Ain't No Sonshine
You're going to have to forgive me for the terrible pun title. Sonny's departure has thrown me into a bit of an existential crisis, and I wish I were joking. Nothing like the end of an era to make you reflect on the passage of time!
I gather from social media that the fanbase as a whole is having a bit of a crash out, not helped by James Maddison's ACL injury, but encompassing other looming squad struggles as well. I'm not feeling quite as pessimistic about the big picture for Spurs, but we'll get to that later in the issue.
In this issue: Farewell to Sonny | Friendly roundup | Transfer talk | News from around the Lane | Pub chat
First up, a mini retrospective on Son Heung-min's Spurs career. Then I'll zoom out to the final two Spurs Men pre-season friendlies, take stock of the latest transfer moves, and round up a few news items (spoiler alert: signs of life from Spurs Women!) and bonus bookmarks.
It wouldn't hurt to grab a box of tissues now, just in case.
Farewell to Sonny
I keep having to remind myself that Son did not, in fact, retire, since his exit from Spurs very much had the feel of a "last dance". After wearing the captain's armband one last time, he subbed out of the Newcastle friendly with a guard of honor from both teammates and opponents alike, ending his 10-year Spurs career.
That show of respect and admiration from the Newcastle players was fitting for a player who has always been one of the most beloved players in world football. Son could sometimes go under the radar in the wider media conversation around the game since he doesn't have a particularly flashy personality (and spent many years in Harry Kane's shadow at Spurs), but he's frequently cited as a major inspiration by players across different leagues. Known for his two-footed ability, he frequently overperformed when it came to finishing during his time at Spurs. And he's been an excellent mentor to all of the young talents who played alongside him.
Although he was still one of the top contributing players last season, it's fair to say that his goal and assist production had slowed from his peak. The absolute peak was his Golden Boot-winning tally of 23 Premier League goals in the 2021/22 season—a feat that he did have to share with Mo Salah (a decent companion!), but achieved without any penalty goals. If you ask Spurs fans about their favorite Sonny moment in a Spurs shirt, seeing him lifted aloft by his teammates when he scored the two goals that secured the Golden Boot would probably be in most fans' top five. It's definitely in mine.
A few other key moments from our #7 that stick out most vividly in my memory:
• the game-winner against Aston Villa that he scored despite having broken his arm early in the game
• scoring the first goal at the newly opened Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Crystal Palace
• his goal against Manchester City in the 2019 Champions League run
• his incredible goal against Burnley that earned him the Puskás award
• the superb curler against Arsenal during the pandemic-era NLD
• scoring four goals against Southampton
• the game-winner against City (them again) in the season opener, having just extended his contract at Spurs while Harry Kane was trying to force a move
• the second-half substitute hat trick in 13 minutes against Leicester City
• becoming Spurs' all-time PL assist leader
I also think his captaincy deserves a second look. There were many naysayers in the fanbase that didn't think he was "captain material" (thiny veiled racism, let's just be honest about it), but so many of his teammates have mentioned in their farewell messages to Son just how important he was in both welcoming them to the club and looking out for them, on and off the pitch. His approachable leadership and willingness to pass down technical expertise have been crucial during the current squad rebuild, in which many young players have been signed. And Ange Postecoglou's decision to award him the captaincy was certainly validated by the recent reports that Son almost singlehandedly rallied the team to the Europa League title in the midst of a morale-crushing league campaign. The team was playing not just for the trophy, but also for Sonny's legacy.
He was definitely an honorary member of the "one of our own" ranks, but most importantly, he was "the one who stayed." His loyalty to the club during a difficult time should never be taken for granted. He fully took on the mantle of leading the club, both in a literal sense as captain and in the sense of showing up with his performances.
My mum and dad always said to me, "It doesn't matter how good you are as a footballer, you want to be a better person than a footballer."
Even though I know no player can play forever, and this moment of separation between the club and Sonny had to arrive sooner rather than later, it was still hard to process the reality of him leaving. But knowing that it was completely his decision—and supported by the club—makes it a little easier to accept. And frankly, knowing how some of the fanbase had already been unnecessarily critical of him in the last couple of seasons under Ange, I shudder to think how they would have handled him actually declining in performance whilst still in a Spurs shirt. As it is, we now get to remember his last competitive match for Spurs (since he didn't feature against Brighton in the last PL game) as the one in which he finally got to lift a trophy as captain of the club. Talk about leaving on a high note.
I'm sure it helped soften the blow for him emotionally that he got to play his last (friendly) game in his home country, but I hope the club is able to arrange some sort of farewell testimonial match or similar ceremony for him at the Lane later on. And although I've used the word "farewell" several times in this issue, I don't think it's really goodbye for Sonny. He'll be back in some capacity.
But first, he has an adventure in MLS to enjoy, with his old teammate Hugo Lloris by his side, at one of the best-run clubs in the US top flight, LAFC. I'm also hoping to see him play with South Korea next month in Nashville against Mexico, so fingers crossed that the fact he's already on the continent makes him a lock for Korea's squad for that friendly!
I could write about Sonny forever, and I'm sure I didn't do justice to my deep and enduring love for him, but let's leave it here for now for the sake of my tear ducts.
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs Men friendly roundup
Both of the games in Asia against Premier League opposition kind of ended up being overshadowed by our club legend's departure, but there were still a few takeaways to be had. Then the team traveled to Germany for the now traditional late pre-season friendly against Bayern Munich. That matchup was less informative for a few reasons that I'll get into soon, but suffice it to say that it wasn't a fun watch unless you were, like me, a fan of both clubs. Just kidding. I didn't enjoy it that much because my grudge against Harry Kane persists.
Friendly #4 | Arsenal 0 - 1 Tottenham
I know the prevailing attitude is that we're not supposed to care about this NLD win since it happened in pre-season and, well, not in North London, but I will take a win against Arsenal anyway and anywhere that it happens.
Plus, this was the first friendly of the summer where it seemed like the squad was up to competitive speed and fully invested in the result, meaningless or not. I think it bodes well for the in-season NLDs that the players have already demonstrated a seriousness around the rivalry fixture when it would have been easy to take it lightly from an intensity perspective.
It's safe to say that Pape Sarr has been the big winner from pre-season, and Thomas Frank's post-game comments confirmed that the midfielder has earned his trust. Frank stressed the importance of development for the younger players in the pecking order (Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray) and made it clear that he sees Sarr as being much further along in his development, despite the disappointing seasons under Ange Postecoglou.
And hey, we won another trophy!
Friendly #5 | Tottenham 1 - 1 Newcastle United
Much like the Arsenal match, this was a useful test since it involved PL opposition and a proper physical battle—emphasis on the physical part.
The Son factor ratcheted up the emotional intensity of the fixture, a wild thing to say in comparison to an NLD, but here we are. Then there was the double whammy of the devastating James Maddison ACL injury (now confirmed). It's a good thing that Spurs fans are already established to be god's strongest soldiers because the second half of this friendly was a gauntlet of distress.
Brennan Johnson paid a lovely tribute to Son when he scored, opting for Sonny's signature camera celebration. I can honestly say I don't remember anything about how Johnson's goal happened (a Kevin Danso assist, apparently!), nor Newcastle's equalizer, because the game mostly passed in a haze of tears for me. Just keeping it real.
Thomas Frank summed up the emotional whiplash of the game well:
I would say that today's game is the perfect picture of life in football can be so brutal and so beautiful,” he said. “So brutal with Madders that most likely he has a bad injury, we need to be honest with that, it’s the same knee as the previous injury. Then it’s so beautiful with what happened to Sonny from his team-mates, the fans, Newcastle players, they showed fantastic respect. So, that's life in football in one situation.
Friendly #6 | Bayern Munich 4 - 0 Tottenham
We nearly went undefeated across the pre-season slate, but then Bayern found us in a vulnerable state. Not only were we dealing with the aftermath of Son's departure and Maddison's long-term injury, there was also jet lag to consider (h/t Michael Dawson on the SpursPlay post-game show) and the introduction of a brand new #6 (more on João Palhinha in the transfer talk section). I think the players held on remarkably well in the first half, all things considered, including some suspect officiating.
Naturally, Harry Kane scored the first goal, albeit offside. He could have quickly scored a brace when Palhinha gave up a (questionable) penalty, but the ball never lies, so he somehow managed to slip and sky his attempt. Kingsley Coman looks to be headed to the Saudi League soon (to which I say, "auf wiedersehen"), so his goal to make it 2-0 to Bayern may have been his parting gift. The other two goals were long-range screamers from Bayern academy kids, which is definitely a defensive lapse we need to keep an eye on, but also a typical occurrence in Bayern pre-season friendlies, trust me. I'm going to call it the Frans Krätzig memorial goal (he's not dead, he's just not at Bayern anymore).
Bayern has had a frustrating (to me) tendency of late to squander its young talent, so it was appropriate that this match also served as a farewell to Mathys Tel, now a permanent member of Tottenham's squad after his previous half-season loan from Bayern.
But getting back to the game, this result is truly nothing to feel stressed about. Bayern were technically not as far along in their pre-season as Spurs, but had a far more settled squad and (crucially) weren't having to integrate a brand new manager's ideas. The experience and cohesion of Bayern's midfield were the decisive advantages in the game.
We'll see if this strange new relationship between Spurs and Bayern continues into next pre-season—or even through further transfers.
Transfer talk
• João Palhinha is the only incoming transfer for the club over the last week. He joins from Bayern Munich on loan for the season, with an option to buy for Spurs. He might not be the most exciting #6 option, but he does have a couple of years of Premier League experience. He also has a familiarity with Pedro Porro from their time playing together at Sporting Clube de Portugal, plus a brief crossover with Mathys Tel at Bayern.
I’m a player with a lot of hunger to win tackles, as you know. It’s one of my main focuses in the game, to try to help my teammates without the ball to recover as soon as possible and of course when we have the ball, try to play simple, to try to give the team the best options. If I need to choose a word to describe me, it’s going to be a “hungry” player for sure.
Outgoing youth loans:
• Tyrese Hall is headed to Notts County in League Two, where George Abbott previously thrived last season.
• Speaking of George Abbott, he's going to Wycombe Wanderers in League One, stepping up a level. He started against them in the senior team's friendly against Wycombe earlier in the pre-season.
• Will Lankshear is joining Oxford United in the Championship for the season, where Dane Scarlett previously played.
• Jamie Donley is linking up with Ashley Phillips at Stoke City in the Championship; last season, he was also on loan with a fellow Spurs player, Josh Keeley, at Leyton Orient. Keeley has since left the club, and I suspect it will be the same for his loan buddy this season.
• Yang Min-hyeok is going to Portsmouth in the Championship for his first full season in English football.
• Alfie Devine has signed a new contract but is spending the season with Preston North End in the Championship.
• Likewise, Mikey Moore extended his deal but will play at Rangers in the Scottish Premiership this campaign.
News from around the Lane
It's a Spurs Women-centric round-up of news this week.
• The club has done a much better job of keeping fans updated on the Women's Academy this summer, and in one of the recent friendly recaps we learned that Mia Endacott and Ruby Mace have been added to the ranks of young players who have trained with the first team.
• We also learned that we will finally be able to stream a Spurs Women pre-season friendly, via SpursPlay, as part of the team's pre-season performance camp in Spain. We take on Sevilla on Friday at 7 pm UK/2 pm ET. You can find the full traveling squad list here, but the notable absences are Amy James-Turner and Hayley Raso, indicating that they are likely working on transfers out of the club. Interestingly, both Luana Bühler and Ella Morris traveled with the team; both are rehabbing after surgeries. There are also three Academy players who made the trip.
• Spurs Women's League Cup group stage opponents have been confirmed:
- Birmingham City
- Aston Villa
- Bristol City
The League Cup campaign begins at the end of September.
Pub chat: Bonus bookmarks
• The club put out a nice feature on Kit Graham's ACL recovery as she prepares to return to play.
Tottenham Hotspur
One thing that has been strange, it's been nearly a year since I've done my injury and we had players come in after that, so I've known people nearly a year now but I've actually never trained with them or played with them. So, it's been nice to get out on the pitch and also form new relationships with players that I've known for a long time and never actually played with.
• Look, I said I wasn't going to dwell on Son leaving any more in this issue, but I had to include this interview with Guglielmo Vicario specifically for what he had to say about Sonny.
Jay Harris
I would have loved to stay with him forever... We will share this good stuff about what we did in Bilbao that night. It will stay with me forever because we created history together. He was my captain on that day so I will be grateful to him for eternity.
Please, Vic, have mercy. I can't cry any more!!
I personally would have no problem if Vicario was selected as captain (it will probably be Cuti Romero, though, realistically). You can never question his commitment nor his passion for the club, and as this interview shows, he understands the responsibility of shepherding the young squad members in their development at Spurs. Plus, I have never really had a problem with a goalkeeper being captain (see also: Manuel Neuer—at least before the post-WC skiing debacle).
• I plan to keep a close eye on Ryan Mason's progress as manager of West Bromwich Albion, his first non-interim head coaching role since leaving Spurs. The Baggies got a narrow win in their first Championship game over the weekend, but also picked up a red card.
Pardeep Cattry wrote a feature on Mason for CBS Sports that's worth a read.
Pardeep Cattry
Everyone's always looking at me to guide them and to help them, so that's the challenge – when to act on emotion, act on a feeling or when to suppress it so that's something I feel like, over time, you learn, yes, but every day there are so many different challenges. Different things pop up and I could say, the more confident and comfortable you are in your own skin, you have a belief in something and how it should look, how it should feel, then I think you can organically deal with it in a way that comes natural.
UEFA Super Cup preview
I'm not going to do a full preview of the Super Cup because frankly, I'm still in pre-season form, but here are a few need-to-knows:
• There will be no extra time, so it's straight to penalties if tied at the end of regulation
• Spurs will be wearing all-Lilywhite for the European fixture
• Gianluigi Donnarumma has been left out, of PSG's matchday squad
• For Spurs, Dominic Solanke is back in contention, but Destiny Udogie will not feature; Yves Bissouma did not travel due to disciplinary reasons
Technically, Spurs Men's competitive season begins with the Super Cup, but I will do my best to get out a Premier League season preview before the weekend opener. Until then,
COYS
Thank you for reading!
If you’re enjoying the newsletter, make sure to sign up for a free subscription to receive new issues in your inbox. You can also buy me a Ko-fi to support my writing with a one-time tip. Your support keeps Spurs Across the Pond running and is much appreciated!
You can also find me on Bluesky and podcasting at N17 Women and The Tottenham Depot.,
Member discussion