Winter Report: N'Koudou driving Damac, Gerrard's resolve, Al Raed crave consistency | OneFootball

With the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League paused for winter, we look at how each club has performed until this point.

Who’s been the team's biggest contributor? Which signings have proved astute? Which of their RSL games stands out most? How well has the manager moulded his side? And, perhaps most importantly, what can the club rightfully aim for when the RSL returns on January 9?

We'll break up the assessments in groups of three, based on the league standings after Matchweek 13. Next up, the clubs placed 10th to 12th in the table.

Damac (10th, 15 points)

Wins have been in short supply for Cosmin Contra’s side this year, with only four to their name in 13 matches. On the flip side, the losses have dried up in the past two months, with two since the start of October alongside three victories and three draws.

It’s no surprise for a team sitting 10th that consistency has been their struggle. Wins have tended to be followed by periods without one; only once this year have Damac strung together back-to-back successes, those coming last month, against Al Wehda and Al Kholood.

Key Player: Georges-Kevin N'Koudou – where would Damac be without the Cameroon international? The electric winger reportedly resisted the overtures of other RSL clubs in the off-season to remain at Damac. That’s to his side’s clear benefit: after netting 15 goals last season, N'Koudou has eight already this term.

Standout Signing: Habib Diallo – having arrived after the first game of the season, on loan from Al Shabab, the Senegal forward is showing all the quality that saw him score 20 goals for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 only two seasons ago, with a return of four goals and two assists in the RSL for his current club.

Best Match: Damac 1-0 Al Shabab – with victories a rarity this season, the 1-0 win against Al Shabab in Matchweek 6 stands out as one of Damac’s best. While the Riyadh side dominated possession, Contra’s men played the perfect counter-attacking game, dominating all the attacking statistics - xG, shots and big chances - to record a 1-0 thanks to, who else, but N'Koudou.

Manager’s Impact: Cosmin Contra – in his second season at the helm, the former Romania national team manager is now well adjusted to the realities of the RSL and still has his team playing an attacking brand of football. That's evidenced by the fact Damac have scored the most goals of any side from sixth place down (20).

Hopes: More consistency is what Damac need to strive for, from which they can back up wins with more victories. And, if they can do that, there’s every chance they finish in the top half of the table – especially if N'Koudou continues to fire.

Al Ettifaq (11th, 15 points)

After the opening three rounds, Al Ettifaq and Steven Gerrard were on top of the world. With a trio of wins from as many games, they sat equal on points with Al Ittihad and Al Hilal, third only on goal difference, to give them a perfect start to the season.

What has followed since, however, has been anything but ideal. A run of nine matches without a win was a chastening experience for Gerrard, as he saw his side slide all the way to 13th. However, a first triumph since September arrived in their final game before the break, giving Al Ettifaq hope of a quick move back up the table.

Key Player: Moussa Dembele – the Frenchman started the campaign well, and his three goals and two assists are still a team high. He hasn’t scored since September, though, which is symptomatic of the struggle Al Ettifaq have faced.

Standout Signing: Abdullah Madu – getting the defender from Al Nassr constituted a shrewd piece of business. The 31-year-old arrived with a wealth of experience after 12 years at the capital club and, after 13 games, leads the team for passes and ball contacts. Added to that, he has almost double as many clearances as any player in the squad.

Best Match: Al Khaleej 1-2 Al Ettifaq – the most recent outing has to go down as Al Ettifaq’s best, simply because of its significance. It didn’t look good for the visitors when Khaled Narey gave Al Khaleej the lead just after the half hour, however, captain Georginio Wijnaldum levelled deep into first-half injury-time.

Al Ettifaq sealed a much-needed win seven minutes from time through Abdullah Radif’s bicycle kick – to release the pressure valve and make the hiatus all the more palatable.

Manager’s Impact: Steven Gerrard – it’s been a difficult time for the Liverpool legend after his team’s bright start. Pressure was being applied during Al Ettifaq’s run of nine games without a win, but the former England midfielder has always maintained a sense of positivity and belief that his side could turn around the malaise.

Hopes: Most certainly, Al Ettifaq have a squad capable of more than what they have shown so far. They’re coming from a long way back, but with 21 matches remaining, there’s ample time to push into the top half of the table. And, if things go really well, even nudge the top six. But they need goals - a lot more, having scored only 11 in 13 RSL games.

Al Raed (12th, 14 points)

Much like those around them, Al Raed’s season has been beset by issues with inconsistency. The Buraidah club were another to only just survive relegation last season, and the arrival of Brazilian Odair Hellmann in the off-season was a welcome one.

An opening 1-1 draw with Al Nassr hinted at a bright campaign ahead, but it’s been an up-and-down one since, with a run of three without defeat in October the best sequence Al Raed been able to string together.

Key Player: Amir Sayoud – the veteran Algerian is holding up his end of the bargain. Hellmann has alternated formations, but such is Sayoud’s flexibility, he can play most positions across the attack. Primarily deployed either in the No.10 role or on the left of a front three, Sayoud has three goals and four assists this season.

Standout Signing: Zakaria Hawsawi – long one of Saudi Arabia’s best emerging talents, impressing for Al Ittihad during their title-winning season in 2022-23, the full-back constituted a real coup for Al Raed this summer. With two assists already, Hawsawi is continuing to show flashes of why he is rated so highly.

Best Match: Al Fayha 0-5 Al Raed – one of the most comprehensive wins in the RSL this season came in Matchweek 3, when the visitors to Al Majma’ah were given the perfect start with a Chris Smalling own goal on 15 minutes. From there, Mohamed Fouzair doubled Al Raed’s advantage, Karim Al Berkaoui netted twice, and Saleh Al Amri scored the other as well as registering two assists - a feat mirrored by Sayoud.

Manager’s Impact: Odair Hellmann – the Brazilian gives everything to the cause and expects the same of his players too - and there is certainly a never-say-die attitude in his team. To take a point off Al Nassr and push Al Hilal all the way – they lost 3-2 to the champions in Matchweek 13, in the 104th minute – are hallmarks of that.

Hopes: Al Raed need to build on that excellent performance against Al Hilal just before the break. If they can take it to the champions like that, they need to do the same against those around them in the table. Achieve that, and then Al Raed can for sure aspire for a finish higher than their current position.