retired_blondie_524

Saturday 26th July 2008

The transfer window opens and the players get busy traveling to their new clubs. Sichuan's Ma Quan, Tianjin's Zhang Xinxin and Liaoning's Lee Ji-Nam arrive in Wuhan while Yuan Weiwei and Wei Jun are on their bikes.

The TV games see Shenhua draw 1-1 with Zhongbang and Tianjin draw 2-2 with Shenyang

Sunday 27th July 2008

Dalian blow their chance to go top with a 0-0 draw with bottom club Henan while fourth place Shandong lose 2-1 at International.

Wednesday 30th July - Super League
Shenzhen Jianlibao v Wuhan Huanghelou

Lee Ji-Nam goes straight into the side to face third placed Shenzhen replacing Cai Xi while Xixin and Quan are on the bench.
The home side take the lead on 20 minutes when a long ball flicked on splits the defense and Zhang Shuo drives it past Kai from 18 yards out. We level after 32 minutes when Zhiyong's cross is nodded over the defense by Long for Fangzhuo who buries it in the bottom corner. Minutes later though, Shenzhen regain the lead when Shuo beats Zhiyong to the header and sinks it in the far corner.
Despite several good chances in the second half we just cannot get the vital goal and lose our third match of the season.
Shenzhen 2-1 Wuhan
Shenzhen scorers: Shuo 21, 38
Wuhan scorers: Fangzhuo 33
Att: 9,880

Shenzhen move a point clear of us at the top with a game in hand but that's against 4th placed Shandong.

The press are warning that after our first loss in eleven matches that our bubble has burst but our supporters are quick to say they don't believe that.

Saturday 2nd August - Super League
Changchun Yatal v Wuhan Huanghelou

Wu Wei'an is worn out so Zheng Bin comes in for him.
A poor start sees Wuhan under the cosh but the home side suffer a blow when Tan Jin is given a straight red for hauling Zou You back when clear. Wuhan take the lead then with 10 minutes left in the first half when Bin's cross finds Zou You in the area. His sharp turn and cross to Fangzhuo was intercepted by Liu Cheng but all he could do was turn it into his own net.
Wuhan looked comfortable but were caught on the break on 63 minutes with the defense in total disarray Cao Mingwas left to power it past Kai. Wuhan shocked into action regained the lead minutes later when Lee Ji-Nam's high ball into the box was met by substitute Jiang's head, leaving the keeper to pick the ball out of the net. The offside trap denied Wuhan time and time again before disaster struck. In the 93rd minute our defense switched off and let Cao Ming score his second, a very undeserved equaliser for the 10 men.
Changchun 2-2 Wuhan
Changchun scorers: Ming 64, 93
Wuhan scorers: Cheng OG 36, Jiang 67
Att: 7,988

Shenzhen march on at the top with a 3-0 win over Zhejiang while Dalian's 4-0 victory at International takes them second with us trailing in third, two points behind them.

retired_teju

Really enjoying this story, a bit baffled why you would go to China rather than stay in Europe, but I keep reading just to see where you end up next!

Doesn't it p**s you off to do the hard work with these clubs and see somebody else get the credit? Would like to see you stick around and take someone to glory with a few promotions.

retired_blondie_524

Thanks for you comments irish reagan

Truth is I was getting really p****ed off at the dammn italians and wanted out. I was secretly applying for all sorts of jobs in England and Belguim, my prefered destinations but no-one, not even Crawley would have me.
So when Wuhan offered me an out I thought I'd take it, hopefully win the CSL and look for europe again at the end of the chinese season which being in November would be about the time European clubs are looking to make their first cull of managers

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 3rd August 2008

Shandong win 3-0 at Chongqing while Liaoning get a 1-0 win at Shenhua

Had a laugh as I noticed in a little footnote on the sports page
FA Community Shield - Leicester 1-0 Chelsea
Money doesn't buy everything !

Wednesday 6 August - Super League
Wuhan Huanghelou v Shanghai Shenhua

Wei'an returns to the side and Jiang replaces Yao.
It was a fairly dreadful opening period with both sides struggling to find any accuracy but we finally broke through just after the half hour. Zou You picked up a ball over the top and although the keeper saved the initial shot it fell to Fangzhuo to poke into the empty net.
Five minutes into the second half it was two after a great move. Bai Long crossed the half way line and flipped it out to Wei'an on the wing, three paces and he launched a pinpoint cross into the box where Zou You planted it past the visitors keeper. A sublime 30 yard curling shot by Long three minutes later had the keeper rooted to the spot as it hit the net. A marvelous return to form and I told the players "lets have a performance like that every week".
Wuhan 3-0 Shenhua
Wuhan scorers: Fangzhuo 33, You 51, Long 54
Shenhua scorers: none
Att: 11,160

The win lifted us back to second behind Shenzhen on results between us but Shenzhen now have two games in hand. In today's only other game Zhejiang beat Chongqing 2-0.

Saturday 9th August 2008

The early TV game saw Shenhua win 2-1 at Bejing while in the big game fourth placed Shandong beat third placed Dalian 1-0.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 10th August - Super League
Wuhan Huanghelou v Chongqing Lifan

I gave Ma Quan his first start in defense alongside Ji-Nam as we entertained 15th placed Chongqing.
If you ever wanted to watch paint dry this was it. Nothing seemed to happen and there were no chances to write home about at all, the only thing you could say was that Quan looked sound enough with what little he had to do.
Wuhan 0-0 Chongqing
Att: 11,119

We take over top spot again after Shenzhen suffered a shock 4-0 defeat at Zhongbang.

Wednesday 13th August 2008

Shenzhan suffer their second successive defeat as they go down 2-0 at Shandong a result which moves the home side second. Dalian fail to improve on their 4th place following their 1-1 draw at Shenyang. All the top four sides are now separated by a point.

retired_blondie_524

The top places of the CSL table as at 13th August 2008
<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Holders – Shenzhen| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | | Wuhan | | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 48 | 28 | +20 | 39 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Shandong | | 19 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 30 | 9 | +21 | 39 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Shenzhen | | 19 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 34 | 23 | +11 | 38 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Dalian | | 20 | 11 | 5 | 4 | 39 | 14 | +25 | 38 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Liaoning | | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 19 | +6 | 34 | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>

retired_blondie_524

Saturday 16th August - Super League
Guangzhou Rizhiquan v Wuhan Huanghelou

Quan keeps his place in defense for the visit to the 13th placed team.
We pushed hard for the opener but our finishing was wayward early on and we suffered a blow in the 35th minute when Xinxin had to replace the injured Zou You. Two minutes later though we got the breakthrough when Bai Long's ball over the top caught the home keeper undecided whether to come for it or stay and Fangzhuo reached it first to power it into the net.
The home side equalised seven minutes into the second half when Ji-Nam and Jung-Kyum were too slow to deal with the ball and Xiang poked it between them and Kai. Guangzhou grabbed a most unlikely win when two minutes from time Zhiyong's backpass left Kai stairing at two onrushing attackers. He panicked and former Zhejiang player Sun Wei hammered it home.
Guangzhou 2-1 Wuhan
Guangzhou scorers: Xiang 51, Wei 89
Wuhan scorers: Fangzhuo 37
Att: 11,067

Shenzhen's 3-2 win over Bejing took them to 1st place again and Dalian's 1-0 defeat of Zhejiang moved them up to second as we slide to third.

Yao has reached the yellow cards limit and will sit the next game out while Zou You's bruised shin will keep him out for a week or two.

Sunday 17th August 2008

Shandong won 1-0 at Henan in today's only game. That moved them up to top spot, a point ahead of Shenzhen and Dalian.

retired_blondie_524

Saturday 23rd August - Super League
Wuhan Huanghelou v Shanghai International

Zhang Xinxin replaced the injured Zou You.
The first goal came just before the half hour when Fangzhuo broke clear and fired a shot in, the visitors keeper managed to palm it away but Xinxin was the first to react and poked in his first goal for the club. With five minutes left in the half Xinxin netted his second as the ball broke to him after a goalmouth melee.
Wuhan have the better of the second half but are unable to add to the score until five minutes from time when Zhiyong is blocked off in the area. The referee gave the penalty and substitute Zheng Bin stepped up to net his 1st of the season. International hit right back though and when Quan headed a corner clear everyone just stood like statutes as Fei pumped in back into the net for a consolation goal.
Wuhan 3-1 International
Wuhan scorers: Xinxin 29, 40, Bin 85 pen
Inter scorers: Fei 88
Att: 10,983

All change at the top again as we join the log jam at the top. Dalian can only draw 1-1 at Liaoning leaving us, Shandong and Dalian on 42 points and Shenzhen on 41.

Liu Zhiyong will miss a month with a groin strain so I will either have to play someone out of position or find a right back quickly.

Saturday 24th August 2008

Shenzhen's 2-1 win at Tianjin gives them top spot and Shandong's 0-0 draw with Shenyang moves them up to second.

Wednesday 27th August 2008

The current top two play their games in hand. Shandong thrash Guangzhou 5-0 to go top but Shenzhen can only draw 0-0 at Liaoning. With eight games left we are four points behind the leaders.

Thursday 28th August 2008

With the transfer window about to shut I sign my old right back from my Zhejiang days, now playing at Bejing. He costs me 500,000 RMB but I need the cover for Zhiyong in this final run-in towards the end of the season.

Saturday 6th September 2008

Today's TV games see International lose 1-0 at home to Zhongbang while Shenzhen move top with a 2-0 win over Changchun.

Wu Wei'an, Dong Fangzhuo and Li Jian have all been called up by the Chinese national team manager Yu Dongfeng for his squad to face Yemen.

retired_blondie_524

Sunday 7th September - Super League
Dalian Shide v Wuhan Huanghelou

Hua Erkang comes in for his debut at right back and Zou You is fit enough to return to the side.
The home side took the lead after just six minutes when Du Wenhui jinked through the defense and somehow squeezed it between Kai and the post. Five minutes later Wuhan were level as Erkang crossed into the path of You and he was bundled over in the box, Wu Wei'an stepped up to drill the equaliser home. Dalian are reduced to 10 men after 24 minutes when Du Wei is dismissed for holding Zou You back.
Again we have trouble with 10 men and fail miserably to break Dalian down.
Dalian 1-1 Wuhan
Dalian scorers: Wenhui 7
Wuhan scorers: Wei'an 12 pen
Att: 12,699

Shandong can only draw 1-1 with Zhejiang and Bejing thrash Guangzhou 5-1 at their own stadium. Shenzhen are still only a point clear of Shandong but are now five points clear of Dalian and ourselves.

retired_blondie_524

Saturday 13th September 2008

In today's TV games Shenzhen march on at the top with a 1-0 win at Shenhua while International drew 0-0 at Bejing.

Sunday 14th September - Super League
Wuhan Huanghelou v Henan Jianye

The visit of bottom side Hunan is a must win game for us. Erkang makes his second appearance as Zhiyong is still not quite fit enough to resume and Zhonghu replaces Quan as Ji-Nam's partner.
Fourteen minutes into the game Wuhan were on the board when Jung-Kyum's quickly taken free kick caught the visitors by surprise; Zou You had drifted off his marker and planted number 20 into the net. Henan were knocking the ball around pretty confidently but with no end product and we weren't really showing at all.
The disappointing Fangzhuo and Long were withdrawn on the hour for Xinxin and Bin and it was Xinxin who doubled our lead with quarter of an hour left. It was somewhat fortuitous as the Henan keeper completely fluffed his kick out and left Xinxin with a simple tap-in to the empty net. Not a very convincing win but at this stage three points is three points.
Wuhan 2-0 Henan
Wuhan scorers: You 14, Xinxin 75
Henan scorers: none
Att: 11,069

Second placed Shandong lost 4-2 at Liaong while fourth place Dalian drew 0-0 at Zhongbang. With six games left it's Shenzhen on 51 points, Shandong on 47, Wuhan on 46 and Dalian on 44 that are the main players.

The only game left against the main players is next week’s game at Shandong. The first decider if teams are tied on points is results between the sides and unfortunately Shenzhen have the drop on us with a win and a draw against us but we have the better of Dalian and so far Shandong having won the home game against them.
The only other game where the top sides play each other is Shenzhen's game at Dalian so it looks like the title is Shenzhen's to lose.