Ahead of the new season, Sport360 staff give their Arabian Gulf League predictions.
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CHAMPIONS: Al Wahda. It requires something to go wrong at Al Ahli – eminently possible given Cosmin Olaroiu’s behaviour last season – but Javier Aguirre is building something intriguing.
DARK HORSES: Sharjah. Okay, they won’t be champions but will be knocking on the door of Asian qualification.
TOP-SCORER: Sebastian Tagliabue. If Wahda are to be champions, the Argentine will finish as leading marksmen.
RELEGATED: Ittihad Kalba, Emirates Club
Star striker: Will Tagliabue repeat his heroics?
BIGGEST FLOPS: Bani Yas. Repetto won’t last the season (through no fault of his own) and they’ll flirt with the drop.
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Seeing if Henk ten Cate can do the impossible and sort out Jazira’s defensive issues.
CHAMPIONS: Al Ahli. This would have read Al Nasr had the Wanderley passport scandal not happened.
DARK HORSES: Al Wahda. Balazs Dzsudzsak is some coup for the third-placed side and could see Sebastian Tagliabue score even more goals (if that is humanly possible).
Creative potential: Balazs Dzsudzsak.
TOP-SCORER: Sebastian Tagliabue. Yep, it is possible.
RELEGATED: Ittihad Kalba, Emirates Club. Kalba just don’t look good enough and Emirates will not be as lucky this time.
BIGGEST FLOPS: Al Ain. Runners-up have not improved enough this summer.
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Hatta. A stunning backdrop and a small-club feel give Hatta all the charm of the underdogs. Hopefully, they upset some big boys.
CHAMPIONS: Al Ahli. Frightening strength in depth means success of Asamoah Gyan gamble isn’t defining.
DARK HORSES: Al Wasl. Looking strong under new management and can crash top three thanks to fabulous Fabio De Lima.
TOP-SCORER: Lima. Only injury, yet again, could stop Ahli star from topping charts.
RELEGATED: Ittihad Kalba, Dibba Al Fujairah. Kalba are going straight back where they came, while Dibba have been significantly weakened throughout torturous summer.
BIGGEST FLOPS: Al Nasr. Wanderley debacle will derail a once-promising campaign.
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Another season of Jorge Valdivia. Intuitive assists, wild red cards and Spanish/English/Arabic hybid interviews. Gloriously unpredictable.
CHAMPIONS: Al Ahli. The Red Knights are undeniably the best team in the UAE.
DARK HORSES: Al Dhafra. Perennial strugglers for so long, but in Omar Khrbin, the Western Knights have a true star.
TOP-SCORER: Douglas. Scored nine goals in 13 games since a January switch to Al Ain.
RELEGATED: Emirates Club, Ittihad Kalba. Hatta were better in the transfer market than yo-yo club Kalba and Emirates were lucky to stay up. They won’t be this time.
BIGGEST FLOPS: Al Ain. The Boss’ summer business has been underwhelming and the sides below are making rapid progress.
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Someone outside the established order making a title tilt. Al Wahda and Al Nasr have added quality, so too have Sharjah and Al Wasl.
CHAMPIONS: Al Ahli. With the addition of Asamoah Gyan, it’s hard to look past the Red Knights.
DARK HORSES: Al Jazira. Henk ten Cate has to work on their shaky defence, and get the best of new signing Mbark Boussoufa.
TOP-SCORER: Lima. More goals will surely come his way after injury.
RELEGATED: Hatta, Dibba Al Fujairah. Hatta have their work cut out, while Dibba Al Fujairah have lost several stars.
BIGGEST FLOPS: Bani Yas. Lost a pair of key players.
MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Asamoah Gyan’s return to Al Ain. A ball has not even been kicked, but Ahli have already added fuel to the fire of this rivalry.
