(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
On Oct. 20, 2008 I wrote an article, this is the sequel.
The past article started with the introduction upon Turkish Football League history, focusing on the three horsemen, Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray and Beşiktaş, along with the only other champion outside Istanbul, which is Trabzonspor, and wrapping up with why the nation's league is so impotent.
Only seven game weeks had past then, now it is the 26th game week this weekend, after the short break for international call-ups. Beşiktaş was leading the league when I wrote that article, Trabzonspor was trailing. Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe were a little dropped back.
Now, with nine weeks to go Sivasspor, last year's surprise pack is back on top again with 50 points. Beşiktaş, who sacked their manager Ertuğrul Sağlam (he is now the manager of Bursaspor) in between the two articles is one point behind Sivas.
Trabzon is still hanging up on the top three with 46 points while Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray are fourth and fifth respectively with 44 points each.
Last year's end of season league table showed Galatasaray ahead of Fenerbahçe, Beşiktaş and Sivasspor with six points each. The reigning champion has lost only three games and a total of 23 points out of 102 possible. Today the league leader Sivasspor has already lost 3 games and a total of 25 points.
Even if they win all their remaining games they will not be able to beat last year's score, and their winning all their games is almost miraculous.
When Fenerbahçe won the league in 2006-07 season with only 70 points, it was a record low for the last 13 years, the manager Zico was heavily criticised.
Since the league switched to three-points-for-a-win system on '87-'88 season only four time has this happened. 66, 69 and 70 were the points that was enough for the championship by Galatasaray, Beşiktaş and again Galatasaray, on seasons '92-'93, '90-'91 and '93-'94 seasons respectively.
The two of three horsemen sacked their managers mid-season. Galatasaray sacked Skibbe after a 5-2 home defeat by a relegation candidate, while Beşiktaş was much less patient that, Ertuğrul Sağlam was shown the way out after being knocked out by Metalist Kharkiv on the UEFA Cup qualification games.
Galatasaray hired their legendary captain, Bülent Korkmaz who does not have a bright managerial past while Beşiktaş chose Mustafa Denizli, who led Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe to the championship in the past and is the only local manager to achieve this at Fenerbahçe.
Fenerbahçe is still going on with Luis Aragones even though rumours of his job security are always on the headlines.
The rumours about the Grandpa goes on saying that he has a huge compensation clause if he is to be fired before contract expiry and that clause it what's keeping him in. Already the media are looking for replacements, even the Italian media are suggesting Mancini may take his place if he is to be fired.
The club, as usual, denies those rumours.
Last two seasons showed that the three horsemen are dropping back. Even though they somehow finish on the top spots they struggle more and more as the days pass by. This leads to questions of course.
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