Darren Bent says there is ‘no hiding place’ for Son Heung-min, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski at Tottenham Hotspur this season after the departure of Harry Kane.
Days before the 2023 Premier League season kicked off, Tottenham sold their club-record goalscorer to Bayern Munich in a major call by the club.
Given that 30 Premier League goals were heading for the exit door, Bent thinks the ‘safety blanket’ at Tottenham was taken away and that’s where the likes of Son Heung-min, who netted a hat-trick against Burnley last time out, Richarlison and Dejan Kulusevski have to step up, as he told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (09/09/23 at 2:10 pm).
As of this moment, most of them are ticking that box, with Ange Potecoglou’s side looking like a different animal during the early stages of the new season.
Given that Son is one of the experienced players and he is now the club captain, he is stepping up and taking on that goalscoring pressure, so far.
But so is someone like James Maddison, who has been a breath of fresh air to Spurs, since his summer transfer from relegated Leicester City.
Son, Richarlison and Kulusevski
“There is no hiding place for the other players because Harry Kane would get a goal,” said Bent. “Son was poor last season. Kulusevski still has to get more goals. Richarlison, you are still waiting for him to get going.
“All of a sudden, you take away that safety blanket away. That’s why you are seeing the likes of Son step up and Richarlison.
“Now, you don’t have that 30-goal striker and you have to get goals from elsewhere.”
Can Tottenham continue free-scoring play?
That’s the big question because, whilst the attacking side of the game has been a joy to behold for the fans, the defensive side of the game still needs fixing.
In truth, if it does become a case of we score, you score, for Tottenham, then the fans won’t care much because, in comparison to previous seasons, they are now being entertained.
And if they finish outside of Europe again, then at least the fans can see what Postecoglou is trying to build.
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