Son Heung-min has made a rather underwhelming start to the season, failing to score in any of the games Spurs have played and provided just one assist.
And while there is no doubt that Son will soon find his form again, former Spurs keeper turned pundit Paul Robinson believes that the South Korean hasn’t taken the signing of Richarlison well.
Robinson claims that Conte has a ‘real problem’ in his attacking ranks. He told Football Insider (via TeamTalk):
“The manager has a real problem though.”
“We know that Son is not playing as well as he can. He has not taken the challenge of Richarlison well. I think he has gone into his shell a little bit rather than embracing the competition.
“I don’t think he likes being brought off after 70 minutes. He likes the comfort of knowing he will play the entire game.”
However, Robinson has backed Son to find his confidence again and start firing in goals soon.
“I think we will get a better Son in the following weeks because Kulusevski was dropped rather than Son to make room for Richarlison.”
“The manager has a real problem picking now because Richarlison has proved he is as good, if not better, than what is starting.
“It is a matter of time for Son though. He hit the bar, scored an offside goal and has been given the vote of confidence from the manager.”
It’s not the first time Son has had a rough patch but he has always come back stronger.
Son went seven Premier League games without scoring in the 2020/21 season. He ended the drought with four strikes in the final eight games of the season.
Agreed. Love Sonny and class is permanent.
He signed a contract extension and then won the golden boot. Now he’s started the season in classic Harry Kane fashion and suddenly he’s not world class?
If Son thinks Conte will think twice about dropping or subbing him,he needs to think again.We have a manage who doesn’t suffer fools and if a player is not performing he will be taken off.Nobody should be bigger than the team.
Competition is good and if Son thinks he is above that he’s in for a rude awakening.Playing well and scoring again will help his case no end,but he needs reminding it is a squad game these days and there are more than enough matches coming up.
Bery happy Chelsea lost.
Think NDembele enjoyed it …rest his weary bones.
Sonny seemed pretty happy in Korea just a month ago, but pundits need to pundit.
Son signed a 4 year contract extension with the club during a horrid time of transition. Nuno had just been signed as manager after the shaky Mourinho and Ryan Mason periods, and immediately after a summer of crazy manager recruitment that saw Spurs unsuccessfully move through a ridiculous list of candidates.
It was a very odd time and odd conditions for a top player to sign a contract extension… Which prompted me to question Son’s level of personal ambition.
It reeked of complacency. It could be easily interpreted that Son chose financial and positional security over any ambition to seek career honors among squads and players who will push him.
I reserved judgment, wanting to see how things went with Son over time. However, I have to say that Son’s resentment over giving up playing time to a player who is actually pushing him… is a very bad look that is congruent with a complacent player who sought security over ambition.
Son is a hard worker who personally trains well. He should get through this fine, and should shift back in to a higher level. He and Richarlison each offer different strengths in different areas, and it will not always be Son who is switched out for Richarlison’s type of impact.
Son just needs to get out of his own head and buckle down in training. It is almost like he signed on for more time without expecting Spurs to actually sign stronger players.
Harry Kane, take notes. You do not have to sign anything. Dictate your own terms, your own ambitions.
What is the matter with Robinson ,Sonny is just going through a rough patch every player I know isn’t happy when being substituted.
Spurs are the one team in the world not allowed to have any good players out of the starting 11? What is this nonsense now?
Robinson…Mensa will call you back