As the Arabian Gulf League draws the curtains on another season, The National’s John McAuley looks ahead and poses five key questions that only next season can answer.
Will Al Ahli sign a striker to fire them back to the top?
Having cruised to the league crown in 2013/14, the Dubai club stumbled through their title defence, finishing seventh. A number of reasons explain their fall: players completing national service, a lengthy injury list, a high percentage of the squad distracted by national-team commitments.
However, Ahli’s greatest problem was a shortage of goals. Grafite, admittedly on the wane, was released in January, Carlos Munoz not re-registered and the club failed to bring in a quality replacement. It was not through want of trying: Ahli reportedly were close to three deals, including one for Papiss Cisse, the Newcastle United forward. Apparently, Ahli officials baulked at the transfer fee.
Consequently, they were left with Ahmed Khalil to spearhead their attack and, again, the man who so often lifts the national team struggled to make a difference for his club. With 35 goals in 26 league matches, Ahli scored the fewest of the top eight sides.
Munoz is set to depart this summer and Ahli will certainly seek a top-class striker, a prerequisite for any club with title aspirations. Another raid for Cisse already has been mooted.
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Can Omar Abdulrahman stay fit?
Typically the catalyst to Al Ain’s success, the UAE playmaker had another injury-interrupted season: his league contribution was limited to 11 matches and 774 minutes. Asamoah Gyan was absent for spells, too, and Al Ain coped well enough to win a championship.
But such is Abdulrahman’s talent that the Garden City club are a far superior team with him on the pitch. The 2014/15 campaign was always going to test him, with Al Ain’s run to the Asian Champions League semi-finals followed by the UAE’s involvement in both the Gulf Cup and Asian Cup. Little wonder their star player was either rested or recuperating for significant periods.
Next season will also be tough, though. Again, Al Ain envisage a prolonged continental challenge while the national team have numerous World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers and February’s Gulf Cup to contest. Once more, careful management of Abdulrahman is required. As much as Al Ain need their prized asset fit and healthy, so too does the league and the national team.
Who will be the season’s surprise package?
Unexpectedly, Al Wahda were the league’s leaders through the opening few months of 2014/15, while Al Shabab climbed to second before slipping a spot in the final round. However, it is difficult to envision a title contender beyond the “big three” of Al Ain, Al Ahli and Al Jazira, especially considering the affluent trio will undoubtedly strengthen.
But, looking at the rest, who seems most likely to make a challenge? Wahda have talent, yet must improve considerably under new coach Sami Al Jaber. Shabab, too, have long exceeded expectations.
Perhaps the most plausible top-four contender, though, is Al Wasl. The seven-time champions excelled once Gabriel Calderon replaced Jorginho in October, finishing sixth and taking 34 points from 21 games.
They were the division’s third-most potent team, with Brazilians Caio, Fabio Lima and Ederson Alves combining for 46 goals in their debut season. Meanwhile, the impressive Hugo Viana should be offered a new contract. A full season with Calderon, and shrewd augmenting of the squad, and Wasl could surprise.
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Will Eric Gerets remain at Al Jazira?
The managerial merry-go-round spins faster in the Arabian Gulf League than just about anywhere else and the rumours of change have already begun to swirl.
Gerets features prominently on the grapevine, whether via social media or conversation at various grounds throughout the UAE top flight. According to some, the Jazira coach will fulfil only 12 months of the two-year contract he signed last May.
Abel Braga, who in 2011 led the capital club to their only championship, is tipped to succeed him. It seems slightly harsh on Gerets, since he guided Jazira to second in the table, their highest finish since winning the competition. Also, they accrued more points than in the previous three seasons, while they scored the second-highest number of goals in a single campaign in the professional era.
Better still, should Jazira capture the President’s Cup next month, could they really justify axing their coach? Remember, though, the management have never been slow to pull the trigger: Gerets is Jazira’s sixth manager since Braga chose to leave, four years ago.
How will the new boys fare?
Dibba Al Fujairah and Al Shaab are back in the top tier following successful seasons in Division One. Alongside Dubai club, who finished third, they were by far the division’s best sides. However, they must now prove what goes up does not necessarily come back down.
The omens are mixed. Bar 2013/14, when both teams survived, during the professional era one promoted club has always slipped immediately back through the trap door. That again rang true last season, when Fujairah clambered to safety, leaving Kalba to exit the league at the first opportunity.
Dibba and Shaab will hope they do not suffer the same fate. Astute recruitment this summer is therefore key, since it is difficult to imagine their top scorers in Division One – Dibba’s Rodrigo Vergilio, Shaab’s Michael N’dri – continuing that form in the Arabian Gulf League. Neither has truly impressed there in the past, so both clubs must find a few gems in the transfer market. Their chances of survival depend on it.
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