Simeone's charges appear betwixt and between.

Yes, some of the hard-working, combative traits-reflecting Simeone's vision-remain.

However, the side is confused and lacks direction.

One reading, courtesy of a piece in Diario AS, is the current setup brings pain and embarrassment (Spanish).

Simeone's longevity with Atleti, where he's experienced plenty of ups and downs, has embedded him into the club, so much so that it's become him, too.

That's why Cholismo, his stubborn yet adjustable way of playing, is a thing.

And why you can't forget the upsides.

Two La Liga titles, two Europa Leagues, and a Copa del Rey have arrived in his tenure.

Not to mention reaching two Champions League finals and being the only opposition to beat a dominant Real Madrid (twice) last season.

Therefore, the prospect of Atleti moving away from Simeone feels improbable.

But there are some hard facts.

10 games into the league, Los Colchoneros are the same number of points behind table-topping Barcelona and playing catch-up in the Champions League-placed 27th out of 32 and fighting to escape the last 12 elimination spots.

This after spending around EUR185 million ($200 million) on transfers in the summer, the most in Spain and one of the biggest outlays in Europe.

Simeone must see better results soon or the chances of a memorable campaign will slip away.

Judging by its latest performance at Real Betis, the updated squad could benefit from more time on the training field.

From inside the Estadio Benito Villamarin, where Atleti lost 1-0, it rarely showed fluidity in possession.

Without the ball, it could have conceded four or five goals before the break.

Betis, roared on by the home support, was on top while the traveling fans, tucked into a lofty corner of the ground, grew more frustrated.

Beyond deciding how it should function short-term-compact and stingy in defense or more open and expansive offensively-Simeone must also plan further forward.

The boss believes in hard work and nobody being above the collective, yet it's apparent that 33-year-old Antoine Griezmann, roaming and stitching the play together, is the star.

At the heart of midfield, experienced captain Koke has a similar status.

Such stars won't be around indefinitely, though.

Now is the moment for a rethink, with or without Simeone at the helm.

It's assembled some great sides, fronted by iconic strikers such as Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan, and Diego Costa.

And it found the right formula as recently as 2019/20, grinding out results to claim a precious league title.

Precisely, Atletico must settle on what the next era looks like.

In the immediate future, Atleti kicks off its Copa del Rey campaign against sixth-tier Unio Esportiva Vic on Thursday before welcoming a resurgent Las Palmas to the newly named Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium in the league.

While anything other than a victory would be a seismic shock in the cup, failure to beat the Canary Islanders could see this season's aspirations fade away as early as November.

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