Besiktas Now Well Equipped for Domestic & European Adventure
Football clubs have little time to indulge in celebration. As soon as a league, a cup or a tournament is won, attention turns to the next challenge, the next season, and winning once more. Besiktas are a side that could have been forgiven for allowing themselves a moment of celebration this summer. A grand return to the Vodafone Stadium, a renovated iteration of their old home, for the first time in three years was completed by winning the Super Lig title for the first time since 2009.
Everything aligned for Besiktas, but the club have not been content to just enjoy their triumph. They have strengthened an already formidable squad. Mario Gomez, the club’s top scorer with 26 goals last season, decided against making his loan spell permanent, citing the political situation in Turkey, and Jose Sosa, the chief creator who registered more Super Lig assists (12) than any other player, left for AC Milan, but Besiktas have worked well in the transfer market.
Gomez has been partially replaced from within, with the Super Lig's top rated player Cenk Tosun (8.33), an able deputy last season, stepping up to lead the Super Lig scoring charts at this early stage, with three goals, contributing to the six goals Besiktas have scored, more than any other team. He is complemented by deadline day loan signing Vincent Aboubakar, a talented striker who did not quite come off at Porto. Besiktas have also moved to ensure that Sosa’s creativity will not be missed. Tolgay Arlsan, who was already at the club, has slotted into the attacking midfield role in the two Super Lig games so far but Talisca, another loan signing from Portuguese football, may be the long-term option behind the striker.
In the defence, the club also look formidable. From having little quality at left-back in recent memory, Besiktas now have two of the best in the league with Adriano, brought in from Barcelona, and Caner Erkin, who moved from Inter Milan despite only joining the Italians this summer. Caner joins Gokhan Gonul, who signed from Fenerbahce early this summer, to reassemble the full-back partnership that was so instrumental to Fener’s 2013 title win. With the pair firmly installed, Besiktas move further ahead as the league’s most talented defence, complemented by the addition of Gokhan Inler, who will be tasked with screening in front of the back four.
The movements in the transfer market have demonstrated a clear goal: to ensure that the club have two quality players in every position. Losing Gomez and Sosa was a clear blow, but there is little doubt that the summer dealings have made the squad stronger. They are now better than at the start of last season, with chief rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce yet to effectively demonstrate that they are capable of closing the increasing gap. Galatasaray have improved from last season but it does not look completely substantial, while Fenerbahce continue to struggle, with Dick Advocaat an uninspiring choice as head coach. If Besiktas continue their impressive strides, the gap between them and their Istanbul rivals could become a chasm.
Besiktas look heavy favourites to retain their Super Lig crown but the exposure to regular European football will present a new challenge. The club’s insistence on expanding the squad to accommodate two quality players in ever position was done with this dual challenge in mind. A group stage draw against Benfica, Napoli and Dynamo Kyiv represents a challenge that the club are equipped to take on. They can have realistic expectations of progressing to the knockout stages if all goes well.
The only obvious problem that Besiktas may face is competition for places. Most footballers want to play football; being left out of the squad or on the bench is often treated as a personal slight. Across Istanbul, Besiktas only have to look to neighbours Fenerbahce, who suffered from the deterioration in the relationship between Victor Pereira and Robin van Persie last season. Senol Gunes faces a challenge in keeping each member or his talented squad happy throughout the coming months. There are lots of games to come, sure, but Gunes has lots of talented players at his disposal, and they all want to play.
Can Besiktas secure a second successive Super Lig title this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
