It is not as if Park Ji-Sung has been consistently poor in his time at Manchester United. The South Korean’s first season was okay and he has been an important part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s cultured approach in Europe. There’s no doubt about his effort and work rate. Park also appears a decent human being – no tabloid exposés, at least.
Still, circumstances dictate that it is time for goodbyes.
Various media reports put Park’s weekly wage in the neighborhood of £65,000. He is at best a squad player. In truth, Park has only played regularly in 2005/06 and 2008/09 seasons. It makes little sense to retain a £65,000-per-week-player who cannot get into the first team, especially with the spectre of Glazers’ debt looming over Old Trafford.
Considering that United bought the plater for around £4 million from PSV Eindhoven five years ago, the club is unlikely to find it difficult to make profit even in today’s depressed market.
One could argue that Park’s marketing prowess more than makes up for his relatively high wages but Asian players aren’t required for a club to be successful commercially in Asia. Barcelona do just fine in the region despite not having any Asian players. In fact, Park’s supposed commercial appeal, especially in his home country, is overblown. Of twenty three Manchester United sponsors, only two – Seoul and Kumho – hail from Korea.
Besides, United is a widely recognised club; the Korean sponsors are not likely to abandon the club, and the Korean fans won’t stop buying the replica shirts, just because there is no longer a Korean player in the United line up. With less than 2 per cent of United’s revenue hailing from overseas markets, there is no conclusive financial reason for keeping Park at the club.
Park is a modern player – his raison d’etre is to take on attacking full-backs and deep-lying playmakers, both thoroughly modern inventions in football. Ironically, it is Park’s willingness to defend that ultimately limits his usefulness. He is frequently deployed to mark someone out of the game, which severely limits Park’s usefulness in 442 even when in a nominally attacking position.
Even in more dynamic systems like 433, where incorporation of attacking midfielders is necessary, it is hard to justify his inclusion as a winger considering that Park is technically average and contributes little offensively. This is true, despite the South Korean’s goal in the Carling Cup last night.
Indeed, one can also make a moral argument that playing Park is a cowardly way out – United can peg back full-backs and deep-lying midfielders by attacking them!
There isn’t one right way to play football of course and United fans certainly don’t seem to care that the recent trophy haul has been brought about by a rather defensive, and one could say un-United, approach. But Park still remains an unattractive option even if United must play defensive wingers. Valencia and Nani are both far superior players offensively and they both put in a lot of work defensively. In the recent fixture against Stoke, for example, Nani made 17 tackles – the rest of the team only put in 25 combined.
Park has sometimes been played as a defensive attacking central midfielder, memorably in fixtures against Milan and Liverpool. But again, Anderson, who has long been deployed in such role, remains a more ‘attractive’ option.
Perhaps even more relevant to Park’s future is the timing of his departure. The midfielder is now 29 and will turn 30 before the end of current season. There has been a marked decline in his pace recently and the situation isn’t going to get any better. He is a surprisingly injury prone player who has suffered knee problems in recent seasons. It suggests the player is close to burnout through overuse.
It leaves United with an expensive player whose physical attributes are on the wane and usefulness in the squad limited. The smart thing to do is sell, after all Park’s value in the transfer market can only decrease.
An overly cynical approach perhaps but humanity isn’t often found in modern football landscape.
Interesting, but I think I am the only person around who thinks Park DOES actually have good technique. His balance and low centre of gravity means he can turn sharply and hold onto the ball in tight situations. He has a good feint on him too.
Where he lets himself down is in his passing and shooting. He has no range in either. But, that said, I believe he is still a valuable cog in the European machine. He has contributed hugely to some of our biggest games in Europe and, importantly, always give everything. He can frustrate, clearly, but I think he deserves the chance to turn this season around.
I have every confidence he can.
I would argue that that this is not the right time to be getting rid of players, particularly in midfield. With Scholes and Giggs most likely retiring at the end of the season, I reckon two players to replace is quite enough.
Park has always been a decent servant, and although he’s having a poor season, he’s a competent enough reserve player, and very willing too.
Spot-on on Park, time to move on.
Although, on another note, Nani didn’t make 17 tackles, he attempted 17 and was successful with 6 of those (the whole team made 28 successful tackles according to Guardian Chalkboards) – but it’s still great to see Nani getting stuck in at last.
Never been a fan of Park. He’s been useful and has had the odd few good games to-date, but generally offers very little.
One question I do have though is does he wear football boots? He’s forever slipping over.
Nonsense. Definitely should be keeping players like Park Ji Sung. Valencia is out for the season basically, so who would we play if we didn’t have Park? Bebe? Laughable!
If United do bring in 2 midfielders between January and next summer, Iam sure either Park or Carrick or both will be gone! If not, he will still be there. But remember, Tom Cleverley is coming back in January. Then there’s Eikrem and although Morrison is only 17, he is good enough to feature in the Premier League team. These three young midfielders can be used for back up if two quality midfielders are bought, and then you would not need Park or Carrick. Can you imagine if United were to buy Wesley Sneijder and Douglas Costa! You would not need Park or Carrick.
There probably is an argument to sell him, but I very much doubt he will be moved on. Fergie likes his versatility and finds him especially useful in away games.
park is an xlent player…pls dont sell him…..
him and fletcher becoming first teamers ahead of giggs and scholes at the start of our last title win is when our great football ended, runabouty plodders ahead of proper footballers, he’s not good enough and never has been, wed have been no worse off if wed had stepehen hunt or malbranque or one of them types who does basically the same job. arsenal had freddie ljungberg who did the same job, except he was als good at football and scored 15 a season, I’m guessing park is on around 15 goals in his whole utd career
“Park has sometimes been played as a defensive attacking central midfielder, memorably in fixtures against Milan and Liverpool. But again, Anderson, who has long been deployed in such role, remains a more ‘attractive’ option.”
That is surely a matter of opinion and not – as Ed has recently become fond of saying – fact. It is also an opinion I don’t share. I HATE seeing Park deployed on the wing, but find him an acceptable squad player in a midfield three. In the second half of last season, after Sir Alex quit deploying Park on the wing, he played fairly well, scoring three goals in the EPL (three times as many as Anderson has in his entire United career), and would have put in at least two more had Own Goal not nipped in to rob him – for example, the goal Nani claimed but Almunia put in, was headed right for Park’s head.
That said, I do agree that it would be best to sell Park, but the sale should wait until the close season unless quality midfielders become available at reasonable prices in January. I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen.
odbpowell – “Interesting, but I think I am the only person around who thinks Park DOES actually have good technique. His balance and low centre of gravity means he can turn sharply and hold onto the ball in tight situations.”
That was surprisingly true of last night’s match, but most of the time, Park falls over five, six time a game – usually losing the ball in the process.
I must admit he has played great in the past in some key games but Park has an article himself in the news this morning and he is saying that he is now 29 years old and because of his age, he said he feels its just a matter of time when his position will go to a younger player. He said for now, he will keep working on getting his form back because he is not happy with his form at the moment.
agree with timing of park’s exit
disagree with ‘the recent trophy haul has been brought about by a rather defensive, and one could say un-United, approach’ – except for european cup, we played good football with tevez, cronaldo and rooney core in the league and carling cup.
‘defensive attacking central midfielder’ sounds oxy-moronic but i get the sense LOL
On the wing? I’d take Bebe over Park every time.
I would agree that while he is a willing player and one that always puts the effort in, i feel that as a winger he offers a very limited amount and unfortunately cm is an area where we need inspiration not perspiration also.
So with that i would say that he has to go to make room for Cleverley, Eikrem and another midfielder namely Sniejder or /and Schweinsteiger, and also releasing Carrick who has not grasped the nettle at OT.Along with Gibson those would be the midfielders i would let go.
Adding Douglas Costa or Bale to the left and ( i know this is greedy) but Afellay as he is cheap and technically very very good, while not taking away the fact that there is also Morrison to step up and a let off for Anderson.
Generally Ive always felt that Park playing sends out a wrong message in terms of us acknowledging the other teams strengths.as he rarely scores( i know he scored yesterday but you know i mean) and he rarely assists, unless he plays centrally and he is too hit and miss to play there on a regular basis.
If we are selling players based on wages, there will be no more squad players left. How much are players like the Owens getting? Can we give them out free so that we don’t have to pay their wages?
Well Park is saying he is not interested in playing for Spurs and will not be leaving OT in a deal to bring Bale to United. Now Bale is saying that he has no intentions of leaving Spurs to play for United. Says he is very happy at Spurs. Have not heard anyone commenting on Tom Cleverley. Maybe the fans think he is not ready yet.
for fuck sake where do you read all these player an manager statements
Park is a squad player at best. Though due to injuries to Valencia & Giggsy, his versatility is required.
I suggest midfield duds Carrick & Anderson are packed off to swell the kitty, before our friend from S Korea.
Herbie, i rate Cleverley very highly and Morrison even higher!, what i feel is that Mr.”Lethargic” Carrick and Mr.”One Shot” Gibson aswell as Park can go, and so what that Park said he will not go to Spurs or that Bale said that he wont be leaving to come to Utd…we´ll see!, anyways others have said that wont join Utd and thats never stopped Utd from winning so its upto Bale!!!
Keep Park. He does the job very well in Champions’ league matches. Plus he is not a winger. i wonder how Fletch, Ando, Carrick would do on the wings. Gimme a break. Fergie sacrifices him to blunt out the opposing team’s star winger.
Deploy him in a slightly advanced position in the centre and he will perform. Most of his goals came from there as well. And he made his name at that position from PSV. I still prefer him to Carrick / Ando in big matches coz he gives it all wins freekicks, covers a lot of ground and holds his position doggedly.
he can do much more – see S.Korea / Dutch league matches on youtube. He is good from the centre
Read your sports news, hundreds of fans on other sites have been talking about this and who should be sold, all day today, so I’m not making it up, its news. I check what fans are talking about and then I go and search for the news, check it out and then I make comments like everyone else. Whether there is any truth to all this news, it remains to be seen.
It is really becoming depressing to see Park deployed on the left wing. It is usually as part of a 4-5-1/4-3-3 formation. He constantly cuts inside and leaves the left wing vacant. As good as Evra is, he cannot patrol the entire left wing on his own. Also, Park constantly cutting inside only further adds to congestion in the centre of the park. At a time when Scholes is the only truly creative centre midfield player capable of making defence splitting passes width is an absolute must.
However, I tend not to agree with the author in that Anderson is a more ‘attractive’ option. Anderson can’t pass the ball or shoot for that matter. At least Park has a good work ethic. If Park is to stay his only real position is in the centre. As it stands however, I would not be too sad to see him go but he has contributed to United’s recent successes and I applaud him for that.
I’ve consistently defended Park in the past, but his current form and haircut are far from United quality, I think his time is up.
there’s no value in two cals on rant
Don’t sell my park my Ji Sung Park, I just don’t think you understand, and if u sell my park, my ji sung park your gonna have a riot on your hands!!
Park is SHIT!
Can’t pass for shit, can’t shoot for shit, can’t dribble for shit, poor vision, poor decision making… a rubbish footballer, barely good enough for a midtable team… had an occasional use as a squad player, but never ever a United quality first teamer.
His one and only really useful ability, has been his engine, and his willingness to run himself into the ground harassing the opposition… now that he’s getting older, he’s losing even that resource, and without that, he offers next to nothing.
you’re all heart, aren’t you, cunt. Nice fellow supporter, hope you die asap.
Really, Ji-Sung, if you’re going to read fan blogs, you’ll have to develop a thicker skin.
When will park realise he should be playing for wolves! not against them! United till I die!
Woah! Where did that come from?
Oh, and Alf is right. Park is shit. Said it better than I ever could have done.
Well, I never…
Yeah Alfonso you’re right, I believe United only bought Park so they could get that big sponsership deal in Korea!
As long as he gets to play now and then, the Koreans would be happy.
First, as everybody else apart from Fergie seems to know, Park is not a winger. Play him in the middle in an advanced position and you will get real value. Having said that, looking at the overall squad balance, the posse of youngsters we need to blood, and the age profile of the squad Park might be on the “Out” list. I know its FM, but this game is really tempting!
OUTS
Carrick, either Ando or Park, Gibson, Wellbeck, Rooney (yes, he has to go!!), Owen, PIG (if he wants to leave). And, pls retire the legends, with all due respect, they have had their days in the sun, I will cry when it happens, but lets move on. Do not sell JOS and Brown, simply because of the variety of positions they can play. If you ship them out, you would need quality backups to both RB and LB positons, probably a CB as well.
Total value – approx. 80mil
INS
GK – Lindegaard, DeGea, Neur, Adler – any one (probably 2 if PIG goes)will do, and what about Shay Given?
Spending – 15-20mil
Box-2-Box MF – Rodwell is top choice; Defour is Hargreaves2.0 in my opinion as far as injuries are concerned. Maybe Henderson? VanderVart? De Rossi?
Outlay – 20-30 mil
AMF – Sneidjer, Costa, Kaka(??), Ninis are all options. Schweinsteiger is a dream, but dont think its gonna happen. Outlay – 30mil
LW – Sanchez, Contrao (Bale is not going to happen). Least priority in my opinion with Cleverley also available, and Valencia coming back.
Outlay – 20 mil
Striker – Benzema, or the next Chicharito will do just fine for me!
Outlay – 20 mil
Now imagine formations with a net spending of approx. 30 mil…
4-4-2:
GK
Rafael Rio Vida Evra
Valencia Fletch Sneidjer Nani
Berba Chicharito
Now imagine a 4-2-3-1 for CL:
GK
Rafael Rio Vida Evra
Fletch-Rodwell
Valencia/Nani-Sneidjer/Berba-Nani/Sanchez
Chicharito
Subs: GK, JOS, Evans, either Park or Ando, Cleverley, Macheda, either of Berba or Benzema
That 4-2-3-1 looks unbeatable to me…
What says (yeah, I know its not gonna happen…)?
Park was a knee jerky purchase after he played two decent games for PSV against AC Milan. We made the same mistake after Djemba Djemba played well aginst us home and away for Nante in the C/League, he was so shit “they named him twice”. He’s all work rate but rarely productive. Give him a game in the fizzy pop by all means but he’s not and never has been in my book a quality member of the squad. Him and Carrick have had plenty of opportunity to make themselve’s irreplaceable, and neither have ever looked like taking their more than generous game time.
Those players who featured in the game against wolves will be shipped out sooner rather than later. The likes of park and carrick are finished. I genuinely believe that fergie may be at the end of his tether with these players…at long last.
I think fergie will see the retirement of the aging stars as an opportunity to go colonic on the squad. He has said so himself…albeit without discussing bowels or colons.
Jeet, how would you rate Andy Carroll vs Benzema?
This has come up before among fans on other websites.
Herbie, frankly I dont rate him. Big strong guy, good aerial ability, but then he will only do well against English teams like Blackburn and Bolton. Very little technical ability, top quality defenders in europe will pocket him all day, and since when did we want to play long ball? There are a ton of them in England, and they are all the same. You look at Kenwine Jones, not one whimper out of him with Rio and Vida in form the other day. Same reason I dont like Dzeko.
Benzema is the more complete striker to me – better feet, more all round ability, better timer of runs and better positonal sense. No comparison mate.
He looked a player in the WC and has had some big performances for United. I say keep him. A good squad player. Certainly better than Anderson or Carrick.
what he said
avenger. if you think that park is even remotely good enough for united then you, my friend, are the cunt …
Baaaah i totally agree with you…No way is or has park been good enough for man utd
Shat on Bale against Tottenham
Looked far more dangerous and made things happen
But yeah, even so, get rid
he does more than gibson and anderson
like he did last night. he’s right for the right opposition – so long as he knows that he will play more often against the weak rather than the strong, he should stay
you never hear a peep out of park, money, cars, wages, whores, on the bench, off the bench – proper professionsl, does his job, puts a shift in and knows his limits.
also, you motherfuckers act as if United play Arsenal, Inter, RM, every other week. you need to rotate, plan and work out a strategy to play best side for the right opponent
yesterday was an example, where only thick cunts would advocate our best 11.
he is United quality for the simple reason that United play against varying degrees of quality.
dumb cunts.
like he did last night. he’s right for the right opposition – so long as he knows that he will play more often against the weak rather than the strong, he should stay
you never hear a peep out of park, money, cars, wages, whores, on the bench, off the bench – proper professionsl, does his job, puts a shift in and knows his limits.
also, you motherfuckers act as if United play Arsenal, Inter, RM, every other week. you need to rotate, plan and work out a strategy to play best side for the right opponent
yesterday was an example, where only thick cunts would advocate our best 11.
he is United quality for the simple reason that United play against varying degrees of quality.
dumb cunts.
Well, on that basis, let’s sign any old Tom Dick or Harry who will thank their lucky stars that they play for United because going by your logic there’s an off chance that they’ll at least be good against the shit teams even if they’re not good enough to merit playing week in and week.
Park is not good enough for United. Period.
Ullu da patte!
Dannii… you talk about United needing to rotate and rest… playing the likes of Park against the weaker teams.
That’s when you give the young players their chance.
Perhaps if we didn’t have Park, Cleverly would be here getting game time.
FUCK. RIGHT. OFF. YOU. THICK. CUNTS.
I take back my “Sell Park”..keep him as a sub
How predictable are you?
he’s right though
oh but um but oh fuckety poo poo. twit.
Right about what?
That Park is United quality?
Like fuck he is.
SELL SELL SELL
Is Dannybollox Chris 1664 incarnate?
To whomever wrote this article. Shove your semi-racist bullshit up your fucking arse.
Take your anglo-saxon white supremecist shit and go felate yourself with it. Non white players can make a difference at United.
Duncan – It may be axiomatic but I’m not sure anything can be semi-racist and this article certainly isn’t that. Nor is it white supremacist unless you know more about Jay’s race than I do.
Wind your neck in Mate… I don’t see anything racist in the article… and Rant is well represented by a lot of different races and cultures, who wouldn’t tolerate it if it was.
I like you..come here and drop em baby…
whop
shubber shubber
wipes dick
slams door on way out.
Lets not giddy here. The first goal was badly deflected and the other was dreadful scuff which would have fooled the best of keepers. It was Wolves for fucks sake.
Not United quality??? He single handedly kept us in the.race!
he’s thick, always has been
naah i like Park.
Would prefer to have him at the club.
still think he’s crap after today? what about DefensiveMinded’s article on my site (http://www.footballfarrago.com/2010/11/defensive-minded-manchester-uniteds-4-5.html) that highlights how wingers who can defend are imperative to united’s 4-5-1 formation? It’s too easy to jump on the bandwagon and say he’s poor because he doesn’t have the same impact on a game as nani or ronaldo used to. he’s very underrated and a key player at old trafford. plus the fact he sells shirts in asia can’t hurt. (ok HE doesn’t personally, but you know what i mean…)
a goal’s a goal. and two in one game makes him a match winner, and yes, keeps us in the title race (not that 5 or even 7 points behind is unassailable – but 2 just seems a little easier!).
In response to the article title, yes – keeping Park DOES make sense
“he’s thick, always has been”
Yeah… in the 07 season, O’Shea scored the winner at Anfield, and what about the two crackin goals in one game from Gibson, … guess that makes them United quailty as well… and since you don’t agree… I guess that makes you a “thick” gobshite… doesn’t it?
park will never be united starting quality
but at the moment, he’s a useful player to keep in the squad.
the thing is, he does his best work from the middle, rather than on the wings. and his two goals over the weekend are invaluable.
plus he pretty much pays for himself re shirt sales/merchandise in asia
bagg, it’s more sophisticated than that – sure against he big-guns he will be on bench at best unless someone is injured
but some of these tits act as if we are playing barca, shitpool, chavs every week, home and away
and it’s a law of modern football that a squad is limited by injuries, suspensions, cup ties, competitions and internationals
in which case, he offers more than enought, pays his way like you said, causes trouble and links up well. he can also score and has good anticipation
against the minnows he offers a viable option to Taggart to enable fat chavvy cunts to frequent Nike One in the states to “get in shape” because people cannot stand the sight of him at Carrington or the likes of Giggs, Valencia etc to recover from shot and long term injury
at the very least, he offers more than gibson, anderson and o’shite and his committment is 100%, never moans, never winges, gets his head down and puts a shift in
interesting that the fat barrel of spunk was the first to advocate “i would rather cleverly play some football” than stay at united on bench but now seemingly wants cleverly back to replace the guy who just helped open up the race again.
there is no limit to the stupidity and hypocrisy of the single-celled life form
Every now and then, you almost sound like an intelligent bloke.
And then… well… you just take a big shit out of your mouth, and show everyone what an absolutely pig ignorant cunt you really are.
Baggs says the same thing as most here, including me… and it’s a good post… but me, who points out what a hypocrite you are, and you start manipulating what I actually said to explian why you’re such a fuck wit.
“park will never be united starting quality”… “it’s more sophisticated than that”… Is it? Or is it just that Baggs took the time to spell it out for you… Park sells shirts, Park never complains, Park works hard… yeah, that’s great Dannii… and I doubt anyone here disagrees… I know I don’t… doesn’t change the fact that PARK IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR UNITED ANY MORE THAN O’SHEA, OR GIBSON!!!
And as far as this… “interesting that the fat barrel of spunk was the first to advocate “i would rather cleverly play some football” than stay at united on bench but now seemingly wants cleverly back to replace the guy who just helped open up the race again.”????
If you’d have put that in it’s proper context… you’d just look like a fool… instead of a back tracking cunt.
What’s funny though, is the extent you go to insult me… all the while exposing your own idiocy.
well I never.
I bet you have.
Wow, just got around to reading this: eat your words much? ;o)
Now do us a (superstitious) favour before Wednesday and write one on why we should definitely sell Berbatov, Carrick and anyone else who’s overdue a MotM performance!
FoleyIsGood – well I thought Jay’s opinion was well thought out and argued. Two decent games from Park does not a Manchester United player make. My opinion, of course not shared by everybody, is that he’s never been good enough for United’s first XI. Decent player to have around in the squad. I always think its a cowards choice to play him on the wing.
hold on dannii, I thought park was only useful against the big boys where he can do his runabouty shite to his hearts content as he’s proved in the few good games he played, but hes useless against the riff raff cause he can’t open up a team, now you’re aying its the opposite
nope. what I am saying is that he is that first and foremost he is a very good option against shite. not only because he has value as a player but because he is a good stop gap for the top lads to get a breather in.
now, against the grandmasters he can get found out because he is limited – but he has on many occasions proven that he can add value even against the top sidesm, but not consistently, and that the difference between a player who contribute and one who dominates.
take a look at all his goals, they are not through lack of sheer brilliance or talent but mostly because the small cunt runs like a rat fuck to get on the end of something after a quick passing move. he puts a shift in, runs like a cunt, confuses the fuck out of people because of his movement and is up for it; every game. he works brilliantly with evra and scholes.
on the other hand he is fucking pussy and gets dispossessed really easily so yep, against the real top flight Taggart needs to balance his good points – speed and movement and V12 engine against the fact that he is a light weight and can beat up in the middle.
am not saying he should start every game – no fucking way, but he has fucking important role to play given the squad we have now, not only because he can add value but because the others get a rest too.
i would love it that cleverly, eikrem, morrison get thrown into the EPL, but we know Taggart has a homo streak and that will nto happen but Park should always play in front of O Shea and Gibson and to a lesser extent Anderson, althogh I’m still living in hope with Ando, ffs.