‘A millisecond’ – Ange Postecoglou identifies one area Spurs could improve on

Ange Postecoglou has said that the Tottenham players are still getting used to Son Heung-min’s movement upfront, which is why the South Korean is getting caught offside so often. Son had three goals ruled out for offside in Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, with a couple of those being marginal calls. In fact, no […]

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Ange Postecoglou has said that the Tottenham players are still getting used to Son Heung-min’s movement upfront, which is why the South Korean is getting caught offside so often.

Son had three goals ruled out for offside in Spurs’ 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, with a couple of those being marginal calls. In fact, no player in the Premier League has been caught offside more often than the Tottenham captain so far this season.

Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg addressed the issue on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (broadcast on 27/11; 18:56), telling the 31-year-old man to trust his pace more and be clever in his movement.

Son himself rejected the idea that he was unlucky to have three goals ruled out for offside, insisting that he needed to improve the timing of his runs (Sports Chosun).

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 27: Son Heung-Min of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring the team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park on October 27, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Spurs will start beating the offside trap eventually

However, Postecoglou has remarked that the forward has not done much wrong and his teammates need to get used to his movement, having been accustomed to playing with a focal point upfront in Harry Kane.

When asked about Son’s tendency to stray offside, the Spurs head coach told Football.London: “Some of it is still understanding. There were a couple of times last week when we could have played the ball a little bit earlier and his timing was perfect.

“Part of it is just understanding because Sonny is a different kind of striker to how Harry was. Players are used to having a focal point who was a bit different. It’s a combination of both. Like I said, if we passed it a millisecond earlier, his timing is perfect. It’s a bit of both.

“What isn’t undeniable is him from offside positions, he’s still finishing things, still scoring goals, and that’s still the hardest part of the game. You know the quality is there. It’s just about his runs but also us maybe seeing things that little bit earlier.”

Spurs Web Opinion

There was nothing wrong with the timing of Son’s run for his first-half goal as Hojbjerg should have released the ball first-time instead of taking a touch.

However, Sonny should not have been offside for the Pedro Porro shot which came off the woodwork in the second-half as he was staring straight across the line. 

A number nine with a natural goal poacher’s instinct would have anticipated a rebound or a spill from the goalkeeper and would have remained onside.

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