Among the many Chinese Super League clubs, Hebei stands alone as the only team that has yet to open its winter (spring) training or formally assemble. In the face of this situation, they chose to fearlessly challenge. South Korean coach Kim Jong-woo will remain in his post if there is no accident, and he will be facing this new Hebei team, compared to last season is like a "song of ice and fire" - 2022, Hebei team plans to fully use young players.
Jong-oh Kim has been in charge of Hebei for one season now, and the team finished 8th in the league last year, which was not easy to do when the club was in financial trouble and on the verge of collapse. However, the end of season has seen a delay in the expected substantial progress of the shareholding reform, while the club is also tightening its spending. Winter training, which was scheduled to begin on Feb. 8, has been postponed for nearly two months. Looking back at the past year in our third-tier league, a similar situation is not uncommon. In the new year, with the Bull Moose base struggling to operate normally, it is feared that a similar strategy will need to be adopted if the club is to continue to participate in the Chinese Super League. And Coach Jin Jong Fu just happened to end his isolation in late April.
As planned, Hebei will not welcome a large number of players on trial like Tianjin Jinmen Tigers and Wuhan, as the window will close on the 15th of this month according to the current transfer rules. But for Hebei, the timing is crucial, especially since a number of the team's key players are seeking transfers. The two sides need to reach an agreement as soon as possible in response to the previous dispute over unpaid wages and the subsequent settlement.
The "little kid" issue is one that Coach Kim Jong-woo will have to deal with upon his return. In the new season, Hebei will play mainly with a quasi-U25 lineup in the Chinese Super League. This is not an empty rumor, in the past few weeks, many players over the age of 25 in the team are actively looking for a home. International player Wang Qiuming has been in spring training with Tianjin, while another international, Yin Hongbo, and Hu Rentian have been favored by Meizhou Hakka and Wuhan, respectively. Zhang Chengdong, Renhang and Zhao Yuhao, whose contracts have expired, have confirmed transfers to Beijing Guoan, Wuhan Sanzhen and Henan Songshan Longmen, and Luo Senwen is expected to extend his contract with Sanzhen. Geng Xiaofeng and Feng Gang have become free agents, and Lei Tenglong announced his retirement last winter. For the new season, Hebei's only remaining veterans are Ding Haifeng, Pan Ximing and Zhang Junzhe, but Pan and Zhang were seriously injured last year, and Pan Ximing won't be able to make his comeback until June this year. As for the young players, Gao Huazhe has become a free agent, Zu Pengchao ready to join the Tianjin Jinmen Tiger, a group of U23 players in July this year, the expiration of the contract, there is the possibility of leaving the team in the middle of the season.
With the severe loss of the local squad, the reinforcement of foreigners has also become out of reach. Leonardo moved to Ulsan Hyundai, Cernus left the club when his contract expired, Silva became a free agent, and the only remaining foreigner with a contract with the club, Memisevic, was recently confirmed to be on loan to Beijing Guoan. There has been no indication yet that Hebei are looking for a foreign aid. In fact, after the foreign transfer window closes on the 15th, Hebei may have to continue last year's practice of renting foreign aid from other Chinese clubs if they want to strengthen their team.
While full rejuvenation was expected at River Plate, it was exactly what the club had no choice but to do at the time of the stalemate over the equity conversion. At the very least, it means a significant reduction in input costs. Coach Jin Jongfu is good at cultivating young players, as evidenced by the rise of Mr. Xu Chen, Zhang Wei, Zhang Hui and Liao Wei last year. One of the main players to the reporter revealed that Jin Jongfu with the team's most important feature is to cultivate young players, "he never gave that group of children pressure, is through a variety of encouragement to enhance confidence, which allows them to dare to play, the growth rate is very fast."
