Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[Stamford]

His decision making yesterday was laughable

 

[Mooger Fooger]

I've been saying it for months now. He would be best used as an impact sub later on in games. His burst of energy against tired defences would be a really useful option and better suit Sonny himself.

Still massively involved, just not as a starter. IMO

 

[Tottenhamboy85]

He’s our best forward which probably says more about our recruitment than anything.

 

[Freddie]

If we had a Dele Alli to play with him he could still be a really effective forward (albeit in a different system), but as a standalone striker he really limits us at the moment. Ange needs to come up with other solutions when Solanke and Richy are both out.

 

[thebenjamin]

To be fair he put in some great crosses from the left in the first half.

 

[olliec]

Actually thought he was one of our better players yesterday.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

If we had a Dele Alli to play with him he could still be a really effective forward (albeit in a different system), but as a standalone striker he really limits us at the moment. Ange needs to come up with other solutions when Solanke and Richy are both out.

It would have been Lankshear but he's out with a hammy issue. Its typical spurs luck to have had so long with no proper striker. Only to sign 2 over a couple seasons and have a promising youngster..... Only to have none available!!! Have to feel for Ange there.

Also, compounded by a lack of decent passing from cm.

 

[superted4]

This is my main complaint with Son as CF. He doesn't want to crash in between the CBs and goalie and get on the end of those crosses; he seems to much prefer to pull back to the penalty spot where he can find some space to shoot.

There was one yesterday where Johnson got to the byline and flashed it across the goal and Son was stood on the penalty spot. Every single week we see what they do in training and any attacking play is always the winger flashes it across the 6 yard box for a tap in, so why oh why is our highly experienced world class forward not busting a lung to get on the end of it!!!

 

[Young Nasty Man]

THE weak link? Bold statement.

He struggles as a CF/ST and typically is half a second off from making the right decision. He has player 4 different roles under 3 managers: CAM/ST with Jose, Narrow Winger/WF with Conte, CF and LW with Ange. Say what you will but that is a lot of different tactics to coach into a player with an expectation of out playing the league. Sonny is an excellent finisher and has blinding speed but is being asked to play a position that is frankly unnatural to him. This is from a major Sonny-Stan. I love the guy.

Objectively, the eye test has been tough him. Everton was one of the better showings I’ve seen out of him in the last 10 prem matches we’ve had. I don’t think he is to blame at all but I don’t want to logically ignore the fact that it feels like you often watch him over think in these positional patterns he’s asked to play in.

 

[rossdapep]

Yeah that Brennan cross. Brenna was getting pelters for it but he's put it exactly where a CF would be for it and where he's been trained to put it.

It always looks worse on the crossing player if those situations break down but it's more often than not the striker's duty to anticipate it.

As you said, Sonny went into the place he isn't going to get it.

I think if Solanke had played, we score that

 

[UncleBuck]

Actually thought he was one of our better players yesterday.

What’s most frustrating is there were a couple of times when he cut inside and I was expecting him to shoot but he then laid the ball off.
If he’s being told not to shoot if he’s 25 yds out then we are really taking away from him a massive part of his game

 

[DannyNZ]

His decision making yesterday was laughable

Agree Son made some bad decisions and that was also the case for Kulu. They both had great situations and made really bad calls, in sins case it looked like he wanted to be the catalyst for Kulu he just doesn’t seem aware and him playing the ball when offside and Odobert was away was beyond stupid.

 

[kernowspurscoach1977]

Agree Son made some bad decisions and that was also the case for Kulu. They both had great situations and made really bad calls, in sins case it looked like he wanted to be the catalyst for Kulu he just doesn’t seem aware and him playing the ball when offside and Odobert was away was beyond stupid.

As frustrating as it is - in all walks of life humans make bad decisions and/or wrong choices - from people driving cars, financial advisors to top athletes. If your expectations are for any player not to make bad decisions at some point 1 you’ll end up disappointed!

 

[thebenjamin]

Yeah that Brennan cross. Brenna was getting pelters for it but he's put it exactly where a CF would be for it and where he's been trained to put it.

It always looks worse on the crossing player if those situations break down but it's more often than not the striker's duty to anticipate it.

As you said, Sonny went into the place he isn't going to get it.

I think if Solanke had played, we score that

It's a move we've done before, where Son draws defenders back and Johnson fires it across for the winger on the other side to score a tap in. In the past it has been Werner, but on this occasion Odobert wasn't even in the box I don't think.

 

[DannyNZ]

It's a move we've done before, where Son draws defenders back and Johnson fires it across for the winger on the other side to score a tap in. In the past it has been Werner, but on this occasion Odobert wasn't even in the box I don't think.

With that break there was only Brennan and Son

 

[philll]

I don't think I've seen anything from him this season apart from a few very occasional glimmers that doesn't reinforce the idea that he's just slowly declining. There was one moment where he was up against Saka in the first half - Sonny from a few seasons ago would've danced through but he just didn't fancy it and passed it back instead.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

I don't think I've seen anything from him this season apart from a few very occasional glimmers that doesn't reinforce the idea that he's just slowly declining. There was one moment where he was up against Saka in the first half - Sonny from a few seasons ago would've danced through but he just didn't fancy it and passed it back instead.

Should have moved him on in the summer when he still had some value. Instead he’ll linger around like a stale fart.

 

[13VanDerBale13]

I just don’t see him thriving in this system as a winger.
We should have signed 2 quality wingers & stuck him up top, to finish the chances.

 

[iddebu52]

Non existent.

 

[Wick3d]

He might as well not have been on the pitch today. I expect more from him, especially as the captain.