AuthorJeffEyesRimmer
The Chinese Super League transfer window is open and there’s plenty of speculation over big name players potentially making the lucrative move to the cashed up league. Although the government has put a cap on the level of spending there is still plenty of opportunity for players to move with clubs still looking to splash the cash.
However, what about the players that have already made the jump to Asia? There are already a few big name players currently playing in the CSL. So after 14 games of the 2017 season how are some of them doing?
Carlos Tevez
Let’s start of this list with the biggest name that’s currently playing in the CSL, Carlos Tevez. To put it bluntly it has not gone well for the highest paid player in the league. Unfortunately for Shanghai Shenhua their big money signing has failed to live up to the hype. Lacklustre performances in the games he has played combined with going missing for a month has resulted in him facing the wrath of supporters. Being photographed walking around Disney Land rather than playing has hardly helped as well. However, Tevez has provided 4 assists and 2 goals this season so maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hulk While Tevez has struggled to acclimatise to the CSL Hulk has hit the ground running. The Shanghai SIPG forward has bagged 9 goals and provided 5 assists so far this season helping Shanghai to 2nd in the league. The Brazilian has certainly taken to the CSL, with an average of 4.6 dribbles per game, 2 key passes and a passing accuracy of 76% he is leading from the front. However, this week he has been called before the Chinese Football Association in regards to the Oscar ban and him wearing a protest T-shirt. It’s the second time he has been hauled in front of the Chinese FA, last month he was accused of punching an assistant coach from another club. With all that though it’s a good thing he is scoring plenty based on his goal keeper’s recent displays (56 seconds in):
Graziano Pellè
The former Southampton forward made a £12 million move to Shandong Luneng in July last year, becoming the 5th highest paid footballer in the world (that seems daft to us). He made a decent start to life in China, with 5 goals in 13 appearances, even scoring on his debut. This season he has managed 1 goal in 8, a diminished return and hardly one that deserves the reported £13.5 million per season wages he is on. However, at 31 the player is likely not to mind his patchy form after being set for life. Oscar It certainly started well for Oscar, 7 assists in 13 games and a goal as well wasn’t the worst return for the Shanghai SIPG FC midfielder as he came to terms with the new league. However, two missed penalties against Urawa in the Asian Champions League and then an 8 game ban for kicking the ball at the opposition (link below) and causing a mass brawl has seen Oscar fall from grace. Much was expected of Asia’s most expensive transfer (£60 million); at the moment he is failing to live up to the expectations. There has been a mass protest at the treatment of Oscar by the Shaghai fans, so much that current manager Andre Vilas Boas has asked the fans to calm down and stop the protesting.
Ezequiel Lavezzi
Leading the assists charts with 9 and contributing a total of 4 goals for Hebei China Fortune FC the Argentinian has led his club to 3rd in the table at the time of writing. A total of 12 appearances out of a possible 14 so far with an average of 3.7 key passes per game and a passing accuracy of 77% the 32 year old has been a star performer for Hebei so far this season. He has very much taken to the CSL and Hebei are reaping the rewards, they only came into the CSL in 2016 season and came 12th in their first season. Both the club and Lavezzi will be hoping to continue their great form. A mixed bag then, for some the CSL has been a great move but others it show it is sometimes dangerous to chase the money. I think a few players that maybe aren’t as big names but are certainly making the CSL their own are Wu Lei (Shanghai SIPG – proving the local talent shouldn’t be overlooked), Paulinho (Guangzhou Evergrande – top of the league and Barcelona want him) and Eran Zahavi (Guangzhou R&F – currently the top goal scorer with 11 goals). Who else do you think have played well so far? Any big name players that you think will move and do well? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter. |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
Categories
All
|