The match against Thailand in June was undoubtedly a life-or-death battle, with the team's strongest "striker" Wu Lei suspended due to a yellow card, and the team faced the problem of a weak forward line, so whether we should choose naturalized players such as Ackerson and Alan or local striker such as Wei Shihao is more reliable?
Ackerson and Alain's Twilight: A Challenge of Age and Form
First of all, I personally respect the two naturalized players, Exxon and Allan, both of whom have a wealth of professional experience and excellent personal skills. However, these two will be 35 years old by July this year, and they are indeed older, and we can see what their level is.
Ackerson is in poor form and sometimes not as good as the local players
Exxon's form is worrying, and his speed has dropped significantly as he gets bigger. Frequent injuries have not only caused a significant drag on himself, but also limited his chances of playing in the team. Judging from his performance in this Chinese Super League match, it can be clearly seen that his current form is indeed not very good. In the first game against Nantong Zhiyun in the Chinese Super League, Ackerson had only three touches and lost possession twice. And his pass completion rate is only 50%, which is clearly not at the level that people would expect. In the second game against the Jinmen Tigers, he came on as a substitute for only 10 minutes, but the ball was cut off by the opponent on the edge of the penalty area and gave the opponent a goal. Such a performance was not only weak in attack, but also found no direction after conceding the goal. Exxon's form issues not only affected the team's overall offensive ability, but also caused problems on the defensive end. His physical changes put him at a disadvantage in terms of speed and physical confrontation, making it easier for opponents to break through his defence and pose a threat to the team.
Alain's Confidence and Reality: The Limitations of Age
Allan is still conscious, he is still very confident and calm with the ball, this is our common perception of him. However, we cannot ignore the fact that he is almost 35 years old. Neither physically nor technically is as good as he was at his peak. Alan has played just 12 games in the last two years and has not played for half a year. Looking back at the last time he played in an official competition, it was back in March 2023 in the Brazilian Liga. Professional football is all about regularity, brutality and reality.
For a footballer, it is difficult to get back to peak form due to injury or long-term inability to play, and that's the reality of Alain. The decline in physicality and agility limited his performance. He once dominated the Europa League, but now he has to deal with the problems caused by his physical discomfort and lack of game experience.
The Collective Sense of Pride of Naturalized Players: Real or Fictional?
Both of them are naturalized players, and I personally think they lack a sense of collective pride. It's not that they're completely unpatriotic. However, there are many people who claim how patriotic the two of them are, but we need to look at the truth objectively. Sometimes, we should not deceive ourselves or be sentimental. It is not enough to just talk about patriotism, only actions can prove everything. If Exxon really had such deep feelings, he would not have made the choice to leave in the first place. Luo Guofu has also made bold statements in the past, and he almost has to tattoo his loyalty to the country, but in the end, did he return? We have to admit that one of the reasons for their return is that they have no ball to play in their own domestic competitions and their wages are meager. Without a Chinese ID card, I'm afraid no Chinese Super League team will use them. It also shows their lack of a sense of collective pride. They are more concerned with their own interests and personal development than with the team.
Cultivating the power of the future
Personally, I think these are just trying to return to China to make money, it is better to boldly use young local strikers such as Wei Shihao, Xie Weijun, Xie Wenneng, Tao Qianglong, Wang Yudong, etc., if you lose, it will be regarded as a kind of exercise, and if you win, you will make a lot of money.
The above views are only my own, and I believe that everyone will have their own judgment on these issues. So, do you support the use of naturalized players or young local strikers? I look forward to you sharing your thoughts and discussing the future development of Chinese football!