Unusual strugglers

Much has been written about how so far this season there have been some surprise packages around Europe after making incredible starts to the season. In Spain we have Espanyol and Alaves punching way above their station, Sporting Braga mounting a challenge in Portugal and Bournemouth quietly sitting in the lofty heights of 6th in England.
However not much has been written about the struggles of some big clubs. In this post I'll discuss the struggles of two sides that caught the eye.

Fenerbahçe:

Phillip Cocu unveiled in July
Source: .fotomac.com.tr

We'll start with the chaos that is unfolding in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe have endured an absolute wrenched start to the season. The sari kanaryalar occupy 15th just above the relegation zone in the eighteen-team Süper Lig. Last Friday's derby with Galatasaray was their first game since the sacking of Dutchman Phillip Cocu. Cocu was dismissed as coach hours after the previous week's defeat at home to Ankaragücü which saw the giants slip perilously close to the drop zone. Cocu managed just one league win at home in five outings which came on the opening day against Bursaspor. Cocu had only arrived in Istanbul in July when he signed a three-year deal fresh after guiding PSV Eindhoven to the Eredivisie title last season.

The summer recruitment saw the likes of Islam Slimani, André Ayew and Yassine Benzia all signed on loan with the club also signing Jailson, Michael Frey and Harun Tekin to add a younger look to the squad. Out went big earners such as Giuliano, Josef and Fernandão. Fenerbahçe have been known to splash cash on relatively big names but this summer saw them change direction. Between the ins and outs in the summer the club actually made a profit in the transfer window of £8.11 million. 
Benfica put a quick halt to their champions league progress in August which saw them drafted into the Europa league where they haven't fared much better. So far they have four points from three games in their group and that included the shambolic 4-1 defeat away to a Dinamo Zagreb side who had only registered one group stage victory in four years prior. 

Cocu had bought his favored 4-2-3-1 to the club. However this was altered after two defeats in his first three games before referring back until the first major collapse in the 3-0 defeat away to Rizespor. After that thumping Cocu changed the system to a 4-4-2 with Jailson and Diego Reyes as a double pivot. This was used in the 0-0 draw at home to Basaksehir and then the following week away to Sivasspor which was also 0-0, which saw Eljif Elmas come in for Reyes. 
What turned out to be Cocu's final game against Ankaragücü he ditched the double pivot in favor of a more attack minded 3-4-1-2 or at times a 3-5-2. This was to ensure all three loan signings of Slimani, Ayew and Benzia formed the attacking trident. However they came up against an Ankaragücü side that were both stubborn in defense and quick on the counter. The pace of Thievy Bifouma and form of Mostapha El-Kabir was too much for Fener to handle. It certainly didn't help Cocu's fate that Slimani was red carded for dissent minutes before Erdenç Ozgenç converted a penalty after Ricardo Faty's first half opener. El-Kabir made it three four minutes after the penalty with whistles echoing throughout the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium which rendered Michael Frey's strike in stoppage time nothing more than a consolation goal, although consolation is being used here very loosely. 

Cocu was fired and replaced by his fellow countryman Erwin Koeman on an interim basis and in the 2-2 derby draw away to Galatasaray last Friday he went back to a 4-2-3-1. Fener did fall 2-0 behind before salvaging a 2-2 draw with goals from Mathieu Valbuena and Jailson, who would be red carded for his part in the mass confrontation between the teams after the final whistle. 
Next up for Fenerbahçe is a home game against fellow strugglers Alanyaspor before the international break. Ten points from eleven games leaves the club fourteen off top spot and nine off a European spot. We shall see if Erwin Koeman can drag the team back up the table. 

Beitar Jerusalem

Up until Monday's clash against Maccabi Haifa, Beitar were bottom of the league with a measly five points from eight games. Like Fenerbahçe, Beitar are onto their second coach of the season with Guy Luzon given his marching orders in October following a 1-1 draw away to Ashdod. He wasn't sacked for that draw in particular but it was the final straw for the board as Luzon had only managed to win one game from the first seven in the league (a 3-2 win at home to Bnei Sakhnin in September). Luzon was appointed in the summer and oversaw Beitar's early exit from Europe at the hands of Georgian side Chikhura. 

Luzon favored an attacking 4-3-3 early doors. This was altered after two defeats from the first two games to a 4-2-3-1 which did yield an improvement in results with a draw and a win coming in the next two games. However results turned with a 2-0 defeat to Kiryat-Schmona, who played a 5-3-2 which nullified Beitar's attacking threat and the lack of pace throughout the team was exposed. A 2-0 home defeat to Maccabi Tel-Aviv preceded the final draw away to Ashdod which was the end of Luzon's tenure. 

Replacing Luzon is Nir Klinger who was appointed after the team put in a shambolic performance in a 5-1 home defeat to Bnei Yehuda. Klinger left his position at Hapoel Haifa to take charge and his first game was Monday's 2-1 victory away to Maccabi Haifa. Despite falling behind in the game Klinger's side showed resolve to not only get back into the game but to get the victory. A stunning free-kick from Moar Buzaglo starting the revival before substitute Lior Inbrum's winner five minutes later. Klinger seemingly went with a 5-3-2 in an attempt to bolster the defense that had been ripped to shreds the previous week by Bnei Yehuda while also integrating Eran Levi in the number 10 role behind Idan Vered and Aaron Olanare. Samuel Schelmann and Oz Raly provided width in the system as wing-backs to support the attack with Ofir Kriaf and David Keltjens as the shields in front of the deep defense. 

The Ligat'Al table November 7th 2018

Thanks to that victory Beitar are now off the foot of the table. They host defending champions Hapoel Be'er Sheva before the upcoming international break and it remains to be seem whether Nir Klinger can get the club back into contention for the European spots like they have been for the past few seasons.