Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

[joey.leone]

He's not even been involved in the conference league. Why would he suddenly get a chance now?

His name keeps popping up on this site, but he seems miles away from our team.

To be fair mate I mentioned it purely because I've seen his name pop up a few times like you say. I struggle to keep up with all the ins and outs of Spurs atm as I have alot going on but the consenus seems to be that he is a promising talent, so why not give the lad a chance in this situation?

 

[Japhet]

Will probably be unpopular for saying so, but there was a time when Dele occupied the front left position and Sonny was mainly on the bench.

 

[CanadaSpurs]

FUCK!

 

[rossdapep]

It was always going to happen.

Him and Kane have been run out for far too long. Bergwijn being injured so often and a lack of new signings has proven to be a stupid call by the club.

Need to hope Gil can step up or Bergwijn can stay fit and step up.

I don't think we'll go for Vlahovic now. We won't make an offer they can't refuse.

 

[St José Dominguez]

Dele should come straight into the side. He was good against Liverpool and is the best fit to play that role and make those runs in behind. What I’d imagine will happen though is Lucas moves further forward and Lo Celso or Ndombele come into the side, which in itself may work in a different way. I think we’ll be okay as we’ve hardly been firing on all cylinders anyhow. I don’t really get how’s it good for him though as surely being injured and not training is hardly going to see him come back rested and firing, if anything he’ll be even more rusty.

 

[ardiles]

Thankfully, his injury and absence isn't anything to worry about if what I've been reading in the match threads from the experts here on good old SC is true.

Good to see you back Coops ?

 

[ardiles]

It's just not going to happen. He needs to be eased in.

Just a little KY jelly should do it

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

One good thing about Son, from past history he generally comes back quicker than first reports always state. The NLD will be too soon though , its a shame, he does love to torment those ? bags

 

[13VanDerBale13]

Now people will realise why he always plays, because without him, we have no end product

 

[dtxspurs]

Will probably be unpopular for saying so, but there was a time when Dele occupied the front left position and Sonny was mainly on the bench.

I mean, not really if you're talking about 16/17. I know the 3-4-2-1 was the favored formation but Sonny started 23 league games that season and scored 14 goals, with 8 assists.

 

[djhotspur]

Dele should come straight into the side. He was good against Liverpool and is the best fit to play that role and make those runs in behind. What I’d imagine will happen though is Lucas moves further forward and Lo Celso or Ndombele come into the side, which in itself may work in a different way. I think we’ll be okay as we’ve hardly been firing on all cylinders anyhow. I don’t really get how’s it good for him though as surely being injured and not training is hardly going to see him come back rested and firing, if anything he’ll be even more rusty.

What a load of shit. You cannot replace son with alli.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

What a load of shit. You cannot replace son with alli.

Feel free to climb down from that fence & tell us what you really think, dj.

 

[djhotspur]

Feel free to climb down from that fence & tell us what you really think, dj.

Because I find if baffling how people come up with this stuff. We played him on the wing against Southampton and he was awful. He has zero skill sets to replace son and will nullify our attack.

 

[philll]

I love this man. Not only was he probably not even obliged to turn up to watch the match but he seemingly spent loads of time with fans and he stood there at the end and clapped all of the players off.

 

[O'Brien]

From Harry Brooks, who was asked "How would you fit vlahovic kane and son into the team?":

"Honestly? Son LWB… it’s not a hard position to learn, you have 3 CM’s and 3 CB’s to cover his spaces and Conte’s patterns and structures gives enough control in all phases. Spurs have been best under Conte when 3-5-2 as opposed to 3-4-3. But I don’t think Son is a striker in a 2. Also, Spurs will sign a striker. If it’s a Vlahovic, De Ketelaere etc, then they will have to find a balance to fit all 3 in. Here’s why Sonny at LWB under Conte works
Some top sides that are using conventional attacking wide forwards as wing backs. Particularly Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic etc. You're also seeing a trend of having wing backs that cut in, not just stay on the outside. Sons two footedness, ability to go both ways fits perfect
Son's biggest issue is his inability to slow down and assess. Decisions have to be made for him. Hence, he’s struggling with where to move and be in current system. At wing back, far more obvious. Plus, he’s only good 1 v 1 when he attacks with momentum, and FB is on back foot…
When you’re a wing back, you start deeper more often, so you have space in front to run into and generate momentum which suits his driving with the ball better. His ball striking on the run is elite, and he will generate a high number of dangerous crosses/shots from LWB
The obvious weakness is defensively. However, he's such an intense and selfless player, he will make recovery run after recovery run. And due to Conte’s strict patterns and structures on and off the ball, you'll rarely see any player exposed. In 352, he has 3 CMs and 3 CBs to cover
So overall, Son's biggest weaknesses (his decision making in possession) are largely covered at LWB. You have incredible quality and delivery. And you’re not as exposed due to Conte’s pragmatism. Plus, Davies comfort underlapping/overlapping would see him and Son dovetail nicely..."

 

[Freddie]

From Harry Brooks, who was asked "How would you fit vlahovic kane and son into the team?":

"Honestly? Son LWB… it’s not a hard position to learn, you have 3 CM’s and 3 CB’s to cover his spaces and Conte’s patterns and structures gives enough control in all phases. Spurs have been best under Conte when 3-5-2 as opposed to 3-4-3. But I don’t think Son is a striker in a 2. Also, Spurs will sign a striker. If it’s a Vlahovic, De Ketelaere etc, then they will have to find a balance to fit all 3 in. Here’s why Sonny at LWB under Conte works
Some top sides that are using conventional attacking wide forwards as wing backs. Particularly Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic etc. You're also seeing a trend of having wing backs that cut in, not just stay on the outside. Sons two footedness, ability to go both ways fits perfect
Son's biggest issue is his inability to slow down and assess. Decisions have to be made for him. Hence, he’s struggling with where to move and be in current system. At wing back, far more obvious. Plus, he’s only good 1 v 1 when he attacks with momentum, and FB is on back foot…
When you’re a wing back, you start deeper more often, so you have space in front to run into and generate momentum which suits his driving with the ball better. His ball striking on the run is elite, and he will generate a high number of dangerous crosses/shots from LWB
The obvious weakness is defensively. However, he's such an intense and selfless player, he will make recovery run after recovery run. And due to Conte’s strict patterns and structures on and off the ball, you'll rarely see any player exposed. In 352, he has 3 CMs and 3 CBs to cover
So overall, Son's biggest weaknesses (his decision making in possession) are largely covered at LWB. You have incredible quality and delivery. And you’re not as exposed due to Conte’s pragmatism. Plus, Davies comfort underlapping/overlapping would see him and Son dovetail nicely..."

I don't really like the sound of that but I'd be interested to hear from all those who say we can't not sign Vlahovic if we've got a chance give us a system that works rather than say 'let Conte figure it out'. They'd all be wanting to start most games.

 

[O'Brien]

I don't really like the sound of that but I'd be interested to hear from all those who say we can't not sign Vlahovic if we've got a chance give us a system that works rather than say 'let Conte figure it out'. They'd all be wanting to start most games.

“The point is, spurs will surely sign a striker. And it’s likely to be a very good one. So if they do, where do they all fit in? Let’s say it’s Vlahovic. I don’t like the balance of them 3 in that shape. So you’ll have to find some way to make it work.
He does struggle when spurs play against blow blocks and has decisions to make. Hence, starting position slightly deeper would help him in there. Like I said, I’m not saying this will or should happen necessarily. I’m saying if spurs do sign a top striker, they need to all fit in”

 

[Freddie]

“The point is, spurs will surely sign a striker. And it’s likely to be a very good one. So if they do, where do they all fit in? Let’s say it’s Vlahovic. I don’t like the balance of them 3 in that shape. So you’ll have to find some way to make it work.
He does struggle when spurs play against blow blocks and has decisions to make. Hence, starting position slightly deeper would help him in there. Like I said, I’m not saying this will or should happen necessarily. I’m saying if spurs do sign a top striker, they need to all fit in”

I'd love to see Son and Vlahovic up top with Kane behind and wing backs providing the width but that's a bit too fantasy football/ Garth Crooks' team of the season kind of stuff. I know it would be mightly useful to have them all over the course of a season for different systems but just don't think we're at a level where we can keep them all happy. If we're competing for the title it might be easier to convince them I guess.

 

[O'Brien]

I'd love to see Son and Vlahovic up top with Kane behind and wing backs providing the width but that's a bit too fantasy football/ Garth Crooks' team of the season kind of stuff. I know it would be mightly useful to have them all over the course of a season for different systems but just don't think we're at a level where we can keep them all happy. If we're competing for the title it might be easier to convince them I guess.

“It’s an option, but I don’t think Kane starting deep gets the best out of him. Easier for a midfielder to sit in him. It’s Kane leading the line and knowing when to drop that helps make him so effective. Starting at 10, more obvious where he will be”

 

[DiVaio]

From Harry Brooks, who was asked "How would you fit vlahovic kane and son into the team?":

"Honestly? Son LWB… it’s not a hard position to learn, you have 3 CM’s and 3 CB’s to cover his spaces and Conte’s patterns and structures gives enough control in all phases. Spurs have been best under Conte when 3-5-2 as opposed to 3-4-3. But I don’t think Son is a striker in a 2. Also, Spurs will sign a striker. If it’s a Vlahovic, De Ketelaere etc, then they will have to find a balance to fit all 3 in. Here’s why Sonny at LWB under Conte works
Some top sides that are using conventional attacking wide forwards as wing backs. Particularly Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic etc. You're also seeing a trend of having wing backs that cut in, not just stay on the outside. Sons two footedness, ability to go both ways fits perfect
Son's biggest issue is his inability to slow down and assess. Decisions have to be made for him. Hence, he’s struggling with where to move and be in current system. At wing back, far more obvious. Plus, he’s only good 1 v 1 when he attacks with momentum, and FB is on back foot…
When you’re a wing back, you start deeper more often, so you have space in front to run into and generate momentum which suits his driving with the ball better. His ball striking on the run is elite, and he will generate a high number of dangerous crosses/shots from LWB
The obvious weakness is defensively. However, he's such an intense and selfless player, he will make recovery run after recovery run. And due to Conte’s strict patterns and structures on and off the ball, you'll rarely see any player exposed. In 352, he has 3 CMs and 3 CBs to cover
So overall, Son's biggest weaknesses (his decision making in possession) are largely covered at LWB. You have incredible quality and delivery. And you’re not as exposed due to Conte’s pragmatism. Plus, Davies comfort underlapping/overlapping would see him and Son dovetail nicely..."

His agenda against Son is quite funny