Turkish Super League getting more exciting year after year. Two years before Sivasspor made a big shock about almost winning the title. Sadly they have finished second and then fourth… But leap of Anatolian teams didn’t stopped. Bursapor get the flag from Sivasspor and finished last week on the top of the league.

This year job of Crocodiles (Bursaspor’s nickname) is really hard because every other Anatolian team learned that what could be done if a team wants. It doesn’t matter if you are an Istanbul team or not. Of course three bigs of Istanbul are still the favourites but with the new Broadcasting Agreement valued 321 Million Dollars teams filled their wallet with more cash get transferred better players like Pele from Porto, Federico Insua from CF America, youngster Ismael Sosa from Argentinos Juniors, Nicolae Dica from Catania and Guti from Real Madrid. This players bring more fever to the pitch!

Trabzonspor

Storm of the Black Sea starts every year with very high expectations to the league but they are a regular top five team and finished the league at fifth position last year. But they have won the Turkish Cup from the hands of Fenerbahce. And with the performance at the Turkish Super Cup Final they have showed that this year is going to be for different for them. With three goals of Teofilo Trabzon beat Bursa at the final and win the cup with a very good performance.

Former Goalkeeper and Coach Şenol Güneş appointed by the board at the half of the last year. He didn’t change the teams skeleton wiht making so many transfer at January and at summer transfer window too. They have signed only 4 players for the new season. A goalkeeper as third choice, youngster Barış Ataş for midfield, Polish Glowacki to replace retired Rigobert Song and a explosive striker Jackson ‘Jaja’ Coelho.

Şenol Güneş and his team practiced short passes and fast playing at summer as we can understand the performance at Super Cup final. They are the fittest team at the league and with the leadership of the new captain Yattara, Alanzinho, Colman, and Selçuk they are the one of the strongest favourites to win the title.

Key arrivals: Arkadiusz Glowacki (Wisla Krakow), Bora Sevim (Gaziantep BŞB), Barış Ataş (Diyarbakırspor), Jaja (Metalist Kharkiv)

Key departures: Rigobert Song (retired from football)

Prediction: 3nd

Bursaspor

A revolutionary title victory of Bursaspor changed the vision of all the Turkish Football followers. Because they did none of the Anatolian team did from the start of the Turkish Football Leagues except Trabzonspor. After their brave fight to win the league opened eyes of every other none-champion team. While they are making revolution they have made their job harder to continue to revolution. (It is a paradox a revolutionist)

Coach Ertuğrul Sağlam and his young team doesn’t have any claim to win the league at the start of last season but today they have an honor to save and that makes their job harder. Also they will be fighting at the Champions League stage. They are not accustomed to play twice in a week. This will be a big disadvantage for Bursa.

They didn’t sold their key players and made big chances at the team except loaned Zapatocny. Green-Whites signed with four important South Americans, Insua, Nunez, Steinert and Wederson from Fenerbahce. And a young goalkeeper as third seed. We couldn’t watch Bursaspor with their new transfers but as we watch them last game before league fight at the Turkish Super Cup final players are in lanquor. They didn’t play and fight as they last season did. If they couldn’t throw off this lanquor they can live what Sivasspor experienced.

Key arrivals: Federico Insua (CF America), Leonel Nunez (Independiente), Hector Damian Steinert (Racing Club de Avellaneda), Wederson (Fenerbahce)

Key departures: Zapotocny (back to Besiktas)

Prediction: 4rd

Galatasaray

The only Turkish team which have won a European Cup is looking for his old days in history. Last year when Rijkaard and big players from Europe transferred every fan of Galatasaray felt in confidence to win the title. But as you know this is football and we experienced that big names never brings the cups together. This and injuries of key players Harry Kewell and Milan Baros brought Galatasaray only third place. But every new beginning brings new hopes together…

Losing Super League Title meant loss of big amount of money. And to make money Galatasaray sold to many players including Kader Keita, Mehmet Topal, Emre Göngör, Uğur Uçar in total of 15 million Euros. Losing Keita and M.Topal is a big loss for the team but Pablo Pina and Lorik Cana are good options to replace them. Lions signed 5, 3 of them from free transfer, young Turkish players. Especially media and fans dont pay attention much on to them but they will make difference. Because if you have a good bench you have more chance to win the title. Otherwise signing with Harry Kewell again was a key move. His influence is very important on the pitch.

Galatasaray starts to seasons always to be champion. If Lions won’t experience big injury losses of  their key players there is no doubt to win the title. Starlet captain Arda, H. Kewell will play vital role for his team. He is in good form. There is only a weak side of the team which is goalkeeper. And pay attention to the new striker Mehmet Batdal and from youth system Emre Çolak.

Key arrivals: Juan Pablo Pino (Monaco), Lorik Cana (Sunderland), Serdar Ozkan (Besiktas), Mehmet Batdal (Bucaspor), Musa Cagiran (Altay), Caglar Birinci (Denizlispor), Ali Turan (Kayserispor)

Key departures: Mehmet Topal (Valencia), Kader Keita (Al Sadd)

Prediction: 2nd

Bucaspor

New face of the Super League have won the promotion to finish 1. League at the second position. They have guaranteed to won the promotion 4 weeks before the league has ended. After the promotion they have changed almost the whole squad with signing 16 players. And the Board of the team assigned former Sivasspor manager Bülent Uygun.

It looks like a bad decision at the first sight. But there is an argument in Turkey about quality of players: „Some players are 1. League players and you can’t be successful at the Super League.“ When you think like that it make sense to sign more and experienced players like İbrahim Dagasan, Stjepan Tomas, Ragip Basdag, Orhan Ak, Jerko Leko.

Uygun signed very tough and experienced defence players which is important for a new team. Transfering his old soldiers Ibrahim and Musa Aydın to the midfield is a nice idea to impose the playing mentality. Transfer strategy of this team is very good but we need to see did they have good harmony in the team. Performances of Angolan former Manchester United player Manucho and Carlos, Victor Mendy, Dady, Stjepan Tomas and Jerko Leko will make a difference.

Key Arrivals : Manucho (Real Valladolid), Carlos (Free Agent), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Dady (Ossasuna), Stjepan Tomas (Gaziantepspor) Ibrahim Dagasan and Musa Aydın (both Sıvasspor)

Key Departures: Mehmet Batdal (Galatasaray), Yilmaz Ozlem (Goztepe)

Prediction: 13th

Beşiktaş

Black Eagles were the champions before that year. Finishing the league at the fourth poisiton after winning championship brought chaos. And then coach Mustafa Denizli is posted and German Legend Bernd Schuster appointed. Last year Beşiktaş were having a problem to play from the wings. To solve this problem they have signed with Ricardo Quaresma. He will be the important for the team.

Another problem of Besiktas was at midfield, who will make the connection between defence and offense position. There was only three players. But now there is more alternatives. One of them youngster Necip and Spanish playmaker Guti. At some games we could see Zapotocy there too. Signing Guti was a huge move for Besiktas. He will add intelligence to the midfield for sure. Besiktas still have Delgado, Tabata, Holosko,Bobo, and Nihat. With this attacking wealth they won’t live any problems to score. They have three goalkeppers at national team quality. Besitas is ready for the league fight and favourite to win the title.

Key arrivals: Guti Hernandez (Real Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (Inter)

Key departures: Rodrigo Tello (Eskişehir),Serdar Özkan (Galatasaray), Batuhan Karadeniz (Eskişehir)

Prediction: 1st

Eskişehirspor

Team of the city is a real football city. At every game the fans show their commitment with their fever. With that Eskişehir became the hardest away game for other teams. And that helped them to finish the league at 7th Position. And now they have a stranded team. Coach Riza Calimbay didn’t make so many changes at the skeleton of the team. But they have signed Chilean national Rodrigo Tello, Besiktas’ youngster Batuhan and Pele from Porto to the center of the midfield. Selling players who are older than 30 made the team younger.

This year they have more hungry players. This will be a determinent for the team. If wingers of the team will feed tall striker Batuhan better, they won’t live any problem to score. It will be early to make a guess where will they finish the season bu it won’t be so easy to finish the Super League at 7th position again.

Key arrivals: Rodrigo Tello and Batuhan Karadeniz (Besiktas), Pele (Porto), Burhan Eser (Genclerbirligi)

Key departures: Luka Vucko, Ragip Basdag, Umit Karan, Stjepan Poljak

Prediction: 7th

Fenerbahçe

Fenrbahce is starting this season again with problems. But this time they are huge. They are already knocked out from the Champions League by Young Boys and there are rumors about captain Alex and new manger Aykut Kocaman are having problems and therefore Alex wants to leave the team. The resaon of this conflict is about building a fighter team. As you now Alex is not a player like Lampard or Zidane. He plays only when the ball came to his foot. But he is very efficent for sure. However Alex doesn’t fit for the mentality of coach. This conflict could occur more prroblem during the league. Except of this vital player Lugano still didn’t attended to the team and it is an unsure issue. He is looking for a team to transfer but if he is not he will return. His absence is very important for the team and Bilica and Ilhan couldn‘t fill it.

New wingers Dia and Stoch could push the team upper at the table but they need to be oriented themselves to the team and the league faster. Midfield is Canaries‘ strongest position with Emre, Cristian, Selcuk, Ozer and Mehmet Topuz but they have only one striker. Semih and Güiza wants to leave the club and Deivid, Kazim wants to be sold from the manager and from the board. Losing Wederson is a big loss for defensive left wing. There are so many problems at Fenerbahce and it is not that possible to finish the league on the top.

Key arrivals: Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Issiar Dia (Olympic Lyon), Caner Erkin (Cska Moscow)

Key departures: Wederson (Bursaspor)

Prediction: 5th

Kayserispor

They are the most steady team of the league since 5 years. They have finished the league at 5th position except last year. After last year‘s low performance board have decided to change the manager and signed a acquaintance name from Trabzonspor Shota Arveladze. He learned a lot as an assistant of Louis Van Gaal, Ronald Koeman and Dick Advocaat at AZ Alkmaar.

Team is so young. There is no player older than 30 except Souleymanou Hamidou. Georgian coach signed a defender Amisulashvili from his country. That will be important for the team and the coach Shota. Allrounder Andre Moritz, experienced Kennedy Bakircioglu and J. Santana will be vital players for the team. With the harmony between youngsters and experienced players Kayserispor will bring a new breath to the league.

Kay Arrivals: Andre Moritz (Kasimpasa), Kennedy Bakircioglu (Ajax), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Selim Teber (E. Frankfurt), Amisulashvili (Spartak Nalchik)

Key departures: Aydin Toscali (Ankaragucu), Ali Turan (Galatasaray), Hakan Aslantas, Gökhan Emreciksin

Prediction: 8th

İstanbul Büyükşehir Belediyesi

They are still working with the same manager since 4 years. This stability and brought them success step by step. Two years ago they have finished the league at 12th, last year they were at the 6th Position when the league finished. Every year they are signing players just for what they need. This season they have signed only with 3 players. They have strengthen the midfield with Cihan Haspolatli and Samuel Holmen from Brondby.

Last years 6th team, can regain that position with a young team which is away from pressure. Furthermore team is playing best football in the league.

Key arrivals: Cihan Haspolatli (Ankaragucu), Samuel Holmen (Brondby)

Key departures: Okan Buruk (Retired)

Prediction: 6th

Ankaragücü

They are a regular top ten teams of the Super League but last year they have fight for avoiding from relegation. The new manager Umit Ozat has got an asisstant trainer career next to Christoph Daum and Roger Lemerre. He learned much from two high profiled manager and we will see what he learned.

He builded up a team from the Eastern European players like Michael Zewlakow, Robert Vittek, Marek Sapara, Stanislav Sestak, Jan Rajnoch. That means they will play more with their physical strengh which is fits best with Turkish football. Performances of their foreigners will play a key role for the team. They will push to be in the top 10 again for this year. With four Slovakian national player it looks not too far..

Key Arrivals: Stanislav Sestak (Bochum), Michael Zewlakow (Olympiakos), Hürriyet Gücer (Ankaraspor)

Key departures: Serkan Kirintili (released), Cihan Haspolatli (İstanbul BSB), Elyasa Süme (Gaziantepspor)

Prediction: 11th

Gaziantepspor

Last season they have finished the league under the expectations. With few defeats they could be relegated. This low performance pushed the board to change the manager Jose Cocueiro with Tolunay Kafkas. After his arrival he reorganized the elderly defensive line and signed young players like Elyasa, Yalcin and Emre.

Strongest side of this is midfield with talented youngsters Murat Ceylan, Ahmet Ari, Olcan, experienced Zurita, Erman Ozgur and Ivan at last season. Kafkas didn’t changed it and make transfers to forward and strenghten there with Ismael Sosa, Mehmet Yilmaz.

If Kafkas will impose his mentality to the team easily they will be in the top ten for this season. Pay atteniton to youngsters Murat Ceylan, Ismael Sosa and tough striker Julio Cesar.

Key arrivals: Ismael Sosa (Argentinos Juniors), Emre Güngör (Galatasaray), Elyasa Sume (Ankaragucu)

Key departures: Armand Deumi (Karabukspor), Recep Biler (Manisaspor), Stjepan Tomas (Bucaspor)

Prediction: 9th

Karabukspor

Newcomer of the Super League is little bit different than the other teams. City and the sponsor of this team is formed by working class which is unusual to witness in Turkey. With this support they have finished the 1. League on the top.

They have done what Bucaspor done for the same reason except changing the manager. The team of coal miners signed with 12 players including Romanian winger Florin Cernat, defender Jamal Alloui and Croatian national player Anthony Seric. While they are signing important foreigners they have saved their key players like strikers Emmanuel Emenike, Yasin Avci. Emmenike will be important at fast breaks for the away games. If they will stay in the league it will be a great success fort he team.

Key arrivals: Florin Cernat (Hajduk Split), Anthony Seric (Besiktas), Armand Deumi (Gaziantepspor), Emil Angelov (Denizlispor), Tozo (Genclerbirligi)

Key departures: Burak Akdis (Boluspor), Sertan Vardar (K. Erciyesspor)

Prediction: 16th

Manisaspor

Manisaspor is the another team which could secure from the relegation at last weeks. That pushed the board make revision at the team and they changed the manager at first job. New coach Hakan Kutlu made 8 transfers to expand the team including Nicolae Dica, Isaac Promise, Kahe, Ömer Aysan and Gökhan Emreciksin. This players looks to play at the first 11, because they were important players at their teams. Losing Güven Varol and Mehmet Nas means losing streng hat the midfield position but new signings will replace them for sure.

Hakan Kutlu is young and ambitious manager. With the new and experienced players he could lift the team up after last years low performance.

Key arrivals: Nicolae Dica (Catania), Isaac Promise and Ömer Aysan (Trabzonspor), Gökhan Emreciksin (Kayserispor) Kahe (Genclerbirligi)

Key departures: Guven Varol (Ankaragucu), Mehmet Nas (Sıvasspor)

Prediction: 12th

Gençlerbirliği

Thomas Doll builded up his team after last year. At his first year he couldn’t have much option to sign so many players. But this year he reorganized the team as he want. And today he knows much about the Turkish Super League. He sent so many players from the team especially the Brazilians. And signed fighter players form island like Billy Mehmet and Michael Stewart. Ermin Zec could be the creative side oft he team. He is young and talented Bosnian and scored 39 goals and made 12 assists in 72 games at his old team.

German coach and his team played a good football last year. But some mishaps blocked them to climb upper ranks. With new organization Doll and and his team could be more successful eve if losing former captain Ilhan Eker from the defensive strengh.

Key arrivals: Ermin Zec (Hb Sibenik), Billy Mehmet (St. Mirren), Michael Stewart (Hearts)

Key departures: İlhan Eker (Fenerbahce), Tozo (Karabukspor)

Predicition: 9th

Medical Park Antalyaspor

Last season they were one of the surprises of the Super League. Young manager Mehmet Ozdilek imposed his experiences he get from his legendary player career. And he builded up a brave and high quality team from low profiled players and finished the league at the 9th position. Ozdilek held the almost whole team at the squad except defenders. But he revised that position with experienced Deniz Baris and Tuna Uzumcu. Necati Ateş is a vital player for the team. He has scored 17 goals and made 6 assists last season. Tita and Djehoua is another strong side of Antalya. But this year every team made so many important transfers that will be the reason for them to not to be so successful like last year.

Key arrivals: Grégory Proment (Caen), Deniz Baris (Fenerbahce), Tuna Uzumcu (Bursaspor), Ivan Radeljic (Genclerbirligi)

Key departures: Yalcin Ayhan and Senol Can (both Gaziantepspor), Orhan Ak (Bucaspor), Korhan Ozturk (Kasimpasaspor)

Prediction: 14th

Konyaspor

Newly promoted Konyaspor made radical changings at the squad. New coach Ziya Dogan signed 21 players and sold 18 players. It is a big revision. Most players are from Eastern Europe. That means coach Dogan is building a fighter team like other teams did. Colombian former Parma player Johnier Montano and Mahamoudou Kere from Charleroi will be important players for the Konyaspor. He also signed with Super League experienced Emrah Eren, Hakan Aslantas and Adnan Gungor, Gokhan Tokgoz.

Making a new team with 21 players is a very hard thing to do. But Ziya Dogan is a good and very experienced coach in the Super League. We will see again a team that weg et used to Ziya Dogan’s teams. They will play tough and could get some surprise points but they have the highest possibility to return to 1 th League.

Key arrivals: Johnier Montano (Allianza Roma), Mahamoudou Kere (Charleroi)

Key departures: Tayfun Turkmen (released)

Prediction: 18th

Sivasspor

We should say that Sıvas is so far from his goldan era. It will be a fantasy to wait  a top five performance from them. But Mesut Bakkal is a good manager and knows what to do in the Super League to be successful. They lost their key players Musa Aydın,Ibrahim Dagasan and Michael Petkovic. But new players are good as they are. Although the most important thing is in the football is to harmonize the team. When Bakkal signed with Sıvasspor at the last 8 weeks of the league he helped the team to stay in the Super League. He could do that again but not much.

Key arrivals: Mehmet Nas (Manisaspor), Ceyhun Eris (Assyriska), Ricardo Suarez (Steaua Bucuresti), Sead Ramovic (Tromso)

Key departures: Musa Aydın and Ibrahim Dagasan (Bucaspor), Michael Petkovic (Melbourne)

Prediction: 15th

Kasimpaşaspor

The little district team of Istanbul played a high standard football last year and won the hearts of all the football lovers. But it didn’t helped to play fort he top 10 in the league. They have fighted to stay in the league and ambitious manager Yilmaz  Vural helped the team to stay. But this year they have lost their key players like Andre Mortitz, Murat Erdogan and Koray. They were the important players of Vural’s tactics. But he signed with La liga experienced Fernando Varela. We couldn’t know what he could give tot he team but firstly he need to be oriented to physical styled Super League.

Kasimpasa will continue to play good football this year but i’m not sure could they be stay at the league.

Key arrivals:  Fernando Varela Ramos (Mallorca), Korhan Ozturk (Antalyaspor),Ersen Martin (Manisaspor)

Key departures: Murat Erdogan (released), Koray Avci (C.Rizespor), Andre Moritz (Kayserispor)

Prediciton: 17th