Looks like the Chinese side finished midtable in the Chinese Super League and their final day draw with Shanghai Shenhua denied them the title - so looks like they're no mugs.
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trying to get this back on topic, I'm pleased to see Sykes mentioned in the reports of the match, as this will give us a chance to play a back 4 with a left footed player at left back (Scott played there against Port Vila, but looked completely out of place and Hogg's away with the U20's) - we have been playing 3 at the back in the last couple of games, but I really think we'll be harder to break down with 4 across the back.
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Yeah, so well how did the chinese clubs go in the ACL?
Their super league isn't crash hot because of corruption and Shanghai Shenhua is usually the better team so they lucky to get a draw on the last day. But Chinese football style is not like Australian football style, and that is what they are up against in the first game that matters. If they were able to get a couple of A-league teams as well as a couple of Japanese teams, then that would be a satisfactory build-up. But this is not a build-up, it is merely a "bridge game." The LA Galaxy would be a reasonable bridge game if they thought about it.
A satisfactory build-up consist of at least 4-6 games playing against similar styled teams at a suitable competitive level. Other than the game against the Phoenix, the other games are just merely bridge games not build-up games. The whole idea is not to just to get used to the pace and competitive level, but to understand how to contain the attacking style of the other team as well as developing a number of tactics that would be used to exploit in the real games that matters. A win or a lost in a lead up game is irrelevant so long as they gain some insight and insiders information on the opponents.
Can a midtable Chinese side give you information on Adelaide or Gamba?
To date, only the "build up" game against the Nix gave all their information to start with at least with a few scout information. The biggest information will be actually playing them beforehand. The next best information will playing against a team that has regularly played them (hopefully with some success). Only the Phoenix falls close to this category, not Greentown or Auckland or any of the O-league side.
Their build up preparation is a complete failure in my eyes. Adding to that, Adelaide has seen the game against the Nix and knows their weakness and style type and so Waitakere is going to be hosed down big time.
I say that the first goal by Adelaide is going to happen in the first 15 minutes.
