The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly: Suwon and Byun Seong-hwan

Byun Seong-hwan took charge of a Bluewings team spiraling out of control under the final days of Yeom Ki-hun's ill-fated tenure. Byun steadied the ship initially, before recording big wins against the top 2. That was followed by a third defeat of the season to Seoul E-Land. But, overall, how is the new man doing? 

You only have to watch the lineups announced on the big screen to understand how revered Byun Seong-hwan is by the Bluewings' faithful. The 44-year-old manager never wore the Suwon kit during a 13-year career that took him to Busan, Seongnam, Anyang, and Australia. But when his name is read out by the M.C. at Big Bird or Mireu before a Suwon home game, the loudest cheer is reserved for their manager.

They adore Byun in Suwon. The traumatic experience under legendary playmaker Yeom Ki-hun still hangs over Suwon (perhaps unfairly) - the relegation, their league position and games lost are largely down to the former #26 - but has the new man done enough to deserve the adoration? Let's find out.

Basic Information

The Bluewings lost seven of their eight games under the former manager Yeom. It was that disastrous run of form that led to fan outrage and his eventual resignation. It is highly possible that the Bluewings will not be able to recover from that run of losses. Last week's defeat in Mokdong followed by the point in Cheongju means four teams and seven points separate Suwon from first. It isn't an impossible task but as the information below shows, they draw far too many games. There's no indication whatsoever that those one-pointers will turn into victories, allowing Suwon to climb up the table.

Even securing a play-off spot isn't guaranteed, although you'd suspect the odds are long against them dropping out of the top 5.

Had the season started in early June when Byun took over, the Bluewings would be top of the ladder right now (albeit, having played one game more than most of their competitors). Suwon have amassed 22 points from 13 games (aided by that solitary defeat in Mokdong), whereas, in the same period, FC Anyang have 21 from 13 games, Chungnam Asan have 21 points from 12 games, and Seoul E-Land and Jeonnam Dragons each have 19 points from 12 games.

Here's a full breakdown:

Played: 13

Won: 5

Drew: 7

Lost: 1

Goals For: 18

Goals Against: 11

Points: 22

Position: 5th

Results

Busan IPark (a) 1-1

Gyeongnam FC (a) 0-0

Seongnam FC (h) 3-0

Jeonnam Dragons (a) 1-1

Ansan Greeners (h) 1-1

Cheonan City (a) 2-1

Chungbuk Cheongju (h) 0-0

Bucheon FC 1995 (a) 3-0

Gimpo FC (a) 1-1

FC Anyang (h) 2-1

Jeonnam Dragons (h) 2-1

Seoul E-Land (a) 0-2

Chungbuk Cheongju (a) 2-2

Han Ho-gang is normally a steady influence in the heart of Suwon's defense.

Players Used

GK: Captain and goalkeeper Yang Hyeong-mo is the undisputed number 1 but he has suffered injury problems throughout the season. As a result, back-up Park Ji-min has started  5 of Byun's 13 games, conceding in every match.

DF: Lee Si-yong has been a solid and dependable loan signing from bitter rivals FC Seoul. The right-back has started 12 of Byun's 13 games. Lee Ki-jae is next up with 10 appearances on the left side, despite his waning influence. Suwon currently have more cover on that side but are choosing to play Lee. The center-back pairing of Han Ho-gang (8) and Jang Seok-hwan (8) looks like Byun's preferred partnership after plenty of chopping in the early weeks.

MF: Since moving from Cheongju mid-summer, Hong Won-jin has been ever present in the center of midfield. Injuries and suspensions have curtailed any prospect of a long-term pairing, such as in defense, but Kim Bo-kyoung is experiencing something of a revival, having started 7 matches. Once fully fit, it is likely Lee Jong-sung will start most games with Peter Makrillos battling for a starting spot.

ST: Once the flavor of the month, Kim Ju-chan was frozen out until recently- and even then he only lasted 45 minutes. This has been a terrible season for the young attacker, after high hopes in the off-season. The vast majority of his 8 appearances in the front three came in Byun's early days. Fejsal Mulic has started 10 games with youngster Kim Ji-ho earning a lot of game time over the summer.

Familiar failings

I've identified three areas of weakness under the new management team. Fans who have seen more games than I have might disagree or have spotted some other issues, but I will expand on these points now.

Suwon are very one-dimensional: The football is extremely predictable under Byun Seong-hwan just like it was under his predecessor. A low block is enough to frustrate the Bluewings, as they hog possession but are left playing dozens of sideways or ineffective passes around the center circle. When the majority of your attacking ball is coming down the middle with little - or no - width, space is at a premium and they don't have the arsenal to unlock those types of defenses, yet.

Suwon would be wise to try a different formation depending on the opponent or location but the manager is sticking rigidly to his 4-3-3. Right-back Lee Si-yong does try to offer assistance by overlapping but the team is badly missing Kim Tae-hwan since he moved to Jeju. When you watch Suwon from behind the goals, there's always plenty of space behind the opposition fullbacks which they aren't capable of targeting. Lee Ki-jae, either through age or increasing ineffectiveness, is not the player he once was. Even his set pieces are uneventful.

Suwon only react when falling behind: This has been another feature of the Byun reign, just like that of Yeom. There is no discernable shift in tempo throughout a game until they fall behind. And even when they score first, there's rarely a sense that the goal was coming. Against leaders Anyang at home, Suwon were perhaps fortunate to be level at 0-0 before opening the scoring just before the break. Overall, Byun's team has conceded the first goal in six of this 13 matches; that's far too many for a side gunning for promotion. In five of those, they did come from behind to draw or win.

Normally, superior teams go through patches where the tempo is high and a goal feels inevitable. But for all the sideways passing, you never get this sense with Suwon. When they fall behind - vs. E-Land and Cheongju - the shift in the game's momentum is incredibly noticeable. Why can't Byun and the players sort this out so the team isn't left to chase the game, especially on the road, as often as they do?

Suwon struggle to find space for playmakers: First Rodrigo Bassani, then Kim Ju-chan, and now Paulinho. The league's second-highest goal scorer has looked a shadow of his best since swapping the sky blue of Cheonan for the Bluewings. Meanwhile, Aboubacar Toungara has scored 2 in 3 having registered nothing for Suwon. Why is that? Why is Bassani one of the best players in the league up the road in Bucheon? Early doors, of course, and Paulinho could blossom into a terrific signing very soon.

Against Seoul E-land, Paulinho stayed on the bench for 53 minutes. He replaced Fejsal Mulic immediately after the team fell behind. Why wasn't he starting the game or at least brought on at halftime? Oddly, he missed three good chances but the momentum had completely shifted when he was brought on. If you have a player of Paulinho's quality - a pacey wide man with expert set piece deliveries and an eye for goal - you start him in every big game. And you find a system that fits his qualities. Playing with his back to goal outside a crowded box is not going to get the best from the Brazilian.

On the Brightside

It can't all be doom and gloom, can it? After all, Suwon would be top of the league started when Byun took over. It is amazing how many club employees have lavished the former Anyang player in praise since he took the hot seat in Big Bird when I speak to them. The message around the league is clear and resounding;

Suwon have appointed a superb manager.

If his side falls shot of automatic promotion, the blame will come squarely on what happened before his arrival. He will have to take some responsibility for the failings mentioned above; notably the number of draws and the amount of times his time falls behind, but the damage to their automatic promotion bid occurred from the middle of April to the end of May.

September is also an easier month for the Bluewings. August's schedule - which included games against 3 teams in the playoff picture - was as tough as they could have imagined. But they open September with Cheonan City in Mireu (they have 1 win and 1 loss against Cheonan this season), Seongnam away (same record), Busan home (one draw and a defeat), and, finally, Gyeongnam away (two draws). There's plenty to improve upon and nine points should be the minimum target.

Another feature of Suwon's games is the number of U22 players in every matchday squad. Against Chungbuk Cheongju, Byun started four with one more on the bench. Against Seoul E-Land, he also had five in the match day squad. When Suwon traveled to Gimpo in late July, six U22 players made the match day squad. Not all of these players are owned by the Bluewings, but even if they fail to get promoted but keep the same squad, there'll be plenty of experience for a genuine title push the following season.

Byun's tensure and Suwon's season rests on the next four games. Anything less than seven points will likely end their slim hopes of automatic promotion. However, a return of 10-12 will ensure a fascinating end to the regular season.