Koreans Abroad Weekend Preview and Midweek Recap

(image via cpfc.co.uk)

By @KoreaFootAbroad

Will try to squeeze in recaps here.  Too much only on internet (esp since at work) and made for a painful watching experience so note that my comments are based on really split attention.

Day	Time (KST)	Player	Club	Opponent	TV
Saturday	11:30 PM	Hong Jeong Ho	Augsburg	@Ingolstadt	Fox Soccer 2 Go
Saturday	11:30 PM	Ji Dong Won	Augsburg	@Ingolstadt	Fox Soccer 2 Go
Saturday	11:30 PM	Koo Ja Cheol	Augsburg	@Ingolstadt	Fox Soccer 2 Go
Saturday	11:30 PM	Park Joo Ho	Dortmund	@Hertha Berlin	Fox Sports 1
Sunday	12:00 AM	Lee Chung Yong	Crystal Palace	@Swansea	NBC Extra Time
Sunday	12:00 AM	Ki Sung Yueng	Swansea	Crystal Palace	NBC Extra Time
Sunday	12:00 AM	Son Heung Min	Tottenham	Watford	NBCSN
Monday	1:30 AM	Kim Jin Su	Hoffenheim	Darmdstadt	Fox Sports 1
Monday	5:15 AM	Suk Hyun Jun	Porto	Arouca	None

Hong Jeong Ho -- He should start though perhaps the new CH gets a look for rotation's sake.

Koo Ja Cheol -- Hopefully he's fit as the middle is a bit thinner these days with Baier out with a fractured bone in his ankle.  How Weinzierl adjusts remains to be seen... if Koo drops further back into more of a CM role or stays up and pulls someone else behind or changes shape altogether.  I think he'll start if fit and bench if not 100%.

Ji Dong Won -- The injuries will create knock-on effects for Ji as well.  In his case, I think he'll move to the bench for now as he struggles a bit for form but need (such as a misfiring Moravek) may keep him in starting XI.

Park Joo Ho -- He will be lucky to make the bench.

Lee Chung Yong -- It was bittersweet to see LCY get so much positive acclaim again after his performance this weekend.  Not that he was bad, and a handful of his touches, including the backheel that led to Crystal Palace's goal were spectacular.  But he also struggled a bit for consistency, and maybe his legs were heavy from so many minutes after being unused; he's still far from his peak and perhaps in a different set of circumstances would be in a different spot than 12th guy on a midtable squad.  He eventually got pulled as he started to tire, and he'll be looking to continue his good form this weekend where he should start but may be on the bench if some of the top guys get healthy.

Ki Sung Yueng -- A very good half came to a horrifying end as Ki looked to have been knocked unconscious by a collision of heads with Sessegnon.  A several minutes stoppage as he barely moved added to the concern but a switch to a milder stretcher and avoiding a trip to hospital altogether is a good sign for his health.  During play, while still struggling to cover wide in the diamond, he helped speed up a slowish Swansea's attack, with a handful of beautiful diagonal and cross-field passes which opened up great chances, including Rangel's run and shot.  I'd expect that this weekend is too soon for Ki but not going to rule him out.  Head injuries are hard to predict with symptoms sometimes not appearing until the next day so we'll have to see closer to match day.

Son Heung Min -- An industrious performance from Son.  All his hard running helped with Tottenham's press and in attack, opened up room for his teammates.  He helped in more direct ways too with the pass that helped start the first goal attack.  That said he had only a handful of really memorable moments, particularly the run and flick that just missed the goal, and one would hope that a rested Son should be able to create more danger.

Kim Jin Su -- Only saw 60 minutes and got what I expected so haven't gotten around to watch the rest.  Of course facing a healthy Robben gave KJS fits and Hoffenheim chipping in with help only caused far more problems elsewhere.  Hoffenheim playing so deep was just what Bayern wanted and they toyed with the entire Hoffenheim defense.  That said, KJS didn't do badly given the circumstances, and hopefully was a good learning experience.

Suk Hyun Jun -- He started the midweek cup match and he scored his first goal for Porto as I am typing this.  Not sure if it will impact his starting situation this weekend but hopefully a positive turn for his Porto career.