Asia

The Chinese Super League - A Sleeping Giant?
 Posted by Shane Burns.

The Chinese Super League in the past three years has grown from strength to strength with the world's eyes solely focused on the next sensation to appear from China. Like the rulers of the People's republic of China, the Chinese F.A want to make the Chinese game the biggest, most powerful and mighty of leagues that exist throughout the world. Having nationally enjoyed success first in 2002 when China qualified for it's first FIFA World Cup, this truly was the first time Chinese football caught the attention of the world.


In the past twenty years some notorious names in English Premier League history have either played or managed in Asia . Arsene Wenger was signed from Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan when he became Arsenal manager in October 1996. Along with Wenger, England footballing legend Gary Lineker managed a two year spell in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight, two years before the arrival of Arsene Wenger to the J-League. Other players such as Ex-Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson managed a short spell in South Korea prior to the World Cup being held in the nation. These names helped the Asian League's continuous growth, however the Chinese F.A. never made the same attempts to make the league stand out like the J and K League's in Japan and Korea. When the World Cup in Korea and Japan was helped, the world's eyes began fascinated with events occurring in the Middle East. Players such as Zheng Zhi, Li Tie and Sun Jihai all made the transition from the Asian game to the English Premier League shortly after the World Cup, and unlike many of China's nearby neighbours geographically, the country is struggling to produce the same calibre of player that can now be found in the Premier League today.

The Chinese development in youth is increasing with the number of players under the age of twenty-one rising by 17% in the past four years. Unlike China, Japan invested heavily in youth after their failures in the 2002 World Cup in their home country. Now players like Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda who are now major stars in the European game, are also promoting their national League to major football followers. Yu Hanchao, who plays China's most successful club Dalian Aerbin, is arguably the biggest star of the new Chinese generation. Whilst the youth development continues to grow, the infrastructure in the Chinese game could be regarded as the best that could be found, anywhere in the world. Fresh from hosting the Olympics in 2008, the construction created for the games has received world wide acclaim.

Chinese captain Sun Jihai

Since the Olympic games, Chinese sport and culture has captured the world's imagination and attention. Funding into the Chinese Super League has increased the wealth of clubs, and has increased their ability to become more competitive in the world's transfer market. In recent times superstars such as ex-Arsenal striker Nicolas Anelka and Chelsea's winning penalty kick taker in the 2012 Champions League final, Didier Drogba have played for Shanghai Shenhua, Ex-Seville goal machine Frederic Kanoute has turned out for Beijing Guoan before his move to Dubai in the past few weeks occurred, whilst former UEFA Champions League winner with Barcelona, Seydou Keita who currently lines out for Dalian rejected lucrative offers from England to play in China. Recently Yakubu has been playing for Sven Goran Eriksson's Guangzhou R&F side and are no doubt are under achieving under the guidance of the Swede. Chris Killen, Derek Riordan and Akpo Sodje have all been attracted to the prospect of the big money in China. Also along with the players, some of the world's top coaches are also being attracted to China, with 2006 World Cup winning manager, Marcelo Lippi on the verge leading his side Guangzhou Evergrande to the first ever Chinese triple.

There is no doubt that the Chinese league is waiting to explode with excitement. Attendances are up. The wealth is increasing and the viewership from the west is also on the increase. Like the nation of China itself, could we see the Super League really becoming the most super league's of them all?



J-League Final Preview
Posted by Gersloveofsport


It's between two, unless the unthinkable happens for Kashima Antlers, as Yokohama F Marinos and Sanfrecce Hiroshima battle it out to be crowned J-League Champions for 2013.  Four of the top five in the league meet each other in what will be a cracking Finale to this years Championship.

If it was just about experience Yokohama would win comfortably. With 40 year-old Brazilian Dutra, 35 year-old Yugi Nakazawa, 37 year-old Marquinhos and 35 year-old ex-Celtic player Shunsuke Nakakmura in the squad, they have bags of it. But, unfortunately for them it seems that those tired legs are beginning to take its toll. Having had the opportunity to wrap up the league they've lost two of their last three games to give Sanfrecce the chance to win back-to-back Titles this weekend. A draw may be sufficient to win the Title, it would seem like a fool's errand to play for one, especially with the pressure of the day. Relying heavily on both Marquinhos and Shunsuke Nakamura for goals, 26 between them, if Saturday's opponents Kawasaki Frontale can keep them quiet they will have to find goals from somewhere else. But where? Shingo Hyodo has seven goals from midfield while young Manabu Saito has 4 and unless they can stand up and be counted they could end up very disappointed come full-time. Frontale for their part have a lot to play for, with AFC Champions League spots up for grabs, and coming into this game on the back of a three game winning streak. With the top three guaranteed spots Kawasaki Frontale have it in their own hands to make one of those spots their own, and a win could do that. With a superb front two of Yoshito Okubo and Brazilian Renatinho, who have scored 37 goals between them, they also get plenty of goals from midfield from Kentaro Moriya and ex-Fulham and West Brom player Junichi Inamoto. I think with fatigue setting into Yokohama I would fully expect a Frontale victory in front of their own fans, and at least an opportunity for Champions League Football next season. For Yokohama it could be an ending to forget, just failing at the final hurdle.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima haven't been tearing up the J-League lately either, but with the experience of winning the League last year, and the momentum they will have after the midweek games when Yokohama slipped up, i would expect them to come out all guns blazing against Kashima Antlers. Boasting the leagues best defensive record, only conceding 29 goals in 33 games, which is a fantastic record. With Croatian Michael Mikic in midfield, flanked by Kohei Shimizu and Kazuyuki Morisaki, they have plenty of talent. If they can manage to thread the ball into strikers Hisato Sato and Naoki Ishihara on a regular basis over the ninety minutes, they know how to find the net.  Kashima still have a mathematical chance to win the Title themselves. They need to win and overturn a 9 goal difference with Yokohama for that to happen, but in Football anything is possible. Of the three teams in with a shout of the Title, Kashima are the one with the most balance to their team. They get goals from all over the pitch.
One of the highest scoring teams in the league, they have a young 23 year old striker up front in Yuya Osako
along with two Brazilians, Juninho and Davi. Osako, a Japanese International, has scored 19 goals this season and is in fantastic form. This game is very hard to call, its going to be nail-biting. Its going to come down to whoever wants it most on the day. If that's Sanfrecce, they will become Champions.


Published by @gersloveofsport  December 6


Shinji Kagawa - Square Peg, Round Hole.
Posted by Sam Cox.

Shinji Kagawa’s time at Manchester United has been stop-start to say the least, with a patchy and at times uninspiring first season under Alex Ferguson, the Japanese playmaker has been a major talking point in the early months of David Moyes’ reign in Manchester. The diminutive attacking midfielder has struggled to ever really stamp his authority on the side in a run of matches, despite flashes of the ability that earned him the move from Borussia Dortmund.

With the variety of tactical systems employed at Old Trafford, Kagawa found himself hardly getting a minute on the pitch for the first few fixtures as he sat matches out on the bench and several poor results let to further calls for Japan’s key creator to be given a chance to flourish – although it hasn’t ever been quite that simple. Once the availability of Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney is re-established after recovery from the Dutchman’s latest injury, further questions will be made over Kagawa’s place in the team – as the puzzle to fit the three of them into a starting line-up (and reap the sufficient rewards of that risk) is growing in complications without dropping Rooney deeper into midfield it sees Kagawa play out-wide, where he’s been largely marginalised and anonymous in his time at Manchester United.

Kagawa’s game is not suited to the wide-role that he has often been deployed in at United, with minute physical presence and a game relying on touch and guile, he hardly provides a balance to the powerhouse right midfield engine of Antonio Valencia. The balance of the side is heavily compromised when Kagawa and Valencia are used as the wingers and when pushed out wide last weekend, the Japanese wizard drifted out of the game – questioning why Moyes would not use a proper winger if that is the requirement of Kagawa?

Having only started 5 premier league games this season, Kagawa’s absence from the side has been a common finger-pointing tool when results have been less than favourable at times under Moyes, but the Scot faces a similar battle to Ferguson to negotiate balanced tactics with fitting the diminutive playmaker into the side. Kagawa’s stats in his premier league season to date (although a small sample) are largely uninspiring, averaging 0.7 shots and key passes per game is insufficient for such a potentially influential player, perhaps never destined to fulfil a match winning regular potential at Old Trafford.

Where will Kagawa’s career lead him? Perhaps a return to mainland Europe, there’s every chance his Manchester United career could flourish, with a quality player anything can happen but a dramatic formation shift would be needed to find a regular favourite position for Kagawa to embark on a name-making season or two. However, fitting both Kagawa and Rooney into the side would require Rooney to fulfil the number 9 role, which leaves out van Persie – who almost single handedly won the title last season – and this won’t be happening any time soon, all of this supports the rumours of a return to Dortmund, which would provide its own problems. With his number 10 position being filled by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, doesn’t give any answers to bringing Kagawa’s future away from an isolated wing position – he needs a space in a team and perhaps the team built with him in mind, a lot to ask of a player who hasn’t featured significantly for 18 months.

With a lot of competition wherever his future lies, Kagawa’s potential is high, but fulfilling this in the modern day fiercely talented world of the number 10 may require adaptation in the Japanese’s game or a move to a ‘lesser’ club for a career boost, envisaging a move to a fellow Premier League side seems starkly unlikely but may be his best career move at this point in time. A natural number 10, just lacking the all round game of an in-form and sensational Wayne Rooney, Kagawa looks a little lost with United at times, but would be a significant loss if Moyes chooses to lose his Asian super star, a player that many clubs would be battling over if available.

China: Is Marcelo Lippi on the verge of history?
Posted by Gersloveofsport

Chinese side Guangzhou Evergrande are on the verge of a history making Treble. Having already won their third Chinese Super league Title in a row, and their very first AFC Champions League Trophy, they now go in search of the FA Cup.

Guangzhou, having lost the first leg of the final to Guizhou Renhe 2-0, have history in their sights. If they manage to overturn that deficit in the second leg they will become the first side in Chinese Football history to win the treble. 

With 38 goals between them, both midfielders Dario Conca and Brazilian Elkeson will be missing for the second leg through suspension. That will be a major loss as strikers Muriqui and Gao Lin will have to take on the burden. Manager Lippi will have to shake it up in the middle of the park and whoever he picks will be expected to perform. Huang Bowen, Zhao Xuri, Zheng Long and Feng Junyan will probably make up the midfield unless Lippi decides to inject some youth to the proceedings. It's all about goals though as Guangzhou need to strike early if they want to make history.

As for Guizhou Renhe, two goals in the first leg from midfielder Yu Hai has them in the ascendancy. With a strike force of Bosnian Zlatan Muslimovic and Spaniard Rafa Jorda not having the greatest goalscoring records and with the midfield not in scoring form either it was a surprise that thay beat Guangzhou in the first leg. Trying to hang on to that 2-0 lead you would imagine could be very dangerous and if Marcelo Lippi's side turn up to play, it could be a difficult day.

Lippi has had a wonderful coaching career. Winning the Fifa World Cup in 2006, along with 5 Serie A titles, 1 Coppa Italia title, the Uefa Champions League, the European Supercup and an Intercontinental Cup his career is littered with trophies. Since moving to Chinese Football his success hasn't wained. Winning two Chinese Super League titles, 1 FA Cup and the biggest one of all in Asia, the AFC Champions League. Winning the treble would cap it all off, before heading off to Morocco to showcase the Asian game to the world in the Fifa World Club Cup.


Published by @gersloveofsport December 3