Istanbul BB vs Trabzonspor
FreeWe’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to find out more about the ways you can help us (e.g. local input, watching games)!
There are 4 bankers and 6 value tips in the Members Section today so feel free to sign up here to see them + team news!
The Turkish Super Cup is upon us, folks, and remarkably the bookies have made the reigning Super Lig champions favourites to win this game. Perhaps they’re reading too much into this game being played in Istanbul, but I don’t think that changes much. The only advantage that Istanbul BB have is that they’re used to playing in front of an empty stadium but that’s not really an advantage any longer; all Turkish teams have been playing that way during the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, it’s fair to say that Istanbul BB are quite the hated team in Italy for the way they’re bankrolled, and the almost disingenuous way in which they’ve become a good team. They’ll be offered no sympathy nor support by the other Istanbul clubs, let me assure you!
Let’s forget all that, though. Let’s look at the two teams for what they’ve done over the past two months as that should condition what happens in Istanbul tonight. Istanbul BB may have the bigger names but they’ve done nothing to concern Trabzonspor over the past couple of months. In fact, ever since they crashed out of Europe, Istanbul BB have been really poor. I respect how organised and disciplined this team is under Okan, and they showed it in Europe on several occasions, but that application has bizarrely deserted them ever since. The players just don’t look interested. Perhaps it’s a case of the ol’ second season syndrome i.e. it’s always harder to defend a title than it is to win it. These fellas have done it now – what motivation is left for them?
Whatever the case may be, things are not right at Istanbul BB. They’re not working hard enough in midfield – that’s the crux of it. They’re not protecting their back four well enough, and as they’re not especially mobile in a predominantly fast Super Lig, that’s an issue. They’re not supporting attacks well enough, and considering that the team only has target men up front, that’s a problem. They need those legs from midfield in order to get Crivelli, Gulbrandsen, and Ba into games – but they aren’t doing it. They’ve become very easy to play against, Istanbul BB, and it’s led to problems behind the scenes.
Team news may be scarce for this game, but Istanbul BB’s potential absentees have been reported as Visca, Kahveci, Rafael, Giuliano, Bolignoli, Caicara, and Chadli. The rumour mill suggests that three of them may make it; the rest won’t. That’s a problem. Giuliano, Visca, Chadli, and Can are their best creators in tight situations. Now there’s talk of Visca being unhappy at the club, and both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce are supposed to be signing their star player, Kahveci. All is not well at this club; all that surprises me is that the manager has not bore the brunt of that yet, even though it’s not his fault.
They have recently added rapid Chilean attacker Fernandes to their squad, formerly of Alanyaspor and Dinamo Zagreb fame, trying to liven their front line up. As mobile as he unquestionably is though, his decision-making is a problem, as is his final ball. I can understand the acquisition, but I don’t believe it’ll solve the problem of the lack of interest. On paper, Istanbul BB still have a very good team. It’s been a long time since they played like it though, and even in Istanbul tonight, I can see them struggling with Trabzonspor, just as they have with everybody else lately.
You also have to keep in mind that Trabzonspor enter this game as a very in-form team. Avci has unsurprisingly worked wonders since joining as manager, and Istanbul BB know all about how good he is, given that it was him that made Istanbul BB into something. A lot of those players are very well-known to him, as is opposite number Okan, so Trabzonspor already have one hell of an advantage here because he knows all of their weaknesses. It’s more than that, though – he’s a really good manager in general, and Trabzonspor are really starting to click into gear right now, scoring at will, even with Omur out.
They’re back to controlling games, Trabzonspor, and most importantly of all, they’re back to being a good attacking team. They had a period of time without any genuine goal threat, which led to Avci’s predecessor Newton getting the chop. At the time, I thought that was harsh because Trabzonspor do need a line leader. However, since Avci has come in, he’s made this attack click so perhaps sacking the Englishman was the right thing to do after all. Adding Cape Verde Islands frontman Djaniny to the squad has helped, of course, as has the arrival of Afobe, because both are good target men. It’s more than just that, though. I don’t know how to explain it, though – Trabzonspor simply look smarter than they used to.
Afobe and Djaniny being in the equation makes Nwakaeme’s job easier, and Ekuban’s ‘reminder’ that he’s a good player has lessened the attention on the Nigerian too. The energy and effectiveness of Flavio and Baker in midfield has been very good, even though Trabzonspor are more used to playing with a designated playmaker. They still have some work to do before I trust them defensively, but all things considered, I really like where Trabzonspor are at. They look confident, they’re moving the ball faster, and they’re taking their chances better, which largely negates the goals that they give away. The Avci magic strikes again, huh? This is a team to respect once more, and truth be told, they’re better than Istanbul BB right now.
So, yes – I’m surprised that the bookies have made Istanbul BB favourites here because they’ve done nothing to warrant such lately. Therefore, I’m on Trabzonspor with draw no bet cover.
Verdict: Trabzonspor to win with draw no bet at 10/11.
Wednesday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Austrian Bundesliga:
Salzburg vs SV Ried
Swarovski Tirol vs SCR Altach
Wolfsberger AC vs LASK
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Racing Genk vs Zulte-Waregem
Germinal Beerschot vs Kortrijk
AA Gent vs Sint-Truiden
Sporting Charleroi vs OH Leuven
Croatian Prva Liga:
Istra 1961 vs Rijeka
Dinamo Zagreb vs Hajduk Split
Czechia Liga 1:
Banik Ostrava vs Slovan Liberec
Bohemians 1905 vs Opava
Zlin vs Slavia Prague
English Premier League:
Burnley vs Aston Villa
Chelsea vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham
Everton vs Leicester City
Manchester United vs Sheffield United
French Ligue 1:
Lorient vs Dijon FCO
German Bundesliga 2:
Darmstadt 98 vs SV Sandhausen
Paderborn 07 vs Holstein Kiel
Karlsruher SC vs Hannover 96
Nurnberg vs Jahn Regensburg
Hungarian Liga 1:
Varda SE vs Fehervar
Budafoki MTE vs Ferencvaros
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
MS Ashdod vs Bnei Yehuda Tel-Aviv
Hapoel Kfar Saba vs Maccabi Netanya
Maccabi Tel-Aviv vs Maccabi Haifa
Italian Serie B:
Chievo Verona vs Cittadella
Italian Coppa Italia:
Atalanta Bergamo vs SS Lazio
Juventus vs SPAL
Dutch Eredivisie:
AZ Alkmaar vs FC Utrecht
RKC Waalwijk vs Fortuna Sittard
VVV Venlo vs Vitesse Arnhem
SC Heerenveen vs Feyenoord Rotterdam
Portuguese Taca de Portugal:
Maritimo Funchal vs Estoril
Spanish Copa del Rey:
Sevilla vs Valencia
Almeria vs CA Osasunaa
Rayo Vallecano de Madrid vs Barcelona
Swiss Super League:
FC Zurich vs Vaduz
Young Boys Bern vs Lausanne Sport
Turkish Super Cup:
Istanbul BB vs Trabzonspor
Enjoy your free betting tips!