stature would be lured into basketball.

Care to predict the score?

A Gala win would be nice. But my brain is saying a 1-1 draw(we struggle to win matches at the Olympic stadium)

Finally, any memories from the last time we were in Istanbul, on and around 25 May, 2005???

A great city hosted one of the greatest CL Finals in history.

[Terry de Niro]

Good read that Raul.. 

[mark mccutcheon]

dose any one think we will get a result its not easy over there and are form has been poor

[gerrardspetal]

Good read that Raul.. 

echoed. 

does any one think we will get a result its not easy over there and are form has been poor

Think it will be a close one.
But it would be good to get a win regardless of us still going through. To give us a bit more confidence

[kavah]

Which Liverpool player will you fear the most?

Yusha: Of course, Steven Gerrard is the best, but we fear no one, except God.

And nice to see Robbie is still feared across Europe. 

Well they got that right

[Barenco Saragih]

I hope Robbie starts this one 

He's did it well....