"It is not necessarily something that needs to be disposed of...".

Football FanCast on the 6th (Korea time) stated, "Son Heung-min is undoubtedly a player who has excelled at Tottenham Hotspur. However, now he should either be in the starting lineup for less important matches or come on as a substitute when the team needs a goal."

They also noted, "Ange Postecoglou should select a winger who is a key player for the team. There is a gem for Tottenham who should start instead of Son Heung-min," identifying Mikey Moore.

They emphasized, "I think Moore should be given a chance."

Tottenham won 3-1 against Southampton in the 31st round of the 2024-2025 season Premier League held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on the 6th (Korea time).

With this victory, Tottenham succeeded in escaping a losing streak and recorded 37 points.

Tottenham's offense was led by Son Heung-min, Dominic Solanke, and Brennan Johnson. James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, and Lucas Moura were positioned in the midfield. The defense comprised Jedd Spence, Ben Davies, Cristian Romero, and Pedro Porro, with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.

Before the match against Southampton, Tottenham had performed poorly in their last four league games, with 1 draw and 3 losses. They lost 0-1 against Manchester City, in which Son Heung-min was not in the starting lineup. They drew 2-2 with Bournemouth, where Son Heung-min scored the equalizer, and subsequently lost to Fulham (0-2) and Chelsea (0-1).

However, against the league's bottom team Southampton, they launched an aggressive attack, creating an opportunity for a turnaround. Notably, several players, including Son Heung-min, showed impressive performances. Johnson also drew applause by showing good form, assisted by Son Heung-min.

This season, Son Heung-min has scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists. While he continues to perform well, it is true that he has been somewhat lacking compared to his usual standards. This situation marks the lowest number of goals he has scored since his debut season in 2015-2016 when he recorded four goals. Although Son Heung-min started the match, he did not register any attacking points but played a pivotal role in the first goal.

From the outset of the match, Tottenham displayed a relentless attack. In the 9th minute, during a corner kick situation, Romero attempted a powerful header that was saved by Ramsdale. In the 11th minute, Moura dribbled through the opposition defense but failed to connect properly with his shot.

Continuing to press, Tottenham broke through in the 13th minute with the opening goal. Especially noteworthy was the left flank attack involving Spence and Son Heung-min, which is a key offensive pattern for Tottenham. Son Heung-min passed to Spence, who was overlapping on the left side, and his cross was finished by Johnson.

In addition, in the 26th minute, Tottenham executed a sharp diving header by Romero from a free kick situation. However, this shot was thwarted by Ramsdale's face, leading to disappointment. Nonetheless, in the 35th minute, from another free kick, Porro's attempt was touched by Romero, and Davies, who was in front of the goal, fired a shot that found the back of the net.

However, after over 5 minutes of video assistant referee (VAR) checks, Romero was declared offside, and the goal was disallowed. Still, in the 41st minute, there was a chaotic sequence inside the box of Southampton. In the process, Maddison headed the ball, and Johnson finished it off, recording a multi-goal performance.

The first half ended with a 2-0 lead. Having secured a comfortable two-goal advantage, Tottenham managed their pace in the second half to prepare for their next match. They are set to face Eintracht Frankfurt at the same venue on the 11th in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League quarterfinals this season.

In the 58th minute, they substituted Son Heung-min and Bentancur for Pape Sarr and Odobert to manage their stamina. While maintaining focus, Tottenham held firm. However, in the 89th minute, they allowed Matheus Fernandes of Southampton to score a consolation goal.

Nevertheless, in stoppage time of the second half, Tottenham earned a penalty kick (PK) as Johnson broke through. Although Johnson was on the verge of a hat trick, he relinquished the PK to newcomer Mathis Tel. Calmly, Tel finished the penalty, sealing the match with a 3-1 victory for Tottenham.

Son Heung-min played a crucial role in the buildup to the opening goal. After that, he was relatively quiet. He recorded a passing accuracy of 82% (18/22), created one chance, took one shot, delivered four final third passes, achieved a dribble success rate of 25% (1/4), and a ground duel win rate of 44% (4/9).

On that day, Son Heung-min reached a milestone of 450 matches for Tottenham. Since joining in the 2015-2016 season, he has consistently played and reached his 450th match, placing him 7th in the club's history for most appearances. He is currently ranked 1st among active players. Ted Ditchburn, who is in 6th place, has made 452 appearances, making it likely that Son Heung-min will move into 6th place within this season.

However, the evaluations were not favorable. The London World gave Son Heung-min the lowest score in the team, 5 points, stating, "He played a pivotal role. After that, he was somewhat indecisive and did not show his best form."

Football London awarded Son Heung-min the lowest score among the starting 11, with 6 points.

Football London evaluated, "He contributed somewhat to the first goal, but Son Heung-min's efforts in the early second half were blocked."

Give me Sports reported, "Tottenham is seriously contemplating the sale of Son Heung-min. If they decide to dispose of him, it would be a monumental decision."

They added, "Salaries for Son Heung-min, Richarlison, and Timo Werner reach 800 million won. If disposed of, they could save a significant amount."

They commented, "Tottenham is now entering a new era. They will need to make a major decision regarding an attacking overhaul. Son Heung-min is no exception."

Give me Sports mentioned, "He is not necessarily a player that needs to be disposed of, but there are players who should be accepted if offered. The first is Son Heung-min. He has been an icon for Tottenham for years and is undoubtedly one of the greatest players in Premier League history. However, the decline has begun, and his performance has noticeably dropped compared to the past. It may be time to dispose of him and secure cash before the situation worsens."

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