The Son also rises

Teesside.

Spurs moved up to second in the Premier League table after securing a win over Middlesbrough in their unbeaten start to the league campaign.

It’s Spurs best start to a Premier League season, best start to any league campaign in over 50 years, as they moved up to second, four points behind the 10% Citeh, who they play next.

They’ve done this without exactly hitting the heights on the park. Yeah, there was the Stoke game but then Stoke are being thumped by all sorts.

This game, against newly promoted Middlesbrough, went pretty much like those before. A lot of the ball, a lot of huff and puff, some really good chances created and very few finished off and then a bit of hanging on at the end when it should have been done and dusted before the break.

That things turned out well was down to one man. Mr Perpetual Motion, Son Heung-min. Again he lit the place up, non-stop attacking and two cracking goals.

The first after just seven minutes saw him link up well with Janssen. Janssen in the box was played the ball by Eriksen, the Dutch striker held it up well as Son ran into the box from the right, perfectly laid off into the Korean’s path, he skipped past a couple of floundering defenders before putting it past the ‘keeper.

Yet again a Son goal is an important one. Posted up in the Stoke game post, it’s another opening goal for Spurs in the game, his second would be another winner. Twelve goals, seven have been openers, six have been winners.

He was all action, the defenders don’t get a rest, with or without the ball. As highlighted in his second a quarter of an hour later. Seemingly running into a cul-de-sac on the left of the ‘Boro box, he lost the ball – sometimes his feet are just a bit too quick for the ball to keep up – turning back, before the defenders had a chance he got back again before curling in yet another cracker.

It’s a good job Pochettino wanted to keep him. The player himself wanted a move back to Germany after a difficult first season but the manager had seen enough. It’s a cliche, indeed a stereotype but Pochettino would know he’d be getting work rate from a player from the far east. They work and keep on working, which is something Poch likes. But even with his non-stop attitude he found it hard to adapt to a faster league in England.

Easy option would have been to cash in on the player’s desire to return and the number of willing suitors back in Germany. The money talked about suggested they would have made a profit on the deal, and many fans were very happy to see him go. But with a season under his belt and more game time coming from the player taking his chance, it’s a transfer that’s now paying off.

One transfer you’d hope would be paying off more is Janssen’s. Is he just having that difficult first season? Like previous games he’s doing all the other stuff well, such as the part in Son’s opener – leading the line well – but he ain’t scoring and the longer it goes on the more frustrated the player looks and the more you think it’ll never come. Yes he got that one midweek but he desperately needs one from open play.

Can’t expect just Son to carry the load with Kane. Especially with Dele Alli on a streak of missing the target from good chances inside the box.

Chances need to be taken. Without Kane, Dembele and Dier, all unavailable due to injury – some might add Rose, don’t think I would – this was a good three points away from home but they shouldn’t have been hanging on after the piss weak defending at a free-kick that saw ‘Boro undeservedly get back into the game.

I don’t give a stuff that moving up to second was only deserving of sixth spot on MotD – don’t know why anyone watches it live, especially if they’ve already watched the whole game. Always recorded here then heavy use of the fast forward button when Big Ears, Slap Head and Earnest the Monkey appear.

I much prefer them flying under the radar. Got second while not being noticed that much and not playing that great really. Hit some real quality form and then maybe…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Required fields *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.