Beşiktaş must involve their South Korean striker far more in possession
Football analyst Güntekin Onay has delivered a critical assessment of Beşiktaş’s attacking display in recent weeks, with a particular focus on the form and usage of South Korean centre-forward Hyeon-Gyu Oh. According to Onay, the main problem is not simply a dip in the player’s performance, but the way the team structures its attacks and how rarely it manages to bring him into meaningful contact with the ball.
At the start of the season, Oh quickly made a name for himself in the black-and-white shirt. His early goals and high work rate turned him into one of the standout figures of Beşiktaş’s frontline, offering both a goal threat and constant movement in the final third. Onay notes that in those opening weeks, the striker looked sharp, confident and fully integrated into the offensive game plan.
However, this dynamic has shifted in recent matches. Onay points out that Oh has looked noticeably restrained in the last three games, describing his performances as “quite muted.” The forward who once appeared in the thick of every attack now spends long spells isolated, often surrounded by defenders and rarely receiving the ball in advantageous positions.
For Onay, the root cause lies not primarily in the player’s individual form, but in Beşiktaş’s offensive organization. The team frequently struggles to establish fluid attacking patterns, and as a result, its leading striker is starved of service. “Beşiktaş must get their South Korean centre-forward on the ball much more and use the wings more effectively,” he argues, underlining the importance of better collective play to unlock Oh’s qualities.
The analyst insists that Beşiktaş must significantly improve its wing play. In his view, the flanks should be the starting point for more varied and dangerous attacking moves. By creating 2v1 situations out wide, encouraging overlapping full-backs, and delivering earlier, more accurate crosses, the team could turn Oh back into a constant threat in the penalty area. Currently, the wide players often either slow down the game or cut inside into congested central zones, which makes it easier for opposing defenses to close passing lanes towards the striker.
Onay also stresses that a modern centre-forward, especially one like Oh, needs consistent support from the second line. Midfielders must arrive in and around the box to occupy defenders, open space and offer passing options. When the midfielder line remains too deep or disconnects from the forwards, the striker becomes isolated and forced to battle against multiple defenders with little chance of receiving quality balls.
Another issue highlighted implicitly by his comments is the timing and type of passes aimed at Oh. Early in the season, he benefited from quick transitions and assertive forward passes that allowed him to attack the box at speed. Lately, Beşiktaş’s build-up has become more predictable, slower and easier to read. For a forward who thrives on movement, runs into channels and quick combinations with teammates, this change naturally results in fewer opportunities to shoot or create danger.
To reverse this trend, Onay suggests that the team must design their attacking patterns around the strengths of their main striker. That means targeting him more often with through balls between the lines, low cut-backs from the byline, and high-quality crosses where his positioning and anticipation can make the difference. Even if Oh does not score in every game, his presence should constantly occupy and destabilise the opposing back line.
The analyst’s remarks also hint at a psychological aspect. A striker who starts the season strongly and then goes through a quiet run can quickly lose confidence if he feels ignored or disconnected from the play. The solution is not just tactical but also mental: involving Oh more frequently in simple combinations, allowing him to hold up the ball, lay it off and be part of the build-up helps him regain rhythm and belief. When a forward touches the ball more often, he can influence the tempo, feel the game better and naturally grow back into form.
From a tactical standpoint, improving wing play does not only mean more crosses. It also involves better positioning of the wingers, more diagonal runs behind the defensive line and coordinated movements with full-backs. For example, when a winger cuts inside, the overlapping run of the full-back should stretch the defense, opening a corridor either for a pass wide or a vertical ball into Oh. Coordinated patterns like these make it harder for defenders to track the striker and easier for him to find pockets of space.
Another key factor is the variety of service into the box. If Beşiktaş only resorts to high, hopeful crosses, opponents can stack the area with tall defenders and neutralize Oh more easily. By alternating between low crosses, cut-backs, chipped balls to the far post and quick ground passes into feet, the attack becomes less predictable. In such a system, Oh can use not only his finishing ability, but also his movement between the lines and his capacity to drag defenders out of position.
Onay’s evaluation also raises a broader question about how Beşiktaş intends to structure its game identity. A team that invests in a dynamic centre-forward like Oh must also build a coherent framework around him: pressing triggers that start from the striker, clear patterns for transitioning from defense to attack, and rehearsed combinations between the front three and the attacking midfielders. Without this structure, the forward is reduced to chasing long balls or waiting in vain for service.
In addition, Beşiktaş may need to consider adjustments in their midfield balance. If both central midfielders are primarily focused on controlling possession and staying conservative, the link between the middle third and the attack becomes fragile. Assigning one midfielder a more advanced, box-to-box role could help bring the ball closer to Oh and create overloads around the top of the penalty area. These overloads often lead to slips, layoffs and quick one-twos that could reawaken the striker’s goal instinct.
There is also a case for more creativity in set-piece routines. Given Oh’s aerial ability and physical presence, corner kicks and free-kicks around the box should be designed to target him more frequently and more intelligently. Screens, blocks and decoy runs can free him from tight marking and generate high-quality chances even in games where open-play opportunities are limited.
Ultimately, Onay’s message is clear: the decline in Oh’s recent numbers is not an individual failure alone, but a symptom of broader attacking issues. As he emphasizes, Beşiktaş must both “bring their South Korean centre-forward into contact with the ball more often” and “use their wings more effectively.” If the team manages to do that, the early-season version of Hyeon-Gyu Oh-confident, prolific and central to everything in the final third-could re-emerge and significantly lift Beşiktaş’s offensive production in the weeks ahead.