Premier League: Tottenham’s 2019-20 Players of the Year
Though inconsistent, Tottenham’s offense was the strength of their squad. Led by world-class stars, they could score in bunches and also run out of gas on the highway.
Spurs have scored the fifth-most goals in the Premier League so far this season. They also have the eighth-highest expected goals (xG). Their offensive goal conversion rate in open play is +6.6; only Leicester had a better return.
The offenses’ inconsistency was in creating goal opportunities. Tottenham was eighth in the league in both shot-creating actions per 90 minutes and key passes. In 11 matches, Spurs had an xG of below 1.0 and only won four of those matches. They also had 11 games where their xG was 1.5 or above, winning six.
Tottenham had three players deserving of consideration of player of the year honors.
Dele Alli notched eight goals and added four assists despite his new manager asking whether he was “Dele or Dele’s brother.” The 23-year old is third on his team in goals scored and tied for second in assists. He is second in xG, non-penalty xG, and non-penalty xG plus expected assists per 90 minutes (npxG+xA/90).
Though Harry Kane missed the last two months of the season before it paused, he led Spurs in goals scored with 11. The 26-year old suffered a hamstring injury in a New Years Day loss to Southampton.
Kane is third in the league in overall goal conversion rate and goal conversion rate in open play, making him a certified elite clinical striker. What was stunning about the Spurs talisman was the fact that his non-penalty xG per shot was 0.10, which was 72nd in the Prem.
There is one obvious choice for Tottenham’s offensive player of the year.
Son Heung-min was the club’s best all-around offensive producer. He leads Tottenham in assists (seven) and is second in goals (nine).
The South Korean led the team in multiple advanced statistical categories.
He was tops in xG, non-penalty xG, expected assists, npxG+xA/90, key passes, shot-creating actions per 90 minutes, and goal-scoring actions per 90 minutes.
Son also was second in goal conversion rate and non-penalty goal conversion rate despite also having the same non-penalty xG as Harry Kane.
Even though he missed significant time due to an arm injury and two unexpected red cards, the 27-year old was Spurs’ best all-around offensive weapon.
Oh, and probably not surprisingly, Son is also excellent at shooting a gun.