The defining moment
Fenerbahçe 1–2 Göztepe at Kadıköy, in Dirk Kuyt's first match as interim coach, and the supporters were chanting for the board's resignation before the end (2) (7) (20). Guendouzi had put them ahead. Armstrong and Henrique turned it around late (20). Kerem Aktürkoğlu was whistled as he came off (22).
This is the fourth Süper Lig defeat of the season, and all four have finished 1–2 (7). Same scoreline, different opponent, four times. Kuyt apologised afterwards (2). In the Dutch press, Reha Kapsal was harsher: "Niet eens geschikt als assistent", not even good enough to be an assistant (15).
The board meets at 14.00
An extraordinary board meeting was called for Sunday afternoon, with resignation on the agenda (1) (5) (18). Aziz Yıldırım's future is the question everyone is asking (12). Two straight defeats, Galatasaray 2–1 and then Göztepe 1–2, forced the meeting (9).
Get the next Fenerbahçe S.K. brief by email
This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Sixteen points from ten games. Fifth of eighteen. A goal difference of +14 that is quietly holding a mediocre position upright. Four losses by the same score is not bad luck, it is a pattern: this team cannot protect a lead and cannot find a second goal.
The rest of the club did not wobble
Fenerbahçe Tarfin beat TOFAŞ 88–77 in the Basketbol Süper Ligi, their fourth league win of the season (3) (8). The women's team, Fenerbahçe arsaVev, won 8–0 away at Giresun Sanayispor in the Kadın Futbol Süper Ligi, with every goal coming after the break (10) (17). Staskova, Mesude Alayont, Kajan and Ece Türkoğlu all scored (10).
Two teams in the same building, on the same weekend, doing the opposite of what the football side did. That contrast is worth something. It says the problem is not the badge or the budget or the city.
What to watch
Liverpool at Chobani Stadı on Wednesday, 18:45 CET, in the Champions League (3) (4). Kuyt's old club, four days after the worst possible start (2). The squad trained at Can Bartu Tesisleri without a day off in between (4).
Then Çorum FK away on Sunday 8 November in the Süper Lig. By then we will know what the 14.00 meeting produced, and whether Kuyt is still selecting the team (1) (5). Meanwhile the Spanish press has a January line on Vedat Muriqi (13) (25), and Lukaku's contract situation is feeding talk of Anderlecht after this season (24). Two strikers in the news, one attack that keeps coming up one goal short.
