In a 0-0 draw with Singaporean team Lion City Mariners, The Tarzan Juniors won the first point of this AFC Champions League event. At the same time, it also stopped the 15 consecutive defeats of the Chinese Super League team in the AFC Champions League.
But in the eyes of many people, the value of this 0-0 and participation is not high. Because, they always focus on the "face of the league" and the one-sided cognition of "losing defeats confidence" or "being abused cannot be improved".
What are they ignoring?
It is the necessity of the Chinese Super League team to a certain extent to participate. And, compared with the closed training in the base, this kind of real knife and real gun competition can bring sharpening and improvement. It just so happens that the Taishan Youth Army is in the process of tempering and has made some progress.
[Pay attention to differences and the collision brought about by the desire to output]
Chinese football is magical. Because, the slightest controversy, no matter how big or small, will eventually evolve into a collision of ideas.
Without him, the position and perspective are different.
There is a "regional tendency" in the local media, you have me and I don't, or you go and I abandon, will trigger a shift in the output of views. Individual fans or practitioners will also only believe in their own views because of differences in positions, perspectives or perceptions. Of course, some Shandong media people have been attacking the Taishan Youth Army for participating, which is a very special case.
Therefore, after Yatai and Haigang retired successively, whether Taishan and Guangzhou should go has become the focus of debate. Especially in the context of the epidemic and after suffering a big score defeat.
But the events themselves are often complex. Whether or not to participate in the competition has a lot of influencing factors. Let's start with an easy-to-overlook example: money. Withdrawals can save a lot of travel costs, but the loss of fines and liquidated damages can be significant. According to the AFC's 2022 Competition Rules, there will be a penalty of $100,000-100,000 for withdrawal at different points in time.
These are not "big money", but the real big head, in the withdrawal to bear the sponsorship, broadcasting, partner compensation. Many of the AFC Champions League group stage matches this season are "pay-per-view", and this involves, especially in pay-per-view matches, the brand requirements on sponsors will be more "Cork", which is the above level.
Once withdrawn, it will encounter a penalty of default under the assessment of the AFC, and the maximum amount can reach 7 figures, or US dollars.
We all know the economic status of the Guangzhou team today, and after Taishan completed the shareholding system reform, its economic strength has been far inferior to that of the beginning, and it is very difficult to ensure that there is no salary arrears. As for Yatai's withdrawal, it is very early, and the liquidated damages in all aspects are not high. To put it bluntly, Taishan and Guangzhou, to a large extent, need to weigh the amount of default brought about by the withdrawal. The harbor with a strong economic foundation, under the "ferocious" influence of the epidemic, is very helpless to withdraw from the competition.
[Tarzan's progress does not lie in the score, but in the content, grinding and temperament]
From 0-7, to 0-5, to 0-0, the taishan youth army's progress in the score is visible to the naked eye. Admittedly, there is a gap between the strength of the Lion City Sailors and Japanese and Korean teams (even if they win Daegu by 3 goals), but the football game is more than just a "score game".
From the low-level mistakes of Taishan goalkeeper Cao Zheng in the fiasco of Daegu, to the defensive collapse in the back. When it comes to the match against Urawa, the Tarzan youngsters are visibly improved. Against the Lions, the lads were already able to create great scoring opportunities and dare to show themselves on the pitch.
This progress has a very obvious and reasonable logical line:
1. The Taishan Youth Army is adapting to the rhythm of the AFC Champions League. The rhythm of the game is a very metaphysical definition, and it is not easy to capture without participating in it or without the perception of the game. But it can be captured by performance on the pitch. After these three games, the active error rate of the Taishan Youth Army is obviously decreasing.
2. Changes in team strategy. In the first battle in Daegu, the Taishan Youth Army discharged a 4231 formation, and after that, the two battles were turned to 541. Although the full-backs can pull the edge to recover, because of the choice of formation and player structure, it can maximize the impact on the offensive and defensive posture. Coach Yu Yuanwei's progress in scheduling is visible to the naked eye.
3. Competition temperament. Cao Zheng, who has excellent muscle groups on the back of his thighs and hips, has excellent explosive power (as evidenced by his excellent big foot ball). However, in the first game of the group stage, he made a low-level mistake that led to the loss of the ball. But what about the follow-up? Cao Zheng became more and more stable and contributed a lot of wonderful saves. In the choice of attack and confrontation, it is also more and more reasonable.
More crucially, against Lion City, Tarzan jr. did not lie down after being injured and falling to the ground. Even in the final stages, as they get closer and closer to 1 point, they still haven't become "utilitarian."
4. Individual harvest. Young players such as Bai helangmu, Lu Yongtao, and Yi Xianlong have all made flash performances in the competition. At the age of 19, in the face of old oilers with stronger comprehensive strength, they can kick out their own things, which is "the accumulation of quantity before qualitative change". If you don't play, a considerable number of fans may not know them, right?!
【Conclusion】
"People's Daily" said after Taishan's 0-0 draw with Lion City: "The value of exercise lies in going all out."
Taishan and the Guangzhou Youth Army have largely reflected this. Facing opponents far above themselves, they were not crushed by consecutive fiascoes and both improved on the scoreline. In the face of a bad public opinion environment, especially the attacks of the "sewer" self-media, they are working hard.
In fact, we can all imagine that if we don't participate, what will be the next arrangement for these young players? Conduct closed training inside the base! Chinese football, especially young players, is not what is missing this kind of real knife and gun game? Besides, if continuous training can maximize the value, why should it be a high-level competition?