though he has lost a yard or two, he still has the skills - the stepover and the curling right foot shot. Was just that angeball wasn't suited for either - wait for the overlap and almost no shots from outside the box (until much later in the season. but with 5 attackers and 11 defenders it was nigh impossible).
i am probably biased but i believe we will see a better season from son under TF.
What are his strengths now?The decline isn't what people think
- 11 goals, 11 assists (22 Goal contributions) last season is a dreadful side
- 17 goals, 10 assists (27 goal contributions) the season before
yes, he's aging but he isn't dead, used correctly (in a system that actually plays to his strengths instead of against), managing his minutes, he potentially still has a lot to offer.
What are his strengths now?
He has lost his pace and his shooting has deteriorated quite a lot
Can’t agreeHis positioning, reading of the game, his passing/assists are all still there
Still one of the most two footed players in the game
His pace is still there, just not the initial acceleration (hence why you would need to pass the ball in front of him into space, not an overloaded part of field)
His shooting will be there if he's allowed to shoot, and shoot from right areas, there is an interview from first Ange season where Son says Ange did not want them turning into box to shoot (his preferred spot)
There are lots of examples in recent times of over elite 30 players adapting, being used slightly differently and extending their career/impact. Even Salah (who is still at top of his game) had an interview where he said he told Slot, he needed to stop being asked to come back as much.
We need to plan for his replacement, but as I said, 20+ goal contributions a season isn't quite dead yet.
Can’t agree
His shooting last what was awful … limp even
So many pea rollers
And his slashing has always been his weakness
Maybe we’re watching different games and it’s about opinions but for me his strengths were separation through pace and that shot from range form either foot… was genuinely elite
The amount of times last what I saw him hit pathetic shots form the edge of the area was scary
His corners are good though
Salahs all round game was better than sons hence why his adapting was less and also he has better players
What system suited him?And a system suited to him.
As I said, bit of a circular conversation, we have to plan for life after him, he may be gone anyway, but if we keep him another season, the usage has to be smarter, and in that case, if we do, I think we can get a bit more out of him than we did last season.
Some are just clinging onto the fact it's the manager when it's evidently the player due to a visible decline in his key attributes. If it wasn't a guy as popular as Son people wouldnt be in denial about it.Can’t agree
His shooting last what was awful … limp even
So many pea rollers
And his slashing has always been his weakness
Maybe we’re watching different games and it’s about opinions but for me his strengths were separation through pace and that shot from range form either foot… was genuinely elite
The amount of times last what I saw him hit pathetic shots form the edge of the area was scary
His corners are good though
Salahs all round game was better than sons hence why his adapting was less and also he has better players
I can’t see how he fits a progressive side at this levelSome are just clinging onto the fact it's the manager when it's evidently the player due to a visible decline in his key attributes. If it wasn't a guy as popular as Son people wouldnt be in denial about it.
What top teams in the PL would spend money to sign him now? None of them. His game was always about speed, technically other than his shooting he is average and even that as you say has declined. The idea that a new manager and all of a sudden Son is going to roll back the years start doing a load of stepovers and curling them in from 30 yards is fanciful....