icy strokes
The Chinese Super League soccer has ushered in a period of transition, with gold dollar soccer gradually fading out and teams turning to the pursuit of cost-effectiveness in their reinforcement strategies.
This season, 18 teams in the Chinese Super League registered a total of 62 foreign players, 30 new joiners, the total investment of more than 16 million euros, only 7 people transfer fee of more than a million, the king of the Stanciu (Wuhan three towns, 4 million) set a new Chinese Super League ten years of the lowest price, 17 foreign aiders to join in the way of free transfers.
Most of the new recruits played in the lower-middle and promoted teams, and the promoted teams absorbed 15 of them. Beijing Guoan and Tianjin Jinmenhu have the most new recruits, both bringing in three. Most of the new recruits have become the core of the team, such as Shenzhen Korean defender Lin Caimin, Meizhou Hakka Serbian defender Dugalić, Zhejiang Croatian foreign aid Frank and Chengdu Rongcheng Korean midfielder Kim Dae-jeong-woo, who are all in full attendance.
Wuhan Sanzhen signed Romanian international Stanciu, Brazilian winger Davidson and center back Wallace for 6.25 million euros to lead the table as a dark horse. These three newcomers, together with veteran Malcolm, form the most stable and threatening foreign aid combination in the Chinese Super League.
Stanciu, who is making his debut in the Chinese Super League, has played for Star Bucharest and Sparta Prague, and is highly skilled in free kicks, with 6 goals and 6 assists in 10 games, averaging 1.2 goals per game, while Davidson, with 6 goals and 3 assists, averaging 0.9 goals per game, has set off the Chinese Super League scoring frenzy along with Malcolm. Wuhan Sanzhen scored 33 goals in 10 league games, three foreign aiders contributed 20 goals, a total of 24 goals, the key to the team to win the championship is the outstanding performance of foreign aiders.
Stanciu was the best player in the Premier League in the first phase of the campaign, with outstanding ball control in the midfield and consistent play driving the team's attacking group of wide players. He was second only to teammate Malcolm in the scoring charts, topping the list of assists (6) and key passes (32), and scored five of his six goals from outside the penalty area, while free kicks and long-range shots added to Wuhan's attacking prowess.
Wallace's defensive performance was also outstanding, with 9 appearances, the team only conceded 6 goals in 10 games, the best defensive statistic, Wallace contributed a lot.
Nine of the 12 goals scored by Meizhou Hakka were made by foreigners, and three Serbian and Montenegrin foreigners joined the team at zero cost, making the price-performance ratio the best in the Chinese Super League.
Wuhan Changjiang's Brazilian center back Bruno joined the team on loan and delivered 3 goals and 1 assist, with an attacking power not inferior to that of the defense. Free to join the Costa Rican striker Forbes scored 4 goals in 9 matches, the number of goals with the Shanghai seaport N'Diaye and Shandong Taishan Crescent, but the latter transfer fee of more than a million.
In the first phase of the Chinese Super League, foreigners scored 25 fewer goals than local players, which is related to the decline in the number of foreigners, but foreigners occupied 14 seats in the top 20 scorers list, which is still a stalwart force.
Beijing Guoan's new recruit Adebenelo has been a disappointment, with a €3 million transfer fee second only to kingpin Stanciu, but the Nigerian shot-stopper has made just four appearances and has gone granular before missing six rounds of the league due to injury.
Shanghai Harbor's Ndiaye and Shandong Taishan's Kressan had mediocre performances at the beginning of the new season, and after adjusting their mentality and tactics, Kressan gradually found his way back to form.
Zhejiang's scorer Evolo has been in fine form for the promoted side, with two goals and three assists in all 10 league games.
Cangzhou Lions forward Mihajlovic and Zhejiang defender Lucas did not play much, with the former underpowered and the latter recovering from injury.
There are many foreign aiders in the front line, and the defense line is equally critical, with Shenzhen Lin Caimin, Beijing Guoan Jiang Xiangyou, Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Anduohar, Wuhan Changjiang Bruno, and Chengdu Rongcheng Richards all playing steadily.
