Not just Son: Ange must instantly drop 4/10 Spurs dud who lost the ball every 6 minutes

Tottenham Hotspur failed to recover from their recent defeat against Manchester City, suffering a second consecutive loss in the Europa League Round of 16 against AZ Alkmaar.

Instead of showing resilience, the team delivered a lackluster performance that made a relatively favorable draw appear as daunting as a clash with a top-tier Premier League side. Despite their struggles, they were fortunate to escape with just a one-goal deficit.

The display lacked urgency, cohesion, and attacking intent, with several players falling short of expectations. Among the biggest disappointments were experienced internationals, including Son Heung-min, whose ineffective performance raised serious concerns about his place in the starting lineup for the upcoming match against Bournemouth.

Manager Ange Postecoglou reintroduced Son to the starting eleven, positioning him on the left side of a front three alongside Mathys Tel and Brennan Johnson.

However, throughout the first half, Son was barely involved, mirroring the anonymity of his fellow attackers. His lack of impact continued even after halftime when he was moved to a central role, where he failed to provide a cutting edge.

His most notable moments included a misguided free-kick routine and a speculative long-range effort that never threatened the goal.

Football.london’s Alasdair Gold was among those unimpressed, giving the Spurs captain a 3/10 rating. A closer look at his match statistics highlights his struggles.

(Source: Sofascore)

The numbers reflect a performance devoid of attacking influence. Son failed to register a single shot on target, managed just one accurate cross, and struggled in duels, winning only two out of four.

With such limited effectiveness, resting him for the Bournemouth game seems like a necessary decision. However, he was not the only Spurs player who disappointed, as another key midfielder also struggled to impose himself.

Rodrigo Bentancur endured a night to forget, failing to contribute meaningfully in either attack or defense. His play lacked conviction, and he frequently lost possession in critical areas.

The most memorable moment of his performance was picking up a yellow card, which will rule him out of the second leg. Given his inability to assert control against AZ, expecting him to fare better against Bournemouth seems unrealistic.

(Source: Sofascore)

Bentancur’s struggles were evident in both his passing and defensive contributions. Despite maintaining an 86% pass accuracy, he failed to create any real goal-scoring opportunities.

His dueling record was equally concerning, as he lost his only aerial battle and won less than half of his ground duels. Additionally, losing possession 15 times further highlights his struggles in maintaining control.

With his suspension for the second leg already confirmed, Postecoglou may have little reason to include him in the starting lineup for the Bournemouth game.

Tottenham’s performance against AZ Alkmaar was a collective failure, with few positives to take away. However, Son and Bentancur stood out as particularly ineffective, and their continued presence in the starting eleven could hinder the team’s chances of turning their form around.

With crucial matches ahead, adjustments are necessary, and dropping these underperforming players might be the first step toward regaining momentum.