Tottenham fans are hoping to see Son Heung-min play in a higher position than last season.
Tottenham fan community ‘Spurs Web’ said on July 27 (KST), “Tottenham relied on an attacking wingback last season. This forced Son Heung-min into an unfamiliar role. He was a great striker who scored 20 goals a season. You have to let him do what he does.”
Last season, Tottenham had one of their worst seasons ever. Things were looking good at the start of the season. They were unbeaten in their opening seven games, trailing only Arsenal and Man City. They cruised, consistently qualifying for the UEFA Champions League (UCL). Tottenham really faltered after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Conte gave a negative interview about Tottenham just before the A-match in March, and the club and Conte parted ways.
Conte’s assistant coach, Christian Stellini, then took over as acting manager. However, things didn’t change, leading to a shocker. Tottenham lost 1-6 to Newcastle in the 32nd round. The Spurs conceded five goals in the first 21 minutes of the game. The loss led to the firing of acting head coach Stelini.
Ryan Mason took over as acting head coach for the remainder of the season, as he did in 2020-21. There was no reversal. The Spurs finished the season in eighth place with two wins, one draw, and three losses under Mason, failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in 14 years. Cup competitions were also unsatisfactory. Spurs were eliminated in the round of 16 in both the FA Cup and UCL, while the Carabao Cup ended in the round of 32. Tottenham’s worst results came with last season’s top scorer Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, who is now considered the best striker in the game.
Spurs’ biggest problem was defensive insecurity, but tactical issues also played a big role. Conte brought in Ivan Perisic, whom he had coached at Inter Milan. Perisic was immediately thrust into the left wing-back position at Tottenham. Perisic was a good player, but the combination didn’t work. Son and Perisic’s mobility became an issue. Spurs, who had earned their UCL ticket the previous season by playing pacey soccer, played more crosses. 메이저놀이터
This reduced the role that Son could do well. He was more involved in defense and often found himself in lower positions than when he was a top scorer. Of course, Son’s decline wasn’t solely due to the role change. Just before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he suffered a major injury: a fractured orbital bone. Then, at the end of the season, came the shocker. Heung-min had been suffering from a sports hernia for most of the season.
Tottenham hired manager Enze Postecoglou to try and shake off the disappointment of last season. Postecoglou favors an aggressive style of soccer that requires a lot of space penetration, especially from his strikers. It”s a role that suits Son perfectly. Tottenham fans have also argued that playing Son in a higher position than last season is the right move. It”ll be interesting to see if Son soars again under Postecoglou, wearing his old colors.