Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[chrisd2k]

So boring already. After every game he doesn't score this player thread will likely always be the first to get bumped. Yes, he's not at the best at the moment. But surely by now he's not the only issue yet he's always the first to be mentioned as if some can find closure in that. Why the same argument of poor services applied to Kane but not to him. Seriously some fans need sorting out. Stop looking and finding fault at every ball he received/passed and you guys will realise how many times Kane/Richy/Perisic/Sess have been doing the same.

The negative focus has surely been shifted from Hojbjerg to Son this season.

Ffs.

FFS indeed. Like on Saturday he failed to control a ball, pass properly to a teammate and well, do anything well.

There is a problem. He can still strike a ball as we saw Vs Leicester that will never change but he needs to sort it out.

 

[gibbospurs]

I think his main issue is the ball drops for him and his first thought is to turn and run with it. Countless times all he needed to do was pass back the way he was facing when the ball popped to him. Keeping the ball and then looking for the return pass. He’s trying to do way too much on his own. Maybe he’s feeling there is a lack in forward passing? But he missed 2/3 sitters for his standards tonight. Not even testing the keeper. He needs to play the easy ball and turn towards goal and look for the forward pass. The ball was bouncing off him all night. But the same could be said for Richarlison too. And for that matter Kane was in the same form. Could and should of bagged 3/4 goals tonight.

 

[septicsac]

The hat-trick aside he has been so poor, but tonight everything went wrong, possibly he worst performance yet. Thought the hat-trick might have settled him down, but still looks miles off his best and did well to stay on the pitch as long as he did.

 

[tiger666]

The first touch of an aircraft carrier

 

[hughy]

Lost the ball countless times, missed a couple of good chances but the one which really wound me up was that ball across for Kane which he just had to square in to Kane's path for a tap-in. For some reason he absolutely leathered it across the face of goal and Kane couldn't do anything with it.

Come on Sonny, with Deki injured and Richarlison yet to really hit form in the league we're really counting on you over the next few games.

 

[mil1lion]

Son is in my top 5 favourite all time Spurs players but I think next summer we should consider investing heavily in a younger replacement who will usurp Sonny at some point. Rafael Leao or Kvicha would be the dream. Son is amazing but his technical flaws are all too evident when he’s not on red hot form. His performsncss this season the Leicester cameo aside have been worrying.

I would think Richarlison who is coming into his prime will be a good long term replacement. That inside left is his best position. I do wonder where Scarlett will play as well though as he could also end up inside left if we're still under Conte.

 

[Danny1]

There is no doubt about it, Sonny has been very poor this year and the fact that we are not firing on all cylinders up top is a big reason why we don't look great as a side. Look at the comments from Conte, Kane & Dier after last night. All of them said that we played well but couldn't find that clinical edge. The players know it which then adds more pressure to our front line.

Hopefully they can snap out of their slump and start playing like we know they can as our results and gameplay will change drastically when that happens.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

There is no doubt about it, Sonny has been very poor this year and the fact that we are not firing on all cylinders up top is a big reason why we don't look great as a side. Look at the comments from Conte, Kane & Dier after last night. All of them said that we played well but couldn't find that clinical edge. The players know it which then adds more pressure to our front line.

Hopefully they can snap out of their slump and start playing like we know they can as our results and gameplay will change drastically when that happens.

Unlike Sonny, you're on top form this morning

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I would think Richarlison who is coming into his prime will be a good long term replacement. That inside left is his best position. I do wonder where Scarlett will play as well though as he could also end up inside left if we're still under Conte.

Personally im not sure he’s technically good enough to play wide forward. I think long term his best spot will be CF. If you look at the likes of Leao or Kvicha who are mentioned in the post you quote they are better with the ball at their feet and much better passers. I think Richy is decent at LWF and I’d much prefer he play there then the right but even so I’d prefer someone different playing there long term when Son starts fading.

 

[mil1lion]

Personally im not sure he’s technically good enough to play wide forward. I think long term his best spot will be CF. If you look at the likes of Leao or Kvicha who are mentioned in the post you quote they are better with the ball at their feet and much better passers. I think Richy is decent at LWF and I’d much prefer he play there then the right but even so I’d prefer someone different playing there long term when Son starts fading.

I think when we got the best out of Son last season he was playing more off the shoulder of Kane and making more runs behind. Kane was dropping off and Kulusevski was more the ball carrier and passer. I thought that was a nice balance and if we can see the best of Perisic at left wing back he will bring the dribbling down the left side. I think Son needs balls in front of him to drive forward where now he's coming too often backwards to receive the ball. I don't know anything about those 2 players but I'm not sure we need a dribbler to carry the ball for that role. I think that comes more from the wing backs and from Kulusevski. If anything we need another option for the right inside forward role as we really lack balance when Deki is out. It feels to me like we need only 1 of Richarlison or Son to start and could do with a more technical player to compete with Kulusevski.

 

[14/04/91]

I think when we got the best out of Son last season he was playing more off the shoulder of Kane and making more runs behind. Kane was dropping off and Kulusevski was more the ball carrier and passer. I thought that was a nice balance and if we can see the best of Perisic at left wing back he will bring the dribbling down the left side. I think Son needs balls in front of him to drive forward where now he's coming too often backwards to receive the ball. I don't know anything about those 2 players but I'm not sure we need a dribbler to carry the ball for that role. I think that comes more from the wing backs and from Kulusevski. If anything we need another option for the right inside forward role as we really lack balance when Deki is out. It feels to me like we need only 1 of Richarlison or Son to start and could do with a more technical player to compete with Kulusevski.

His first touch is looking really poor and that backs up your argument that his strength is running onto through balls, not getting involved in build up.

 

[mil1lion]

His first touch is looking really poor and that backs up your argument that his strength is running onto through balls, not getting involved in build up.

It's just not his strength. I think he can be a bit like Moura in that sense. Neither of them are very good when they come deep to receive the ball and receive it back to their own goal. Once they're faced forward and running at pace they're at their best. I do get the argument for 352 while Deki is out because it would allow him to play further forward and not drop deep as much. Once Deki is back it's he who is best receiving the ball and holding players off to get turned on the ball so the 343 works better as we tend to play out more on the right and go longer down the left.

 

[tobi]

In a period like this he needs to do less IMO, he needs someone (preferably more than one obvious option) that can supply him with passes, this would allow him to focus on stretching the defence instead of being involved in the build up because his first touch has never been consistent.

Also Son has always been an average dribbler, playing him in a front three with two other forwards who aren't good dribblers will automatically lead to many attacks breaking down.

 

[chrisd2k]

Thing is we did see all these weaknesses last season. I earned a million negs saying he kept losing the ball in midfield, a position he shouldn't be in as that's not his game.
The only difference is his first touch does seem worse to be fair but he was banging in the goals.
I thought last season we changed tactics a bit with Son running in behind and Kane dropping deeper to link up.
This season Kane has been really poor in open play, his touch and passing is way off his standard but he's also playing higher.

 

[PrettyColors]

Son is in my top 5 favourite all time Spurs players but I think next summer we should consider investing heavily in a younger replacement who will usurp Sonny at some point. Rafael Leao or Kvicha would be the dream. Son is amazing but his technical flaws are all too evident when he’s not on red hot form. His performsncss this season the Leicester cameo aside have been worrying.

You mean like Richarlison?

 

[chrisd2k]

You mean like Richarlison?

Is he the same sort of player?

 

[WhiteStripe]

He just had an amazing season in the same formation.

Same formation, completely different style of play. Kane was deeper and firing allowing son to play off the shoulder. Kulu was a completely different animal to Richarlison. Last year May have been the same formation on paper, but Son was not playing the same role he has been this year. He’s just not good when receiving the ball in congested areas.

 

[mil1lion]

Same formation, completely different style of play. Kane was deeper and firing allowing son to play off the shoulder. Kulu was a completely different animal to Richarlison. Last year May have been the same formation on paper, but Son was not playing the same role he has been this year. He’s just not good when receiving the ball in congested areas.

But the suggestion was the formation doesn't suit him not that we're not using it as well as last season

 

[NorthernYido]

Does anyone have any insight into why he is playing so poorly? Some of my favorite quotes by other posters...
'Touch of an aircraft carrier' & 'He couldn't trap a bag of cement'

Granted Conte's style may not suit him as much but his touch and passing were never this bad.

 

[ultimateloner]

He is optimal as a finisher, great range with either foot. He is less good in other phases of play but thats ok. He is a striker; finishing/speed/positional awareness is what matters. If he is overly involved in other bits of play, it means others aren't doing their jobs well enough.