Tough fight beckons for City

Crunch time is upon us. Now that the first phase of the Premier League has wrapped up and points halved, the teams have little margin for error as one or two slip-ups between now and the first week of May could prove fatal for their hopes of achieving pre-set objectives.

This campaign took time to ignite as the Malta FA and clubs spent the first few weeks of the season grappling with the ramifications of two match-fixing scandals that resulted in the demotion of Vittoriosa and Marsaxlokk but all the attention is now focused on the race for the title and the fight to avoid the drop.

As always, some teams are very much on course to reach their targets but a glance at the standings would show some pleasant surprises, especially Qormi's lofty position and Tarxien Rainbows' ascent into the Championship Pool.

Qormi and Tarxien are part of a six-team 'elite' field that is presently headed by Valletta.

That Valletta are top of the heap is hardly surprising, given their tag as favourites to become champions but their march has been anything but plainsailing.

Pre-season forecasts tipped City to walk away with the title after the signings of a host of top players, namely Terrence Scerri, Kevin Sammut and Jordi Cruyff, plus up-and-coming defender Steve Borg.

Under new Dutch coach Ton Caanen, Valletta made a blistering start as they progressed to the Europa League second qualifying round where only a late goal by Declan O'Brien, now a City player, denied them a place in the third round.

On the domestic front, Valletta hit the ground running but a 1-0 defeat to champions Hibs in October, the team's first in six matches, triggered a mini-crisis as the team came under fire from their own fans after a draw with Tarxien and a hard-fought win over Ħamrun.

For a time, it looked as though Valletta had pressed the panic button but to his credit, Caanen steadied ship.

Their recent performances suggest that Valletta are now playing more as a unit, their personnel are showing more fighting spirit and Caanen's 4-3-3 system is also bringing the best out of the players.

Valletta are still everyone's favourites but they should have realised by now that the road to glory is fraught with obstacles.

Caanen's men secured pole position for the start of the Championship Pool with their 6-0 mauling of Dingli on Monday but their 20-point tally is matched by Birkirkara.

It speaks volumes of Birkirkara's consistency that they are level-pegging with Valletta. Coach Paul Zammit has done a fantastic job in transforming the team from also-rans to title contenders since taking over from John Buttigieg last summer.

Birkirkara were not as active as Valletta in the transfer windows but their new signings soon began to leave their mark as the likes of Spanish keeper Jorge Mora, Serb defender Nikola Vukanac, Dutch forward Sylvano Comvalius and Karl Pulo became key members of the squad.

The 'old' guard have also been revitalised by Zammit's arrival, especially winger Trevor Cilia whose speed and agility make him a vital cog in a 4-3-3 approach.

Qormi have already accomplished their top-six mission but no-one expects them to sit on their laurels. Jesmond Zerafa has assembled a valid squad brimming with seasoned players.

Camilo was instrumental in Qormi's successful bid for Championship Pool football as the razor-sharp Brazilian hit an amazing 17 goals in 13 matches before a groin injury hampered his progress.

Zerafa's team have struggled to reproduce their best in Camilo's absence but they will be no pushovers in the final phase.

Touted as title candidates in pre-season, Sliema struggled badly in the opening months. The Blues were short on confidence and lacked the mental strength to face up to adversity but under Mark Marlow, who replaced coach Stephen Azzopardi last month, Sliema have shown signs of recovery. Pedrinho and Julio Alcorse, Sliema's two signings in January, have yet to prove their worth but even without them, the Blues are a force to be reckoned with.

Evidence of Sliema's new-found fighting spirit came last Saturday when Marlow's troops struck a last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Hibs despite being down to nine men.

Sliema look a solid bet to challenge for a top-three finish and don't write off their title chances as yet.

After their extraordinary title triumph last season, Hibs were fancied to make a strong challenge to defend their crown but they have been a pale shadow of last season's triumphant side.

It has to be said, though, that Hibs are not as strong as before as they failed to sign adequate replacements for Scerri and winger Clayton Failla, who departed for Sliema.

Etienne Barbara is still one of the best players in Malta but he has hardly looked at ease with Hibs whom he joined last summer.

Given their squad limitations, Hibs need their big guns to deliver week in week out, as the likes of Andrew Cohen, Jonathan Caruana, Rumen Galabov and Christian Callejas did last season.

Mark Miller has signed two new foreign strikers to boost his side's firepower but they lack match fitness and need time to settle in. Time is a luxury Hibs don't have.

Hibs' travails are in sharp contrast with the progress of Tarxien.

The Rainbows deserve all the praise coming their way because they play football the right way. Unlike Hibs, they are reaping the rewards for their smart moves in the transfer market. Their Brazilian trio have been emblematic to their progress as Denni provides the flair and inspiration in the final third, Ribeiro is a good finisher and Everton is a colossus at the back.

Floriana and Ħamrun have had a topsy-turvy campaign, especially the Greens whose season has been a tale of comings and goings and a crippling injury crisis.

A 6-0 drubbing at the hands of bitter foes Valletta in only their second match had a knock-on effect on Floriana's confidence but they picked the pieces and, under former coach Roddy Collins, they even managed to sneak into a top-five position at one point.

Yet, Collins' departure and the loss of forward Sunday Akanni-Wasiu last month were body blows for the financially-stricken Greens.

It was always going to be difficult for Floriana to secure a top-six finish but, looking at the bright side of things, their difficulties have paved the way for their young players to get a run in the first team.

The Spartans can be suitably satisfied with their performance so far despite their failure to claim a berth in the top six positions.

Ħamrun are playing in the top flight only because of Marsaxlokk's demotion but they have not been found wanting on the big stage.

A lightweight midfield and a lack of pace on the flanks are the Spartans' major weaknesses.

Like Floriana, Ħamrun are now only concerned with keeping their seat at the top table i.e. the Premier League. They have a fight on their hands but have enough ammunition to prevail.

Msida and Dingli have been the most disappointing sides this season.

The Premier League was always going to be a big challenge for Msida who found themselves back in the top flight after replacing Vittoriosa.

Msida have shown commendable fighting spirit but they are short in quality.

It is imperative for the lesser lights of Maltese football to have three strong overseas players if they are to fight for survival but Msida have been undermined by the instability surrounding their foreigners.

Dingli already look down and out. They will start with two points after winning one and losing the other 17 matches.

There have been some occasions when Dingli put on a brave display but they lack the collective resolve to battle on when the going gets tough.