May 22, 2012 - The 13th round of the Chinese Super League.
Shandong Taishan prefecture level city in Shandong
Away from home, they drew 1-1 with Tianjin Jinmen Tigers. The Jinan Times writes that Taishan must make a move in the summer transfer window if they want to compete for the title, at least to ensure that the team has three or four long-term available
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In the match against Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, Shandong Taishan relied on Cui Kangxi's tactical adjustments and the team's depth to bounce back from adversity. However, the match also exposed Taishan's shortcomings in terms of the number of foreign players. Tianjin Jinmen Tigers' advantage is that they are able to start four outstanding foreign aiders at the same time, which makes them significantly competitive in the league.
Taishan's current challenge lies in the insufficient number of foreign players, and the long-term reliance on local players and the coach's tactical adjustments to cope with the pressure of the game. Although the over-performance of local players and Choi Kang-hee's east-meets-west strategy can be sustained for the time being, it will be difficult to sustain this approach in the long season's schedule. The team's current shortcomings have become very obvious, and the long-term lack of foreign aid puts them at a disadvantage in the title race.
The Jinan Times believes that the Taishan management needs to take positive action in the summer transfer window. If the team's goal is to hit the championship, it must ensure that three to four long-term available foreign players join the team. This will not only improve the team's overall strength, but also provide more support to local players and ease their pressure.
If Taishan's goal is to compete for the title, the management needs to make a wise decision in the summer transfer window to bring in high-level foreign players and improve the overall strength of the team. On the contrary, if the team's goal is to fight for the top three places in the league, then the existing lineup can still cope with it, but it needs to further explore and use young players.
