This week we wait until the dust settles on the AFC Champions League group stage before reflecting on the last-day drama – how disappointed will Guoan be to exit the competition, and what were the key moments in their campaign? With the other three sides making it through to the knockout stage, we review a job well done and preview a tricky tie for SIPG along with an all-China affair between Evergrande and Shandong – is this good news for the fans, or a disappointingly local feel for the Champions League?
There’s plenty to look back on in the CSL before moving to the title picture – we’ve opinions on Evergrande breaking their own rules, Chris Coleman’s tenure in Hebei, Tianjin TEDA’s quiet achievers and some fun nominations for Phenomenon of the Week.
Attention shifts to the top-of-the-table clash between Shanghai International Port Group and Guoan – will this be a knockout blow for Guoan, or are the reigning champions still set to retain their crown? Predictions differ, but the panel agree this will be a must-watch game for the CSL fan or neutral, both in terms of drama and quality.
Don’t miss the chance to get involved in the discussion on Twitter at #chinafootypod – we love hearing feedback and do our best to field your questions and suggested topics every week.
Watch this space for some upcoming live pod recordings in China in June!
Steve hosts the Chinese Football Podcast, having joined the WEF team as correspondent for Shanghai Shenhua, the side he has followed since moving to Shanghai in 2010.
Exiled from the Victorian town-centre idyll of Feethams along with his childhood football team, Steve spent many an (un)happy year on Hongkou's North Terrace along with the Shenhua Element Crew and Blue Devils before relocating to Sydney from where he continues to follow the Chinese game from afar.
This week the pod reviews a couple of high-drama CFA cup semi finals, and looks forwards to the prospect of a high-stakes Shenhua – Shandong final. How impressed are we …
The pod is back from a brief mid-season break and jumps straight into business by asking whether Guangzhou Evergrande have the title sewn up already after some prolonged patchy form …
Beijing Guoan’s surprise loss to a struggling Jiangsu is the lead story this week – with Evergrande back at the top and just a couple of points covering the top …
With fan protests escalating in Nanjing, the pod takes a deep-dive into the story to understand more. What are the key issues and why has the club’s response left fans …
The transfer season is in full swing – the pod gets stuck into how Marko Arnautovic will fit into the red quarter of Shanghai, and what to make of El …
We’re back with a discussion on the soul of Chinese football – are naturalized Brazilians the answer to World Cup qualification woes, or yet another example of the governing bodies …
We’re back with a discussion on the soul of Chinese football – are naturalized Brazilians the answer to World Cup qualification woes, or yet another example of the governing bodies …
In our latest “fan journey” special, we take the term literally – host Steve Crooks and regular pod expert Cameron Wilson are joined by a packed sleeper train compartment of …
We continue our series of in-depth explorations of the personal journeys taken by WEF’s leading contributors – this week host Steve Crooks speaks one-to-one with Brandon Chemers to learn more …
This week’s pod opens with a review of Beijing Guoan’s ninth straight win, and more goals for Cedric Bakambu – begging the question of why some fans are still dissatisfied …
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