This tested Choi Kang-hee's mettle. If Zeca is out for an extended period of time, he could replace him with Delgado in the first half of the season as the fifth foreigner. Taishan will have to wait for the second turn before replacing the waist. Old Choi should have a long memory this time, he couldn't bring in Pato in a hurry last year. This year's Taishan team's performance depends on the choice of midfielders in the summer window and also involves the AFC Champions League group stage of the new season. As the AFC Champions League starts in the New Year, Taishan play the knockout stage at the beginning of the year and the group stage at the end of the year.
The Terriers wasted a good card with their signings this year. The team spent all the transfer fee budget on Zeca, which resulted in injuries. As a result, they were unable to strengthen their team, and their internal reinforcements were just "picking up the pieces". Shenhua signed Xie Pengfei, spending 9 million in transfer fees. Shandong Taishan can only sign some veterans. Bi Jinhao and Peng Xinli have no starter. Compared to last season, the only players who really added to the starting lineup were Gao Junyi and Kaza. Compared to teams like Shenhua and Guoan, the starting lineup hasn't changed much, and it's up to Old Cui to polish it.
The AFC Champions League doesn't have a foreigner restriction, so theoretically Cressan, Delgado, Fernando, Kazaishvili, Jadson and Pato could start at the same time. Positionally, it is unlikely that they will start at the same time. If Kawasaki Frontale fall behind at home, expect these six players to be on the pitch at the same time, attacking and being conservative with their opponents. According to Choi Kang-hee's employment strategy, four foreigners starting is already the limit, and even do not rule out the possibility of letting Cressan substitutes for the first half of the game, and substitutes for the second half of the game. Last season, Incheon United's games at home depended on this move.
