What will happen to Seoul's veterans?
(From FC Seoul's FB Page) |
I said in my FA Cup review that I expect that there will be a lot of flux in the off-season, so let's take a quick look at the some of the Seoul veterans first and then tomorrow or next week, the foreign contingent.
The Old School
(from www.portabelloartsclub.com) |
Cha Du-ri is retiring at the end of the season, so that opens up a spot at right back. Most likely, Ko Kwang-min will fill his spot, which means Sim Sang-min will probably become the starter at left back.
Which leads me to ask, who will back those two players up? I suppose Go Yo-han can play in either position and he was the right back in 2012 when Seoul won the league. Yet, what about Kim Chi-woo?
At age 31, he still has a few good years in him. Kim Chi-woo has not played since the end of July though. What is his status? Is he injured? Would he want to stay at Seoul as a back -up?
Having been supplanted as the number one by Yu Sang-hun, I cannot imagine Kim Yong-dae wanting to stay around. At 36 years of age, he still has a few good years left in him. Unlike an outfield player, 36 is not that old for a keeper. Hell, 1980's Action Movie Villain/mullet super hero Kim Byung-ji is 45 and still a number one keeper in the league.
Kim Byung-ji grows the goatee out in the off-season (from screenkickermovies.com) |
I still rate him pretty highly as a passer and I think he needs to be surrounded by another CB with speed to be really effective. So, does Kim Jin-kyu stay and fight for his place? Should Seoul let him go?
So, there are four core members who are over 30. One, Cha Du-ri, is retiring. I have not heard whether or not the other three have given an indication as to what they will do. Nonetheless, between Kim Chi-woo, Kim Yong-dae, and Kim Jin-kyu, they almost average seven years of experience having played for Seoul. That is a lot of experience to have to replace.
I do not know how much that matters and I do not think something like that is quantifiable anyways. However, I am sure it will have some impact on the team next year depending on how many of the veterans leave.
You might even end up with Kim Byung-ji next season. Seems highly unlikely he'll be back with the Dragons next year regardless of goatee choice.
ReplyDeleteHe would be a great back-up to Yu Sang-hun. I am hoping Orsic follows him to Seoul as well.
ReplyDeleteKim Byung-ji could work well with another keeper to swap throughout the season, so that could be a good setup. Though I'm pretty sure it's because the Dragons want to see Kim Min-sik before next year, KBJ hasn't been getting a lot of time here lately.
DeleteAs for Oršić, I just hope he stays in K-League. So even Seoul would be fine by me.