Sparky’s Column

Shock Results

Recent events have made everyone sit up and take notice... and there are many questions that need to be answered. How do these things happen? Why the sudden change? How will people react to a shift in power?

I am of course talking about Dubai Club's outstanding victory over Al Ain on the weekend! It sent shockwaves around the Etisalat Pro-League. Al Ain - former Asian Cup winners dumped into a relegation spot by Dubai's smallest club. Dubai started the season in terrible form, it was not until the eighth game they picked up their first points of the season. Since then they have won four out of five games, only losing to champions elect Al Jazira. I was convinced they were doomed but now they have given themselves a great chance of staying in the top League.

The dark clouds are gathering around Al Ain and I for one am struggling to see a silver lining. This is the Club that are due to kick off on the 19th of February in the Asian Champions League. The Club are having a crisis of confidence on the pitch and are in danger of being relegated. The Champions League could not come at a worst time. A relegation battle and the continent's biggest competition do not go hand in hand. Clubs will be expected to play midweek and at the weekend. This takes its toll on the squad and if one or two injuries creep in, then it becomes impossible to perform in both. Al Ain are facing trips to China, Japan and Korea after their play-off match. The Club will have some tough decisions to make on where to focus for the remainder of the season. Do they give the Champions league their best if it means their League form could suffer? I think they could regret letting the League's top scorer Andre Senghor go to Bani Yas. How they could do with the big man's goals now!?

Twitter is a great form of communication and Al Wasl use it brilliantly. They are refreshingly honest in their assessment of games, re-tweet fans' opinions and best of all answer your questions. It is such a great way for clubs to get their messages across to fans and as with most ideas the best ones are the simplest. Whoever it is on the end of the tweets at Al Wasl and I know you read this column, well done. I expect a re-tweet of the article in exchange for my kind words.

The next round of matches sees struggling Al Ain face Al Nasr. I don't think there will be much love shared by the Al Ain fans if their team do not get a result. Dubai Club are away at Al Shabab and will be hopeful of getting a result against the erratic former champions. Al Jazira will face a decent Sharjah side but nothing is looking like stopping their march towards the title. Bani Yas can keep up the chase but they are making the long trip to Madinat Zayed to face Al Dhafra. Final mention to a Dubai derby - Al Wasl against Al Ahli and if you can't make the game then why not follow them on twitter @al_wasl, or on the UFL's facebook and twitter sites.