To generalise BIG time about the Leagues and teams of Asia, especially after last nights ACL results and comments from many - heres what I think... your comments and anger, or agreement very welcome! In a nutshell, it seems TO ME that Korean teams are the most impressive n the ACL ... heres why: Australia / the A-League teams lose their best players to Europe, their 2nd best players are being snapped up by Japan and they are left with journeymen, youngsters, or some players who have finally returned after their travels ... and they dont have the cash to bring any decent imports in. If they DO get foreigners in, its after Europe, (South America, Arab states, Japan, Korea, maybe Russia have had their choices first. Hence will (should, on paper) struggle and be the 4th best among the big Asians of Oz, China, Japan and Korea. Any win is a bonus and well-deserved... Japan has lost any dominance they had 5, 6, 7 years back because their best players are all moving overseas now and they do not have the money to compete with China (after Europe, others have had their choice) so dont get the best foreigners in to replace the best Japanese payers that are recently leaving regularly. The teams are learning to bring through the youngsters, and learning to make stronger contracts, thereby keeping the players a little longer (or getting some decent money for them)... Korea and the K League seems to be the worst hit because their best players are moving to Europe in droves, but then their 2nd best players are looking to Japan where the money is better (?) and the league is of a higher standard (because of the players, some of whom are Korean) ... the clubs do not have the money to compete with China, or the attraction of the J.League so any foreigners they get incoming are (after Europe, South America, China, Japan/Arab states get their choices) 4th rate (yes, I am being very in general here!) ... therefore any good results in the ACL should be celebrated as Chinese and Japanese teams SHOULD be expecting to beat Jorean (and Australian) teams... And so, to China, who, again, see their best players move to Europe but thats where it ends in general - not too many Chinese move elsewhere in Asia so the 2nd best Chinese are still at home. And, with the money being pumped into teams in China recently, they have their pick of almost anyone, certainly the pick after the bigger/richer clubs in Europe have had their choice, so their foreign incoming players are the best in the AFC region (or should be)... So there you have it. Chinese teams should win their games with ease, Japan coming in second, Korea next and Australian teams struggling to get results. So any wins by Australian teams, and wins by Korean teams over Japan and Chinese teams are against the trend. Now, having said all that, the rough tactics of Chinese teams should not be necessary, while the Korean teams need it to get up there. Either way, if referees applied the Laws these tactics would be nullified. The referee at Cerezo v Shandong started well, not being scared to give a yellow card to Vagner Love for delaying a restart but, after that, he sadly let everything else go. Japanese teams are still, unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your view, still not ready to hack players down, abuse the opposition, and play ungentlemanly style football ... Fair Play is what the AFC need to make sure happens. Level the playing field with stronger officiating. Cant do anything about the money! Now I will set the neko among the flying rats and push post!
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 07:44:02 +0000
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