By Deep Blue
August 29 2005

Ok, not the most PC of titles, I just lack the intelligence to come up with a wittier one. All the Asian media and reports from Holland and the players own agents tell us that Monday will see the completion of the signing of Young-Pyo Lee. Ok, not the most PC of titles, I just lack the intelligence to come up with a wittier one. All the Asian media and reports from Holland and the players own agents tell us that Monday will see the completion of the signing of Young-Pyo Lee. So what are we getting from this lad, apart from a chance to come up with insulting titles?

First off ill be cynical and talk merchandising. He was one of the Korean heroes of the world cup and since then has had a massive following in Korea. In shirt sales alone we will recoup his wages and transfer fee. He will be closely followed in Asian as the premiership is big there and he offers to the huge market in Asia someone that can be followed by them, in the league they watch and support (think how you always check how Beckham and Owen are doing in Madrid). The fans will want to know what club he plays for and want to watch the games he is in. This will raise our profile in the East and with it our revenue. If anything he will effectively be a free player but also raise funds in the long term, at worst this signing is good business.

“Excuse me there is a wingback in my takeaway, and where is my side order of Kuyt?”

But this is no Toda, Lee is here to play and by all accounts he isn’t to bad at that. Typical of the modern Asian player he is full or running and plays a high tempo game. Playing at left back his lack of height and build could be a problem in the premiership but his tenacity in the tackle and willingness to get forward means he will cause enough trouble to balance any worries about that out. He is a tricky player and likes to push high up the pitch and will take apposing players on. He has an end product to this and likes to cross fast balls into the box, the accuracy of which is not always consistent, but in the course of the game he will get his fair share of dangerous balls into the box.

For me it is how he will work with Reid that should prove most fruitful. Reid although blessed with skill, isn’t blessed with a frame that is designed to move quickly, Lee quickly overlapping on the outside him will introduce the width missing on the left. Reid will have the option of playing Lee through or crossing from deep or even switching play. Lee runs will occupy the opposition and give Reid more time to work that wand of a left foot and chose the right option.

“Reid not fat, big boned. He has an especially massive arse bone..”

Don’t get me wrong though, Edman hasn’t been forgotten, he will still play, but now he has competition and importantly increases our options and depth of the squad. Something that can’t be forgotten is his experience; this is a 27 year old who has won leagues played in World Cups and is a model professional. This experience, as with other players such as Davids and Naybet will bleed into the rest of the young squad.

This is imo another shrewd signing and effectively free, of course he needs to pass a medical first but I don’t see that being a problem. As Jol moves to improve the squad he continues to raid Holland, hopefully he can do this a couple more times before Wednesday especially if they are as smart a transfer as this one.