Son Heung-min has started to play backpasses. Son Heung-min’s dwindling support as a frontline striker is evident.

After the Tottenham Hotspur-Newcastle United match in the 2023-2024 English Premier League, which concluded on Nov. 13, soccer data site MarkStats released the average positioning and passing maps of the starting players for both teams.

On the day, Tottenham were one-sidedly pummeled by Newcastle, losing 0-4. After conceding two goals in quick succession in the final minute of the first half, Spurs threw in the towel when they conceded another early in the second half. They brought on three players at once, including their main man Son Heung-min. It was the first time Son Heung-min had started a Tottenham game this season before being subbed out in the 13th minute of the second half.

It was a sign of his struggles. He was robbed of the ball twice, which contributed to the two goals. But it’s fair to say that Son struggled. Tottenham have also been troubled by the plummeting form of striker James Maddison, who was named Premier League Player of the Month last August. Maddison was injured in a home game against Chelsea last November and spent nearly three months on the sidelines before returning to action in late January, but he hasn’t been the same since.

With the departure of Harry Kane and the injury to Heung-min Son, Maddison’s passing support is essential as he’s often up top. However, with Maddison not performing as well as he did before his injury, there is a skit going on at Tottenham right now where Son is dropping into the midfield to create chances.

The graphic from MarkStats’ game against Newcastle illustrates this move.

Newcastle are focused solely on goal production, with multi-goal Brazilian striker Alexander Isaac (#14) in front of the frontline arc, supported by passes from left wing Harvey Barnes. Isaac finished off assists from right wing Anthony Gordon and attacking midfielder Bruno Guimarães. Isaac was the end point of every pass.

His high position in front of goal gave him the power to strike at Tottenham at any time.

Tottenham, on the other hand, is different. Son is positioned more than five meters behind Isaac, and the passing map has him passing to the two central midfielders 토토사이트 behind him, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur. Maddison was delivering passes from the left more than Son, but overall, Son’s backpasses to the midfielders were not positive.

In addition, left wing Thomas Werner was also found to be linking up with Maddison more than with Son Heung-min.

Newcastle was a game where Tottenham’s problems exploded. Right now, Spurs are a team that needs Son to score goals to win, and since the end of last month, he’s been shooting less and less.

Then, against Newcastle, Son Heung-min played 58 minutes and didn’t take a single shot. With Spurs facing four of the so-called Big Six – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man City – in their next six games, the hazard lights went on.

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