FMV: Tours Presents.. Kim Doo-Hyun

Name: Kim Doo-Hyun
D/O/B: 14/07/1982 (Age 27)
Position: Midfielder
Club: Suwon Samsung Bluewings (South Korea)
International Caps: 57
International Goals: 11
Value: £1,100,000
Wages: £1,300 p/w

Background
Kim is perhaps most commonly remembered for his 18-month spell at West Brom, who he joined in January 2007, initially on a short-term loan deal. He made four appearances in the Baggies’ promotion-clinching season, scoring one goal, and was soon brought to the Hawthorns on a permanent basis, signing from Korean side Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma for £550,000 in May of the same year. After finding it difficult to pin down a regular place in the first team, Kim was limited to just 15 appearances in what was yet another short-lived stint in the top league for West Brom. In July 2009, Kim returned to his homeland to play for Suwon Bluewings, with whom he began his career. Prior to his move to England, Kim had established himself as a key figure in the South Korean U23 side, and was therefore rewarded with a place in Dick Advocaat’s squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. However due to the presence of Park Ji-Sung, who plays in a similar position to Kim, he unfortunately had to watch Korea’s progress in the tournament from the substitute’s bench. Since then though, he has performed consistently for the national side, and to date has 57 caps to his name, scoring 11 goals in the process; 3 of which came in a 3-1 win over Turkmenistan in the 2010 World Cup Qualifiers in 2008.

Attributes

Strengths
Balance – 15
Technique – 14
Stamina – 14
Passing – 13
First Touch – 13
Determination – 13
Creativity – 13
Agility – 13
Natural Fitness – 13

Kim possesses some good technical skills, and his attributes suggest that he is talented, and perhaps more importantly, clever with the ball, and most probably quite hard to dispossess. He has the ability to use both feet as well, which as a predominantly Central Midfielder, is a great asset to have.

Weaknesses
Influence – 5
Penalty Taking – 6
Heading – 6
Corners – 7

Kim’s low Influence attribute means that South Korea do lack a strong, influential player in the centre of the park (I realise Park Ji-Sung is their captain, but on FM2010, his influence is strangely low as well). This could cause a few problems when the team are trailing or in a pressure situation. At 5’10, Kim isn’t exactly the tallest of players, but he certainly isn’t the smallest either. However, his Heading ability is low, meaning he does have the potential to lose some key aerial battles.

Positions
Kim is extremely versatile, but works most naturally in the centre of the Midfield. However, he can operate equally well on either wing or in a Defensive Midfield role. Although he is predominantly a defensive-minded player, he also has the ability to play as an Attacking Midfielder; on the left, right or in the middle.

Overall
Kim isn’t going to set the world alight anytime soon, that’s for sure, but he could certainly perform well in the Championship, or at a push, for a lower-end Premier League side. I think he has a good balance of attributes, and has quite a lot to offer in terms of creativeness and technique.
Recommended Rating: 7/10