Harry Kane’s return is vital to boost Tottenham’s struggles in front of goal. Whilst unbeaten, the club has drawn their last three matches and has only scored six goals in their last six matches. Kane will improve this record through his direct and physical method of goalscoring, whilst allowing others to add to the total.
Heung-Min Son’s Rise and Fall
Initially, the club thrived without their main striker because of Heung-Min Son’s impressive performances. He notched two goals against Middlesbrough and one against CSKA Moscow, proving to be a threat all across Europe.
It seemed as though Spurs didn’t miss Kane at all. This is a great credit to Son’s flexibility and willingness to perform in any position.
Recently, he has failed to continue his successful run of form. For example, against AFC Bournemouth he was edged out of the match physically with very little service. His hold up play was non-existent, which compromised Spurs‘ ability to penetrate the solid defence.
This is why Kane’s return is so important, as he is capable of both holding up play and creating his own chances. His physicality allows him to stave off looming centre-backs to turn and shoot onto goal. Son may have far superior pace and dribbling skills, but is better playing off the striker without physical battles.
Vincent Janssen’s Missed Chance
Vincent Janssen has lacked the confidence to take on enough shots. Arguably, his hold-up play is just a good as Kane’s, but without that direct mentality he has been unable to find the net. This is why Kane’s return is vital because his directness leads to many goals. At times he is too direct, but more often than not the selfish streak pays off.
Meanwhile, Janssen has been showing great desire to grab a goal. Hassling defenders, he has been throwing himself into slide tackles to keep opponents penned in. There has been no question over his movement or energy on the pitch.
Therefore, Janssen may have missed his chance to keep Kane out of the team, but he will still play an important squad role. There is no doubt that if he keeps working hard, the chances and the goals will soon come. Each goalless match will add to the burden on his back, but finding a breakthrough will transform him completely.
Mauricio Pochettino compared Janssen’s drought to Kane’s last season, suggesting that he will have a much improved second half of the season. Until then, he will have to be Kane’s apprentice and help add to the firepower off the bench.
The Missing Piece of the Puzzle
A one striker system puts a lot of reliance on the forward to spearhead the attack. Son has had some success, Janssen has had less, but ultimately Kane is the only striker capable of fitting the system. Placing him at the head of the attack, Spurs should convert draws into wins. This is primarily in terms of his goalscoring but also due to his connections to the players around him.
For example, Son will move back to the wing where his true position lies. This will allow him to cut inside and score more goals without the burden of holding up play. Furthermore, his pace will allow him to get to the bylines and in behind defences to cross back to the likes of Kane. Overall, this will result in a more threatening and clinical frontline for Tottenham.
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