The absence of Liu Yang and Wang Tong in the fierce battle at the top of Taishan was like a bolt from the blue, bringing a heavy blow to the team. According to the latest news, they did not travel with the team to Kawasaki, Japan, to participate in the key match of the second round of the 1/8 finals of the AFC Champions League. This decision may be closely related to their physical condition. Wang Tong is still recovering, while Liu Yang is not at his best. Taishan will face a huge test as they lose two of their core players in this important battle.
The absence of Liu Yang and Wang Tong not only shakes the team's tactical layout, but also in the highly competitive soccer world, continuous injuries and poor form may make players lose their starting positions. In the face of Taishan's personnel restructuring and young player development strategy, the team needs to show stable performance and continuous contribution in key positions. This may be a reflection of their failure to play with the team. The team has benefited from Wu Xinghan's versatility, being able to play as a winger, galloping midfielder, and even as a left back, with enough defensive ability to face foreigners alone in the league.
Peng Xinli's failure to travel to Japan with Shandong Taishan seems to signal his pessimism about the team's prospects. Insiders revealed that Taishan's starting lineup is becoming increasingly saturated, with players such as Li Yuanyi and Liao Lixiang performing well, and mid-generation player Huang Zhengyu, as well as young players such as Abdu and Jia Feifan, showing their strengths, making Peng Xinli's competitiveness slightly lacking. Under such a competitive pattern, Peng Xinli's position is in jeopardy. Failure to participate in the AFC Champions League highlights his marginalization in the team. Facing these realities, Peng Xinli is unlikely to stay in the team next season. He may need to seek new challenges and opportunities. As for Peng Xinli, Cui's right hand man in the midfield will leave the team along with Bi Jinhao, who played 24 games for Shanghai Shenhua in 2022 and scored only 1 goal. on January 6, 2024, Shanghai Shenhua announced that they will not renew Peng Xinli's contract. Cui Kangxi may not have given much thought to the introduction of Bi Jinhao and Peng Xinli. Both teams deserve recognition for their hard work on the pitch, but there is still a gap between their overall strength and that of Shandong Taishan.
