The League Table

After a series of depressing results, Seoul's season has become somewhat of a joke.  However, it is still too early to throw in the towel since expectations must be met and schedules maintained.

The title race is most likely over, but there are lots of interesting subplots going on.  The rac for the other two coveted ACL positions is quite close as is the one to nip into the top six.  Even the relegation race is interesting as perennial league power Suwon Bluewings could conceivably be relegated.  As a Seoul fan I enjoy watching the Bluewings shit the bed, by no means do I want to see them relegated.  The Super Matches are the best fixtures of the year and I could not imagine a K-League season without them, so here is hoping that they get it together and finish in 10th.  This is the table as things stand:

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF (avg.)	GA (avg.)	Pts. (avg.)
1	Jeonbuk	22	13	9	0	41 (1.86)	25 (1.14)	48 (2.18)
2	FC Seoul	22	10	4	8	41 (1.86)	33 (1.5)	34 (1.55)
3	Ulsan	22	10	4	8	24 (1.09)	28 (1.27)	34 (1.55)
4	Seongnam	22	9	6	7	34 (1.55)	28 (1.27)	33 (1.5)
5	Sangju Sangmu	22	10	2	10	39 (1.77)	37 (1.68)	32 (1.45)
6	Jeju Utd.	22	9	4	9	38 (1.73)	34 (1.55)	31 (1.41)
7	Pohang	22	8	6	8	27 (1.23)	25 (1.14)	30 (1.36)
8	Gwangju FC	22	7	7	8	29 (1.32)	28 (1.27)	28 (1.27)
9	Jeonnam	22	6	7	9	25 (1.14)	27 (1.23)	25 (1.14)
10	Suwon Bluewings	22	5	9	8	27 (1.23)	35 (1.59)	24 (1.09)
11	Incheon Utd.	22	5	7	10	23 (1.05)	31 (1.41)	22 (1.0)
12	Suwon FC	22	4	7	11	16 (0.73)	33 (1.5)	19 (0.86)

I have said this before, but I think Hwang Sun-hong would be smart to throw in the towel and focus on finishing in the top three.  Only six points separate the second place team and the eighth place team, which is not a very large gap with so many games left.   Hell, even Jeonnam are nine points back and that could be made up over the sixteen games, but only the most wide-eyed optimist who believes in magical thinking, fairies, and happily-ever-after would bet the farm that Jeonnam are in contention for the top six.

Still, just looking at the teams in the top six, the gap between the second and sixth place team is even smaller with four teams being separated by only three points.  My point is that even though the men in green, who are sponsored by the company that are on the league's masthead yet still resort to such underhanded shit as bribery are going to win the title for the third damn year in a row, there is still a lot to play for.

These next eleven fixtures will be quite interesting to see how the table ends up as no team besides Jeonbuk is particularly strong and they all have weaknesses.

• Seoul cannot defend and make mistakes at the most inopportune times.
• Ulsan are somehow third even though they have a negative goal differential.
• Seongnam lost their best player during the transfer window.
• Sangju Sangmu will see several of their members, some key, go back to their corporate benefactors in September.
• Jeju are a mystery, wrapped inside a riddle, inside an enigma.
• Pohang just will not die and are somehow going to finish in the top six.
• Gwangju gave it a valiant run and for awhile, I thought they might finish in the top six, but now I cannot see it happening which is too bad since I like Jung Jo-gook and Kim Min-hyeok.
• Jeonnam, Suwon Bluewings, Incheon United, and Suwon FC- good luck in the relegation rounds.  

Many disdain mediocrity, but I for one welcome it since it makes for an interesting race.  Bring on the next round fixtures!