Maccabi Tel Aviv Faces Frustration After Second Straight Goalless Draw

Maccabi Tel Aviv is experiencing concern following a 0-0 draw against Hapoel Jerusalem, marking their second consecutive match without scoring. Despite creating numerous scoring opportunities, the team struggled to find the back of the net, leading to frustration within the club. "We created enough chances to decide the game, that's clear to everyone. Crazy chances. On the other hand, this is the second zero draw in a row that has raised several problems," sources close to the club stated.

A primary issue highlighted is the team's striker situation. Last season, after an injury to a key striker, the club did not sign a replacement, which some believe cost them the championship. This season, while a foreign striker was acquired, another departed, and attempts to sign Alon Turgeman or Guy Melamed were unsuccessful. This leaves Maccabi with only one senior striker, a situation deemed insufficient for a team with championship aspirations.

Another point of concern is the rotation strategy employed by coach Keni Miller. "Miller probably believes that Knyazkovsky, Sissoko, Peretz, and others must be on the field every minute," one player commented. The coach appears to rely on a small core of about 13 players, with others like Ido Shahar, Itamar Noy, and Dan Glazer seeing significantly reduced playing time. Shahar, who scored 13 goals last season, Noy, who had more game time, and Glazer, who was sought after by other clubs, are now barely featuring.

Miller defended his decisions, stating, "I saw no reason for substitutions because the team looked good even in the final minutes and created chances. Sometimes substitutions can disrupt the flow of the game, and I didn't think it was right." However, the reduced roles for some players are causing unspoken frustration that could negatively impact the team. This reliance on a limited number of players may make it difficult for the coach to maintain performance until the January transfer window.

In the match itself, Kamara's performance was subpar, while Dor Peretz and Gabi Knyazkovsky were average. An earlier introduction of Ido Shahar or Ben Hamo might have injected energy and altered the game's outcome. Oشر Davida experienced renewed hamstring pain at the end of the match and is scheduled for further tests. Conversely, Raz Shlomo received praise for an excellent game, while Malika's performance was less impressive, including a significant error that nearly led to a goal, which Omri Glazer failed to capitalize on.