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		<title>Who the hell are Bursaspor?</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/who-the-hell-are-bursaspor/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 12:12:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Bursaspor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diyarbakırspor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fenerbahçe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The modern game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Türkiye Super Lig]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Türkiye Super Lig 2009-10]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2639</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
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		<title>Women in football?</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/women-in-football/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/women-in-football/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:50:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[A history of football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The 1920s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[1920-21]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2628</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Way back in 1921, the FA banned women&#8217;s football, declaring the game &#8220;quite unfit&#8221; for females. &#8220;I do not believe women are fitted for violent leg strain,&#8221; announced one doctor, propelling hot air through his hat. It was an ridiculous decision that was only reversed in 1971.

Another classic clip from the BFI.






  



Related Articles:

Women [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 11th March</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/thursday-night-footy-europa-league-dross-11th-march/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/thursday-night-footy-europa-league-dross-11th-march/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:57:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Europa League]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fulham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Juventus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lille]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liverpool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The modern game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europa League 2009-10]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2622</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lille 1 &#8211; 0 Liverpool
Eden Hazard&#8217;s late goal won the first leg and made a bad week even worse for lowly Liverpool. Interesting fact: 11 of Lille&#8217;s 18 goals since the start of the group stage have come in the final 15 minutes.

  Lille vs Liverpool Longer Highlights (1:0)- Watch more Sports Videos at [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>5 interesting facts about last night</title>
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		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/5-interesting-facts-about-last-night/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:26:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Champions League]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Premier League]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The modern game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Champions League 2009-10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premier league 2009-10]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2617</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
1. Throw out the history book
On the four occasions that Milan had previously met Man Utd in Europe, they had eliminated them from the competition.  A 7-2 aggregate drubbing has changed all that.
2. It keeps getting worse for Milan
Before last night, AC Milan had failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 8 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>How good was Tomas Brolin?</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/how-good-was-tomas-brolin/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/how-good-was-tomas-brolin/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:46:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[1994]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A history of football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Crystal Palace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Euro 92]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[European Championship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Footy Culture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leeds]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mental geezers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The 1980s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The 1990s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Cup]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tomas Brolin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2608</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the early 1990s Per Tomas Brolin was the golden boy of Swedish football. When he played his first match when he was just six years old at Forssåtunet, and often played on teams with older players. In one match he scored 15 goals and was noticed by &#8220;Buster&#8221;, a popular football comics magazine. His [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Champions League lowlights, March 9th – 10th (and prem highlights)</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/champions-league-lowlights-march-9th-10th-and-prem-highlights/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/champions-league-lowlights-march-9th-10th-and-prem-highlights/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:10:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arsenal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bayern Munich]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beckham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Birmingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bolton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Burnley]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Fiorentina]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Huntelaar]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Ronaldo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stoke City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sunderland]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2600</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Manchester United 4 &#8211; 0 AC Milan (agg 7-2)
I feel old: I can remember when Milan were good. The wonderful Wayne Rooney scored twice as United crushed Milan to reach the quarter-finals.

  Manchester United 4 &#8211; AC Milan 0 extended highlights- Watch more Sports Videos at Vodpod.
Turncoat Vidic&#8230;

  Vidic after AC Milan- Watch [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>Monday night football: Wigan 1 – 0 Liverpool</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/monday-night-football/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/monday-night-football/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:17:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Liverpool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Premier League]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rafa Benitez]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Wigan Athletic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[premier league 2009-10]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2593</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wigan 1 &#8211; 0 Liverpool
Oh dear. Poor old Rafael Benítez couldn&#8217;t hide his anger after Liverpool&#8217;s quest for fourth place was dealt a blow at Wigan.

  Wigan 1 &#8211; Liverpool 0- Watch more Sports Videos at Vodpod.
Here&#8217;s Rafa Benitez on Liverpool&#8217;s amble for fourth place&#8230;

  Rafa Benitez on Liverpool&#8217;s race for fourth place [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>Prem and Cup highlights: 6th – 7th March</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/prem-and-cup-highlights-6th-7th-march/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/prem-and-cup-highlights-6th-7th-march/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:25:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Arsenal]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2584</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fulham 0 &#8211; 0 Tottenham Hotspur 

  Fulham 0 &#8211; Tottenham 0- Watch more Sports Videos at Vodpod.
Wolves 0 &#8211; 1 Man Utd

  Wolves 0 &#8211; Manchester United 1 MOTD- Watch more Sports Videos at Vodpod.
Sir Alex Ferguson interview after Wolves game&#8230;

  Sir Alex Ferguson interview after Wolves game- Watch more Sports [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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		<title>Totally rubbish international friendlies</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/totally-rubbish-international-friendlies/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/totally-rubbish-international-friendlies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:18:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[The modern game]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[International Friendlies]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[England 3 &#8211; 1 Egypt
The crowd may have booed but Fabio Capello led the praise for his centre-back John Terry after a strong display at Wembley.

  England 3 &#8211; Egypt 1 Longer highlights- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.
Fabio Capello after the Egypt game&#8230;

  Fabio Capelo post Egypt- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.
Turkey 2 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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		<title>David Ginola in all his glory</title>
		<link>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/david-ginola-in-all-his-glory/</link>
		<comments>http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/2010/03/david-ginola-in-all-his-glory/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 08:42:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>dave</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[A history of football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Newcastle Utd]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The 1990s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tottenham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ginola]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[David Ginola was renowned for having a magical touch on the ball and an ability to get past players from any position on the field and then going on to score a goal. His ability to do this was shown in games for Tottenham and Newcastle, with his most memorable goal coming in Newcastle&#8217;s stunning [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Who the hell are Bursaspor, I hear you ask. They’re the club that could be top of the Turkish League by the end of this weekend, that’s who. They currently lie in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Galatasaray, but with a game in hand. So, where has this team come from and why have they got the big guns worried?<br />
<img class="alignright" title="Bursaspor" src="http://www.bursaspor.org.tr/haberimage/kasimpasaanaaaa.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="230" /><br />
The club was founded in 1963 in Bursa, a city south of Istanbul with a population of almost 2 million people. This is a big place with a well-supported, albeit relatively unsuccessful football team. Their most notable accomplishment was a Turkish Football Cup win in 1986. Although Bursaspor played in the Turkish Superlig between 1967 and 2004, they were relegated to the second level of the Turkish League in 2004. They gained promotion back into the Turkish Superlig in 2006.</p>
<p>Fast forward to July, 2007 and upcoming young Turkish manager Ertuğrul Sağlam has just become the manager of Turkish giants Beşiktaş. Although the black eagles had given another rising star of the Turkish coaching scene, Rıza Çalımbay, a chance in 2005, the club had been employing a policy of brining in big name foreigners on big money zalariez, including the likes of Jean Tigana, Vicente Del Bosque, Mircea Lucescu, Christoph Daum, Karl-Heinz Feldkamp and John Toshack. Sağlam guided them to a respectable third place finish in the League in the 2007-2008 season, finishing on the same number of points as second placed Fenerbahçe with 73 points, six behind champions Galatasaray. Although Beşiktaş had a good season domestically, they made football history when the team lost 8 &#8211; 0 away to Liverpool in the Champions League in November, 2007. The following season Beşiktaş won four of their first six games and drew the other two. However, he resigned in October, 2008.</p>
<p><strong>The Diyarbakirspor &#8211; Bursaspor match is suspended. Can you guess why?</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GfikovQi2rk&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=en_GB&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3181328-diyarbakirspor-bursaspor-suspended" target="_blank">Diyarbakirspor-Bursaspor suspended</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>In January 2009 he was appointed Bursaspor manager, signing a three year contract, after two previous managers had both resigned earlier that season due to poor results. His first game in charge was a Turkish Cup game against Fenerbahçe, which Fener won 2-0. His first League game was a 2-0 win at home to the incredibly named Istanbul Büyükşehir Belediyespor. Sağlam’s Bursaspor were on a roll, going unbeaten in the League until March when they lost 2-1 away at Galatasaray. Of the 18 League games that Sağlam was in charge, Bursaspor only lost twice until the end of the season. They picked up 36 points (at an average of over 2 per game), while also recording a 2-1 victory over Fenerbahçe and a draw with Beşiktaş. The end of the 2008-2009 season saw Bursaspor finish in a respectable sixth position, missing out on a European spot by just three points.</p>
<p><strong>Fenerbahçe humiliated at home</strong></p>
<p><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QuaDGIkRRbs&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;autoplay=&#038;fs=1&#038;showinfo=0&#038;showsearch=0&#038;rel=0&#038;hl=fr_FR&#038;fs=1&#038;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="opaque" width="480" height="415" id="myytplayer"></embed>
<div style="font-size:0.9em;">  <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com/watch/3101134-fenerbahce-vs-bursaspor-2-3" target="_blank">Fenerbahce -vs- Bursaspor (2-3)</a>- Watch more <a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/redirect.php?saq_target=http://vodpod.com" target="_blank">Videos</a> at Vodpod.</div>
<p>This season began even more successfully and by December, the midpoint of the season, the club were sitting on top of the Süper Lig table. The first half of the season has seen a 1-0 home victory against Istanbul giants Galatasaray, and also a 2-3 win away at Beşiktaş. By late 2009, Sağlam had also been linked with the vacant Turkey managerial position after Fatih Terim&#8217;s resignation, but he refused to comment on the speculation. Guus Hiddink eventually took up the position. The latter part of the season saw a 6-0 win over midtable Istanbul B.B., the largest win in the league that season, and also a 2-3 away win against Fenerbahçe after winning from two goals down. They are well positioned to break the big Istanbul monopoly.<br />
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<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2544" target="_self">Thursday night footy (Europa League dross): 25th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2509" target="_self">The magic of the Europa League: 18th February</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2277" target="_self">Matches of the decade: Fenerbahçe 6 – 0 Galatasaray (2002)</a></li>
<li class="apf_footer"><a href="http://www.rantaboutfootball.com/blog/?p=2205" target="_self">Life in the Europa League, 16th and 17th December</a></li>
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