Walking onto the pitch after Al Shabab's final match of the 2024 season, I witnessed something remarkable. On one side, players exchanged consoling hugs and words of encouragement with hints of laughter here and there filling their space, while across the field, sheer jubilation and euphoria could be seen, felt, and heard from their opponents' end. This stark contrast perfectly captured our season - moments of brilliance overshadowed by inconsistent performances that left us just short of our objectives. Having followed this club for over a decade and analyzed countless matches, I can confidently say this was one of our most unpredictable campaigns yet.
We finished sixth in the Saudi Pro League with 52 points from 30 matches, scoring 48 goals while conceding 38. Those numbers tell only half the story though. Our home form was exceptional - we lost only twice at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium throughout the entire season. But our away performances? Dreadful. We managed just three wins on the road, and that inconsistency ultimately cost us a shot at Asian Champions League qualification. I remember specifically our match against Al Hilal in March where we led 2-0 until the 85th minute, only to collapse and concede three late goals. That kind of mental fragility haunted us all season.
What really stood out to me was our midfield transformation under coach Pericles. The Brazilian's tactical shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation in mid-October completely changed our attacking dynamics. Our possession statistics jumped from averaging 47% to nearly 58% in the final 15 matches. Carlos Junior emerged as our standout performer, netting 16 goals and providing 9 assists - making him directly involved in over half of our total goals. At 28, he's hitting his prime, and I genuinely believe he's become one of the most underrated attackers in the league. His partnership with Ever Banega, despite the Argentine's advancing age, created some of the most beautiful football I've seen from Al Shabab in years.
Our defensive issues, however, remain concerning. We kept only 8 clean sheets all season, and our tendency to concede from set pieces was frankly embarrassing. I counted at least 12 goals we shipped from corners and free kicks - that's nearly a third of all goals conceded. The January signing of Romain Saïss helped stabilize things somewhat, but at 33, he's not the long-term solution we need. Our goalkeeping situation also needs addressing - Kim Seung-gyu made some spectacular saves but committed 4 errors directly leading to goals according to my tracking.
Financially, the club appears to be in a strong position despite missing out on Champions League revenue. Our commercial revenue increased by 18% compared to last season, reaching approximately $34 million, while matchday attendance averaged 12,450 - a 7% increase from 2023. This financial stability gives me hope that we can be active in the summer transfer market. Personally, I'd love to see us target younger Saudi talents rather than chasing expensive foreign imports. The success of our youth academy products like Hattan Bahebri shows the value of developing local talent.
Looking ahead to next season, I'm cautiously optimistic. The core of our team remains strong, and with strategic reinforcements in central defense and perhaps another creative midfielder to eventually replace Banega, I believe we can challenge for top four. Our style of play has become more attractive to watch, which matters more than people realize - it helps attract better players and keeps fans engaged during rebuilds. The emergence of 19-year-old Abdullah Radif gives me particular hope; his 4 goals in limited minutes suggest we might have a future star in the making.
What encourages me most is the visible team spirit. Even in disappointing moments, players supported each other - those consoling hugs and encouraging words I witnessed weren't for show. This foundation of camaraderie, combined with tactical evolution and smart recruitment, could propel Al Shabab back to where we belong among Saudi football's elite. The journey might require patience, but having watched this club through ups and downs for years, I sense we're building something special here. The pink jerseys might not have been celebrating championship glory this season, but the progress we've made suggests brighter days are coming.