The adjustment of the foreign player policy.
In fact, foreign players on the football field have long been more than just outsiders on the court. Their influence has permeated every corner of the team.
From tactical arrangements to the club's financial budget, the importance of foreign players is self-evident.
What impact will the adjustment of foreign player quotas have on teams, especially big clubs like Shanghai Port?
Adjustment of foreign player policy: reducing burden or reducing strength?
At the meeting between the Chinese Super League management department and various clubs that just took place, a proposal that has attracted wide attention has sparked extensive discussion - the number of foreign players will be reduced.
From the previous policy where each team could register 7 foreign players and have a maximum of 6 on the field at the same time, it has been adjusted to a maximum of 6 foreign players per team, with a maximum of 5 registered at the same time.
In short, the use of foreign players will be more restrained.
This change obviously aims to reduce the financial pressure on clubs, as many teams are facing financial difficulties.
This policy is clearly not good news for teams that rely on foreign players to carry the flag.
Especially for big clubs like Shanghai Port, foreign players have long been synonymous with their hardcore combat power.
The goal of Port is very clear, which is to maintain the top position in domestic competitions and bravely strive for remarkable achievements in the AFC Champions League.
The tragic drama of Shanghai Port's AFC Champions League special foreign aid
This summer, in order to enhance its competitiveness in the AFC Champions League, Shanghai Port specially introduced a foreign aid - William Pop.
The role of this foreign aid is very special, and the team hopes that he can play a role in the AFC Champions League.
Although Pop's transfer does not seem so eye-catching, it is full of strategy.
Under the fierce competition of the Chinese Super League, if you want to occupy a place in the AFC Champions League, it is obviously difficult to cope with the pressure from strong teams such as Japan and South Korea only relying on local players.
All of this is facing an embarrassing situation because of the limit on the number of foreign players.
Although Pop has joined Shanghai Port, due to the limit on the number of foreign players, he can only participate in international events as a special foreign aid for the AFC Champions League.
You didn't hear wrong, he can't appear in the Chinese Super League!
He can only get opportunities on the AFC Champions League stage.
Pop's performance in the AFC Champions League is still good, with 5 appearances and 1 goal. Although the number of goals is not particularly high, it has at least helped Shanghai Port occupy a favorable position on the East Asian regional leaderboard.
With the reduction in the number of foreign players, it seems that Shanghai Port can no longer reserve a quota specifically for customized foreign aid for AFC Champions League events as before.
Next season, if Port wants to maintain its competitiveness in the AFC Champions League, they will have to make more difficult choices in the selection of foreign aid.
It must be said that this adjustment of the policy has undoubtedly cast a shadow over Shanghai Port's recruitment plan.
The far-reaching impact of reducing the number of foreign players
The adjustment of the foreign player policy seems to be a measure for the club to save money on the surface, but in the long run, it is quietly affecting the pattern of the Chinese Super League.
The reduction of foreign players will directly affect the overall strength of the team, especially those teams that rely on foreign players.
Think about it, if only 5 foreign players can play, the remaining 2 foreign players have to be wallpaper, then how should the team balance the cooperation between domestic players and foreign players, and how to maximize the limited foreign player quotas will become a major problem for each team.
Some netizens expressed their opinions on this: The change in the foreign aid policy is indeed a new challenge for the Chinese Super League. Many teams' foreign aids are already the core of the team. Suddenly reducing the number of foreign aids is really both saving costs and possibly weakening the overall competitiveness of the team.
He believes that big clubs like Shanghai Port may be affected, while relatively weaker teams may take the opportunity to catch up.
This policy adjustment will also have a direct impact on the player transfer market.
Some foreign players who are already very active in the transfer market may lose their original living space as a result.
For example, some Chinese Super League clubs may prefer foreign coaches and reduce the introduction of foreign players to lower operating costs.
For a time, the introduction and use of foreign players will become a problem in club management.
The deeper logic behind the adjustment of the foreign player policy
In fact, the adjustment of the foreign player policy is not simply to save money for the club.
The deeper reason may be to encourage the growth and competitiveness of local players by reducing the number of foreign players.
In the past few years, the foreign player policy of the Chinese Super League has changed several times, and the investment of clubs in foreign players has been increasing, which has gradually overshadowed the local players of the league.
A veteran fan commented: Reducing the foreign aid policy may give local players more opportunities to show off on the court.
Many teams have too many foreign players, and domestic players do not get enough opportunities, resulting in the team's overall level always unable to go up.
Reducing the number of foreign players may create more opportunities for young players.
His point of view has also resonated with many netizens. Everyone generally believes that having fewer foreign players and more local players on the field may be more beneficial to the long-term development of the league.
Reality is much more complicated than ideals.
Will the Chinese Super League without foreign players naturally allow local players to stand out?
Is it possible to instead lead to a decrease in the overall competitiveness of the league?
These series of questions can probably only be truly answered when the new season begins.
Conclusion
The adjustment of the foreign player policy seems to be full of duality.
It has both practical significance in reducing financial burdens and long-term considerations in cultivating local players, but for some big clubs that rely on foreign players, the adjustment of the policy is undoubtedly a forced restraint.
For top clubs like Shanghai Port, the reduction in the number of foreign players may put their recruitment strategies into a dilemma and even affect their competitiveness in important events such as the AFC Champions League.
With the implementation of the new policy, how each club adjusts its strategy and balances the relationship between foreign players and domestic players has become one of the highlights of the new season.
The changes in policies are not only related to the financial status of the club, but will also profoundly affect the competitive landscape of the league.
We can only wait.