Moving Target – Ji-Sung Park

QPR’s summer of new acquisitions continued earlier this afternoon with the news that Ji-Sung Park has signed for the Loftus Road outfit on a two-year contract. The South Korean arrives for a fee rumoured to be in the region of £2m and is the second player heading southwards from Man United, following the confirmation of Fabio’s season-long loan deal last week.

While some cynics reckon the move is all about expanding the club’s global profile ahead of their summer tour of Asia, Mark Hughes has reiterated his delight with Park’s acquisition and, describing the deal as “a real coup,” suggests the transfer is indicative of the progress he expects the London outfit to make in the season ahead:

We are delighted Ji is going to join us because his record speaks for itself. He was always picked for the big matches (for Man United) because they could rely on him, and we are going to reap all those qualities. He is hugely respected there because of what he has achieved, his application to his work and the impact he has on games. Ji gets what we are trying to do. He has been part of a well-oiled machine at United and now he wants to have an impact somewhere else. This is a huge signing for this Football Club.

The Statistics

Park’s club career kicked off in June 2000 at Japanese Second Division side Kyoto Purple Sanga. There, he played 76 league games and scored 11 times, in addition to helping his team win both promotion and the Emperor’s Cup for the first time in their history. His time in Japan lasted just over a couple of years before Guus Hiddink – who had previously managed Park at international level – signed the midfielder for Dutch club PSV Eindhoven midway through the 2002-03 campaign.

Park excelled over his two full seasons in Holland. In total, he played 64 league games, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists, in addition to helping the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League, before Man United came calling in the 2005-06 season. At Old Trafford, Park missed just four fixtures of the first league season but his game time has failed to scale the same heights over the following six campaigns.

Overall, the South Korean played 133 league matches for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, producing 20 goals and 22 assists. The acquisition of players such as Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young has seen his game time restricted in recent times and, having failed to feature in less than half his club’s fixtures over the past three seasons, Park has made the decision to move on to pastures new, with game time looking more of a guarantee at Loftus Road.

The Prospects

While Fabio will bring a youthful vigour to the full-back area, Park’s arrival continues Hughes’ summer policy of bringing top-flight know-how to some key areas. The likes of Andrew Johnson and Robert Green have also made their way to West London this summer – clear indication the QPR boss is determined to bring more experienced campaigners to the club as the West London outfit look to build on last term’s 17th place finish.

QPR may have impressed in front of their own fans after Neil Warnock’s departure but a record of just a single point in nine away games under Hughes needs immediate address and the South Korean’s work ethic, selflessness and intelligence in possession will be crucial to the cause. With Adel Taarabt weaving his magic on the left flank, Park looks likely to be handed a role on the right for QPR, jumping ahead of Jamie Mackie and Shaun Wright-Philips in the pecking order.

Certainly, as a Fantasy prospect at Old Trafford he has never prospered – Park’s best season in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) has produced a measly 74 points but he can, at least, be expected to cement a regular starting role under Hughes next time out. A price of 5.5 – 6.0 seems the likely outcome for the South Korean but despite that, Taarabt is likely to be the QPR midfielder of choice; the Moroccan picked up attacking returns in four of his last five home games and seemed to gradually acclimatise to the Premier League after an abysmal start.

Hughes’ side have a decent first couple of fixtures to kick off the upcoming campaign, with a home clash against Swansea followed by a trip to Norwich but, after that, the next three Gameweeks (mci, CHE, tot) are enough to deter even the most optimistic of Fantasy managers. From Gameweek 6, however, the schedule eases up; Hughes’ outfit host ( WHM, EVE, RDG) and, with a trip to West Brom also on the cards, if Park can replicate his PSV form, he could, potentially, be a decent differential.