Goalkeeper _Onur Kivrak
Onur Kivrak has made a heroic return to the beautiful game following a season ending injury which ruled him out for 2011-12.
Kivrak has been in impressive form, statistically speaking, the Turkish international has kept eight clean sheets in all competitions the highest number in the league.
The Trabzonspor keeper has also only conceded 15 goals this season, the lowest total in the league. In fact if it wasn't for Kivrak's goalkeeping acrobatics Trabzonspor would have been in a pretty dark place right now. The Black Sea giants have only scored 19 goals this season, the lowest scoring side in the top half of the table.
Kivrak is still a baby in goalkeeping terms, Kivrak joined Trabzonspor from Karşıyaka in 2008 for €700,000.
The 24-year-old keeper has already kept 24 clean sheets in 81 appearances for the Black Sea club.
Trabzonspor manager Şenol Güneş is regarded as goalkeeping legend in Trabzon and much of Turkey, if Kivrak continues developing at this rate he could join the likes of Rüştü Reçber, Volkan Demirel and his coach as one of the countries goalkeeping greats.
DEFENDERS
Dede - Eskişehirspor: The Brazilian left-back plays with such, vigor, energy and drive that he leaves you thinking whether a mistake was made on his birth certificate as officially he is supposed to be 34 years old. However, plays like a man not a day over 24.
Dede is one of the most impressive fullbacks in the league, the EsEs left-back bombs up and down the pitch tirelessly throughout the game and is as comfortable defending as he is attacking.
The former Borussia Dortmund star has played an important role in EsEs going into the mid-season break in fifth position.
Semih Kaya - Galatasaray: Semih as his surname suggests has been the rock in Galatasaray's defense for the second season running. Also known as the, Iceman, by the Lions faithful for remaining calm under pressure Semih has had to step up to Champions League football for the first time and despite a few minor scares has done a stellar job for such a young defender.
Semih is just 21-years-old and has already won the Turkish Super League, cemented himself as a first team regular, won the Super Cup, gained international experience and made it into the Champions League Round of 16.
The Turkish international defender isn't the finished article yet however, the future looks very bright for young Semih.
Sol Bamba - Trabzonspor: Bamba has settled in well to life and Turkey and has been one of the chief architects in creating the strongest defense in the league.
Trabzonspor have only conceded 15 goals this season, no other team has let in fewer goals and Bamba has played a major role in helping achieve this impressive stat.
Emmanuel Eboue - Galatasaray: Eboue has had to take a double shift so far this season as Hamit Altintop failed to show up for the first half of 2012-13.
The Ivory Coast international has defended well, in fact only 10 per-cent of goals conceded have come down his flank. The 29-year-old right-back also likes to get forwards and contribute to attacking moves.
The former Arsenal player has bags of experience, playing in some of the biggest derbies over years from, Arsenal-Tottenham, to Arsenal-Chelsea, high pressure Champions League as well as the Intercontinental derby against Fenerbahçe.
The main concern for Galatasaray is how they will cope with Eboue being out with African Cup of Nations duty.
Substitutes
Bekir İrtegün - Fenerbahçe: Apart from an own goal in the Intercontinental derby against Galatasaray Bekir İrtegün has been one of the Yellow Canaries most solid defenders.
Bekir was selected for UEFA.com Europa League team of the group stages. According to the European football body: "Bekir has long been established in Turkey but has improved impressively last season and this.
Dany - Galatasaray: Dany has been one of the surprise success stories of the season, signed primarily as a backup, the Cameroon international has managed to supplant Cris from the center back position and earn himself a regular starting XI spot.
The 26-year-old defender has built a reputation for giving his best performances when it counts most, Dany even managed to keep Robin van Persie quiet in the Champions League. Dany can lose concentration at times however, he's a strong, fast defender who is comfortable on the ball.
MIDFIELDERS
Manuel Fernandes - Beşiktaş: Manuel Fernandes, the Portuguese Magician, the Maestro of the İnönü, ok enough with the puns, Manny really has been a cut above the rest once again for the Black Eagles this season.
Fernandes has been pulling the strings in midfield, the Eagles talisman is the brains in midfield, has assisted in the making of seven goals, scored five himself and been involved in countless more through his dangerous set-pieces.
The 26-year-old midfielder has an impressive repertoire, whether it's passing, long range shots or creating something out of nothing Manny is undoubtedly one of the best performing players in the league.
Beşiktaş were expected to struggle this season however, Manny and his gang of young renegades have not let the clubs off the field problems effect them. The Istanbul giants have a great team spirit and Manny has assumed the leadership role in the team.
Pablo Batalla - Bursaspor: The Green Crocodiles have scored 26 goals this season and Batalla has been directly involved in 15 of them. The leagues current Assist King with 10 assists has been the star man at Bursa for the past few seasons now.
Ismail Aissati - Antalyaspor: Aissati has a lot of clubs in the league kicking themselves for letting Antalyaspor get away with what has been one of the bargains of the season. Signed for just €600,000 from Ajax, the 24-year-old attacking midfielder has been the creative genius behind the Scorpions miraculous season thus far.
Aissati already has six assists as well as three goals to his name and has impressed with his speed, movement, passing and technical ability.
Dirk Kuyt - Fenerbahçe: Kuyt has adapted to life in Turkey remarkably well, when he's not touring Istanbul and eating fish on the Bosphorus the Netherlands international is busy creating and scoring goals, five assists and six goals to be precise.
The former Liverpool star has been an exemplary professional, given great performances in important European games and has even picked up the local lingo.
In a world where footballers are often criticised for their opulence, free spending and ego-driven pursuit of superstardom, it's a breath of fresh air to see such a down to Earth player.
The season at the half way stage, if Kuyt continues playing this level of football till the end of the league campaign we could have the makings of another Fenerbahçe legend in the near future.
Substitutes
Alper Potuk - Eskişehirspor: Despite being just 21-years-old Potuk already ahs three years of Turkish Super League experience behind him. The dynamic central midfielder is a box-to-box player, capable of playing defensive as well as attacking.
Potuk has four assists and three goals this season. The young Turkish international is gaining vital experience and is already one of the most highly-rated midfielders in the league.
Necip Uysal - Beşiktaş: If Fernandes is the brains Necip is the engine of the Beşiktaş midfield, the 21-year-old midfielder has been tipped as the next big thing for years and is finally starting to live up to his reputation.
Necip is playing his fourth season of competitive Turkish Super League football and the years of experience he's built up is starting to pay dividend.
The Turkish international midfielder has been a key component of the Black Eagles midfield making interceptions, closing down the opposition, making driving forward runs with the ball and defending the back four when not in possession.
Oğuzhan Özyakup - Beşiktaş: The Eagles really have impressed midfield wise this season, the main criticism Beşiktaş in 2011-12 was being too reliant on Fernandes. Well they look to have solved that problem by signing 20-year-old Özyakup.
Özyakup made a surprise move to the Istanbul club from Arsenal reserves during the summer transfer window. The young Turkish international had to work his way into the starting lineup but once there he made sure to keep his spot in the team. Özyakup has two goals and four assits so far this season, the future is looking very promising for the young midfielder.
STRIKERS
Burak Yilmaz - Galatasaray: Well Burak making the list doesn't need much explaining. The 27-year-old striker scored six goals in 501 minutes of Champions League football averaging a goal every 83 minutes making his the most prolific striker of the group stages.
Yilmaz has one of the highest shots to goal ratio in the competition having scored six out of the 23 shots he has taken giving him a conversion rate of 26 per-cent.
The Turkish international striker was selected by UEFA.com as being the Champions League Player of the Group Stages. The European football body also nominated Yilmaz as a candidate for their Team of the Year award. Yilmaz was also awarded with a Man of the Match award by UEFA for his performances against Braga and Cluj.
Domestically it's pretty much the same story, nine goals, four assists, pretty impressive for a striker who only cost the Lions €5 million.
Hugo Almeida - Beşiktaş: Almeida always had the makings of a good striker but seemed to lack the confidence. Credit has to go the Black Eagles manager for managing to install some self-belief back in the Portuguese international striker.
The 28-year-old striker has been on fire this season with 10 goals and five assists. Almeida is a real handful in the air and is surprisingly agile and nimble on the ball for such a tall, bulky player.
Substitutes
Necati Ateş - Eskişehirspor: Eskişehirspor's very own Steven Seagal lookalike has taken the Turkish Super League Under Siege and leaving most Galatasaray fans wondering why on Earth he was sold for just €400,000.
Necati has scored nine goals and has five assists, the 32-year-old striker has played a key role in transforming EsEs into one of the leagues most dangerous attacking sides.
Umut Bulut - Galatasaray: The reason Umut failed to make our first choice selection was because although he's the leagues leading scorer with 11 goals he simply hasn't shown up in the Champions League and the Lions most important games.
Umut has been scoring at a high rate, works hard and has exceeded most people's expectations of him.
Moussa Sow - Fenerbahçe: The Senegalese international striker has been one of the Yellow Canaries star performers. Sow already has 10 goals and four assists for the Istanbul giants.
The 26-year-old striker was nominated for the FIFA Puskas award last season and going by the number of spectacular goals he has scored this season it wouldn't be a surprise if he makes the shortlist this year.
Credit : Turkish-Football.com
