Other than NSH, I like the squad in general. In my opinion, the reason why Paulo seems to be reluctant to rule out NSH and KCH is because Paulo thinks they fit into his system better than other K-Leaguers. They are backups to begin with anyway. If they get significant playing time in the World Cup, we are seriously f**ked up as likes of Son, HIM, LJS would be injured or suspended due to cumulative Yello Cards.
I think YHJ is just a replacement for injured Um Won-sang this time around. I highly doubt his chances of making the final squad on November. I know you and I both want to see him in Qatar on November though.
Team selection would've been perfect if we had included Hong Hyun Seok and Lee Seung Woo, but the fact that Kang in and Son Jun Ho were picked made my day. I do believe with Kang in, it significantly raises our possibility of getting out of that group. Best FK taker, great penalty taker, press resistant, and best vision out of any KNT player. Bento will have to figure out how to work with his weaknesses though.
It's not your opinion lol, Bento said this multiple times that he favors who he thinks/feels are better suited for his system. In the early stages he favored Nam Tae-hee up until Na Sang-ho emerged and dropped him like a hot cake, but then again we have better CAMs than him anyway. Also, it would be a kick in the teeth if he performs well at the WC if he were to be given minutes on the pitch.
LKI improved his weakness in mobility, pace, and contribution to support defense. It is evident game after game at Mallorca. He can provide different qualities LJS and HIB don't have. I find this very positive that they can make up for each other well in the midfield.
It's really unfortunate on what happened to Lee Seung-woo, lacking minutes in Europe/struggling to keep career in Europe only to end up back home, but that's the reality with a lot of our young talent pool that not everyone will succeed despite being gifted as such. At the very least he’s back in K1 and doing well, unlike Jang Gyeol-hee whom retired so damn early . It's too late for him at going to the WC though, should've been at least selected for the eaff e-1 football championship the least. Hopefully we see him back post WC for the Asian Cup.
Speaking of LSW, he is not fit enough to play 90 minutes even with the pace of K-League at this point. That has to do with his lack of playing time in Europe over several years. He should be able to play full 90 minutes next season and get a change to play for KNT at the Asian Cup 2023.
KCH is in the squad not just because he fits into Bento's schemes but also because he is one of the most dynamic players we have. He will take on defenders, make runs and create spaces. And he needs to start.
Agreed on all points. But he also needs to offer a goal threat and he hasn’t scored this season … Needs to regain form but might be tough as he’s still doing military service
What would your starting XI be? This is mine: .................HUJ/CGS .......SHM.....LKI.....HHC ................SJH - HIB KJS - KMJ - KYG/KKY - KMH Although I'm starting to think HHC is better off the bench. I would consider little JWY over HHC. I'm still not sure who is more effective.
While Paulo choosing KCH/NSH over Kim Dae-won doesn't logically make sense, Both NSH and KCH won't likely have significant playing time in Qatar as they are just backups. They have been with KNT under PB longer than any other candidates in the position so PB takes conservative approach in that regard.
As for substitutes behind the striker position, Um Won-sang and Lee Kang-in will be the highest priority in replacing Lee Jae-sung/Hwang In-beom. Not to forget to mention Jeong Woo-yeong.
Those sets of players fill different roles in Bento's schemes. HIB is a box-to-box with a mix of technicality, disruptive skills and attacking instincts that no one else on the team offers. He's a lock to start (as he was in 3 of the 4 friendlies in June) and I would agree with that. LKI is anything but a box-to-box. He's a high reward, high reward presence and I don't think Bento has figured out how to utilize it. Bento is a conservative manager who's going to stick with what he thinks has worked. "We have not changed our style of play so far, and there's no reason why we should at this moment," Bento said in an online prematch press conference. "Even when we deployed different formations in past matches, we still maintained our basic tactical structure. The important thing is to maintain our system and play within that framework." (June 2021)
Agree with your words. I am just pointing out that LKI, UWS, and JWY will be used as subs more than NSH and KCH.
Agree with above. But I feel like in a world cup group stage where two teams are expected to beat us and the other has received a gigantic buff (Ghana's signing of Inaki Williams, Salisu, and Lamptey), we need to play risky. My quip with 2018 was that we played so conservatively against Sweden.
Japan and South Korea are both in my four team list (Canada and Tunisia are there as well) for teams who could advance against the general consensus. It would be nice to see some Asian representation in the knockouts. Iran have a shot too albeit I favour the US boys in that group to come in 2nd. The rest of Asian squads are toast.
you are hella annoying It’s not likely we advance but i support KNT only because i hope we beat the odds. 투혼
You're being a crybaby over my opinion, which is that the teams in both Korea and Japan's groups are unlikely to be upset. On the contrary, Iran's group is an easy upset for them.
NSH will be likely dropped from this edition of KNT due to ankle injury. It is broken so that Paulo will have to rule him out on November as well. As much as I don't like to see a player going down with injury, this should open up the competition for better candidates.