Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[cliff jones]

A better offensive coach would get so much more out of him.

He’s always been a little up and down but people in here saying take the money have no idea what our priorities should be, and where the stability in the squad needs to be anchored-for next season. Hugo, Toby, Kane and Son. Possibly PEH as well.

 

[andg]

His inconsistency is not an issue for me anymore. If he was consistent, he wouldn't be here. 107 goals and 62 assists for 6 seasons is about 28 points a season. I'd take that over a consistent player with 10 to 15 points a season any day. I also thought he was too selfish to the extent of harming the team chemistry but he proved me wrong these past years so I respect him for that. But I still believe it's too risky to give him a new 3 year+ contract with 200k+ a week salary. He's definitely no Eriksen. Eriksen was 27 when he left us. Son will be 31 if he decides to pull Eriksen. I doubt any club would pay serious money for a 31 yo Asian player whose game heavily relies on his pace. So if we're going to sell him at some point, it's this summer. If we're not going to sell him then it's best to just run down the contract. If he stays fit, then give him another year.

 

[ultimateloner]

His inconsistency is not an issue for me anymore. If he was consistent, he wouldn't be here. 107 goals and 62 assists for 6 seasons is about 28 points a season. I'd take that over a consistent player with 10 to 15 points a season any day. I also thought he was too selfish to the extent of harming the team chemistry but he proved me wrong these past years so I respect him for that. But I still believe it's too risky to give him a new 3 year+ contract with 200k+ a week salary. He's definitely no Eriksen. Eriksen was 27 when he left us. Son will be 31 if he decides to pull Eriksen. I doubt any club would pay serious money for a 31 yo Asian player whose game heavily relies on his pace. So if we're going to sell him at some point, it's this summer. If we're not going to sell him then it's best to just run down the contract. If he stays fit, then give him another year.

Think your second option (dont sell and run down his contract) is the better option.
We can't lose Son + Kane. It is too big a whole to fill for this squad.
Yes we will make some money but I think we will be risking relegation.
Not worth it.

 

[DiamondLites]

yeah he's a nailed on starter here but he could get a gig at a bigger club and be successful.

I get that, and he could up his game with some proper competition for his place, with better players around him but he has been a feast or famine player pretty much all of his time here it’s likely just who he is as a player. And that consistency is what separates the very good players from the truly world class ones

For the record I love the guy and wouldn’t sell him, I just have my doubts about him at the elite level whereas I think Harry would thrive with a step up

 

[rossdapep]

Think your second option (dont sell and run down his contract) is the better option.
We can't lose Son + Kane. It is too big a whole to fill for this squad.
Yes we will make some money but I think we will be risking relegation.
Not worth it.

100%

Selling now would be a disaster. We need to keep until someone is ready to fill his shoes. Too much disruption this summer as it is.

 

[andg]

That said, I don't expect him to get 20+ goals/assists next season. Especially without Kane.

 

[Donki]

The rumour is that his contract is signed already, but just not announced.

Wasn't the same thing said about Eriksen?

 

[razzmaster]

I think Son needs to play as a striker as he hampers our build up play when he is used deeper as his link up play isn't great. Personally if we were to switch to a 352 next season I think it would solve a lot of our issues including our massive reliance on Kane.

 

[ILS]

I have issue that he is NEVER subbed.

It’s always the same players who are exchanged, no matter who is playing better.

Same with Kane really, you just shouldn’t have a situation where some players always play the full 90 minutes.

Sends out the wrong message.

He is the golden ticket. At the moment it doesn't make sense due to the lack of crowds but then why upset him before his flock of fans return.

Levy knows if the proper fan's stop going due to recent events, he has always got a country with 51 million to rely on to bump up the numbers.

 

[ardiles]

He hardly gets subbed because, like Kane , even when they are not having the best of games, there’s always a possibility of a bit of magic from these two players that might result in a goal.

Opposing defences seldom play a high line when Son is on the pitch because of his pace and deadly shots with either foot.

In the home game against westham, the score was 3-0 to us in the 80th minute when Son went off. We all know how the match ended after that.

In the Liverpool (away) game, the score was 1-1 in the 87th minute when Son was subbed off. Liverpool scored the winner in the 90th minute.

Against Wolves (away), the score was 1-0 in our favour when Son was subbed in the 84th minute. Wolves scored their equaliser in the 86th minute.

I wouldn’t say that we dropped points in those games because Sonny was subbed but his departure probably gave more confidence in the opponents to attack us without fear of getting a counteract from us with Son’s blistering pace. All of those goals were conceded late in those games, after Son was subbed off. If he had been left on the pitch until the final whistle, I believe that we would have more points on board now and would likely be in a guaranteed European spot today.

 

[ultimateloner]

I think the simple argument against selling son is that despite the temptation to do so finding a replacement for him would be a huge risk.
We are unlikely to buy a proven world class striker as a direct replacement given the clubs track record. And even that comes with some risk.
If we try to replace him with multiple bets (young potential) it would be more in line with our recruitment strategy but doing so when we are already losing Kane is too big a gamble for me. The short term money isn’t worth the turmoil you would put the club under.

 

[punkisback]

I think the simple argument against selling son is that despite the temptation to do so finding a replacement for him would be a huge risk.
We are unlikely to buy a proven world class striker as a direct replacement given the clubs track record. And even that comes with some risk.
If we try to replace him with multiple bets (young potential) it would be more in line with our recruitment strategy but doing so when we are already losing Kane is too big a gamble for me. The short term money isn’t worth the turmoil you would put the club under.

Agree. Our squad can’t spot attacking players. Son is the best winger we’ve had since Bale and it’s taken the man himself to come back to show up the others. If son goes we’ll sign a slow winger with average technique like bergwijn

 

[Flobadob]

Agree. Our squad can’t spot attacking players. Son is the best winger we’ve had since Bale and it’s taken the man himself to come back to show up the others. If son goes we’ll sign a slow winger with average technique like bergwijn

Still think Bergwijn will prove to be a good player for us. Don’t write him off too soon

 

[slartibartfast]

Honestly can't believe some of the posts on here. One of the best players we've had in an age and some think he's shit and we should sell! Unbelievable.

 

[ajspurs]

Yeah I wouldn't think of selling Son especially with the current status of the squad. We look at teams like Chelsea and Man City and who they have to bring on from the bench or to play in a game where they need rotation so at the very least he should be utilised as a squad player.

 

[nico97531]

Yeah I wouldn't think of selling Son especially with the current status of the squad. We look at teams like Chelsea and Man City and who they have to bring on from the bench or to play in a game where they need rotation so at the very least he should be utilised as a squad player.

I think the only reason Son had signed the new contract as rumor had suggested is because he’s a Guaranteed starter here, he will be off if we try to utilize him as a squad player.

 

[slartibartfast]

Squad player? I think the chances of us improving on Son in his position are incredibly small.

 

[mumfordspur]

He hardly gets subbed because, like Kane , even when they are not having the best of games, there’s always a possibility of a bit of magic from these two players that might result in a goal.

Opposing defences seldom play a high line when Son is on the pitch because of his pace and deadly shots with either foot.

In the home game against westham, the score was 3-0 to us in the 80th minute when Son went off. We all know how the match ended after that.

In the Liverpool (away) game, the score was 1-1 in the 87th minute when Son was subbed off. Liverpool scored the winner in the 90th minute.

Against Wolves (away), the score was 1-0 in our favour when Son was subbed in the 84th minute. Wolves scored their equaliser in the 86th minute.

I wouldn’t say that we dropped points in those games because Sonny was subbed but his departure probably gave more confidence in the opponents to attack us without fear of getting a counteract from us with Son’s blistering pace. All of those goals were conceded late in those games, after Son was subbed off. If he had been left on the pitch until the final whistle, I believe that we would have more points on board now and would likely be in a guaranteed European spot today.

Good post ardiles well thought out.
I don't want to argue on a messageboard but aren't those scenarios a bit of a stretch?
West Ham was a total shitshow even the commentators were wanting W Ham to score.
They seemed to open us up late on that doesn;t counter what you said at all it just doesnt sit right with me that it was down to Son's sub.

Liverpool made me sick to the back teeth. It took me months to forgive Wee Stevie. Anyway that was a corner kick that we were allowed to defend (I think the laws state you are allowed to challenge for a header) and there was more than a hint of a foul but once again your point may be valid as you might counter "they attacked due to Son being off"

Wolves I can't remember at all I think I had given up on Mourinho/Spurs by then.

Anyway although I half heartedly disagree with it being down to Son I still applaud your post. Well written & thought out.

 

[ultimateloner]

Still think Bergwijn will prove to be a good player for us. Don’t write him off too soon

I think Bergwin will come good too.

 

[punkisback]

I think Bergwin will come good too.

I just don’t think he has stand out qualities, too slow, not enough skill to dribble. Plays with his head up that’s about it.