Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[Hazelton]

Games like last night don't really suit him. The pitch was so congested and tight, whereas he thrives in open spaces. Somebody at the club needs to work with him at improving his first touch, it really is awful. He just lets the ball hit him, doesn't cushion it at all.

 

[danielneeds]

Really not sure what's going on with him. He's gotten worse as the seasons gone on. Thought he started well for us and looked a real player but recently he's just offered nothing.

His touch is all over the place and his dribbling's been really poor. He doesn't keep the ball close enough to his body. It's so erratic.

There's definitely a good player in there but i'd expected a bit more from him so far.

Confidence issues I think. And his injury was quite a nasty one, can play on your mind and niggle a bit.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I don't think Son is the most composed at times (but neither are most of our attackers), but lets keep things in perspective. Firstly, you are never going to see the best of any player, especially attacking players when they are getting ad hock minutes here and there. Secondly, like most players he's got to adapt to a new country, new language, new league as well as a new team and new system.

I can't say he's looking like he's ever going to be wonder bread, but I don't think he's had much chance to build confidence and consistency either.

 

[THOWIG]

He started how I hoped he would, but has definitely faded. Not had the minutes and not sure where he best fits at the min. He will improve.

Regardless of the players we have and the need for a striker I still firmly believe that we need another attacking option in the final third who can offer that little bit of craft.

 

[bigfrooj]

Either superb or poo, no in-between for this young man. But what a good player when on form.

 

[@majorhank]

I think in most of his sub appearances he has been pretty poor but looked alot better when he starts. Same way Chadli always seems to be better off the bench.

It may be because Chadli is fully up to speed with the prem and the way the team plays etc so off the bench can slip seamlessly in, whereas Son doesn't have that connection with his teammates and also isn't fully able to grasp the speed of the prem off the bench.

He is defo a player and like most have said will be better next season, but I think he needs to start all the remaining games for us as he can stretch the pitch and as I say seems better from the start.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

I think i've figured out what it is about Son that looks so out of place in the team when he comes on; He wants to earn a place and start a few more games, so he's trying too hard to impress Poch on his own, rather than by what he contributes to the team effort.

When he comes on, he keeps charging into players and losing the ball - i don't think he's beaten his man in about twenty attempts. At the start of game, teams have shape and a tactic, which is discussed and rehearsed at length but as games wear on they become loser and short spurts of activity tend to make more difference. When he starts, he starts with the plan in his head, at the same pace as everyone else, and he appears to fit in quite well but, off the bench, he sees his chance to shine and impress the boss, earn a spot, etc. and goes in assuming his fresh legs will give him the advantage.

Reckon a lot of teams have figured that out as well and have told their man to just stand his ground and Son will, inevitably, clatter into him. Despite him being a pretty large unit, he doesn't appear to hold up well in a hard tackle either.

Still, i can't help but feel he'll grow into this league well. Where he does come up short, it's never by much, and we appear to have a coaching setup that irons players creases out pretty well, so i hope we persevere with him.

 

[Hazardousman]

I think i've figured out what it is about Son that looks so out of place in the team when he comes on; He wants to earn a place and start a few more games, so he's trying too hard to impress Poch on his own, rather than by what he contributes to the team effort.

When he comes on, he keeps charging into players and losing the ball - i don't think he's beaten his man in about twenty attempts. At the start of game, teams have shape and a tactic, which is discussed and rehearsed at length but as games wear on they become loser and short spurts of activity tend to make more difference. When he starts, he starts with the plan in his head, at the same pace as everyone else, and he appears to fit in quite well but, off the bench, he sees his chance to shine and impress the boss, earn a spot, etc. and goes in assuming his fresh legs will give him the advantage.

Reckon a lot of teams have figured that out as well and have told their man to just stand his ground and Son will, inevitably, clatter into him. Despite him being a pretty large unit, he doesn't appear to hold up well in a hard tackle either.

Still, i can't help but feel he'll grow into this league well. Where he does come up short, it's never by much, and we appear to have a coaching setup that irons players creases out pretty well, so i hope we persevere with him.

He hasn't looked the same since his injury, I remember being quite impressed with him early on but he has looked a shadow of that early player since his injury.

 

[eViL]

i don't think he's beaten his man in about twenty attempts.

Bullshit. He's gone on plenty of successful runs and dribbles, he just wants that extra touch that you'd get in any other league in the world that most attacking players expect when they first move to the Premier League and ends up getting pressed or tackled.

He'll be one of our top players next season.

 

[Shea]

Bullshit. He's gone on plenty of successful runs and dribbles, he just wants that extra touch that you'd get in any other league in the world that most attacking players expect when they first move to the Premier League and ends up getting pressed or tackled.

He'll be one of our top players next season.

I think he will be great next season too

He's shown potential but he's been pretty poor so far in real terms

The shame is we are so well placed we really could have used someone capable of doing it right now

It could end up being the difference between being champions or not

Neither son or N'jie look like making a direct impact this season and we didn't make any moves to add someone who could in Jan either. I really hope it doesn't come back to haunt us because who knows when again we could be so close to challenging for the title?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

He hasn't looked the same since his injury, I remember being quite impressed with him early on but he has looked a shadow of that early player since his injury.

Another reason for him to be trying hard to impress the boss. Personally, i don't get the impression Spurs is like that anymore, rotation is becoming not only common but the norm for virtually everyone. I'm sure as time goes on and he finds more confidence amongst the squad he'll settle and stop looking so determined to do something impressive he ends up trying too hard. Even the Carpenters predicted his over enthusiasm, they were prophets or something; "Sing, Heung Min Son. Keep it simple..."

 

[ClintEastwould]

It's really his touch that needs work. The ball bounces off of him like a damn trampoline. He should have like a day a week where there's literally nothing he does but try and control fast difficult passes. So many promising chances are spurned because the guy can't sort his feet out quickly enough. I like him a lot. You can tell he has the potential to be a very dangerous presence, but like so many signings he needs time.

 

[Gilzeanking]

For me the weird thing is that he seemed to arrive fully formed . His first matches were outstanding , going on successful runs scoring etc . I was ecstatic . He's different to Lamela because of this .

The baffling thing is how quickly he deteriorated to the level he's at now . Yes he had an injury , but there was a game since where he seemed to be coming back to form , but it didn't last .

One guess I'd make is the aggressive side and restricted space in Prem footie has affected his confidence . There was a match a month or two ago where he started super well...,got clattered and then disappeared .

I don't think he has to relearn how to trap a football, he's just become nervous and unspontaneous ,its a mental thing for me . I hope Poch can sort this...and quick , we need him .

 

[lol]

hes trying to force the game too much than letting the game come to him. look at the way mahrez plays and hes the perfect epitome of letting the game come to him. currently when used as a sub he seems obliged to "make things happen" in every play. I dont think he'll be able to tweak that mentality since its already this late into the season with so much pressure mounting. I think we will see a very different son next season after he gets a full camp and let the the game flow to him without pressure.

 

[millsey]

What is it with players we buy over 20 million.....

 

[danielneeds]

I get the feeling that this guy is very strong mentally, and this poor form is just an adaptation blip. I'm sure next season we'll see the real Sonny.

 

[Lemon]

I don't think Son is the most composed at times (but neither are most of our attackers), but lets keep things in perspective. Firstly, you are never going to see the best of any player, especially attacking players when they are getting ad hock minutes here and there. Secondly, like most players he's got to adapt to a new country, new language, new league as well as a new team and new system.

I can't say he's looking like he's ever going to be wonder bread, but I don't think he's had much chance to build confidence and consistency either.

Ezekial 4:9?

Or Rye Sourdough? Is that what you meant?

Agree with the overall point.

 

[spursfan77]

He hasn't looked the same since his injury, I remember being quite impressed with him early on but he has looked a shadow of that early player since his injury.

Yeah I agree.

He really needs to step it up though and start playing well. I'd start him Thursday in Dortmund.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

He's clearly still adapting, it's pointless to judge him yet. I think he's got enough talent to contribute a lot next season though.

 

[yido_number1]

He's clearly still adapting, it's pointless to judge him yet. I think he's got enough talent to contribute a lot next season though.

Totally agree, I haven't been that disappointed with him and can think of two games where his contribution made the difference and contributed 6 points, namely Palace and Watford. When you compare his first season to Lamela he hasn't really been all that bad. I think people set the bar high for him and that's why they are disappointed but I'm happy with what he has done.

To the people saying if only we'd added one of two more get a grip. We added at the start of the season and we are currently 3 places higher in the league than last year. Finishing just off the title should be seen as a massive improvement and achievement and nothing else.