Former England international goalkeeper, Ian Walker played for Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers. In 2012 he moved to China to become goalkeeper coach of Shanghai Shenhua, before crossing the city divide to join Shanghai SIPG in 2014. In Walks the Walk he talks football and China. Follow him on Twitter: @IanWalks1
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The Shanghai Derby. SIPG vs Shenhua on May 9. It was big enough last year when we didn’t have much money. Fast forward a season and we have brought Sven-Göran Eriksson in as head coach, splashed some cash on players like Dario Conca and are top of the league.
Shenhua are still within touching distance of the top, though. They’ve been around the longest and there is a feeling at the club that they are the number one team in the city. You can’t really say one club is bigger than the other – it is a matter of getting the result on the pitch and finishing higher up in the league.
We finished above them last year, but our two games ended level at 1-1, so both teams will be desperate to draw first derby blood since things got serious. I think they admitted they bought Australia's all-time top scorer Tim Cahill in response to our signings, so the ambition and expectation at both clubs is very real.
We had over 30,000 fans at our opening game of the season against Jiangsu, and you can expect at least 10,000 more at this one, as well as a great atmosphere. It’s going to be a fierce contest with tackles flying. It should be a cracker.
This beard of mine is not getting shaved until we get beaten, either. I’ve been growing it – or attempting to grow it – since the first game of the season. I thought I’d let it grow until we lost a game... and we still haven’t lost one.
It got a bit itchy at one point so I thought ‘Sod it, I’m going to take it off.’ But then I thought better of it, and just gave it a little bit of a trim. The beard is the winner. The beard is the reason!
This is not the first time a beard has come into play in the Shanghai derby, funnily enough. Last season our Australian striker Daniel McBreen grew a massive ginger thing (he called himself Captain Red Beard, but who was he kidding…) However, the then club president/head coach/all-round old school eccentric Xu Genbao was not a fan beards.
A pre-whiskered Macca had scored our goal against Shenhua in the first derby of the season at home back in April, and when it came to the return fixture at the Hongkou Stadium in August, Xu told him if he went back to being clean-shaven he would “score a beautiful goal.”
But I think Macca had stopped shaving to needle Xu in the first place (they didn’t exactly have the most harmonious relationship) so the ginger beard stayed, and Macca’s ‘beautiful goal’ failed to materialize. Then, after the game, Macca went straight home and shaved it off. What a wind up! Xu absolutely hit the roof when he laid eyes on him on Monday morning.
Anyway, enough superstitious waffle, here are the players to watch come the big day. And may the best beard win…
SIPG
Yan Junling
One of the two guys who probably played the best for us last season. Yan’s made saves to make sure we get three points, or at least pick up points in every game. Crucial saves at crucial times.
Tobias Hysen
The other standout player last year. He has started this season as he left off in 2014: scoring goals and setting goals up. Currently second top scorer in the Chinese Super League, the Swede has a sweet left foot.
Dario Conca
One of the injuries we suffered already this season, playing without him was a setback. The Argentinean is set piece expert – very dangerous from free kicks, with brilliant delivery from corners.
SHENHUA
Tim Cahill
The Australian has been unfortunate to only get one goal so far. An experienced player, he’s working hard for the team and a forward like that won’t go too long without banging them in. I just hope it isn’t against us.
Gio Moreno
We know what their Colombian captain is all about. The attacking midfielder is big, strong, good in the air and fast on the break. Very difficult to defend against, he’s a top quality player.
Paulo Henrique
The Brazilian striker has been injured lately, but he scored four goals early in the season, which helped put Shenhua top of the table for the first few games. Likely to be back for the derby and a real threat.
The Shanghai Derby - Sat May 9
19.45 Shanghai SIPG vs Shanghai Shenhua, Shanghai Stadium.
Tickets are officially sold out, but there are always scaplers around the stadium. How much tickets will be going for, we do not know (but Wild East Football reckon about RMB300...)
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