Hwang

[JonahWolf]

I have been saying for ages that he is not a winger he is a finisher and needs to play more centrally.

He needs to be fairly central so can get there when the time comes, but he doesn’t need to, or have the attributes to, start or stay there.
He’s unlikely to hold it up back to goal, or burst past 4 players in 40 yards like Cunha does.
But sneaking into right place right time from the channels is what he does best.
He’d probably be great in a 2 as well off a proper 9, but there’s no need or much sense in him being that central figure.

 

[Zico]

And somewhere around the world there are:

City fans who criticise Grealish
Liverpool fans who criticise Jota
Arsenal fans who criticise Martinelli

It’s almost like it’s football.

After the City match there were fans in their forum having a go at Haaland!

 

[Flump]

After the City match there were fans in their forum having a go at Haaland!

Fraudling Fraaaaudland.

 

[TheConcourse]

After the City match there were fans in their forum having a go at Haaland!

Yeah, I saw that.. they’re a poorer side with him in it, apparently.

“If he doesn’t score he’s anonymous”

 

[Premier Quality]

I have been saying for ages that he is not a winger he is a finisher and needs to play more centrally.

He’s not a winger, he’s a poacher who defends wide.

I’m not his biggest fan, but the cut back for the finish was excellent, long may the goals keep flowing!

 

[CelebrityWolf]

Yeah, I saw that.. they’re a poorer side with him in it, apparently.

“If he doesn’t score he’s anonymous”

To be fair that is accurate.

 

[wolvesaywe]

I've missed these (although can see why they stopped putting them out as you actually need to score goals)

 

[Mile End Wanderer]

Keep saying but but Hwang keeps getting better with every week. We need to try and get him into goal scoring positions more playing between the line with Cunha could work

 

[BillyBoots]

Wish we had his mate Son along side him what a pairing that would be.

 

[Rabid Wolf]

Wish we had his mate Son along side him what a pairing that would be.

Shame we didn't go in for Lee Kang-In when he left Mallorca on a free.

 

[AndyY]

He needs to be fairly central so can get there when the time comes, but he doesn’t need to, or have the attributes to, start or stay there.
He’s unlikely to hold it up back to goal, or burst past 4 players in 40 yards like Cunha does.
But sneaking into right place right time from the channels is what he does best.
He’d probably be great in a 2 as well off a proper 9, but there’s no need or much sense in him being that central figure.

Agreed, I never said he was a #9, probably best as a #10 if those sorts of labels are relevant.

 

[Eastern Wolf]

I've missed these (although can see why they stopped putting them out as you actually need to score goals)

What a fantastic first touch. Second touch was in the back of the net. No messing. Great close control, awareness and accuracy. All done with his weak foot too.
Toti deserves huge praise too for his taking out three players and laying on the brilliant pass to Hwang.
Superb team goal. GON deserves plaudits for galvanising this team.

 

[StaffordWolf]

What a fantastic first touch. Second touch was in the back of the net. No messing. Great close control, awareness and accuracy. All done with his weak foot too.
Toti deserves huge praise too for his taking out three players and laying on the brilliant pass to Hwang.
Superb team goal. GON deserves plaudits for galvanising this team.

Agree 100%, barely recognisable compared to last season.

 

[Dr Wolfenstein]

What a fantastic first touch. Second touch was in the back of the net. No messing. Great close control, awareness and accuracy. All done with his weak foot too.
Toti deserves huge praise too for his taking out three players and laying on the brilliant pass to Hwang.
Superb team goal. GON deserves plaudits for galvanising this team.

And don't forget Lemina's clever if speculative back heel that stopped Newcastle's charge out- in support of Pope's clearance- dead in its tracks.

 

[Topcat]

Technically, a fantastic goal pretty much made out of nothing. Surprised VAR didn’t rule it out as not being a clear and obvious goal scoring opportunity!

 

[Achilles Last Stand]

As I watch the games from far away on the telly only, I've noticed that I'm starting to lean forward in my comfy sofa each time he has the ball at his feet in the offensive area. Dunno why, is this anticipation?

And also, we must surely be truly MASSIVE in South-Korea right now?

 

[Wignall 3-0]

There is also a video of all his Wolves goals. Watch it, he has a goal scorers instinct, gets in the right places for maximum opportunity. A lot of skillful first time finishes. He is now showing greater calmness and composure when chances arrive. Just needs to stay fit.

 

[Black Country Wanderer]

Hes always worked hard,just lost a bit of confidence last year
Not surprising really, as most of the team were off it for months
Hes now getting picked regularly, and, from GONs comments, is highly rated
Hes not going to hit 20 goals, but he will get double figures, and i think its been about 3 years since any player did that for us

 

[Bawtry Wolf]

There’s a touch of Bully about him. His touch and composure improves immeasurably when he has sight of goal as did Bully’s. For their ‘penalty’ his first touch let the ball get away from him a bit and gave Schar a chance, I bet if the same ball drops in the Newcastle area he probably controls it beautifully and gets a good shot away. For the goal he had the composure to not only send Byrne to Asda, he sent Pope in the opposite direction as he opened his body up to make it look like he was going far corner before dragging his foot round the ball to send it in the, now unprotected, near post.

 

[SteveBullsKnee]

Personally think it’s a bit of a myth that he isn’t a footballer. Sometimes his first touch can be off but generally it’s sound. He presses well, makes some very intelligent runs (that’s why he pops up in goal scoring positions) and drives well with the ball at his feet. His shooting technique is decent. Sure he can’t play with his back to goal but there’s plenty of forwards that can’t do that.

 

[DDPPwolf313]

I thought it's probably about time I came here and ate a bit of humble pie.

Whilst Hwang was coming back from Injury his touch was absolute dross, but thankfully it must have been a combination of fitness and confidence because this year he has looked like a new player. Still the odd mistake and sloppy touch but on the hole his all round play has been really good and around the opposition box he's been mustard.

In my defence I did say there could be a really good clinical finisher that needs to be playing further up the pitch, and I do still stand by that, keep him away from our box, but up the other end he has been brilliant. That cut back against Newcastle was sublime.

So Hwang, I am sorry I ever doubted you and I'm glad you proved me wrong.

 

[busbcadd]

I thought it's probably about time I came here and ate a bit of humble pie.

Whilst Hwang was coming back from Injury his touch was absolute dross, but thankfully it must have been a combination of fitness and confidence because this year he has looked like a new player. Still the odd mistake and sloppy touch but on the hole his all round play has been really good and around the opposition box he's been mustard.

In my defence I did say there could be a really good clinical finisher that needs to be playing further up the pitch, and I do still stand by that, keep him away from our box, but up the other end he has been brilliant. That cut back against Newcastle was sublime.

So Hwang, I am sorry I ever doubted you and I'm glad you proved me wrong.

Yeah, same here. I was desperate for Leeds to take him off our hands last year (ironically enough after he did a wonderful cut back against Newcastle for Saint-Maximin to score the equalizer).
Not only has he become an important player for us, but he seems like a bloody nice chap too. He’s an real asset to the club.

 

[WickedWolfie]

I thought it's probably about time I came here and ate a bit of humble pie.

Whilst Hwang was coming back from Injury his touch was absolute dross, but thankfully it must have been a combination of fitness and confidence because this year he has looked like a new player. Still the odd mistake and sloppy touch but on the hole his all round play has been really good and around the opposition box he's been mustard.

In my defence I did say there could be a really good clinical finisher that needs to be playing further up the pitch, and I do still stand by that, keep him away from our box, but up the other end he has been brilliant. That cut back against Newcastle was sublime.

So Hwang, I am sorry I ever doubted you and I'm glad you proved me wrong.

I have to say that your comments about his all round play in the hole and sloppy touch really triggered my dirty mind lol..... Oooh, er missus.....

 

[Tarcisio Mifsud]

And the BBC did not find a place for him in the team of the week. OMG - Crook is a most biased pundit against Wolves. In his sum up he wrote about the VAR decisions over the weekend, but he did not find space to mention the VAR penalty decision against Wolves, while the VAR discarded Wolves claim for a penalty from a defender's handball.

 

[Flump]

Personally think it’s a bit of a myth that he isn’t a footballer.

I think some of that comes from unconscious bias with him coming from a non-traditional footballing country.

 

[Jawwfc]

Hwang has really improved since he got that goal for Korea against Portugal in the world cup, even when things weren't going well for him he was always likely to be in the right place at the right time.

I remember when he first joined he couldn't speak a word of English now he looks very comfortable which is a credit to him.

I think we are far better looking for the Hwangs out there for 10-20 million than spending 30-40 million on players, Only Jimenez has every justified that price tag since we have been in the PL.

 

[Mugwump]

Hwang has really improved since he got that goal for Korea against Portugal in the world cup, even when things weren't going well for him he was always likely to be in the right place at the right time.

I remember when he first joined he couldn't speak a word of English now he looks very comfortable which is a credit to him.

I think we are far better looking for the Hwangs out there for 10-20 million than spending 30-40 million on players, Only Jimenez has every justified that price tag since we have been in the PL.

Thats the model. Sell a player like Hwang when his stock is high like right now and make sure you have a decent replacement ready to go. I'd rather keep our players who are performing, but we have to be smarter with our transfer dealings these days and sell players when we can maximise our profits.

 

[brianm]

Thats the model. Sell a player like Hwang when his stock is high like right now and make sure you have a decent replacement ready to go. I'd rather keep our players who are performing, but we have to be smarter with our transfer dealings these days and sell players when we can maximise our profits.

If he can command a good fee, sure...but he's 27. Seems unlikely.

 

[Mugwump]

If he can command a good fee, sure...but he's 27. Seems unlikely.

At 27 he has another 5 years at the top level if he looks after himself.

 

[Bradstonian]

I think some of that comes from unconscious bias with him coming from a non-traditional footballing country.

Football took off in South Korea in 1902, so it has long been a popular there. It's big with the people, and the number one sport, as any walk round the street markets of Seoul will show you. Namdaemun market for instance has numerous stalls selling replica shirts of the most popular Korean teams. There are football stores in shopping malls too. So I wouldn't say South Korea was a non-traditional footballing country.

 

[Flump]

Football took off in South Korea in 1902, so it has long been a popular there. It's big with the people, and the number one sport, as any walk round the street markets of Seoul will show you. Namdaemun market for instance has numerous stalls selling replica shirts of the most popular Korean teams. There are football stores in shopping malls too. So I wouldn't say South Korea was a non-traditional footballing country.

Yes, I know they're good.

But they're still not a traditional footballing powerhouse, which I think played into why some people were so critical of him. It goes hand in hand with all the thinly veiled commercial reasons comments, and a couple on here which strayed into outright racism.

 

[Streathamwolf]

At 27 he has another 5 years at the top level if he looks after himself.

If he has 5 years at the top we should hang on to him, PL goalscorers are like rocking horse ****. Not having a go, I just don't understand this desire to sell someone as soon as they are in good form. Financially he earns us far more keeping us top half of the PL than being sold for £50M.

 

[brianm]

At 27 he has another 5 years at the top level if he looks after himself.

But he will have like no resale value....

There's no way anyone offers more than 20m for him and I think that sounds insane.

 

[Werewolf of Wombourne]

Yes, I know they're good.

But they're still not a traditional footballing powerhouse, which I think played into why some people were so critical of him. It goes hand in hand with all the thinly veiled commercial reasons comments, and a couple on here which strayed into outright racism.

That's what we want though, emerging football markets we can tap into. All the traditional footballing countries were captured by Man Utd, Liverpool etc years ago.

 

[Flump]

That's what we want though, emerging football markets we can tap into. All the traditional footballing countries were captured by Man Utd, Liverpool etc years ago.

Yes - I know - but that's separate from my point, which was that I think a lot of the over the top criticism on here was exacerbated because he's from South Korea, rather than say, France.

 

[Minimalist]

Yes - I know - but that's separate from my point, which was that I think a lot of the over the top criticism on here was exacerbated because he's from South Korea, rather than say, France.

In fairness to the forum….. I don’t think we hold back on over the top criticism regardless of from which part of the world players/managers hail from……

 

[Chriswwfc]

In fairness to the forum….. I don’t think we hold back on over the top criticism regardless of from which part of the world players/managers hail from……

Exactly! Got help hwang if he was a young kid from Portugal!

 

[Contrarian]

At 27 he has another 5 years at the top level if he looks after himself.

And he's having the best season of his career, taking the level into account. So still improving. I'm not all that up on European football, but definitily remember him being raved about as one of the best young talents in Europe when he was 21 or 22-ish. That season soon after in the Bundesliga (he scored 0 goals) faded him into the background and it's taken till now for him to really get his career back on track, it seems.

He is a great model for certain younger players too - particularly when you watch his positioning, it's more than "decent" or "potential", it is excellent. The runs he makes (eg Newcastle goal), his anticipation, awareness of the strikers game is top notch. More than compensates for his not having the best control. And great attitude too. Never complains during long spells not scoring and on the sidelines. Stays humble, just works harder than ever. Turning into a bit of a favourite , I think! That's what scoring goals does, can't be beaten for the happiness it brings. As well as clearly loving playing for the club, and respecting the fans.

 

[Werewolf of Wombourne]

Yes - I know - but that's separate from my point, which was that I think a lot of the over the top criticism on here was exacerbated because he's from South Korea, rather than say, France.

I wasn't disagreeing with you. There is definitely still a big bias and perception of players based on where they come from in English football. There is still a general lack of regard for Asian players and the perceived lack of toughness and bottle of southern European players. The image of Johnny Foreigner diving and cheating against our good honest English lads (despite the fact that some of the biggest divers in football have been English) still looms large

 

[rincewind]

I wasn't disagreeing with you. There is definitely still a big bias and perception of players based on where they come from in English football. There is still a general lack of regard for Asian players and the perceived lack of toughness and bottle of southern European players. The image of Johnny Foreigner diving and cheating against our good honest English lads (despite the fact that some of the biggest divers in football have been English) still looms large

I must disagree. When it comes to critising a Wolves player the Mix is can be both enthusiastic and definitely an equal opportunities site.