At the top level, CSL and CFA don't reinforce one another. Team owners hate it when players are called up for national duty because if they get injurred, their clubs are screwed. I wouldn't be surprised if the owners brainwash their players to not play too hard for national duties. In England, a lot of the club managers are honoured when their players are called to the English squad, because they see it as a marketing and advertising mechanism for their clubs. See the difference in attitude? At the development level, I get the sense that not the most talented youth are brought into the academy. There's probably a lot of emphasis on merit passed down from parents or merit given because of connection, which is a typical Chinese system. Corruption and scandal is another topic but we all know about that. Work ethics of the players is another issue. Tons of issues.
Let's have a look at the league attendance each year and the performance of National Team at the same period Season Avg Att NT Performance 1994 16,326 China won silver medal in Asian Games 1995 23,790 1996 24,266 China Out in Asian Cup quarter-Final 1997 21,220 China disqualified for World Cup, finished 3rd after Saudi & Iran in WCQ Asian Final Group 1998 21,346 China won Bronze medal in AG 1999 19,909 2000 19,901 China 3rd place in AC 2001 18,296 China qualified to WC 2002 14,984 China lost all three group matches in WC 2003 17,710 2004 10,838 China lost in Asian Cup Final, disqualified for WCQ Asian Final Round 2005 10,284 2006 10,611 2007 15,112 China disqualified for AC quarter-Final 2008 13,543 China disqualified for WCQ Asian Final Round
I am not sure if attendance is a good way of looking at it. I would say look at how CSL teams performed in ACL and how our National team performed on the world stage.
山东鲁能变成山东无能, 实在丢脸. 领先两球情况下败给一支明显在自己之下的球队， 难免会引起怀疑，如果cfa & csl不彻底调查，对不起国家、球迷、更加对不起良心。 中国球迷痛心，支持中国足球三十多年、爱中国的我更加痛心。
the luneng fans r not tender with the team :d http://sports.sina.com.cn/z/09zc10/photo/77073/index.shtml
Those who love Chinese soccer must demand a thorough investigation. The team lost in a most unusual manner in circumstances which include a huge payout for a Sri Wijaya win. Isn't this suspicious? There are certainly many people a few hundred thousand dollars richer. There could also be a few players with a bigger bank account. Those who sell out country and club ought to be banned for life no matter how talented they are.
I cry foul as well. Even though I am not a Luneng fan, but I demand justice for the loyal fans, no matter whom they support.
http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168722747.html China clubs count cost of ACL exits KUALA LUMPUR: Clubs from China, the land often touted as the future of not just Asian but also world football, have failed to reach the knockout stages of the AFC Champions League in 2009.