Shandong Taishan, a Chinese Super League giants, have not been as gung-ho with their signings this season as they used to be. Only three new recruits were brought in during the winter transfer window, namely Sun Guowen, Liu Shibo and Hu Jinghang. Whether Tong Lei, the one fans are most looking forward to, will join the team is still up in the air.
Nevertheless, Taishan Club has not given up the plan to adjust the team. After renting a lot of young players, recently also in the team to clean up the "redundant" players, last season rented to Qingdao Hainiu local center back Liu Junshuai is among them.
Last season, Liu Junshuai played very well for the Manatees, becoming the lynchpin of the team's backline, winning many of the corner kicks up front and becoming one of the most indispensable players for the Manatees.
After the rental ended, Liu Junshuai returned to Taishan earlier this year and has been training with the team. Considering that Taishan's defense line is aging very badly, Jia Desong's glassy physique is very prone to injury. Many Shandong fans believe that Liu Junshuai, who is in his playing years, will be able to stay with the team and occupy the position of starting center back.
But to my surprise, Liu Junshuai was not recognized by Hao Wei and Taishan club has decided to sell him to Qingdao Hainiu. From the beginning of this season, Liu Junshuai will officially become one of Taishan's opponents.
Veteran Dai Lin has left along with Liu Junshuai as there has been too much negative news lately which has had a very bad effect on the club. It is unlikely that Dailin will renew his contract with the club and leaving the team has become the only option for the 36 year old veteran.
In addition, 00-year-old Yi Xianlong recently appeared in a warm-up match for Taishan's crosstown sister team Jinan Xingzhou, suggesting that Yi will also be leaving Taishan to train with this new Central League army in the new season.
After three players decided to leave the team, Taishan FC recently brought in two new recruits. They are center back Huang Zhengyu from Guangzhou City and naturalized player Fernando. The addition of Huang Zhengyu just squeezed out Liu Junshuai's position. After bringing in Fernando, Taishan FC apparently found a backup for Wu Xinghan.
However, both Huang Zhengyu and Fernando have major pitfalls. While Huang Zhengyu was once an Olympic starter, his form over the past two seasons has been very inconsistent as he has aged and been plagued by injuries. In every way, he is not as good as Liu Junshuai who has left the team. Perhaps because of his mentor-protégé relationship with Hao Wei at the Olympics, Huang Zhengyu was favored by the Taishan team.
Fernando's situation is even worse. Fernando hasn't played an official game in over two years due to injuries and a canceled contract with Evergrande. Since joining Evergrande, Fernando's form has been poor and he is no longer the "little motorcycle" that Chongqing fans talk about.
I believe that the coaching staff of the Taishan team is also very clear about the situation of Fernando, but for the interests of the national team, they can only sacrifice the wedding dress for the national football team. The club not only has to bear Fernando's high salary, but also as soon as possible to help him find the state, so that "small motorcycle" can represent the national football team to participate in this year's Asian Cup.
Huang Zhengyu and Fernando reportedly passed the Taishan team's trial recently without any doubt, and the joining has been finalized, with only the club's official announcement now.
From the current situation, it is unlikely that Taishan will continue to bring in more new recruits. It can be said that Taishan's signings in the winter window did not satisfy the fans, and a big fish in the transfer market was not caught. But this is also a helpless move. After all, many of Taishan's first-team starters have high salaries, and the club doesn't have much room for wages. They compete with Wuhan Three Town and Guoan for top players...
