Most professional league clubs need to sign a striker

Sports analyst, Subit Khater, confirmed that most ADNOC Professional League clubs need to sign strikers during the winter transfer period, pointing out that the registration crisis has become clear and common among most competing teams this season.

Subit Khater told Emirates Al-Youm that the ADNOC League suffers from a real scarcity of scoring strikers, explaining that Laba Kodjo is the only name that has proven himself consistently, while Omar Khribin comes in second place in terms of numbers and influence, and after them it is not possible to talk about strikers capable of guaranteeing goals on a regular basis.

He added: “The 11th round carried a lot of connotations, and confirmed that the competition is still open to all possibilities, as there is a clear convergence in level, but the differences are often resolved by small details, whether by the quality of the striker or by individual errors that may change the outcome of an entire match.”

He continued: “The match between Al-Wasl and Al-Wahda was a clear example of the excitement of the league this season, and when the match was analyzed technically, Al-Wahda was more organized and quality in many periods, and the team’s development appeared compared to previous seasons, but such matches cannot tolerate mistakes, especially when they come from players with great experience in sensitive positions such as goalkeeping, because their impact is direct and decisive.”

He added: “Al-Wasl is a team that cannot be ignored, and its victory over Al-Wahda gives it a great morale boost, but if it wants to enter strongly in the competition race, it is required to maintain its level and address its offensive problem, because good performance alone is not enough without effectiveness in front of goal.”

He continued: “Al Ain, since the beginning of the season, seems to be the most realistic in its approach to matches. The team plays with the Al Ain logo for those who attend, and is not greatly affected by absences, and has a clear hero character, as this mentality is what puts it in the lead so far, but if it wants to enhance its chances of winning the title, it must support some positions more deeply, in anticipation of the pressure of matches in the final stages.”

He said: “The presence of a decisive striker like Laba Kodjou makes a big difference to Al Ain, especially since the team may not always be at its best technical level, but the presence of a player who knows how to translate opportunities into goals gives him a clear advantage, compared to the rest of the teams.”

On the other hand, he spoke about the decline in Al-Wahda’s results, and said: “Al-Wahda is going through a difficult phase after the departure of Morais. The loss in Asia, the Abu Dhabi Bank Cup, and the league is not a coincidence, as the great pressure between the tournaments, in addition to the technical change at a sensitive time, clearly affected the team, and Al-Wahda is not safe if this fluctuation continues, despite the historic season it presented previously.”

He pointed out that Shabab Al-Ahly are strong candidates to compete for the league title, and said: “Shabab Al-Ahly, despite losing the Super League, is progressing steadily in the league, and possesses strong elements that are considered among the strongest on paper, especially if it succeeds in addressing its attacking problem, or supports it with a striker in the winter, and I see it as the greatest threat to Al Ain in the title race.”

As for Al Jazira Club’s performance, he said: “The players cannot be exempted from responsibility, as the coach is always held accountable for everything, but the reality confirms that what happens on the field is largely related to the contributions of the players themselves, and the extent of their commitment and focus in the decisive matches. Although the team won over Sharjah and played a big match with Al Ain, there is a clear problem that is largely borne by the players.”

In response to a question about new contracts in the second period of the season, he said: “The winter transfer market often does not witness deals of the ‘super star’ category, as no team will agree to the departure of one of its stars in the middle of the season, especially if its team is competing for big goals, so what we will see mostly are contracts to fill a specific need, most notably the spearhead position.”

Subait Khater concluded his statements by saying: “The main problem in the league currently is the absence of an outspoken striker who is able to score consistently. I believe that success in the winter will not come from a resonant name, but rather from the right player who knows the way to the net. For this reason, the upcoming transfer period will remain important, but it will not be exceptional, but rather practical and linked to the real need of each team.”

Spit Khater:

• The competition is still open to all possibilities, and there is a clear convergence in level.

• The match between Al-Wasl and Al-Wahda was a clear example of the league’s excitement when analyzed technically.