Criticism of Son Heung-min (Tottenham) is pouring in.
Former Brentford manager Martin Allen noted in an interview published on the 20th (Korea time) with Tottenham Hotspur News, "Son Heung-min is a fantastic player. But to be honest, he is losing the speed he used to have. His performance has dropped significantly compared to his prime. It is not surprising that Tottenham is considering how to transfer him," and asked, "Where will he go? A team that is promoted from the Championship would gladly want to recruit Son Heung-min."
A total of three teams will be promoted from the Championship to the Premier League, determined by automatic promotion and playoffs.
In the 2024-2025 season, 24 teams will participate in the Championship. Each team will play 46 matches during the regular season. After the season ends, the 1st and 2nd place teams in the league will be automatically promoted to the Premier League. The remaining team will be determined through the promotion playoffs.
Since joining Tottenham in 2015, he has been a key player for the team. However, this season, Tottenham has plummeted to 14th in the league, suffering from its worst slump. Having been eliminated early from both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, they are failing to meet fans' expectations.
Amidst this decline, local reports in the UK are raising doubts about Son Heung-min’s leadership or suggesting that his performance has entered a downward trend. There are even extreme claims that if manager Ange Postecoglou is dismissed, Son Heung-min bears some responsibility.
Even some local fans are blaming Son Heung-min.
Tottenham News reported that following a 2-0 loss to Fulham, "Son Heung-min's popularity is declining, and fans want his contract terminated." Some fans expressed strong criticism, stating, "He needs to prove himself on the field," and "He reacts the same way with every defeat."
Son Heung-min has appeared in 448 matches for Tottenham, scoring 173 goals and providing 95 assists, establishing himself as a club legend. Since joining in the 2015-2016 season, he has recorded double-digit goals for nine consecutive seasons, and in the 2021-2022 season, he scored 23 goals in the league without a penalty, becoming the top scorer in the Premier League and setting a record as the first Asian player to achieve this. Furthermore, he is currently showcasing his performance and leadership as the captain of Tottenham.
Teams ranked 3rd to 6th in the Championship will compete in the promotion playoffs, with the 3rd place team facing the 6th place team and the 4th place team facing the 5th place team. Both matches will be held in a home-and-away format, and the team with the aggregate score advantage will advance to the playoff final.
The playoff final will be played as a single match at a neutral venue, typically at Wembley Stadium.
Currently, Leeds United is ranked 1st in the Championship. Sheffield United ranks 2nd (both with 80 points). Burnley (78 points) sits in 3rd place while Sunderland (69 points) is in 4th. Coventry City (59 points) is in 5th place, and West Bromwich Albion (57 points) is in 6th.
Allen wants to convey that it wouldn’t be surprising for Son Heung-min to transfer to teams like Leeds and Sheffield, which have a high possibility of promotion.
Football London reported on the 19th, "Tottenham already has Mohamed Salah. Yet everyone is criticizing him."
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