Chinese Super League/AFC Champions League 2012

Joel Griffiths to cooperate with Anelka?

In a interview with Chinese Media, Shanghai Shenhua's boss Zhu Jun almost confirmed that Anelka will join the club under a salary of 7m euro a year, he also said his personal assist is now in Australia negotiation with Joel and he'll do everything he can to sign the aussie. the clubs' next aim is former Real Mardrid player Jose Fernandez Guti.the club also sign French Jean Amadou Tigana as head coach his salary will be 3m Euro a year.

Guangzhou Evergrande is keen to sign Man United player Park Ji-sung, and their derby rivals Guangzhu R&F appointed Brazilian Sérgio Farias as head coach, salary 2m USD a year, Farias lead K-League side Pohang Steelers to win ACL Champions in 2009 season. and the club is also set to sign West Ham pair John Carew and Carlton Cole.

Hangzhou Greentown offered Former Japanese National Team and Yokohama F Marinos coach Okada Takeshi a contract with the salary 1m USD a year, Okada Takeshi is now in Hangzhou and the nagotiation is still on going, meanwhile, Shandong Luneng, tianjin Teda and Qingdao Jonnon are linked with Japanese coach Akira Nishino, the coach helped Gamba Osaka to win the ACL champions in 2008.

Dalian Shide sign South Korea defender Park Dong hyuk from J-League champions Kashiwa Reysol, contract salary 500,000 USD a year.Tianjin Teda showed interest to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors' Croatia player Krunoslav Lovrek.

Guangzhou Evergrande officially confirmed Bayern Munich player Ivica Olic just signed a three years' deal with Guangzhou, Bayern will recieve a transfer fee of 1.8 millon Euro and Ivica Olic's salary will be 7.5 million EURO per year.

The club will hold a official press meeting for more news by December 9, Chairman of Guangzhou evergrande said the aim of next season is to enter quarter-final of ACL.

Beijing Guo'an is now negotiating Argentine legend Hernán Jorge Crespo to replace Joel Griffiths.

Offical groups for the 2012 AFC Champions league:

Group F
Ulsan Hyundai
Emperor's Cup winner (Japan)
Brisbane Roar
Beijing Guoan

Group G
Tianjin Teda
Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Nagoya Grampus
Central Coast Mariners

Group H
Thai League champion
Guangzhou Evergrande
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Kashiwa Reysol

As for Liaoning this is what your group would have looked like but considering that they have offically pulled out Adelaide United have been given a bye straight into the competition. Personally I know Liaoning got screwed by the AFC, I mean seriously Qatar 4 spots but utterly defeatist attitude and slightly arrogant thinking they're too good to play in the AFC Cup. Anyway what are the odds in Adelaide United adding salt into the Liaoning wound by actually winning the bloody thing?

Group E
Gamba Osaka
Adelaide United
Bunyodkor
Pohang Steelers or Thai FA Cup winner

Wow that is a pretty hefty list of big-name foreigners connected with CSL clubs. Big surprises for me would be the Olic and Anelka rumours; would think Anelka is more likely to go to Montreal Impact (for language/cultural compatibility whatnot) or Anzhi if it was purely for cash. Could this be more bullshit from Zhu Jun?

Man totally agree there, they think they are too good to playing AFC Cup, according to them its not glorious enough but in reality they are probably at that level themselves. And the worst part of it is that they just gave up without even trying. they get the chance to play in CL but gave it b/c they think they won't win against Australian/Korean clubs. As I said before, if they are scared of that, why even bother playing in the CL at all!

Good group for Evergrande, looks like 3 teams fighting for 2 spots. I think the danger will come with the games against the Thai champs, if they draw or don't score enough goals, they will be doomed!

Lol at group H, Only League winners. i´ll definately follow that group closely.

China Announce pro-League expansion plan and New CFA cup format
news from CSL committe and CFA, China decided to expand it's professional league in order to reach the standard set up by AFC Professional Leagues Ad-hoc Committee.

currently the top tier of Chinese professional League, the Chinese Super League - CSL has 16 clubs, second level professional League, C-League 1 also has 16 clubs, and the third level C-League 2 has 19 clubs.

according to CSL committe, C-League committe and CFA, the 2013 Chinese league, in professional and semi-professional level will have 56 clubs, with 16 CSL clubs, 18 C-League 1 clubs and 22 C-League 2 clubs.

currentlly the Japanese J-League is the biggest asian league in terms of club numbers, with 18 J1 clubs, 20 J2 clubs and 18 JFL clubs.

the AFC also announced the new format of Chinese FA Cup,Starts from 2012 season, the Final match of CFA cup will be played at the Beijing National Stadium - Birds Nest

the CFA cup opens to 48 clubs and the slots will be distribute like these:
1. CSL clubs - 16 in total
2. C-League 1 clubs - 16 in total
3. 7 clubs from the C-league 2, picked by CFA, - 7 clubs
4. 4 teams from the Chinese Ameturish League National Championship - 4 clubs
5. 2 teams from AFC Vision China City League Champions Cup - 2 clubs
6. 3 teams from Chinese Univercity League - 3 teams

format
Round 1
16 clubs from C-League division 2 and ameturish clubs and teams, 16-->8
Round 2
16 C League 1 clubs + 8 winners of round 1 24-->12
Round 3
12 CSL clubs that failed to enter ACL and ACL qualification rounds + 12 winners of round 2 24-->12
Round 4
4 CSL clubs in ACL and ACL Qualification + 12 winners of Round 3 16-->8
Round 5
Quarter-Final
Round 6
Semifinal
Round 7
Final

Okada Takeshi and Hangzhou's basic agreement has been reached:

http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-12-08/13015860694.shtml

And Didier Drogba has been linked with newly promoted Dalian Aerbin:

http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-12-08/10105860336.shtml

Okada is all in for work in China. That's settled.

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/soccer/news/2011/12/09/kiji/K20111209002206570.html

Cool!!

Raul would look good in (Shanghai) blue

For selfish reasons I'd rather not see Drogba in the CSL because that would ruin the possiblity of finally seeing an Eto'o-Drogba attacking front at Anzhi

I hope Raul can reunite with Guti.

Guangzhou Fuli to sign Brazilian league top goalscorer:

http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-12-10/08585862800.shtml

CSL is going to be very interesting next season with all these high-profile names getting signed. It's clear that whoever spends the most money to get the best foreign players will be the front runners. Needless to say, those with very deep pockets (i.e. Evergrande, Fuli, Guo'an, Aerbin, and include Shanghai as their bosses are not affected by the real estate slowdown) will have a big advantage over the others. Those who can't afford to spend big money will be left out in the race for the title.

Don't know about you guys, but I'm excited and can't wait till the new season starts.

We will know if Anelka is coming Monday/Tuesday according Fox Sports.
It's a Beckham to MLS cusp of a moment.

According to Sina Anelka has come to terms with Shanghai with a 2-year, 10.6M Euro a year contract.

Also, an unnamed CSL team has been linked with Tottenham's Modric:

http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-12-10/06045862730.shtml

Hangzhou Greentown linked with Gamba Osaka's Yasuhito Endo

http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2011-12-09/12005861914.shtml

Man all these big transfers have definitely generated some buzz and will no doubt help to raise the profile of the CSL with the publicity. Only downside will be the impact on domestic talent (esp positions like strikers) who will probably fall down even lower on the pecking order.

Reported by Sohu.com, the total budget for the 16 clubs in CSL 2012 reaches 2.8 billion RMB, (424.4 million USD), and budgets of some clubs like:

Guangzhou Evergrande 110.6 million USD, Shanghai Shenhua 63.2 million USD, Guangzhu R&F 47.4 million USD, Dalian Aerbin 47.4 million USD, Beijing Guoan 31.6 million USD, Tianjin Teda 31.6 million USD, Liaoning Whowin 23.7 million USD, Dalian Shide 15.8 million USD, Hangzhou Greentown 12.64 million USD......

CSL 2012:
2.8 b RMB = $424.4m US = 316.941.000 €

Guangzhou: $110.6m US = 82.595.900 €

According to Transfermarkt.de:
J. League Div 1 18 clubs 238.975.000 €
K-League 16 136.975.000 €
Saudi Prof League 14 120.375.000 €
A-League 10 71.750.000 €

J. League Div 2 20 105.975.000 €

I hope that with the arrival of Anelka', the Shenua will have an average attendance of at least 20.000 fans next year...........and I think that the CSL can have even 20.000.

does the CSL has a 3+1 foreigner limit?

Any words on changing this in the future?