The Green Wolves Looking to Pray on Losing Leopards

Another week, another loss. Another loss, another goalless game. To say that Seoul are having one of their worst runs ever in the K League 2 is quite an understatement. They welcome Ansan Greeners to Leoul Park this week in the hopes of bringing some glory back into the side. 

Ansan sits in 6th place, five points clear of Seoul. They are also undefeated in three. Seoul on the other hand are now winless in nine league matches. The Leopards have to go all the way back to May 2nd for their last win, over two months ago. Ironically, it was the Green Wolves who handed Seoul the three points that day. Can history repeat itself in Leoul Park this Monday? Or will more questions to be asked of this depleting Seoul side? Michael Redmond previews once again. 

Stop Me If You Think That You've Heard This One Before...

I had to go back to doing some digging this week and try to remember the painful summer of 2019. I specifically remember that being the summer that Seoul were in the worse shape they have ever been in the history of the club. Between April 2019 the end of July 2019. Seoul went 15 games without a win. Only two of those were draws, meaning they lost 13. 

It was a long and hard season for Seoul back in 2019. Is history repeating itself?

After a miraculous three-game winning streak in that summer, they reconvened their poor form and recorded 12 games without a win. Five of those games being draws. Now, Seoul are currently on nine league games without a win, with five games being a draw. You can't help but feel that history is indeed repeating itself. 

The difference is between 2019 and now is that the team has a lot more depth and has a lot better talent in the squad now. The team knew they were never going to challenge in 2019. Where in 2021, Seoul have said multiple times that promotion is an ambition they want to achieve. It is confusing to see a team with such stars in the side, fall so low.  

Green Wolves Prowling

Currently sat only four points off a playoff position. Ansan are winning the hearts of the neutral fan this year. The Greeners were not thought of much of in the offseason. However, they have proven that any team can grind out results in this league. 

Robson Carlos Duarte celebrates scoring for Ansan Greeners. He will play his former club Seoul this weekend.

Seoul fans will know about Robson Duarte, who is their top goalscorer with five goals so far this year. Robson was part of Seoul's disastrous 2019 campaign. Ansan are getting results where it matters and they are knocking on the door of the big teams in this division. In the past, it was normally a wooden spoon race between Ansan Greeners and Seoul. Now Ansan might look at this fixture as a chance to get three easy points.  

Calling For Backup

As mentioned in the Busan IPark preview. Seoul were rumoured to sign Yuki Kobayashi. That rumour came true on Thursday as the Japanese midfielder is now officially a Seoul player. Hopefully, he can team up with Kim Sun-min or Kim Min-kyun and bring some creativity in the middle of the park. 

Chung Jung-yong has brought in once again another player from his time as Korea's U20 coach. Lee Jae-ik, who is now 22, signed for Seoul this week and will add some extra help to the defence. He will join fellow U20 teammates from that tournament, such as Lee Sang-min, Hwang Tae-hyeon, and Ko Jae-hyeon. 

With the expansion to 22 players in the Olympic team for Tokyo 2020, will Lee Sang-min make the cut?

It is still unsure if Lee Sang-min will join the Olympic side for Tokyo 2020, as it was announced this week that they are expanding the squad size from 18 players to 22. Sang-min was originally cut from the final squad. However, the increase in squad size will give the player hope. If chosen, Lee Sang-min will not be featured for over a month in the Seoul squad. 

It's Now or Never

You have to think that Seoul have already let any chances of promotion slip between their fingers. They are nine points off a play-off spot and every other team around them are simply just playing better. Seoul have brought in some new players with one or two more still to come into the side before the window closes. Chung Jung-yong has to change his game plan and give the Leopards an injection of energy into the squad. 

Ansan will look at a Seoul team that have clearly seen better days. The Green Wolves will look to win this game with ease if they are to continue to push for the playoffs. Ansan have really overtaken Seoul in quality in the last few months and it really shows on the pitch. Monday blues could well and truly be a thing for Seoul fans come the conclusion of round 19 of the 2021 K League 2.