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Soccer / Premier Legaue preview / Tactics don't concern Shechter, but does Beitar? By Uri Telshir Tonight Maccabi Netanya faces Beitar Jerusalem in circumstances that are drastically different from last year. Whereas Netanya was trying to keep up with the champions last season, Beitar has to defeat Netanya if it wants to keep any hopes alive of catching the league leaders. Netanya coach Lothar Matthaus knows the key to his attack is striker Itay Shechter. That's why he sent Francis Kioyo and Jay-Jay Okocha packing during the summer. Advertisement However, Shechter only has two goals to his name this season, one of them in last week's win against Maccabi Haifa. Now that he's officially back, can he deliver against a desperate and determined Beitar? With full backing, Shechter should have flourished this season, but coach Matthaus discovered early that the talented youth lacks responsibility, tactical discipline and total commitment. That combination spells trouble for a conservative coach like Matthaus, as it did for Eli Guttman during his stint coaching Shechter. "Shechter has enormous potential," says Avry Muncher, who was Netanya's fitness coach under Guttman, "but he doesn't consider tactics important. When he wouldn't shut down or pressure an opponent as needed, Guttman's entire house of cards would collapse." Motti Ivanir, the coach of the national under-21 team, says the best way to work with Shechter is to keep him focused the entire time. "The moment you see him start doing what he wants, the problem starts." Shechter presents a dilemma: Should one sacrifice team tactics for his brilliant play that could win games or just let him go? Matthaus apparently has not decided yet. Matthaus has plenty of reasons to doubt Shechter's professionality. When the season began and the striker was recovering from a shoulder injury, the German coach felt he was not making enough of an effort to return to full practices. A difference of opinion with Dror Kashtan, the national teach coach, influenced the Netanya coach to temporarily bench Shechter, according to team associates. "It seems Matthaus was angry that Kashtan invited the player to the team without his knowledge," an official in the club asserts. "It could be that Matthaus wanted to show Kashtan who will decide when it comes to Shechter and took him out of the lineup." If Matthaus can keep that focus tonight, Netanya will not only be three points clear of Haifa, it will also have had the honor of putting the nail in the coffin of Beitar's season. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Crime boss killed Ya'akov Alperon was killed just after his son was indicted for alleged murder attempt Peres at GA, Jerusalem Peres stresses that strong U.S. Israeli ties will not change under Obama's administration

Read & React Poll: 6% of Americans think U.S. should back Palestinians in Mideast peace talks Responses: 235 Livni to Miliband: U.K. plan to label W. Bank goods is 'exaggerated' Responses: 189 Settlers threaten 'Amona'-style riots over Hebron eviction Responses: 66 Amira Hass: Is Israel deliberately strengthening Hamas? Responses: 54 IDF officers slam top ministers for Gaza 'war-mongering' Responses: 37 More Headlines 23:37 MI Chief: I support direct talks between Iran and U.S. 18:49 IAEA chief confirms traces of uranium found at Syria site 16:38 GA special report / Ex-IDF chief: Military option against Iran still exists 00:36 Crime boss killed in underworld Tel Aviv car bombing 21:27 Ramle woman arrested on suspicion she planned to assist suicide bombing 03:13 Israeli diamond trader murdered in Johannesburg 15:50 Israel to free 250 Palestinian prisoners in goodwill gesture to Abbas 15:21 JEWISH WORLD / Obama must get involved in peace talks before they atrophy 22:54 Dozens of Poles awarded medals for saving Jewish lives in Holocaust 15:20 Barak: Israel will not accept indiscriminate attacks on its citizens 16:42 GA special report / Peres to Obama: To help Israel, be a great president for the U.S. 00:21 IDF lets limited aid into Gaza, despite Qassam fire on Negev 16:07 Top Obama aide denies report president-elect will back Arab peace plan 08:11 Poll: Only 6% of Americans think U.S. should back Palestinians in peace talks 15:18 IDF officers slam top ministers for Gaza 'war-mongering' 00:13 Israeli man moderately injured in criminally linked West Bank shooting Previous Editions Select Day 17 nov 16 nov 14 nov 13 nov 12 nov 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov

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