‘Ulsan-Jeonbuk Yanggang, Jeju-Incheon Dark Horse’ Sports Chosun predicts the 2023 K League 1 composition

The opening of the K-League 1 is approaching in two days. 12 teams line up side by side at the starting line. In particular, this year is full of variables with a longer winter season than ever before and a heated recruitment match. Teams are generally leveled upwards, and the so-called ‘victory vending machine’ has disappeared. So it is difficult to predict.

Sports Chosun soccer reporters (9 people) predicted the game of ‘Hanawon Q K League 1 2023’ ahead of the opening. There were many people who predicted the advantage of the ‘defending champion’ Ulsan in the Yanggang composition of Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai. Seven out of nine reporters picked Ulsan and two chose Jeonbuk as the favorites. Ulsan, who won the championship for the first time in 17 years last season, is evaluated to have had a ‘substantial’ winter by adding Joo Min-gyu, Kim Min-hyuk, Boyanich, Etaru, and Rubikson while protecting the main players. Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo said, “The attitude toward the K-League is always the same. After winning the championship, the position is different, but rather than defending it, I will face this season with a new path and a new challenging attitude.”토토사이트

Jeonbuk, which failed to lose six games in a row last season, began to ‘storm recruitment’ such as Lee Dong-joon, Jung Tae-wook, Amano, Raphael Silva, Andre Lewis, Kim Gun-woong and Jeong Min-ki. Jeonbuk coach Kim Sang-sik said, “As always, Jeonbuk will move forward with the goal of winning three competitions (League, Asian Champions League (ACL), FA Cup).”

What caught my attention was Jeju United. As if in line with coach Nam Ki-il’s declaration of “I will break the Ulsan-Jeonbuk Yanggang structure” early on, two reporters predicted that Jeju would surpass Jeonbuk and take second place. Jeju, along with Ulsan and Jeonbuk, was unanimously named in Final A. It is evaluated that Jeju Island has succeeded in upgrading the team throughout the winter. Lim Chae-min and Yeon Je-woon were recruited to strengthen the defense, and Yuri and Hays filled the void left by Joo Min-gyu.

Incheon United, which was selected as the best dark horse this season by Media Day, also received high praise from Sports Chosun reporters. Eight reporters predicted going to Final A. Two reporters predicted 3rd place and 3 reporters predicted 4th place. Incheon, which came in 4th place last season and entered the ACL for the first time this season, has a high-quality squad by recruiting Shin Jin-ho and Jerso. Incheon coach Cho Seong-hwan expressed his confidence, “It is an honor to be mentioned like this. In fact, it would be a lie if I said there was little pressure. Jeonbuk and Ulsan, then Incheon should be next.”

FC Seoul, which lost its pride by falling to Final B last season, predicted that six reporters would make it to Final A, as if reflecting expectations for storm recruitment such as Hwang Ui-jo, Lim Sang-hyeop, Park Soo-il, and Willian throughout the winter. The remaining one seat in Final A was tight. Pohang Steelers, Gangwon FC and Daegu FC received 3 votes each. Gangwon received 2 votes in the relegation zone prediction, so it seems likely that they will become a goblin team this season. Suwon FC also received 2 votes in the relegation zone prediction, but 7 reporters predicted that it would finish 9th or higher.

The key was, of course, the ‘remaining part 1’ competition. The number of K-League 1 relegated teams this season is ‘1+2’. The bottom of the K-League 1 is directly relegated to Division 2, and the 10th and 11th places will decide whether or not to remain through a promotion playoff. Daejeon Hana Citizen and Gwangju FC, the promoted teams that stepped on the K-League 1 stage this season, received the most points. Daejeon was evaluated as a candidate for relegation from all nine players. Seven of them predicted the lowest place. It was a result that reflected that there was not as much recruitment as expected. Gwangju also received 8 votes.

There were many prospects that Suwon Samsung, who barely survived last season’s promotion playoffs, would struggle again this time. In Suwon, Mulich, Akosti, Kim Bo-kyung and Kim Kyung-joong joined the team, but striker Oh Hyun-kyu, who left for Celtic, seems to have a big gap. Six reporters assessed that it would not exceed 10th place.

Of course, expectations are expectations. The final ranking is expected to be different depending on how to overcome the numerous variables in the long-term race. Who will have the last laugh this year?

◇ 2023 K League 1 composition predicted by Sports Chosun Reporter

= Winning = Final A = Final B = Relegation zone Choi

Man-shik = Ulsan = Ulsan, Jeju, Jeonbuk, Incheon, Gangwon, Suwon = Seoul, Daegu, Pohang, Suwon FC, Gwangju, Daejeon = Suwon FC, Gwangju, Daejeon Jeon

Yeongji = Ulsan = Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, Seoul, Incheon, Daegu = Gangwon, Suwon FC, Pohang, Suwon, Gwangju, Daejeon = Suwon, Gwangju, Daejeon Kim Seong-won = Ulsan = Ulsan, Jeonbuk

, Incheon, Jeju, Gangwon, Seoul = Daegu, Suwon FC, Pohang, Gwangju, Suwon, Daejeon = Gwangju, Suwon, Daejeon

Ryu Dong-hyuk = Ulsan = Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, Incheon, Pohang, Seoul = Suwon FC, Gangwon, Daegu, Suwon, Gwangju, Daejeon = Suwon, Gwangju, Daejeon Lee Won-man = Ulsan = Ulsan, Jeju, Jeonbuk, Daegu, Incheon, Suwon

FC =Pohang, Seoul, Suwon, Gwangju, Gangwon, Daejeon = Gangwon, Gwangju, Daejeon

Kim Jin-hoe = Jeonbuk = Jeonbuk, Ulsan, Pohang, Seoul, Jeju, Gwangju = Incheon, Gangwon, Daegu, Suwon FC, Daejeon, Suwon = Suwon FC, Daejeon, Suwon

Yun Jinman = Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, Incheon, Seoul, Daegu = Pohang, Suwon, Suwon FC, Gwangju, Gangwon, Daejeon = Gwangju, Gangwon, Daejeon Park Chan-joon = Jeonbuk = Jeonbuk, Ulsan, Incheon, Jeju,

Seoul , Suwon FC=Pohang, Gangwon, Daegu, Suwon, Daejeon, Gwangju=Suwon, Daejeon, Gwangju

Kim Ga-eul=Ulsan=Ulsan, Jeonbuk, Jeju, Pohang, Incheon, Gangwon=Suwon FC, Daegu, Seoul, Gwangju, Suwon, Daejeon = Gwangju, Suwon, Daejeon

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