Four-way battle begins for AGL title

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  • Losing the plot: Al Ahli's drop in form has been alarming.

    The Arabian Gulf League rarely fol­lows a linear path and the first half of the 2014-15 season has been no exception.

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    – Asamoah warns rivals that Al Ain will be stronger in 2015

    A scan of the table sees heavy­weights Al Jazira and Al Ain locked on 27 points at the top, while pro­moted outfit Ittihad Kalba remain rooted to the bottom.

    None of those results are surpris­ing as the division breaks for Janu­ary’s Asian Cup. But that view does not countenance the eccentricities intrinsic to this engaging competi­tion.

    The collapse of treble winning Al Ahli has been the story of the first 13 rounds. Rumour has enveloped Rashid Stadium, the loaning of coach Cosmin Olaroiu to Saudi Ara­bia for next month’s international tournament a source of intrigue.

    The timing is curious, with a piv­otal transfer window set to re-open on January 9. How can the 45 year old dictate policy from Australia? Is this move the start of Olaroiu being sidelined?

    More is sure to be revealed once the Asian Cup comes to an end.

    The Red Knights stormed to the title by 16 points last term. A stream of one-paced and soulless displays this term has seen them drop to sixth, seven points off the pace fol­lowing three defeats and five draws.

    The key moment came in pre-season, metronome Hugo Viana ditched and Olaroiu favourite Mirel Radoi – now released – brought in on a free transfer following the expiry of his Al Ain contract.

    Away from Ahli’s worries, dis­tinct shape has taken afoot. Al Shabab and Al Wahda have enjoyed wonderful campaigns, keeping pace with better resourced rivals Al Ain and Jazira to maintain a four-way title fight.

    Serenity can be found at Al Ain. Coach Zlatko Dalic has only been able to select star man Omar Abdulrahman twice, while three-time AGL top scorer Asamoah Gyan has missed a third of their matches.

    Yet the Boss are poised to explode in 2015, a run of four victories on the bounce coming to an end with last Monday’s 1-1 draw at Al Shabab. With another game in hand accrued by the run to the AFC Champi­ons League semi-finals still to be played, they’ll take some stopping.

    Jazira are first courtesy of Octo­ber’s rollercoaster 4-3 victory in ‘Al Clasico’. Their defence is appalling, with only the bottom two’s per­forming worse.

    But in 16-goal leading scorer Mirko Vucinic and red-hot foil Ali Mabkhout they have an attack that covers a multitude of sins.

    Wahda’s unbeaten run under exceptional coach Jose Peseiro reached 20 before a reality check came with defeats to Al Ain and Ahli.

    Al Nasr should join them and the Hawks in the scrap for the all-important final AFC Champions League qualification spot that third-place brings in 2015. Al Wasl and Bani Yas, both on 19 points, could yet get involved. It’s a state­ment that would have seemed ridiculous in mid-October.

    Both sides were stung badly by the summer transfer fiasco which saw the unauthorised extension of the window see a number of deals voided.

    Viana will add unquestionable class to the Cheetahs’ midfield once he can finally register, while the latter will gain depth up top with the belated arrival of Mohammed Nasser.

    Wasl binned coach Jorginho after an uncertain start and have not looked back since the appoint­ment of Gabriel Calderon, the Argentine getting far more out of the Brazilian foreign players than their countryman.

    Behind ninth-placed Emirates Club, a three-way scrap has been going on between Al Dhafra, Fujai­rah and Sharjah to keep out of the relegation zone. The first two have sacked coaches and started afresh, while Sharjah’s faith in Paulo Bon­amigo remains firm – for now.

    Only three points separates them from Ajman (second from bot­tom) who have shown remarkable resolve to resist ditching boss Fathi Al Jabal. Ittihad Kalba claimed their first victory against high-fly­ing Nasr this month, yet with only four points from 13 games they look a lost cause despite the mid-season switch to Abdelhak Benchikha.

    The rigours of the Asian Cup and frantic transfer market moves will dictate what happens next for clubs up and down the AGL.

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