There are 14 teams,after regular 26 rounds first 6 will go in play off and last 8 in the play out. In the play off/playout the points will be splitted by 2, a 0.5 result will go in +1 point;
We are already at the half of the regular season, 13 rounds were played. This is how the table looks now:
1. Astra Giurgiu 27p
2. Steaua Bucuresti 25
3. Viitorul Constanta 23
4. Pandurii Targu Jiu 23
5. Dinamo Bucuresti 21
6. ASA Targu Mures 19
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7. CSU Craiova 19
8. CFR Cluj 14 **** (6 points deducted)
9. ACS Poli Timisoara 14
10.CSMS Iasi 13
11.Concordia Chiajna 10
12.Fc Botosani 9
13.Fc Voluntari 6
14.Petrolul Ploiesti 3 **** (6 points deducted)
****CFR Cluj and Petrolul Ploiesti both were deducted 6 points because they didnt have the insolvency plan approved at the 30 march 2015, when clubs must get the licence. In the past years for this thing Rapid and Vaslui were relegated, but from this year the rule is only to deduct points. But even so both clubs attacked this to TAS (CAS)and in the next period both can regain the points.
Last 2 teams will relegate (winner from each Liga2 series will achieve promotion) and the 13rd placed will have a play out with the winner of the clash between the 2nd placed teams in the Liga2 series (we have 2 series in the Liga2).
Generally table is correct, Astra was the best team in this half, maybe Viitorul should be over Steaua in the second position. I expected much more from Botosani.
The relegation battle will be placed between Petrolul, Voluntari, Chiajna and Iasi, but is a this moment prediction.In this play off system the form from play off/play out will count 2 x times more than the form from regular season.
And this is the thing that I really hate at this system. I am not agree with the /2 points splitting. Otherwise I think its a good system, but personally I expect that next year to change again to a 16 teams regular system. Just my personal feeling
Astra is favourite at winning the title, but they are having serious financial problems (their owner in the jail). I dont think they will resist if things will not improve, players everytime at the interviews are saying they are not paid , in the past they were close to suspend a training etc.
Steaua is paying tribute because of poor summer transfers and last years very big number of players who were selled or finished the contract. Crucial players from Steaua choosed other teams from other countries because of weak financial power of Steaua comparing even with Ludogorets, Maccabi Tel Aviv or Osmanlispor.
Also Steaua is having troubles because they choose to appoint as manager a 34 years old who only this summer eneded his career at player. The problem for Mirel Radoi, former symbol of Steaua (played from 2000 until 2009 at Steaua) is that he dont have a coach licence. To be capable of staying in the bench Steaua said he is a team manager (the man from staff who makes the changes etc). The official coach is someone else from the staff who is having the coaching licence. At the start of this season this thing worked, but after the game vs Partizan in CLQR3 UEFA suspended him for the games vs Rosenborg. He wasnt allowed to stay anymore at the bench.
In Romania the FA didnt have the rule to send him out of the bench, but they they maked a rule that only the official coach and the assistant manager can give advices to the players in the game.
So, in this moment Steaua coach can only take a sit in the bench but he cant stand up and talk with the players! Strange situation for a club like Steaua.
He tried to sign up in the Romanian Coach School, but he wasnt allowed because he is not having an exam that is a must for becoming coach. In Romania we have an exam named Bacalaureat which is sustained after the finish of the highschool.. But he dont have this exam so the only solution was to make school in Moldova.
Viitorul is the 100% creation of Gheorghe Hagi. He is having a very powerfull academy, 100% created, financed and owned by him. He is having a lot of young kids from younger ages who are grow up. The big team, Viitorul, used until this year 90% young players from the academy. But from this year he signed some players from other Liga1 teams too and this strenghtned clearly the power of the team.
The coach of the team is Hagi and in the squad we can find his son , Ianis Hagi who this year is a 100% first 11 player despite having only 16 years and 11 months in this moment.
In my opinion those are the favourites for title this year, but what happens now is not counts very much, everything will be decided in the 10 games from play off. I must say again I am not agree with this, a team in big form in the regular season (3-4 months) will get nothing if will have a bad month in the play off.
