Choi Kang-hee's approach, especially in his neglect of young players and over-reliance on veterans, has been one of the cruxes of Taishan's recent underperformance. Even with Wang Dalei's injury, he still chose to trust Liu Shibo, a decision that provoked strong reactions from many Taishan fans.
In Taishan's first team, young goalkeeper Jin Yong, who has great potential, does not seem to get the exercise he deserves, which makes many fans feel frustrated. Although Liu Shibo has accumulated a wealth of experience in the Chinese Super League, as a 27-year-old player, his skills and abilities have already peaked.
In contrast, although Jin Yong may face the risk of conceding a goal when he takes the field, it is for the long-term development of Taishan's goalkeeper position. Choosing young players certainly brings short-term risks, but in the long run, this is the way for the team to grow.
Taishan's recent poor performance has triggered a public debate on the issue of Choi Kang-hee's contract with the club. A well-known Taishan fan blogger pointed out that the Chinese Super League coaching contract often contains a seven consecutive rounds of no win that is the termination of the contract, but the specific direction of the club's senior decision-making is still to be seen. Last year, Cui Kangxi led the Taishan team out of trouble, won the league runner-up, so the club has no doubt about it, the possibility of dismissal is unlikely.
It is obvious that the Taishan club is fully supportive of Cui Kangxi. However, as a manager of a Chinese Super League team, Cui Kangxi should know that soccer is a team sport that requires constant adaptation and adjustment. In terms of hiring strategy, he should be more open and flexible, giving young players more room to grow. Only in this way can the team achieve healthy development.
It is worth noting that Taishan drew with Changchun Yatai in the latest round of matches, which was their third draw in the last four rounds of matches. Currently, Taishan's points stand at 30, 12 points away from league leader Shanghai Harbor. The dream of winning the title this season seems to be getting more and more distant.
