Hey i just realised that the core of the Chinese NT hasn't really changed at all since 1997. I just saw the lineup of china back in 97 in a world cup qualifier against Qatar which we lost 3-2 and it is amazingly similar to the current lineup. Guys like Fan Zhiyi, Ma Mingyu, Sun Jihai, Li Tie, Zhang Enhua, Li Ming, Hao Haidong, Jiang Jin, Wu Chengying. No wander we sucked. We have the same team we had five years ago. Compare this to the Korean team 5 years ago [22] SEO Dong Myung [20] HONG Myung-bo [17] HA Seok Ju [ 5] LEE Min-sung [ 4] CHOI Young Il [12] LEE Ki Hyung [10] CHOI Yong Su [13] KIM Tae-young [15] LEE Sang Yoon [18] KIM Do Hoon [11] SEO Jung Won Such a different team. No wonder we always lose because we don't bring up enough youg players.
well some of those players are old, thats why they replaced them. Kim do hoon, Seo jungwon, Lee sang yoon, Lee Kihyong, Ha Seokju they are all over 30. (they are forwards, and wing/back players)
Don't worry, there will be no Fan Zhiyi, Ma Mingyu, Zhang Enhua, Li Ming, Hao Haidong, Jiang Jin, Wu Chengying fot the next World Cup qualification matches. Those guys are too old. We will see a new lineup with some young talents.
How many caps do these guys have between them? A thousand? I know Fan Zhiyi and Li Ming have over 100 caps each and Hao Haidong has about 95, Ma Mingyu must be getting close to 100 as well. Sun Jihai and Li Tie have about 60 each.
I recalled the 1997 team was criticized for bringing up the young guys too soon. It was basically Ma/Hao/Fan combined with the U-23 squad.
I know, I know REALLY off topic Hi guys, I know it's really off topic, but do any of you guys know a good sports store in Shanghai or Beijing that would have China, Japan or Korea jerseys? A close family friend is going there for two months, and I'm going to ask her to help me pick one up. Thanks