After the new Shanghai Harbour head coach Javier Pereira took office, he quickly established the 433 formation as the dominant tactic. This tactic puts severe requirements on the back position, which has to guarantee the interception and ball breaking in the midfield and back, as well as construct a solid barrier in the back line, and at the same time support the attack in the front field. This position has undoubtedly become the command center of the team's offensive and defensive conversion.
At the back, Javier Pereira's trust in accomplished veteran Cai Huikang is overflowing. Meanwhile, Evergrande veteran Xu Xin has also been favored by the coach. In the first six rounds of matches, Cai Huikang started every match, and Xu Xin also started four matches, which undoubtedly proved their importance in the coach's heart.
"Make the best use of your talents." With Cai Huikang and Xu Xin in a solid position, other players in the same position naturally struggled to gain traction. For example, despite getting six appearances, Baitijiang only made one start and seems to have become less important in the team.
However, there's someone else in an even bleaker position: 29-year-old Yang Shiyuan, who despite being in the prime of his career, has been left out in the cold under Javier Pereira. After the first six rounds, he only got one chance to play, and it was in the garbage time at the end of the game. Obviously, Yang Shiyuan has not been trusted by the coach and has become a "chicken rib" in the team's midfield and backfield.
Chinese fans who are familiar with Yang Shiyuan know that although his skills are not outstanding, he is always full of fighting spirit on the field. Known as "Desperate Sanlangtai" by fans, Yang Shiyuan dares to fight with all his might in the game and defies all odds. However, in reality, such spirit is not favored by the coach.
Since joining Shanghai Harbour's first team in the 2014 season, Yang Shiyuan has never been an absolute starter, and in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons, he had a relatively brilliant period with the team, not only excelling in blocking and stealing, but also contributing five goals. However, his fortunes didn't change after that, and he remained the team's "chicken scratch". It is sad that such a player with strong spiritual attributes has fallen into such a situation.
