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Beware the orange rattlesnakeJeju United coach Park Kyung Hoon talks about last season and what to expect from the 2012 squad |
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On March 4, Jeju United takes to the pitch against Incheon United in its franchise’s 30th season. With additions of Adrian Madaschi in center back and Robert de Pinho de Souza as striker, the Orange have been busy in the off season and look to improve from last year’s ninth place finish. In his third season at United’s helm, Head Coach Park Kyung Hoon looks to bring the team back into winning form with his “rattlesnake” philosophy. The Weekly visited their club house on Feb. 18 and sat down with Coach Park to bring you this report.
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| ▲ Coach Park Kyung Hoon. Photo by Angela Kim |
What are your aims for the upcoming season?
The K-League has a new split system, so after the regular season (the first 30 games) the league will split into two mini leagues, the top eight teams in one and the bottom eight in the other, who will then again play each other home and away (another 14 games). The primary aim is therefore to finish in the top eight so as to have a shot at the league [title] and avoid the possibility of the relegation. Obviously, the aim is to win every game and win the league, however a realistic aim for this season would be a top five finish giving the team a base to push off from and take the title next season.
Analysis: A top eight finish is absolutely imperative and is also very achievable.
Tell me about the style and tactics of the team this year?
Rattlesnake — one shot, one kill. The team will play like a rattlesnake, this will be a fast-moving high-tempo style that is very clinical when it creates opportunities. The team will also press the ball hard when they don’t have it to try and win it back early.
Analysis: The pressing fast-moving style is in vogue right now, with Barcelona obviously being the best and most famous exponents of it. It’s very effective if played well, but it can also leave space behind the defense, which can be exploited by fast opposition forwards.
Why did Jeju lose form mid-way through last season, and what has changed that will prevent that from happening this time round?
Last season started really well, and the problems came when Park Young Beom moved to Suwon mid-season and the Brazilian Jair returned home after not settling in Jeju, thus creating instability in the squad. This instability was the main reason for the dip in form. This season the squad is much stronger and the difference in standard between the starters and the rest of the squad has been greatly reduced (i.e. the squad players have improved) making it easier to deal with injuries.
Analysis: Strong squads are hugely important in modern football, this is especially true this year in which all teams will play an additional 14 games.
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| ▲ Photos by Angela Kim |
Which players will surprise the fans this year?
Shim Young Sung, he was an under 20 international and scored lots of goals, but last year he had a traffic accident and sustained a knee injury, he’s now coming back. He is number 37 and he plays second striker.
Analysis: Jeju needs another goal supply to avoid becoming too reliant on Santos Junior. Shim could be the guy to do it.
Which team or teams do you really want to beat this season? Do you have a particular rivalry?
FC Seoul. We have beaten every other K-League team in the last two years apart from FC Seoul.
Analysis: Losing to FC Seoul in the playoff final two seasons ago still hurts. United face Seoul on April 21.
How are Shin Young Rok (who collapsed on the field last year and went into a coma which he subsequently came out of) and Koo Ja Cheol (who moved to Wolfsburg in Germany) doing these days? Do you talk to them?
Yes, Young Rok is getting better and is out of hospital, and Koo Ja Cheol is doing fine but perhaps he’s a little lonely sometimes.
The foreign fans have a couple of nicknames for you like Silver Fox and the Korean George Clooney. How do you feel about them?
It’s good, I’m very happy!
Do you have a message for the fans?
Come to the matches, because we are nothing without the fans.
Analysis: Hear, hear! Jeju has the second lowest attendance in the K-League, however United is a really progressive, exciting team that deserve our support, so stop watching the spoilt millionaires of the Premier League and come and support a team that you can really connect with.
Lastly, we asked Coach Park about his three plenties of Jeju football philosophy and this is what he told us: “The three plenties are wind, rock, and women. I want the team to be fast in transition from defense to attack like the wind, I want them to be strong and solid like a rock, and I want to play football that is beautiful like Jeju women.”
Analysis: With a combination like that who can resist. It’s going to be a great season. The first home game is at Jeju World Cup Stadium on March 4 at 3 p.m. Jeju fighting!
(Interpretation by Angela Kim.)
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ⓒ Jeju Weekly 2009 (http://www.jejuweekly.net)
All materials on this site are protected under the Korean Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published without the prior consent of Jeju Weekly. |
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Title:The jeju Weekly(제주위클리) | Mail to editor@jejuweekly.net | Phone: +82-64-724-7776 Fax: +82-64-724-7796
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Registration Number: Jeju, Ah01158(제주,아01158) | Date of Registration: November 10,2022 | Publisher&Editor : Hee Tak Ko | Youth policy: Hee Tak Ko
Copyright ⓒ 2009 All materials on this site are protected under the Korean Copyright Law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published
without the prior consent of jeju weekly.com.
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