Crocodiles rocked as big boys send them back down to earth
Friday 05 November 2010 14:18
What would you think if, as a player, you looked to your own fans only to see them jumping up and down, making noise, with their backs turned in unison?
You can feel the enthusiasm, the heat of passion, but you know that something just isn’t right.
That ‘something’ is Bursaspor’s European form – reading as Played four, Lost four, Scored none, Conceded nine.
While I am an optimistic follower of Turkish football, Bursaspor have failed to provide anybody with an ounce of hope and continued their pitiful form with a 3-0 loss to Manchester United in week 4.
It was a side not too dissimilar to that which suffered a 3-0 loss to Fenerbahce some years back, and a side that even included a number of the players who were beaten at Old Trafford by Besiktas last season. Reasons to have been optimistic you might think.
Reasons that will have been dashed as Darren Fletcher waltzed his way into the penalty area before guiding the ball into the bottom corner. Unmarked and with all the time in the world.
It must be said, for all their support, Bursa have struggled to take the step up into the big boys’ league.
With the possible exceptions of Omer Erdogan and Vederson, many of the Green Crocodiles have none, or very little experience of top level football - it has certainly showed against the likes of Valencia, Manchester United and even Rangers.
It must also be said that a number of the players who helped Bursa to the league title last season are seriously struggling to find any sort of form.
Sercan Yildirim is not even half the player he was last season and is still searching for his goal scoring boots with just four goals this season.
The jinxing, lively Volkan Sen we once knew is becoming a distant memory, while Huseyin Cimsir is finding it hard to stamp his authority in the centre of the park.
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About Sefa Atay
Born in England, Sefa Atay spent part of his teenage years living in Istanbul. Having experienced ‘Hell’ at the Ali Sami Yen, riots at Fenerbahce and VIP hospitality at Besiktas his love for Turkey’s only ‘true’ sport increased. Now a budding journalist, Sefa can usually be found... well, nowhere, due to his nomadic lifestyle and an audacious dream to have watched each of the World’s Top 10 Derby matches by the age of 30. Donations are welcome.