Lin Liangming has had a disappointing year in the league, with his weak shooting, rough ball control skills and repeatedly missing key passes. There was speculation that he intended to retain his strength, leaving the door open for a possible transfer. After all, Dalian are at risk of relegation. For a team at the bottom of the table, it's not easy for a player to get into the national team. If Dalian Ren were unfortunate enough to be relegated to the First Division, Lin Liangming would neither be able to continue playing nor would he want to quit due to injury. The end-of-season transfer window may be the time for him to make a wise turn. Just as a tree is often silent before it collapses, Lin Liangming's turnaround may be just around the corner.
At the tactical level, Dalian was under tremendous pressure, with the offensive side of the ball almost reduced to passing drills. Manzocchi, who was already in a bad way, is now the center of the offense, and the ball is almost always passed to him. Thankfully, the so-called "peers" were no slouches either. Although the relegated teams failed to win, no one was able to close the gap. Dalian have only nine points, but a win could turn things around. When can they expect a win? Who will be their savior? Xie Hui also made concessions, replacing players that demoralized the team and pervaded the frustration after conceding a goal.
Instead of residing at Barracuda Bay Stadium, Dalian may be forced to relocate to the Sports Center for their upcoming home game. Five days later, they will face Shanghai Harbor on the road. The team has plenty of time to rest, but against their traditional nemesis, Harbor, a win is still hard to predict. For the next match, Xie Hui will need to re-arrange his squad, perhaps by playing Bosanjic full time, and Yan Xiangguan and Mamba, two attackers who will come on early to create a threat. The future of the team depends largely on whether they can survive relegation this season. Once relegated to the Central League, numerous young players may leave the team. If they want to return to the Chinese Super League, the challenge will be even more difficult.
