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Israeli soccer
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Be careful what you ask for
Barak Yitzhaki broadcasts that he does not want to stand on the lines, the fans fantasize about a senior figure, but signing a permanent coach with a commitment to open next season is a dangerous move.
David Rosenthal explains why, and is impressed by Hapoel Beer Sheva's determination
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Maccabi Tel Aviv in football
Hapoel Beer Sheva
David Rosenthal
Tuesday, 07 December 2021, 10:30
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Summary: Betar Jerusalem - Maccabi Tel Aviv 2: 1 (Sport 1)
In March 2012, Andre Villash was sacked by Chelsea. The Portuguese golden boy, who was supposed to be the new Mourinho, did not deliver the goods and Roman Abramovich had no patience left. In place of Willash in the skunk was appointed his assistant Roberto Di Matteo. No one then thought that less than three months later Chelsea would win the Champions League. Abramovich, who did not build on enough of Matteo for the opening season, was left with no choice. You are not firing a coach who brought you the most prestigious title in Europe. "Even though he has set a very high standard in such a short time, we know Roberto is the man to lead Chelsea to success," said club president Ron Gorley, and his and the whole organization's distrust of the Italian was not hard to spot through words. By November 2012 Di Matteo was already home.
To a certain extent, the case of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Patrick Van Leven is very reminiscent of the chain of events at that Chelsea.
The Dutchman first replaced Giorgios Donis, leading the club to a comeback that ended in a step away from a championship and a trophy.
It was impossible not to give him the keys, and unlike Dee Matteo, they were even willingly given to him.
At the end of October he was sent home.
The question now is whether and especially why Maccabi Tel Aviv is willing to risk such a scenario again.
More on Walla!
Progress against a coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Yitzhaki: "Mitch is involved in everything"
To the full article
The one who was replaced, the one who replaced and was replaced.
Di Matteo as Chelsea coach vs. Villas Bouche as Tottenham coach, 2012 (Photo: Reuters)
The picture is complex when looking at coaches who come in the middle of the season as substitutes, whether they have already been at the club or have just joined it. On the one hand, a new spirit, enthusiasm, etc. and on the other hand the test of the results in the field. In the book "Biases or Not to Be" (2018), Tal Montel presented data proving that substitute coaches do not have greater success than those who started the season. Montel describes a familiar phenomenon called "regression failure" - a logical thought about a particular phenomenon, which does not receive backing from reality. For example, our built-in thinking that substitute coaches affect the team in a positive way. In practice, according to studies conducted in the various leagues in Europe and presented in the book, the achievements remain in their eyes, with a very negligible shift here or there.
And what happens when the replacement stays for the following season as well? In a study conducted about a decade ago by American website "Bleacher Report" analyst Scott Katzmer, the achievements of 49 temporary NFL coaches who were awarded a contract extension from the 1930s to 2012 were examined.
Betting on a replacement coach is problematic for a great many reasons, and not just because of the potential to be a "victim of success," like the high stakes they set and were at the back of Di Matteo or Van Leven. It is difficult to know how the man who will arrive will stabilize the current group of players, deal with the failures along the way and build the staff. It is not for nothing that Manchester United was careful when appointing Ralph Rangnick as "coach and later consultant". Joking as much as this move sounds, United have decided that the Solskjaer case will not return and the next coach will be appointed in the summer. It may be Rangnick, but at first it was important for the Glazer family to establish the German's status as "temporary" for real and not as "permanent temporary."
Maccabi Tel Aviv currently has one main problem: Barak Yitzhaki does not want to coach (by the way - his will has no real meaning. Both Avi Nemani and Jordi Cruyff did not exactly aspire to coach and in the end stood on the lines).
The runner-up is looking for someone right now.
Unlike Manchester United, she does not have so much of the privilege of bringing in a character with a floor rate with the option of later turning her into a "consultant".
In light of all the problems described above and examples from the past, this is not a simple gamble.
More on Walla!
Progress against a coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Yitzhaki: "Mitch is involved in everything"
Yitzhaki: "No coach? This is not a normal thing, but does no harm"
Saving from the first moment: How to start saving in four simple steps
Do not want to coach and that is understandable, but who will sign just another end of the year?
Yitzhaki (Photo: Ariel Shalom)
Ignoring the special circumstances that brought Paco Eastern here even before the 2014/15 opening ball was kicked, Goldhaar's history with replacement coaches arriving during the season may not be catastrophic, but far from indicative of success. Motti Ionir came in place of Avi Nemani during the 2010/11 season and was fired even before 2012 came in. Peter Boss came in place of Yukanovich and was a flashback, but was kidnapped by Ajax at a time when Maccabi Tel Aviv was a springboard to Europe's top clubs. Jordi Cruyff replaced the Arbeldeza fool for a number of rounds, then Lito landed on a move that turned out to be a big farce. Next in line was Van Leven, eight in place of Donis.
What does all this mean, actually?
That the demand of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans and the expectation at the club itself for the arrival of an outside coach who will inspire a new spirit and build infrastructure for next season may be understandable, but equally unrealistic and dangerous.
If Yitzhaki had expressed a desire to continue to stand on the lines, this problem would have been solved, time could have been gained.
Since he is very much not interested in doing that, Maccabi Tel Aviv needs a coach now and rely on the professional to come, he will not sign for two-thirds of the season.
Even in the current capacity, the ticket to the Conference League is within reach (Photo: Danny Maron)
The dismal victory for Teddy propelled Maccabi Tel Aviv to fourth place in the table.
The weakening of Cinderellas such as Hapoel Haifa and Hapoel Tel Aviv was expected, and even with Yitzhaki or another coach of low caliber, the ticket to the Conference League will remain within reach.
Providing a guaranteed contract for the next season in the current climate in Kiryat Shalom, for any coach, may pave not only the present, but also the future.
You'll bomb, we'll win
Two examples in the history of Israeli football pass before my eyes as I watch the battle between Hapoel Beer Sheva and Maccabi Haifa. One is the "stolen championship" of Hapoel Kfar Saba in a battle with Maccabi Netanya in 1981/2, the other is the photo-finish of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa in 1994/5. In both cases one of the teams was of high quality, offensive and much more attractive, but the gray and effective rival was the one who took the box office.
"An ugly-glorious victory. One that is forgotten a minute after the game is over," a Hapoel Beer Sheva fan friend wrote to me a moment after the final whistle in Haifa. While Maccabi Haifa is planting fours and fives, Be'er Sheva closed another game with what is called "stinking 0-1". Five of her eight wins were on the verge of a goal. The other three on the edge of two. Defeat is not defeating, but in the meantime, 12 rounds into the season, she leads the table with an 8:19 goal difference compared to the champion's glittering 10:30.
Give them a "stinking" 0: 1 (Photo: Maor Elkelsi)
Is Be'er Sheva able to go all the way?
It's still too early for that.
She is not brilliant, her victories are achieved in the teeth and she does not satisfy the opinion of her audience, but this is a mega-intelligent team with smart defense, led by the best brake that has landed here in the last decade and perhaps in all of Israeli history.
For her, all the delights and focus will be on the quartets and fives of Maccabi Haifa.
She came to win.
Better a stinking 0: 1.
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