Two points dropped at Gaziantep, and Kartal is the target again
Gaziantep FK 0–0 Fenerbahçe on Monday. Another two points gone, and İsmail Kartal is back in the firing line (4). The plan did not work, and the coach is taking the criticism for it (4). This was meant to be the reset after the international break. It turned into another blank.
No win since Talisca left
Fenerbahçe have not won a match since Anderson Talisca walked out. He left reluctantly, and you felt it most in Gaziantep, where the attack had nothing (5). That is now four games without a win: the 1–2 home loss to Beşiktaş on September 5, the 1–1 draw with Roma in the Champions League on September 10, and the goalless draw at Gaziantep (5). The Brazilian is the hole nobody has filled.
The numbers are the worst in eight seasons
Five weeks in, this is the lowest points haul of Fenerbahçe's last eight seasons (3). Seven points from five games. Eleventh in the table. Your form reads W W L D D. The season started badly and it has not really straightened out since.
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Yalçın: no leadership, and why apologize to the fans?
Sergen Yalçın did not soften it. The former Beşiktaş coach on Kartal: "Liderlik durumu yok, taraftardan niye özür diliyorsun?" There is no leadership, and he wants to know why Kartal is apologizing to the supporters (6). If your coach is saying sorry after a draw in Gaziantep in September, that tells you where the season already is.
Kartal's 'send them away' list
A rumor doing the rounds names who Kartal would offload if he had to send foreign players away: Marcano Semedo and Anderson Talisca (7). Talisca is already gone. Take the rest as talk until something confirmed lands.
Lukaku benched and picked apart
Romelu Lukaku has had a rough month at Fenerbahçe. Turkish media have called him "useless" and "five kilos too heavy", and he has been benched for a month (2). Whatever you think of the noise around him, your striker is not playing.
Conte is not sold on Fenerbahçe
Any plan to replace Kartal with Antonio Conte has a problem. Conte is not convinced by the Fenerbahçe project and is waiting for a big club, with Manchester United watching the situation (8) (9). The offer has not moved him. So a coaching change is not sitting there ready to happen.
Ayari on the January list
Fenerbahçe have Yasin Ayari in their sights, the Brighton and Sweden midfielder, with official contact set to begin for a January move. He fits the U23 quota (1). A name for the winter window, not now.
Liverpool warm up for Europe with a win
Liverpool, one of your Champions League opponents, beat Tottenham 3–1 in the EFL Cup third round (10). That is the side you will have to deal with in Europe.
Eyüpspor at home on Sunday
Next up: Eyüpspor at home on Sunday, September 20, 16:00 CEST. A home game against a side you should beat. After four games without a win, you need it.
