Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[Bulletspur]

Changing the subject - did anyone else think that after all the hype about us having a much better chance against Ajax with Son in the team, he failed to show up?

All I really recall was 2 early chances then he spent the rest of the match running into dead ends around the outside of the box.
Even Tripps offered more in the 2nd half.

I think you have made a very unfair assessment. He contributed well by being a foil, pulling their defence out of position where Dele, Llorente and Moura exploited the resulting gaps. His game is not all about scoring goals. You know he did hustle and win that ball that Sissoko eventually "Hail Mary'd" for the winning goal?

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I think you have made a very unfair assessment. He contributed well by being a foil, pulling their defence out of position where Dele, Llorente and Moura exploited the resulting gaps. His game is not all about scoring goals. You know he did hustle and win that ball that Sissoko eventually "Hail Mary'd" for the winning goal?

I see what you're saying, but you could say it about anyone that had no direct contribution in any match really.
As for setting Sissoko up for the Hail Mary, I'm sure that was the first time he managed to find a team mate in over an hour, yay him.

Ps, I'm normally one of Sons biggest fans, not his harshest critic.
I just think in this game, he didn't deliver when everyone was relying on him.

 

[sparx100]

I think if people are honest they can say that he worked hard but nothing came off for him on the night. Where he would usually create space for himself and get shots off or create a chance, Ajax seemed to nick the ball off him before that could happen. Last few games have been similar.

I think tiredness comes into it a little qnd he is a hot/cold streak player but I do think that Son is a confidence player. If he does something successfully early on in a game his performance will match it.

Honestly the guy has carried us at times through this season so I think he has loads in the bank for some of his less than perfect performances.

 

[slartibartfast]

Is there even a discussion to be had here?
He's a fantastic player. No one can argue that.
He had a very poor game, probably due to being shagged, and no one can say he had a great game can they.
So what are we actually discussing here?

 

[Chris Finch]

Just been announced player of the year.
Personally think should have been Sissoko but he did step up at big times

 

[rabbikeane]

Just been announced player of the year.

One Hotspur Player of the Year, or the supporter clubs' poty that he won yesterday?

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

Nicest man ever

 

[chinaman]

Nicest man ever

Get one your own Sonny. But your father told you to only get married after retirement.

 

[classwell]

Sonny hoovered six ajax men out of the six yard box just before the second goal, he got a lot of defensive attention and maybe didn't finish as well as usual but he was far from having a bad game.

 

[coyspurs18]

 

[ClintEastwould]

Son is the definition of a national treasure. Just about the best human being you could ever conceive of as a fan from an armchair.

 

[Lilbaz]

Son is the definition of a national treasure. Just about the best human being you could ever conceive of as a fan from an armchair.

He has a nice smile, i'll give you that.

 

[Spurslove]

£22 million we paid for him. He's worth five times as much in today's market.

You know, people make a boring habit of criticising Levy for being tight fisted and reluctant to spend the club's money, but when you look at players like Sonny and what he means to all of us and what he'd be worth if we sold him (God forbid), I think we should acknowledge the fact that usually, with good players, we get it absolutely right with our incomings. I did say usually...

.

 

[dtxspurs]

£22 million we paid for him. He's worth five times as much in today's market.

You know, people make a boring habit of criticising Levy for being tight fisted and reluctant to spend the club's money, but when you look at players like Sonny and what he means to all of us and what he'd be worth if we sold him (God forbid), I think we should acknowledge the fact that usually, with good players, we get it absolutely right with our incomings. I did say usually...

.

No one doubts his deal finding ability. I think most of us were pretty upset with the teams transfer dealings since we got in the Champions league. Their wasn't much of a "step up" in the way we operated. Luckily that seems to be changing finally.

I mean in 3 summers we got 2, IMO, no doubt good enough players for this level (Sanchez & Moura). Sissoko might be on that level now but he's still only been at that level for 1 out of 3 seasons and Wanyama only good for 1 season, though not Levys fault. The rest we're trying to get rid of. And as we look onto next season I don't think any of those players are likely starters. Thats piss poor.

Btw, can't wait to see Sonny get to play with Ndombele on the pitch.

 

[Gareth88]

No one doubts his deal finding ability. I think most of us were pretty upset with the teams transfer dealings since we got in the Champions league. Their wasn't much of a "step up" in the way we operated. Luckily that seems to be changing finally.

I mean in 3 summers we got 2, IMO, no doubt good enough players for this level (Sanchez & Moura). Sissoko might be on that level now but he's still only been at that level for 1 out of 3 seasons and Wanyama only good for 1 season, though not Levys fault. The rest we're trying to get rid of. And as we look onto next season I don't think any of those players are likely starters. Thats piss poor.

Btw, can't wait to see Sonny get to play with Ndombele on the pitch.

Don't forget he is suspended

 

[davidmatzdorf]

No one doubts his deal finding ability. I think most of us were pretty upset with the teams transfer dealings since we got in the Champions league. There wasn't much of a "step up" in the way we operated. Luckily that seems to be changing finally.

I mean in 3 summers we got 2, IMO, no doubt good enough players for this level (Sanchez & Moura). Sissoko might be on that level now but he's still only been at that level for 1 out of 3 seasons and Wanyama only good for 1 season, though not Levys fault. The rest we're trying to get rid of. And as we look onto next season I don't think any of those players are likely starters. Thats piss poor.

People focus on transfer fees a lot and they focus on capital debt for the stadium as an obstacle to paying large fees.

I have long thought that wages have been more of an obstacle when assessing what level of player (established vs. promising) we can sign and, in that context, turnover/revenue is more important than capital indebtedness.

Between the increase in turnover that results from moving to a 62k stadium from a 36k stadium and the revenue from being CL finalists, as part of a 4-year sequence of CL participation, we can now cover the kind of wages that, previously, only the other five "big six" clubs could pay.

Son, Lucas, Sanchez, Aurier and Sissoko all came via transfer fees at the top end of our historical level, but only Sissoko could have been described as an established player. The others were all in their early 20s, in the "promising/exciting" category - they would have expected to be paid the kind of wages we have previously paid.

Now that we can wave the big wage packets, the transfer fees required to secure those players are also higher. But I think it's mainly that way around.

 

[Lilbaz]

People focus on transfer fees a lot and they focus on capital debt for the stadium as an obstacle to paying large fees.

I have long thought that wages have been more of an obstacle when assessing what level of player (established vs. promising) we can sign and, in that context, turnover/revenue is more important than capital indebtedness.

Between the increase in turnover that results from moving to a 62k stadium from a 36k stadium and the revenue from being CL finalists, as part of a 4-year sequence of CL participation, we can now cover the kind of wages that, previously, only the other five "big six" clubs could pay.

Son, Lucas, Sanchez, Aurier and Sissoko all came via transfer fees at the top end of our historical level, but only Sissoko could have been described as an established player. The others were all in their early 20s, in the "promising/exciting" category - they would have expected to be paid the kind of wages we have previously paid.

Now that we can wave the big wage packets, the transfer fees required to secure those players are also higher. But I think it's mainly that way around.

You don't base wages on cl qualification. Stadium and sponsors yes.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

You don't base wages on cl qualification. Stadium and sponsors yes.

There's what you should do and then there's what people do. I imagine many clubs do not follow that rule. Do you think Arsenal have paid careful attention to that over the past 20 years. Qualifying four years in succession has a meaningful impact on revenue.

 

[EQP]

Don't forget he is suspended

Yep, him and Foyth miss the Aston Villa, Man City fixtures but will be back for the following Newcastle and Arsenal games.

 

[Montalbano]

Yep, him and Foyth miss the Aston Villa, Man City fixtures but will be back for the following Newcastle and Arsenal games.

No Son for Man City is a massive blow - he's always massive for us against them.