Here we are again, The League starts on 23rd August before which Ittihad - Fateh clash in Makkah for the Saudi Super Cup. Match Day 1 - Al Nasr - Najran Nahdah - Shoalah Al Fateh - Al Tawoon Al Hilal vs Al Orubah Raed vs Ittifaq Al Faisaly vs Al Ahli Al Shabab vs Al Ittihad
Some overview of the favourites - Fateh - To start with the champions as favourites will be fair. This team took full advantage in the last season of the fatigue clubs and decisively won the league for the first time. However this season will t real test for the winner as they will take on all fresh new teams plus they themselves playing in the ACL. The team sold there top striker Rabea Sufyani and bought in Abdul Rahman Qahtani. To me they are not the favourites but can cause headaches Hilal - As always cant be missed for any league competion. The team finished second in the previous season and only could hand on meaningless Crown Prince Cup. The team has made half a dozen of changes in the squad bringing back veteran Sami Al Jaber as head coach along with signing Saudi Leagues top strikers Nasser Shamrani and Yousef Salem. There foriegn players include Ecudorian Segundo Castillo, Adil Hermach, koreandefender Kawak Tae and Brazilian Thiago Neves. As it will be after a long time Saudi footbal will witness a legend manging a team it will be hard to predict the teams performance Nasser - The most strongest squad in the league on papers this season with the super star midfield. This team is unpredictable always . It is hard to right them off any season. If things get tapped well between the coach and the players , winning atleast one title this season wont be hard for them Shabab - Michel Prudeomme side will be looking to bring back trophies they lost last season , the league and the kings cup. The team will also play Semi Final of ACL 2013 against Kashiwa Reysol. With Marqueee of signings this team can be a firm favorites for the title.
Hello again. Very good post @al ittihady. The opening fixture results were interesting. Nassr won by scoring 2 fantastic goals and relieved some pressure off their shoulders, a steady start could be a huge factor in their campaign. I didn't watch Fateh match but I hope they get back to the 1st position competition before their schedule get tight with their narrow squad. We can't read too much in Hilal's game as it's the 1st one against a promoted side but they improved a lot in the 2nd half yesterday and the midfield looked compact, if that Nevez-Shamrani partnership worked, a pretty rewards might be awaiting Hilal this season. Nevez scored the best goal of this round in my opinion. Absolutely brilliant.
Tremendous Start from Ittihad after goal down ..Final score 4-1 ..With no foreign players allowed to register the youngsters owned Shabab. Also Ahli began with 3-1 victory over Faysaly
Results - Ettifaq 1-3 Hilal Tawoon 1-1 Faysaly Fateh 4-0 Nahdha Najran 1-0 Raed Ahli 0-0 Nasser Al Shoalah 0-1 Shababa Orubah 1-0 Ittihad
Results R2- Ahli 1-1 Orubah Shabab 5-2 Raed Ittihad 4-2 Fateh Ittifaq 1-0 Shoalah Najran 1-2 Tawoon Nasser 4-1 Nahdah Faysaly 1-3 Hilal
Ittihad is favourites in my hope...Hilal had three easy task and they did it wisely.. First test for Sami and how he manages the pressure ..Ittihad began with Shabab and Fateh and both wins have boosted their confidence keeping aside the loss to Orubah...
It's the 1st real test for Sami but I won't write his team off if they lose, just like they don't automatically win the league if they win, but defeating much improved Ittihad would give Hilal a little more space to work with less pressure from the questioning fans. I think it's going to be a 2-2 or 3-3 draw. If Nassr keep their form and Shabab played to its usual level alongside Fateh this could be the most entertaining season in the league in a decade. I hope there are not many breaks for stupid reasons like NT camps or some Gulf/Arabian tournaments.
Its already an exciting league...I am writing off Fateh for this season..Ahli have not stood up still in the league..But after Simoes back from injury and signing of Younis Mahmoud I believe the team will be back to the winning ways..
I was waiting the whole last season and again in the Super Cup this season for Fateh to start losing and give up their dreams but they proved me wrong time and time again. That being said I still think their squad is too narrow to fight for the league, Asia Champions League and the Crown Prince cup. It will be difficult and probably hard to be accepted by the fans and the media but the club should prioritize 1 of the 2 major tournament they are participating in. I don't know how much the financial rewards of progressing in ACL is beneficial to a club of Fateh size but if it ain't worth it then they should focus on the league and try to do the best they can. Fateh is already overachieving, getting knocked out from ACL in group stages or KO stages wouldn't make huge difference unless as I said there is significant amount of money bonuses to be considered. Ahli is mysterious case as always.
Ofcourse ACL should be more priorotize for Fateh..Crown Prince Cup is for Hilal and Nasser...Regarding there performance in ACL they can progress past group stage as they are a strong at home. Lastly it depends on the teams they have got in the group.
Michel Preud’homme has parted company with Al Shabab http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/26709-acl13-qf-shabab-reax-180913.html
There were rumors that one club from U.A.E (Al-ain?) were already in negotiation with him before the champions league match. Albaltan said today that he told them he wanted to leave the club a month ago.
Hmm, Al Ain just sacked their coach who they only just hired. Rumour is they are going for Abel Braga. Al Shabab started season well aswell.
Am doing cool.. Blunder by Benat for playing Mabrouk Zaid instead of Fawaz Qarni..Still lot to play for friend. Enjoy the long weekend
Several teams have threatened to withdraw from the League over the income distrubution row..Is money winning over football in KSA.
Results - Nasser 2-0 Shoalah Najraan 1-0 Ittifaq ittihad 2-1 Tawoon Ahli 1-1 Hilal Raed 0-0 Nahdah Fateh 0-0 Orubah Faysaly 0-0 Shabab
Have you heard what Pereira has said in the press conference? Weird stuff, I can understand the burst if his team was treated wrongly but it sounded like he was just trying to deflect the eyes from his team's performance. Ahli did nothing offensively and the referee didn't make huge mistakes as he claims.
I dont know whats wrong in the league now..After every match the club presidents or coach comes down to blame the referee ..The league is going down and the standard is decreasing I believe...With the income distribution popping up the lower clubs are suffering big time... Meanwhile , Ittifaq and Nahdah have sacked there coaches..3 casualities in only 5 weeks of league...Its a utter embarrassment.. If this continues to happen players and coaches will stop coming to Saudi League when they know they are out in no time... Next in line is - Benat , Periera , Jabali Then Jabali will be back to take Shabab hot seat..