Chris Killen (Unattached)

Just under half of the season completed (14 games out of 30). Killen has 6 goals in 11 games.

Chongqing FC may not look for new transfers and are happy with their 3 foreign players (Killen & Martinez - both being key figures in the team, and also Perez who has had an injury I think), despite their recent slump of form to be 9th on the table.

When does the Chinese season finish and is Killen off contract then? Still thinking about him playing for the Nix...

China One finishes at the end of October - not sure if there are play offs for promotion relegation but two go up and two go down.

I think - not sure - that Killen's contract was for just one season.  But the main barrier will always be money - if he is on a good wicket over there and is still banging in the goals then I'm sure he'll keep looking for those opportunites first.

He didn't sound too commited to China in that interview in the Herald up there^ I re-read it and it definitely says his deal runs out at the end of the season too

I hope that he either has made enough money there that he feels like he can move on or is sick of the different culture and wants to come back home. Like you said we can never compete with the cash on offer there but this is one case where that "lifestyle" argument might actually work. Probably not, but you never know

A while back he was also looking at other part of Asia if I recall.  I think his "out of the comfort zone" refers to him moving into the industrial heartland of China away from the modern and westernised coastal provinces.

I bet if he got an offer from Beijing, Shanghai or back in Guangzhou he'd be signing up.

I think this is what was Smeltz's undoing when he went to Shandong - it would be a real culture shock compared with the other three cities (so he should have gone to check it out first the numpty).  Still, this is what makes me impressed with Killen - he is ready to suck it up and take on new experiences.  Just like Kosta going to Russia.

His kid is 4, maybe he'll want some stability for her once she starts school so a shift back to NZ? I'm clutching at straws here....

But you're right, props to him for going there and doing that. May as well take those chances to live life a little differently when they are there.

He signed a three year deal. So two to go.

Killen provides an assist for Martinez to open up scoring (32 mins) and then scores from the penalty spot in the 62nd minute to help Chongqing win 2-0 away to Beijing Institute of Technology.  Subbed off in stoppage time at the end.

Seemed to be pretty active in the game acting as target man and laying off for Martinez.

Oh dear.  Just been trawling through tudou and found this clip of a game that I completely missed.  Killen scoring the 3rd goal for Chongqing's 3-0 win over Fujian in May in the 42nd minute. 

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/p20Jcw57954/

@4:20 

This would have been just before he left for AW duties I'm guessing.

Killen scores in the 40th minute to give Chongqing a 1-0 win over Guangdong.

...so by my reckoning he is on 9 goals in 14 games in the league (I think he has started all his games but has been subbed off a few times, particularly after his injury).

Killen scores a brace but can't prevent his side losing AT HOME to Harbin Yiteng (2-3) last Sturday night.

Chongqing down 0-2 at half time, Killen scores from the penalty spot at 59 mins and then headers one home from a free kick (assist by OUYANG Xue) in the 72nd minute. But then let Harbin score almost immediately.

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/Jvi4q0q6gIU/

@2:00 and 2:50

Killen scores in the 51st minute to give Chongqing a 1-0 win over Shenzhen (Killen's old club).  Take that Troussier!

A quiet few weeks for Killen as Chongqing struggle for goals and points (two consecutive losses).  They travelled away to take on second placed Hunan last night.  

Killen gets back on the books with a goal at 62 mins, but Hunan equalise two minutes later.  Killen then misses a penalty kick (hits the post) on 68 mins and then there is a bit of argie bargie at 69 mins with one of each team being red-carded.

Final score 1-1. A good draw away to a strong team but Chongqing well off the pace now so need a good finish in the last 8 games.

Are they a chance of relegation.

Not at this stage.  I think they were aiming for a top 6 finish (league of 16), currently 9th - a good 9 point gap between them and the relegation zone.

It would take a Spurs-like implosion to get them relegated, but they are also 10 points adrift of 2nd place which earns promotion to CSL, so they still can fulfill their goal of a high placing but really not much else to play for at this stage.

Still 'Arry is without a job (commentating on MOTD) so maybe a quick flash of some Renminbi (Chinese Yuan), a nice new dog bowl for Rosie and a fancy Chinese Wheeler-Dealer van and he could be  over in Chongqing before you can say "Spicy hotpot" and "where is the toilet?".

Remaining games for Chongqing FC:

25/08/2012               Chongqing           v               Beijing Baxy

1/09/2012               Shanghai Far East   v               Chongqing

15/09/2012               Chongqing           v               Tianjin Songjiang

22/09/2012               Fujian               v               Chongqing

29/09/2012               Hohhot Dongjin v               Chongqing

8/10/2012               Chongqing           v               Wuhan Zall

20/10/2012               Harbin Yiteng    v               Chongqing

28/10/2012               Chongqing           v               Chengdu Blades

Chongqing have a poor away form (W3-D2-L6) so would expect to struggle against leaders Shanghai, and also a long distance game to Hohhot (who beat them 2-1 in Chongqing last time).  Harbin also beat them at home so not expecting any points.  For the others a draw or 3 pts is do-able .

League table here: http://www.soccerway.com/national/china-pr/china-league-one/2012/regular-season/

I'm just listening to podcast #10 (hadn't listened to it when I wrote the above).

*smug emoticon*

Killen gets back into the groove with two goals (at 31 minutes from close range and 90 minutes, Killen breaks on right and scores in the far corner) for Chongqing FC's 2-0 win over Tianjin Songjiang.

Random pictures of Killen and Martinez here: http://www.hinews.cn/news/system/2012/09/15/014960657.shtml

Killen picks up an injury in the warm-up before the Fujian - Chongqing game so sits it out and watches his team lose 1-0.

Goals for Killen so far this season: 12

Games played: 22 (all starts, 6 substitutions)

Games missed: 5 (2 International duties*, 2 injured, 1 suspended)

*one of these matches was an FA Cup match (Chongqing lost in the first round)

Chongqing make the long trek to Hohhot Dongjing tonight and Killen puts them into the lead in the 17th minute with a header.

Chongqing score again in the second half to lead 2-0, then concede a penalty in the 83rd minute and another goal in the 87th minute.

Killen gets booked in the 88th minute for time wasting and the match ends at 2-2.

A valuable away point with three games to go.

Goals for Killen so far this season: 13

Games played: 23 (all starts, 6 substitutions)

Games missed: 5 (2 International duties*, 2 injured, 1 suspended)

Three more games to go.

*one of these matches was an FA Cup match (Chongqing lost in the first round)

Chongqing beat 2nd place Wuhan 3-2 at home and Killen grabs another goal in the 23rd minute.

Looking back through my posts and going back to match reports I have mistakenly attributed a goal to him in the 3-0 drubbing of Fujian (in round 11, 25 May).

So his stats now should be:

Goals for Killen so far this season: 13

Games played: 24 (all starts, 6 substitutions)

Games missed: 5 (2 International duties, 2 injured, 1 suspended)

Two more games to go.

Spreadsheet of Killen's stats in a couple of weeks if I can get organised sufficiently (haven't kept tabs of his yellow cards).

So apparently Killen played a couple of games in the last week.  Even scored a goal in one of them.

Can't find any match reports at the moment - probably some in English if anyone can be bothered looking.

Clearly the long distance travel doesn't affect Killen.

He scores twice (67th min penalty, then 88th min header) to help Chongqing snatch a 3-3 draw away to Harbin.

Killen and team mate OUYANG Xue get a brace each as Chongqing thump Chengdu Blades 4-0 in the final game of the season

Killen opens the scoring in the 13th minute (volleyed shot inside the penalty area) and then adds Chongqing's 3rd goal in the 58th minute.  

The win should put Chongqing into 8th spot ahead of Chengdu on goal difference.(41 pts each) and just behind Shenzhen Ruby (Killen's old team) who got a 3-0 win against Hunan and end on 42 pts and 7th.

Goals for Killen this season: 16

Games played: 26 (all starts, substituted 6 times)

Games missed: 5 (2 International duties, 2 injured, 1 suspended)

Hopefully this table works.  Sohu has pretty much all of the match reports - too much trouble to go through and link them all, but available if anyone wants to have a look (and practice their zhongwen)

Videos:

Round 3 @2:18 

Round 4 

Round 5 

Round 13 @3:45 

Round 14 @2:00 

Round 22 

Round 25 

Round 28 @1:08 

 Top work

 Any idea where he is in the golden boot standings?

From what I can see, the golden boot winner scored 23 goals.

OK.  Gueye is the Golden Boot winner.  Sports Sina mentioned it in an article but cocked up on their table.

Arf!

In the last game against Chengdu after Ouyang Xue scored the 2nd goal, he goes to the sideline and is joined by Killen and other team mates who then perform Gangnam style in front of the fans, who then follow suit.

Brilliant.

It's only a matter of time before we see that in the A-League

Do you mean Killen is coming over for a guest stint?

Killen to do Gangnam Style as halftime entertainment at the RoF next month. My sources say we got him on loan, and in return sent them some guy called Dane.

Heeeeey. Sexy Manny!