Even though we're still at the relatively early stages of the 2023/24 major European league campaigns, there's already a number of big clubs struggling at the wrong end of their respective tables.
From Lyon in France to Schalke in the German second division, some of the most recognisable clubs across the continent already find themselves in big trouble.
36-time Dutch champions Ajax also find themselves at the wrong end of their domestic league after they were on the receiving end of a late 4-3 defeat to Utrecht in their last league outing.
But just how badly are the Dutch giants doing this season and is it likely that they'll face relegation at the end of this campaign? We take a look.
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What's happened at Ajax?
With just one win from their opening seven Eredivisie matches this campaign, Ajax find themselves second bottom of the standings, a position the famous Amsterdam club haven't found themselves in for a long, long time.
Just four years on from reaching the Champions League semifinal stage, the Dutch side are now enduring their worst league start since the 1964/65 season, a season in which they avoided relegation by just three points.
But what's happened to Ajax for them to have started this season so badly?
Well, some would say that the club's demise began when former manager Erik ten Hag left the Johan Cruyff Arena in favour of a move to Premier League outfit Manchester United in April 2022.
In essence, the Dutch coach was always going to move on after a successful spell with his three-time league champions but despite this, it seems that the board weren't as prepared as they should have been. Those preparations were partly thrown into chaos when former Director of Football Marc Overmars resigned from his position due to an off-the-field incident which left the club without the leader of its sensational scouting which had brought much success during his reign.
And that's where the first problem has arisen for Ajax, the scouting process has yielded hardly any top signings ever since. The try and tested system of replacing key players with much cheaper yet just as serviceable talent has seemingly given way.
That was highlighted with Ajax's failure to finish in the top two last season for the first time since 2009.
This season has begun on the same footing with a summer window packed full of transfers that have so far failed to make an impact. The departure of quality and experience leaving big voids in the playing squad. Former club captain Dusan Tadic also left the club after the termination of his contract which equally didn't go down well with supporters. Those decisions were the work of director Sven Mislintat, who has since left the club.
They also haven't replaced some big name departures in recent seasons with the likes of Andre Onana reunited with Ten Hag at United following his time at Inter Milan, as have Antony and Lisandro Martinez. Sebastien Haller joined Borussia Dortmund while Noussair Mazraoui departed for Bayern Munich.
Indeed, Steijn inherited the youngest squad in the Eredivisie, suggesting part of the struggles are down to a lack of experienced players in the side.
Manager Maurice Steijn also left by mutual consent on October 23 after just four months in charge amid Ajax's incredibly poor start to the 2023/24 season.
Ajax won just two of their 11 games in all competitions under Steijn, who has also managed ADO Den Haag, VVV-Venlo and NAC Breda.
Will Ajax be relegated this season?
Even despite the poor recruitment over recent transfer windows and the lack of strength in their current playing squad, it's still inconceivable to think that Ajax will be relegated this season.
Of course it's not impossible but in the Eredivisie they still possess one of the better squads and can also rely on one of world football's best youth academies to help progress the starting XI.
What is important though is that the club appoint the right manager and give them time to turn the situation around.
Names who have been linked of late include John van ‘t Schip, Mitchell van der Gaag and Louis van Gaal who could all take over in the near future. Similarly, if the Ajax board are to think outside the box and play the long game, managers such as Ralph Hassenhuttl or maybe even Graham Potter could be exciting options who have experience in building a team up from the ground.
Current bottom of Eredivisie table (Updated October 24)
| Pos. | Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| 14. | Vitesse | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -9 | 7 |
| 15. | Heerenveen | 9 | 2 | 1 | 6 | -11 | 7 |
| 16. | Utrecht | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | -12 | 6 |
| 17. | Ajax | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -5 | 5 |
| 18. | FC Volendam | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | -10 | 4 |
16th - Relegation play-off. 17th & 18th - Relegation.