How good was Park Ji-sung?

[Paxi]

As per the thread title, how good was he then, in your estimation?

Mental that he was left out of the CL final squad in Moscow. Just shows you what an incredible team we had.

I loved Pirlo having a little whine and a moan about him too. Unlucky mate.

 

[Lay]

Underrated, he was often criticised on United forums even though he made valuable contributions. Very good off the ball, good technically and could run all day. You could play him in a few positions and he would do a job.

Scored some big goals and usually scored against Arsenal.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Great player. Technically very good. Brilliant finisher and a good dribbler on the ball. Of course his energy and off the ball work was second to none.

Also, he was an absolute bargain.

 

[Paxi]

Underrated, he was often criticised on United forums even though he made valuable contributions. Very good off the ball, good technically and could run all day. You could play him in a few positions and he would do a job.

Scored some big goals and usually scored against Arsenal.

He did score some goals and they were good, important goals as well. Liverpool and Arsenal come to mind.

He had 3 lungs that’s for sure.

His performance against AC Milan when he played for PSV id legendary to this day.

 

[led_scholes]

The player we hoped Lingard would become. A decent player really, but had many limitations technically, thats why when his stamina left by the age of 30 he could not maintain a good level. In the last two years in England, he was atrocious.

 

[OleBoiii]

Very, very good.

Everybody knows about his workrate, interceptions, versatility and ability to step up in the big moments. But his technique was definitely underrated. He was deceptively quick as well.

 

[duffer]

Underated by non Man United fans, overated by Man United fans.

He was a good player.

 

[Paxi]

The player we hoped Lingard would become. A decent player really, but had many limitations technically, thats why when his stamina left by the age of 30 he could not maintain a good level. In the last two years in England, he was atrocious.

Didn’t injuries play their part? When anyone loses their best attribute they tend to fall of the cliff vertically.

 

[OmarUnited4ever]

Ultimate squad player, and the ultimate team player, very versatile, hardworking and intelligent, good on the ball and a good finisher in front of the goal and scored in big games. loved him while he was here

 

[VorZakone]

Very good and technically sound. Remember, this is a player who didn't look out of place along players like prime Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez, Carrick etc.

Park was not a "mediocre workhorse" at all.

 

[Paxi]

Underated by non Man United fans, overated by Man United fans.

He was a good player.

Better than Kante.

 

[diarm]

Massively underrated in terms of technique. Everyone knows how good an engine and workrate he had, but have a look back at any of the youtube compilations of our best goals during that time and it's very noticeable how many times he is involved in the build up with excellent one touch passes or just picking the right run or pass in a quick, incisive counter attack. Clever and really selfless player who played a huge part in the success of that 2006-2009 side.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

I went back and watched a ton of matches from the 07-09 seasons during lockdown and he was one of the stand out players from that squad. Always turned up in big games and scored some very important goals. Underrated as feck. I'm sure Pirlo still has nightmares.

 

[duffer]

Better than Kante.

Bit early to be on the booze.

 

[Chipper]

He was alright. He was a small, polite lad who everyone wanted to be big brother to because of his diminutive stature and he had a fun song about eating dogs. Worked hard enough but would always go backwards in attacking areas, out Valencia-ing Antonio Valencia in that regard and lacked any sort of cutting edge or spark.

Has gone on to become massively overrated.

 

[Paxi]

Bit early to be on the booze.

Well I was never off it since yesterday.

In all seriousness, he would be very well appreciated in todays game. Under someone like Klopp he’d be absolutely insane imo.

 

[Paxi]

He was alright. He was a small, polite lad who everyone wanted to be big brother to because of his diminutive stature and he had a fun song about eating dogs. Worked hard enough but would always go backwards in attacking areas, out Valencia-ing Antonio Valencia in that regard and lacked any sort of cutting edge or spark.

Has gone on to become massively overrated.

Okay then.

The bit highlighted in bold is bizarre.

 

[Chipper]

Okay then.

The bit highlighted in bold is bizarre.

Well it's true!

Juan Mata has had the same effect on many. Lots like him for similar reasons, he's a nice, polite little fella. He just doesn't have the fun song.

 

[Chabon]

One thing that gets forgotten about Park is how bad (relatively speaking) his injury record was. He’s seen as a squad player, but when he was fit he started more often than not.

 

[Paxi]

Well it's true!

Juan Mata has had the same effect on many. Lots like him for similar reasons, nice, polite little fella. He just doesn't have the fun song.

Park was really, really good. I respect your opinion but he was a key cog in a brilliant team. He went through 2 different teams at United and was very influential in all of them. I think he was a great player personally.

 

[OleBoiii]

He was alright. He was a small, polite lad who everyone wanted to be big brother to because of his diminutive stature and he had a fun song about eating dogs. Worked hard enough but would always go backwards in attacking areas, out Valencia-ing Antonio Valencia in that regard and lacked any sort of cutting edge or spark.

Has gone on to become massively overrated.

This would easily be the worst post of the year if it had not been for all the rabid Ole-out posters.

 

[Mr Smith]

This is one of the rare occasions where the " how good was X player" question is actually meaningful. Park is always thought of as a workhorse player first, but he was actually excellent technically as well and never looked out of place in the way say Lingard can on a bad day. Until Son came along, there was a serious argument for Park being the best Asian player ever.

 

[OL29]

He was alright. He was a small, polite lad who everyone wanted to be big brother to because of his diminutive stature and he had a fun song about eating dogs. Worked hard enough but would always go backwards in attacking areas, out Valencia-ing Antonio Valencia in that regard and lacked any sort of cutting edge or spark.

Has gone on to become massively overrated.

These are my thoughts too, he was obviously a pest to opposition and he had a knack of scoring big goals, but his touch wasn’t great and his balance was really poor. I think he’d be highly criticised if he played in our current side.

 

[Kanu]

I followed him from his PSV days until the end of his tenure at United. Technically a great player. Clutch as well and obviously a workhorse. One of my faves.

 

[Paxi]

These are my thoughts too, he was obviously a pest to opposition and he had a knack of scoring big goals, but his touch wasn’t great and his balance was really poor. I think he’d be highly criticised if he played in our current side.

Would he feck. He was completely fine in a team with Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and other highly technical players. His first time finish at Anfield was a thing of beauty. If Fred scored a goal like that he’d be jizzed on for eternity.

 

[Mr Smith]

I went back and watched a ton of matches from the 07-09 seasons during lockdown and he was one of the stand out players from that squad. Always turned up in big games and scored some very important goals. Underrated as feck. I'm sure Pirlo still has nightmares.

He's actually underappreciated for the period just after 09. 2010/11 is probably his best ever season for us, he made some really key contributions in both the league and CL.

 

[Devil_forever]

Underated by non Man United fans, overated by Man United fans.

He was a good player.

Clearly overrated by Fergie too then as he says that if he had put Park to mark Messi in the final, we'd have won it.

Park was a must start in the big matches and he was far far more than just a work horse. How lucky we were to have him.

 

[MUFCAFC]

Very good, I think even if you took away one side of his game he’d still be a very good player.

Extremely well rounded with a ridiculous work rate and stamina (which apparently came from drinking juice from frogs).

 

[Ekeke]

Good/above average, with good pressing and a huge workrate. When he played Arsenal he would go up a level and be very good and an important part of our counter attacking wins and have better end product too. He liked that match for whatever reason.

 

[Chipper]

Park was really, really good. I respect your opinion but he was a key cog in a brilliant team. He went through 2 different teams at United and was very influential in all of them. I think he was a great player personally.

I don't think you do respect my opinion but that's ok.

I didn't feel he was influential in the vast majority of his time here. Sure, everyone knows about key roles he was tasked with in some very important games and I'm grateful he was up to the task. For the most part he sort of on the periphery, used a squad player to start against the likes of Fulham, QPR and Norwich which is important in it's own right as the games are still worth 3 points and other players need resting.

Believe it or not, I like squad players and have a big soft spot for John O'Shea. I recognise their value but I don't know, I think you're over-egging it to say Park was a key cog.

Just looking at his league minutes, Park had 2 PL seasons playing over 1500 minutes which is only the equivalent of 16 full 90 minutes. Someone like O'Shea had 6, including 1 season over 2200 and 2 over 2800, something Park never got remotely close to.

 

[Chabon]

. For the most part he sort of on the periphery, used a squad player to start against the likes of Fulham, QPR and Norwich which is important in it's own right as the games are still worth 3 points and other players need resting.

Started 15 CL knockout games including 2 finals.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

He's actually underappreciated for the period just after 09. 2010/11 is probably his best ever season for us, he made some really key contributions in both the league and CL.

Agreed. Unfortunately he declined a lot in the 11/12 season and we moved him on the right time. He was a brilliant player for us, one of Fergie's best signings from the 2000s.

 

[sincher]

He was just so reliable, I hardly remember him having a bad game.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

I don't think you do respect my opinion but that's ok.

I didn't feel he was influential in the vast majority of his time here. Sure, everyone knows about key roles he was tasked with in some very important games and I'm grateful he was up to the task. For the most part he sort of on the periphery, used a squad player to start against the likes of Fulham, QPR and Norwich which is important in it's own right as the games are still worth 3 points and other players need resting.

Believe it or not, I like squad players and have a big soft spot for John O'Shea. I recognise their value but I don't know, I think you're over-egging it to say Park was a key cog.

Just looking at his league minutes, Park had 2 PL seasons playing over 1500 minutes which is only the equivalent of 16 full 90 minutes. Someone like O'Shea had 6, including 1 season over 2200 and 2 over 2800, something Park never got remotely close to.

He wasn't. He started a lot of the big games and scored in a lot of them too. Rooney said last year that he was just as important as Ronaldo. An exaggeration but shows how highly thought of he is by members of that squad.

 

[OL29]

Would he feck. He was completely fine in a team with Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez and other highly technical players. His first time finish at Anfield was a thing of beauty. If Fred scored a goal like that he’d be jizzed on for eternity.

He was heavily criticised on this forum back then too with people annoyed at more gifted players being left on the bench for him. I think there’s a lot of revisionism regarding Park to be honest, he was capable of big performances, particularly against the better teams, but he was pretty inconsistent on a game to game basis, and his ability to fall over at any given moment was one of the most frustrating things I can remember seeing on a pitch.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

He was heavily criticised on this forum back then too with people annoyed at more gifted players being left on the bench for him. I think there’s a lot of revisionism regarding Park to be honest, he was capable of big performances, particularly against the better teams, but he was pretty inconsistent on a game to game basis, and his ability to fall over at any given moment was one of the most frustrating things I can remember seeing on a pitch.

For me it just shows how underrated he was then and he's still underrated to this day.

 

[Guy Incognito]

Ask Pirlo.

 

[WeePat]

United's version of Ramires, perhaps? Park was an absolute pest to play against, and he was so good at popping up with crucial goals that it was counter productive to focus all the attention on keeping CR7, Rooney etc quiet. He scored a goal to kill the tie dead literal seconds after Drogba gave us hope in the CL quarter finals.

But he seems like a player that might be forgotten when those who lived through his United years become too old to be part of the football discourse.

 

[Paxi]

I don't think you do respect my opinion but that's ok.

I didn't feel he was influential in the vast majority of his time here. Sure, everyone knows about key roles he was tasked with in some very important games and I'm grateful he was up to the task. For the most part he sort of on the periphery, used a squad player to start against the likes of Fulham, QPR and Norwich which is important in it's own right as the games are still worth 3 points and other players need resting.

Believe it or not, I like squad players and have a big soft spot for John O'Shea. I recognise their value but I don't know, I think you're over-egging it to say Park was a key cog.

Just looking at his league minutes, Park had 2 PL seasons playing over 1500 minutes which is only the equivalent of 16 full 90 minutes. Someone like O'Shea had 6, including 1 season over 2200 and 2 over 2800, something Park never got remotely close to.

So influential then?

He was heavily criticised on this forum back then too with people annoyed at more gifted players being left on the bench for him. I think there’s a lot of revisionism regarding Park to be honest, he was capable of big performances, particularly against the better teams, but he was pretty inconsistent on a game to game basis, and his ability to fall over at any given moment was one of the most frustrating things I can remember seeing on a pitch.

Was he? I been frequenting this forum since 2006 and I don’t remember him being heavily criticised at all. Under appreciated maybe?

 

[hellhunter]

So influential then?

Was he? I been frequenting this forum since 2006 and I don’t remember him being heavily criticised at all. Under appreciated maybe?

Park and Carrick were regular whipping boys, if I remember correctly