Considering SHM's terrible form + our shitty defenders, I want to say he IS our most important player. Our defense is non-existent without him. But wtf is the point? Both SMH and KMJ are important and they are our players.
Korea's success is more important than me being right, so at the end of the day I hope Kim Minjae performs well and helps lead us out the group stage.
I'll just be glad if we can at least get 3 points in Kazan miracle fashion. It would be a miracle if we make it past the group stage though, but I hope the best for our players/team. Kim Min-jae will be tested by the likes of Suarez, Nunez, Gomez, Fernandez, Silva, Neves. I'm not too worried about Ronaldo and Cavani.
My best guess is that we'll end with 1W-1D-1L. Whether that's enough to get us out of the group, I don't know.
It's always a hit or a miss depending on the results from the other games (Particularly the last group match) eg. we could end up making it past the group stage with 1W 1D 1L like in 2010, or we could end up going home like in 2006. Either way our first match is really important so we cannot afford to be any more complacent even though that's a bit too much to ask of. Just looking at Uruguay's squad, they're absolutely stacked especially their midfield department is quite a monster.
That was my guess pre-tournament. 1-1-1 and miss the 16 on goal differential. But the optimistic case is 1-2-0 to go through. Pessimistic case is 0-1-2 to miss.
does anybody remember why KYG became the veteran leader of our back line while HJH was thrown away? After Olympics and while HJH was killing it in the Bundesliga, I remember HJH was more highly rated .
Cause he decided to flee to China? Randomly. While being good in Bundesliga. And only like 25 years old
On a separate issue, I find it deeply embarrassing that Koreans call themselves Red Devils. It started from a passing remark by a Mexican press. He probably was not very serious either. Samurai Blue is also kinda tacky. It is like England calling themselves Knights of Round Table or something. Oh yeah ethnicity does not match, Celtic and Anglo-Saxon. Or should Wales have a nickname like Longbowmen? Denmark Berserkers?
Kim Minjae's nickname was Jin Min Tsai(찐 민짜이) for a while. That is pretty close to the Chinese pronunciation of his name. And the Koreans were still hurt and changed it to 돈 민짜이( Money Min Tsai). Now people have forgiven him but I still haven't. He gained some skills in China while defending against top foreign players but a good part of his 2.5 years' stay was wasted. Especially after Wuhan Virus that Chinese shamelessly call Corona-19. I think Shin Taeyong is a better manager than most people think. I don't miss him but people unnecessarily crap on him. For 2018 WC, Kim Minjae, Kwon Changhoon, Kim Jinsoo were hurt and did not make the WC. And a few more. It was the most injured WC squad in Korean soccer history. P.S. And this WC squad is the most injured WC squad after they made the entry. It is the most not-well WC squad in Korean history. Top 3 are all injured. SHM KMJ HHC. And 4th one Lee KangIn is overlooked by the coach. How unlucky.
He had a string of games where he was starting and was solid. People were praising him saying “We finally have a real centerback”
But he is also known for frequent mental lapses. It became bad after his leg injury. He confessed he carried a trauma from that injury. He was never the same after that injury. But KYG is known for even worse mental lapses. He is the one responsible for Iran's lone goal on a 1 shot on goal, 1 shot total and under 30 percent possession 1-0 Iran's victory in June 2013. It nearly cost Korea's WCQ. Among Korean soccer fans, "he did KYG" means a defender committed a stupid mistake. But fans forgave him after his incredible goal on Germany in 2018 WC. KYG is considered to have a better speed than HJH(I don't know how much of that is due to his injury) and HJH lost a position in the NT forever after he committed a horrendous mistake under Shin Taeyong, He missed WC 2018. In his youth he was very highly regarded. almost like a slightly inferior version of KMJ. He was touted as the next Hong Myongbo. I don't know whether it is due to injury but after the surgery he was never the same. Still good enough to go to Europe but certainly not the next HMB.
Thanks this seems accurate with my memory. People use to hate KYG. I remember he said that he couldn’t communicate with his teammates because the fans were too loud. Everyone was on his ass then. Also he was teamless or on exile or smth for a while, which was weird. But I love the dude, he’s formed solid CB partnerships with Kwak Taehwi and now Kim Minjae (who I’ve doubted but has proved me wrong thus far, hope he’s healthy), and his distribution is so clean. At this rate he may be a Korean legend? Likely a top 3 Korean CB ever ?
2022 should be most memorable year for KYG. - Led Ulsan to K-League 1 title for the first time since 2005. - Won K-League 1 Best XI award. - Scored an equalizer against Portugal in WC 2022 / Played an instrumental role in our defense just as he did four years ago.
KYG's son and daughter are fierce. His daughter bragged in front of Park Jooho's daughter Naeun that her dad was a better player than Naeun's. Park Jooho was embarrassed and , after a pause, said "That is true, right now". His son and Gunhoo did a race and his son won. Gunhoo burst into tears.