Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[InOffMeLeftShin]

My problem so far is that both Son are Kulusevski are hugging the line. They stay out there, gets the ball out wide, far away from dangerous areas. I think we have to move Son to Richys position and play someone else to the left, that actually fits Anges system.

I think a balance will be found. When Perisic is there he still comes inside and is able to find Udogie on the outside. Maddison also drifts in to that space so Son has to learn to cut in more (which will then make it easier for him to go outside). He doesn’t look fit and he looks very hesitant to cross or shoot. We know he can though so I think he can get there.

I do wonder in this set up though whether he’d be better on the right and Kulu on the left. Doubt we’ll see it but I bet Kulu can muscle past players on the left, get to the byline and play balls into the box much easier than he can on the right.

 

[Whazam]

My problem so far is that both Son are Kulusevski are hugging the line. They stay out there, gets the ball out wide, far away from dangerous areas. I think we have to move Son to Richys position and play someone else to the left, that actually fits Anges system.

With the fullbacks tucking in, surely they are instructed to do so? As InOffMeLeftShin said, they will probably find a balance. Hopefully.

Although, I don't think it's a good idea to play Skipp closest to Deki. His game better suits someone like Lo Celso or Bentancur (when he's back) next to him; players who he can combine with more frequently.

Edit: Not sure how to get the most out of Son in this system though. But I'm not worried about him yet.

 

[THFC_SWE]

With the fullbacks tucking in, surely they are instructed to do so? As InOffMeLeftShin said, they will probably find a balance. Hopefully.

Although, I don't think it's a good idea to play Skipp closest to Deki. His game better suits someone like Lo Celso or Bentancur (when he's back) next to him; players who he can combine with more frequently.

Ye, I know its because of the fullbacks. But that's what worries me a bit. We are playing Son in a role that doesn’t fit him at all.

 

[tobi]

Son can balance things out by making more runs behind the defence from his wide starting position.

 

[ATLguy]

Son can balance things out by making more runs behind the defence from his wide starting position.

I actually saw him make a handful, but they were not picked up by the ball carrier at that time.

 

[Goobers]

I actually saw him make a handful, but they were not picked up by the ball carrier at that time.

Exactly this. He really did peel off the touchline beautifully and go from out to in but Destiny and Biss didn't pick him out. That ball is on a lot in this system against the rigth defensive set up.

 

[spurs9]

It’s not about courage, he simply lacks the attributes to play as a traditional winger. His take-on success rate has always been poor and he’s now lost a yard of pace.

He’s being misused, either Ange needs to adapt the role in the setup or he needs to move Son up front.

Not True, his taken on success rate the season before last was better than Jota's (Best winger for Celtic) last season, 55% v 48%. Both completed the same amount (1.5 per game).

Saka and Martinelli were considered 2 of the best last season and their rates were 48% and 51% respectively.

 

[spurs9]

Kudus

Kudus is a good dribbler, but he isn't a winger. He averages 1 cross every 10 games.

 

[JayB]

Not True, his taken on success rate the season before last was better than Jota's (Best winger for Celtic) last season, 55% v 48%. Both completed the same amount (1.5 per game).

Saka and Martinelli were considered 2 of the best last season and their rates were 48% and 51% respectively.

Over the past year Son's successful take-on rate is 38.8% (which ranks in the 26th percentile among attacking mids/wingers). He did admittedly rank more highly during the 21-22 season (55% successful take on rate, good for 63rd percentile).

Perhaps the role he was playing last year for Conte, dropping deep and receiving the ball with his back to goal, undermined his stats but I don't see his dribbling as a strong suit. IMO he's likely to continue declining in this regard given the fact that he's clearly lost a yard of pace and is having more difficulty creating separation from defenders now than he once did.

At this point in his career, he's not a prototype Ange winger. I personally think he'd have more success as a fox-in-the-box striker getting on the end of chances. It's still very early days and if Ange persists in playing Son as an orthodox winger I will certainly hope that he proves me wrong, but I have my doubts.

 

[spurs9]

Over the past year Son's successful take-on rate is 38.8% (which ranks in the 26th percentile among attacking mids/wingers). He did admittedly rank more highly during the 21-22 season (55% successful take on rate, good for 63rd percentile).

Perhaps the role he was playing last year for Conte, dropping deep and receiving the ball with his back to goal, undermined his stats but I don't see his dribbling as a strong suit. IMO he's likely to continue declining in this regard given the fact that he's clearly lost a yard of pace and is having more difficulty creating separation from defenders now than he once did.

At this point in his career, he's not a prototype Ange winger. I personally think he'd have more success as a fox-in-the-box striker getting on the end of chances. It's still very early days and if Ange persists in playing Son as an orthodox winger I will certainly hope that he proves me wrong, but I have my doubts.

I think the Hernia he was playing with is a bigger reason for his poor dribbling stats than his role under Conte (though I would imagine that also had an effect). “Even for simple actions like passing or turning, every movement starts from your core muscles, that’s exactly where my pain was. I was only able to do 60 per cent of what you could [normally] do at 100 per cent.”

Couple of things, Ange doesn't play with orthodox wingers and Ange himself says Son fits his sytem. 'I know Sonny really well, I've known him for a long time,' said Postecoglou. 'He's an outstanding player, especially the way I like teams to play with wingers who are a goal threat, he's elite.

 

[JayB]

I think the Hernia he was playing with is a bigger reason for his poor dribbling stats than his role under Conte (though I would imagine that also had an effect). “Even for simple actions like passing or turning, every movement starts from your core muscles, that’s exactly where my pain was. I was only able to do 60 per cent of what you could [normally] do at 100 per cent.”

Couple of things, Ange doesn't play with orthodox wingers and Ange himself says Son fits his sytem. 'I know Sonny really well, I've known him for a long time,' said Postecoglou. 'He's an outstanding player, especially the way I like teams to play with wingers who are a goal threat, he's elite.

The wingers in Ange’s system stay wide, hugging the touchline while the fullbacks underlap. For me Son is far more suited to taking up the half-space in between the CB and the opposing fullback, with our fullbacks overlapping. Alternatively he’s got a strong scoring record up front and I think he could adapt to the fox-in-the-box role.

Ange clearly does plan on playing him regularly or else he wouldn’t have been named captain, but through preseason and matchweek 1 he’s yet to put in a good performance in a role that doesn’t seem to suit his strengths. Early days but it’s a concern IMO.

 

[FuturistiC123]

Son suited Conte's style. Kane dropped deep, and looked for Son to burst through the last line of defence, as we countered from a low block. When we are playing on the front foot and getting 70 per cent possession, which we often did under Poch, he is less effective against tight defences. Its even more of a problem now because it appears that his fitness levels are down, and he may have lost a bit of pace. Last year Conte rarely subbed him, but when he was left out versus West Ham and Chelsea we won both games and never conceded.

Subbing him yesterday, shortly after he became captain laid down a marker for the rest of the squad.

 

[spurs9]

The wingers in Ange’s system stay wide, hugging the touchline while the fullbacks underlap. For me Son is far more suited to taking up the half-space in between the CB and the opposing fullback, with our fullbacks overlapping. Alternatively he’s got a strong scoring record up front and I think he could adapt to the fox-in-the-box role.

Ange clearly does plan on playing him regularly or else he wouldn’t have been named captain, but through preseason and matchweek 1 he’s yet to put in a good performance in a role that doesn’t seem to suit his strengths. Early days but it’s a concern IMO.

Wingers in Angel's system do not stay wide, they start wide then usually cut in, or sometimes go on the outside, however, even when going on the outside, they are still around the edge (side) of the penalty area, they rarely hug the touchline and don't spend much time at all in the area between the touchline and the edge of the penalty area.

The Inverted full backs do underlap a lot, however they also overlap out wide, as do the #8s. It will be a while before we see this kind of fluid football with our team, but that is how he played at Celtic.

 

[Timberwolf]

I think the Utd game will be a better indication of how useful Son could be this season as in this role I think he might be a better match up for the stronger teams in the league than the bus-parkers.

United won't just let us have the ball like Brentford did so there should be more space behind their back line for Son to run into.

If he's rubbish against United too I'll be more concerned.

 

[walton]

An absolute shell of a player just now. Inexplicably slow and dithering; the Son of a couple of years back would've been unstoppable in today's game.

Maybe captaining him had an element of confidence boosting in it? If it did, it hasn't worked and I hope it won't be an issue if/when the time comes to drop him...

 

[ljinko888]

An absolute shell of a player just now. Inexplicably slow and dithering; the Son of a couple of years back would've been unstoppable in today's game.

Maybe captaining him had an element of confidence boosting in it? If it did, it hasn't worked and I hope it won't be an issue if/when the time comes to drop him...

Last week I would have agreed and that felt like a continuing trend from last season. But I thought he was decent enough today. He was involved in our build up play and created the best chance in the first half we had with a lovely weighted pass from outside the box to pick out Sarr. Second half combined well with Maddison in the second half in my opinion. I agree that Son of the past would have been quicker to get his shot away which he messed up once in the second half taking too many touches but maybe it needs just one tap in to get him going again as a goalscorer.

 

[C1w8]

Last week I would have agreed and that felt like a continuing trend from last season. But I thought he was decent enough today. He was involved in our build up play and created the best chance in the first half we had with a lovely weighted pass from outside the box to pick out Sarr. Second half combined well with Maddison in the second half in my opinion. I agree that Son of the past would have been quicker to get his shot away which he messed up once in the second half taking too many touches but maybe it needs just one tap in to get him going again as a goalscorer.

Reading the ratings thread some think he had a terrible game and others a much improved game and im also in the latter.

Thought he linked really well with Udogie and Maddison, certainly more productive than what we saw down the other side. He had a couple of semi openings for the shot and was unlucky not to convert at least one.

He released the ball a lot quicker than we've seen previously and we saw him make a couple of his more trademark runs to stretch the defence and we clipped it long to him to get right up the pitch quickly.

As others have said its a different system now, hes might not be hitting 20 goals a season for us but if he can build on today he'll have a productive season.

 

[mad4madders]

Play him up top for a game. I think he suits being more central and direct. Give Solomon a chance on the wing also.

 

[allatsea]

Play him up top for a game. I think he suits being more central and direct. Give Solomon a chance on the wing also.

Yep drop Richarlison and try what you suggest.

 

[Metalhead]

Son is obviously loving life under Ange judging by the post match interview.