Jamie O’Hara, the former Spurs player, recently ignited a fiery debate over Heung-min Son’s place in the world-class bracket. However, more recently, O’Hara has urged Ange to start looking for a replacement for the Korean forward.
Spurs struggles and Heung-min Son’s journey
Tottenham Hotspur, under the stewardship of Ange Postecoglou, have not had the best of starts to the 2024/25 season.
The club’s recent form has been far from encouraging, with Spurs winning just one of their last seven matches in all competitions.
Sitting 11th in the Premier League, expectations are not being met, and the shadow of a possible trophy in Postecoglou’s second season now seems uncertain.
It’s been a challenging period for a club that had high hopes when Postecoglou first took the reins. The Australian manager, who has earned a reputation for winning silverware in his second campaign, now faces the very real possibility of Tottenham failing to secure a major trophy once again.
There are several players who have been caught underperforming this season, and one player in particular, Heung-min Son, is facing intense scrutiny.
With 424 appearances and 255 goal involvements for Spurs, the South Korean forward is undoubtedly a club legend.
However, the current campaign has been a far cry from his usual high standards. With only five goals in 16 appearances, Son has found himself the subject of criticism yet again.
Jamie O’Hara critiques Spurs captain Heung-min Son yet again
Well, now, the pundit has doubled down on his initial criticism, arguing that Son’s decline has become more evident and that Tottenham need to start looking for a replacement.
He told talkSPORT: “Listen, I said about Son a couple of months ago, maybe a month ago, he was world-class, he isn’t anymore. That’s just how it is.
“He has been a brilliant player for Tottenham, but I think we need to find a replacement. I got slaughtered by Spurs fans for saying it, and I’m right. He is not good enough anymore.
“He can produce moments still, I get that, he has got something to offer. But he isn’t the Son we have been used to watching for the last three-four seasons.
“He’s not that player anymore. He can’t go past someone, he hasn’t got the pace, he hasn’t got the sharpness anymore.”
Ange Postecoglou tells critics to be wary of writing off Sonny
While O’Hara’s assessment may seem harsh, it is important to consider Tottenham’s broader issues this season.
It is easy, amidst a run of poor results, to single out one player and place the blame on them. Son’s struggles have undoubtedly been noticeable, but it’s also worth noting that injuries have played a part in his lack of consistency.
Let us also not forget that Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has been quick to offer a strong rebuttal to critics like O’Hara.
Speaking to football.london, the manager dismissed suggestions that age or form should be a concern for the South Korean forward, drawing parallels with Mohamed Salah’s resurgence after facing similar doubts.
“I think there were questions about Mo maybe a year or so ago,” Postecoglou said, “I would be wary about doing that, but it might help me if you write him off.
“Go for it! I do not see that in Sonny, I still think he has got a hell of a lot of quality and from a physical standpoint, the way he looks after himself, I do not see his abilities diminishing just due to the age factor at the moment.
“He has had a bit of a disrupted start this year where he has had a couple of setbacks where he has not played regularly.
“I think with Sonny the more regularly he plays, the increase comes in that output. So the answer is no, I do not think so, and I would be wary about writing him off.”
Postecoglou’s comments reflect his belief that Son is far from finished, and that his recent struggles are merely a consequence of a challenging start to the season. The manager’s support could be crucial in helping the forward regain his best form.