Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[Mooger Fooger]

To me he doesn't look fully fit which would make sense considering Ange was trying to manage his minutes but now is struggling to do so (although personally I'd be starting Werner for the next few games). Son is a decent striker due to his world class finishing on both feet, but a striker in this system he most definitely is not - Ange wants his striker to press like a demon from the front and Son just isn't that sort of player and we suffer a lot with him as a striker. Not sure Lankshere is currently much better in that regard so we can only pray that Solanke is recovered from his illness and keeps fit for the next 6 months as we clearly can't rely on Richy.

Son is still good on the left but he needs rotated. The Odobert injury has been such a blow really.

I'm not sure it's fitness. It's just age and the way some players change as they get older. They have to adapt and accept that they can't do what they used to.

You've got to also factor in Sonny's travel and the expectations on him for his country. It takes its toll.

 

[mil1lion]

He shouldn't be playing mid week games , unless it's a just win game. None of which have been so far. I'm sure it's largely because we have Odobert, Moore and Richarlison out though. I think at times like this we should play Maddison in off the left instead.

 

[TPdYID]

He signed in 2015, when he was 23/24. But the point stands, yes.

Fair comment - serves me right for a very lazy (and inaccurate) Google search.

Note to self- must do better.

 

[14/04/91]

Something concerning I spotted yesterday, just before the hour mark.
Chelsea won a corner and Son turned his back, was ambling towards his opponent around the penalty spot.
They took the corner, he still didn’t realise nor turn around. Their attempted cross was blocked for another corner, at which point his head spun round presumably in reaction to the noise from the Chelsea fans.

It just sums up how poor our attitude generally can be at times.

 

[mil1lion]

Something concerning I spotted yesterday, just before the hour mark.
Chelsea won a corner and Son turned his back, was ambling towards his opponent around the penalty spot.
They took the corner, he still didn’t realise nor turn around. Their attempted cross was blocked for another corner, at which point his head spun round presumably in reaction to the noise from the Chelsea fans.

It just sums up how poor our attitude generally can be at times.

I thought he was clearly tasked to mark Neto so probably looking for him? He was all over Neto at corners.

 

[Japhet]

Something concerning I spotted yesterday, just before the hour mark.
Chelsea won a corner and Son turned his back, was ambling towards his opponent around the penalty spot.
They took the corner, he still didn’t realise nor turn around. Their attempted cross was blocked for another corner, at which point his head spun round presumably in reaction to the noise from the Chelsea fans.

It just sums up how poor our attitude generally can be at times.

There's elements of it throughout the team and been like it for months. We have very little urgency and nobody is stepping up and demanding better from their team mates. I've noticed how difficult other teams like Ipswich, Palace, Bournemouth etc make it for us to get a throw in to one of our players. They fight for every inch whereas we can't even face the right way for a corner. That's just shocking attitude and even worse when it's the Captain. Ange needs to read them the riot act. Imagine what Fergie would do.

 

[ljinko888]

I don't know if that shot he put wide would have counted when the Chelsea player stopped expecting the offside flag to go up against Udogie. But he has been missing quite a few chances this season you would have put down as a nailed on goal for him. Statistically he is the most efficient goalscorer the league has had for years. I don't think he is declining so much but he looks like he is slowing down and can't be starting every game anymore. From a selfish point of view it would benefit the club if he called it a day internationally but then again having a superstar show that much pride in representing his national team no matter who the opponent compared to half the England squad pulling out with mystery injuries only to line up for their clubs first game back is something we probably take for granted.

 

[14/04/91]

I thought he was clearly tasked to mark Neto so probably looking for him? He was all over Neto at corners.

Honestly mate he was looking at the floor, it really stood out how sloppy it was.
The fact they’d already taken one corner & got another one by the time he got in position and faced up was so poor.

 

[14/04/91]

There's elements of it throughout the team and been like it for months. We have very little urgency and nobody is stepping up and demanding better from their team mates. I've noticed how difficult other teams like Ipswich, Palace, Bournemouth etc make it for us to get a throw in to one of our players. They fight for every inch whereas we can't even face the right way for a corner. That's just shocking attitude and even worse when it's the Captain. Ange needs to read them the riot act. Imagine what Fergie would do.

Exactly, he’s captain and should be setting an example. Get in position and bollock your team mates if they’re not ready. If they are, be vocal & encourage everyone to be alert.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I love Son, he’ll always be a legend to me.

But he is done. You can just tell watching him he’s on the decline. He will still get some goals and assists because he’s been a quality player but no one can watch him now and think he’s top class and the same player?

If we were serious we’d be looking to bring in a top class LW and either moving him on or making him a back up striker.

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

Exactly, he’s captain and should be setting an example. Get in position and bollock your team mates if they’re not ready. If they are, be vocal & encourage everyone to be alert.

He’s far too nice and respectful to be a captain. He’s more like a tour guide

 

[philll]

I love Son, he’ll always be a legend to me.

But he is done. You can just tell watching him he’s on the decline. He will still get some goals and assists because he’s been a quality player but no one can watch him now and think he’s top class and the same player?

If we were serious we’d be looking to bring in a top class LW and either moving him on or making him a back up striker.

Sonny of a couple of seasons ago would've buried that 1 on 1 with the keeper yesterday. Whether it would've been allowed because of the dubious offside is another matter but he would at least have scored it.

His game is riddled with mistakes now. It's like he still thinks he can knock the ball past an opponent and get on it but his body just says nope. At least as Kane aged his game evolved but with Sonny it's like he doesn't accept that he can't do the same things any more and still tries them with infuriatingly predictable results.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Sonny of a couple of seasons ago would've buried that 1 on 1 with the keeper yesterday. Whether it would've been allowed because of the dubious offside is another matter but he would at least have scored it.

His game is riddled with mistakes now. It's like he still thinks he can knock the ball past an opponent and get on it but his body just says nope. At least as Kane aged his game evolved but with Sonny it's like he doesn't accept that he can't do the same things any more and still tries them with infuriatingly predictable results.

And he’s playing in a touchline wide role which has never really suited his game, let alone now that he’s on the decline.

 

[olithfc]

Offered nothing again. Priority position to fill now

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Honestly, we need to go balls out for a replacement - wing has been a position we’ve needed to fill for ages

Werner should go
Son and Johnson are squad players

 

[Obie Trice]

absolutely love him
what a guy

but we gotta get rid and move on

 

[Ribble]

absolutely love him
what a guy

but we gotta get rid and move on

I'd keep him around as the team needs some experience around it but he shouldn't be starting, certainly not as many games as he does at the moment anyway, and he should never ever be up front.

 

[qqq1]

Son isn't the right type of winger for an Ange team. We aren't playing to his strengths. He's also lost that telepathic partnership with Kane.

 

[HildoSpur]

As soon as we bring in reinforcements for the wing, his days as an automatic starter are over.

 

[Impspur1]

Honestly, we need to go balls out for a replacement - wing has been a position we’ve needed to fill for ages

Werner should go
Son and Johnson are squad players

Isn’t the new Korean kid his replacement?