Hapoel Tel Aviv Shows Promise While Beitar Jerusalem Faces Crisis

Hapoel Tel Aviv is demonstrating a strong and sustained resurgence as a dominant force in Israeli football, a stark contrast to its past "flash in the pan" successes. The current iteration of the team, while potentially seeing player changes, has a greater chance of long-term relevance due to sound management, a loyal fanbase, and a blend of quality and defensive strength. While some might prematurely discuss a championship, the team should be judged in context, having rebuilt from lower leagues just two years ago and now proving difficult to defeat. Players like Stav Turiel, Roey Alkukhin, and particularly Douglas Owusu, who scored a goal and was instrumental in another, are key to this improved performance.

Conversely, Beitar Jerusalem is mired in a significant crisis. The team has shown a volatile emotional nature, swinging between impressive and disappointing performances. Despite some earlier positive signs in European competitions and the Toto Cup, the team's current struggles necessitate a reevaluation. Coach Almog Cohen, known for his ability to build good teams in the past, is still developing as a coach, and Beitar Jerusalem, with its aspirations for the championship, is not the ideal environment for his development.

The high expectations set by the ownership and professional management for Beitar this season are mismatched with Cohen's current coaching experience. While the decision to appoint him may have had rationales, such as a lack of suitable Israeli coaches and reluctance to hire a foreign one, a team aiming for a title requires a more seasoned manager. Beitar Jerusalem has time to address issues, including potential squad deficiencies, particularly in the fullback positions and a glaring hole in central midfield, which was evident in their recent loss to Hapoel Tel Aviv. The team has suffered two consecutive defeats, prompting a need for significant changes before the transfer window closes in 12 days if they are to become genuine contenders.