Is Harry Kane too greedy?

[Everlasting Seconds]

Kane's got two assists this season which is the same amount as Aguero. Admittedly he's played ten games more but the average is pretty similar. Sanchez has three in nineteen games. I know stats don't tell you everything, but he's not horrendously behind the top players so I think we can say that he's not far off expected levels and just needs to have a bit better vision at times.... Which will come as he gets more experience.

The stats are league games only in case you were wondering.

OK, let's follow that thought through.
Let's say he had gotten 1 or 2 assists more. If at decisive points in the campaign, 1 or 2 assists could have put us top of the table. Which means an insignificant change in stats and averages can represent the entire difference needed.
That's why it is important.


I anybody now desires to turn this post into me blaming Kane for us not being 1st then here is what I have to say ->

 

[nicdic]

OK, let's follow that thought through.
Let's say he had gotten 1 or 2 assists more. If at decisive points in the campaign, 1 or 2 assists could have put us top of the table. Which means an insignificant change in stats and averages can represent the entire difference needed.
That's why it is important.


I anybody now desires to turn this post into me blaming Kane for us not being 1st then here is what I have to say ->

It's hard to quantify exactly like that. Maybe some of those chances he would have scored, but some were missed by other players when he passed to them?

I think it's good to be constructive and see the scope for players to grow. And I think this is a decent consideration for Kane, you see the players throw their arms up in frustration at him at least a couple of times a game. The good thing is that Kane seems like exactly the kind of guy who will continue to work on his game and identify these things. Likewise, I think Pochettino is meticulous and help push him on more.

Let's also remember 3 years ago very few would have seen the improvement he's made coming. Sky's the limit for him.

 

[nicdic]

Sorry @Everlasting Seconds not all of that's aimed at you bro,

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Sorry @Everlasting Seconds not all of that's aimed at you bro,

No worries at all

 

[longtimespur]

It's hard to quantify exactly like that. Maybe some of those chances he would have scored, but some were missed by other players when he passed to them?

I think it's good to be constructive and see the scope for players to grow. And I think this is a decent consideration for Kane, you see the players throw their arms up in frustration at him at least a couple of times a game. The good thing is that Kane seems like exactly the kind of guy who will continue to work on his game and identify these things. Likewise, I think Pochettino is meticulous and help push him on more.

Let's also remember 3 years ago very few would have seen the improvement he's made coming. Sky's the limit for him.

So he'll not make it on BT Sport then

 

[Spursidol]

OK, let's follow that thought through.
Let's say he had gotten 1 or 2 assists more. If at decisive points in the campaign, 1 or 2 assists could have put us top of the table. Which means an insignificant change in stats and averages can represent the entire difference needed.
That's why it is important.


I anybody now desires to turn this post into me blaming Kane for us not being 1st then here is what I have to say ->

http://www.squawka.com/players/harr...#8#season-2015/2016#165#all-matches#1-30#zone

Squawka has him with 35 chances created this season but only 2 assists.

That means that only 1 in 17 of his chances are being converted by his team mates.

Kane has a far higher chance conversion than that - so fir me Harry can shoot as much as he likes if he thinks he';s in a position to score. It means Spurs get more goals than if he passes to team mates with a lower conversion rate.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

His decision making needs work but it will come with time, he's only 22. He works his heart out every game, brings others into play with great hold up play and intelligent, subtle passing, and scores a fantastic amount of goals. If his one flaw is that he's a bit selfish when he shouldn't be then I'll take that.

 

[Sir Henry]

I think its just a simple thing of he's feeling he's got the sole responsibility to the team to score. He'll also be confident he's gonna score as he's good at finishing, so why not.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Beginning of the season by the way, when he was in a scoring rut, he was nowhere near as selfish. If anything, he'd developed a bit of hesitancy at one point. However, he was still valuable to the team due to the mileage he put in and the quality of his all round game.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

http://www.squawka.com/players/harr...#8#season-2015/2016#165#all-matches#1-30#zone

Squawka has him with 35 chances created this season but only 2 assists.

That means that only 1 in 17 of his chances are being converted by his team mates.

Kane has a far higher chance conversion than that - so fir me Harry can shoot as much as he likes if he thinks he';s in a position to score. It means Spurs get more goals than if he passes to team mates with a lower conversion rate.

I don't agree. I'm not happy with "Oh, he is so good, he should just get on with it". It's just not a paradigm I subscribe to in general.
All the players can improve, not only Kane, but him as well. And his added potential rests within getting more acquainted with the fine balance of when to shoot and when to pass. I think it's a tweak, it's a mere nuance. I'm sure within 90 minutes, we are talking about 1, 2 or 3 decisions only. But this entire thread is about that nuance, which is a decisive one actually, and I would say yes, it is something Kane can work on.

BTW, haven't you on general ground refuted the importance of Squawka stats earlier, or was that somebody else ... If anything, your example strengthens my case, that Kane should learn to make better passing decisions. Maybe the lack of conversion stems from his inferior ability to make sound passing decisions?

 

[Dazzazzad]

He's incredibly greedy but he's also incredibly talented. What is frustrating is that when he has his head up he can play fantastic passes for team mates, but this mainly only happens when he is so far from goal that he hasn't thought about scoring. As soon as he does, which is 95% of the time he has the ball in or around the box, you can almost see his focus narrow. Everyone else just fades away and it becomes "how can I get the ball into the net?"

Luckily he's pretty damn good at it, but to me there is no denying that the team as a whole is losing out on goals by his failure to not change his game outright, but just have better awareness of the situation around him to take advantage of the MOST glaring opportunities that are missed because he rifles a very low percentage shot.

And sure, low percentage shots can work - see the Arsenal goal the other week - but for every one of those there are 5 where Son or Lamela is standing in a much better position and looking dejected at not being recognized.

 

[alexis]

When? I genuinely can't remember any.

Arsenal

 

[nailsy]

OK, let's follow that thought through.
Let's say he had gotten 1 or 2 assists more. If at decisive points in the campaign, 1 or 2 assists could have put us top of the table. Which means an insignificant change in stats and averages can represent the entire difference needed.
That's why it is important.


I anybody now desires to turn this post into me blaming Kane for us not being 1st then here is what I have to say ->

Well, that's true, but I was just using the assist stat as a comparison with other players. Why just look at Kane's greed, why not look at Dembeles lack of goals, or the number of corners that hit the first man? Change one if those at a significant point in the season, like the game against Leicester, and we're suddenly top of the table.

But Kane can get more assists, and he will do as he gets more experience.

 

[Grey Fox]

His quote in the evening Standard this week (see news stories) says it all. "two or three players trying to block my shots" that's when he needs to be looking to pass.

 

[mendesstormer]

Err .. no. But I'm looking forward to the thread on 'Does Lloris use his hands too much when making saves, thus putting him at an unfair advantage over his team-mates?'

 

[mendesstormer]

What is frustrating is that when he has his head up he can play fantastic passes for team mates, but this mainly only happens when he is so far from goal that he hasn't thought about scoring. As soon as he does, which is 95% of the time he has the ball in or around the box, you can almost see his focus narrow. Everyone else just fades away and it becomes "how can I get the ball into the net?"

i.e. he is doing exactly what all good strikers should do.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Well, that's true, but I was just using the assist stat as a comparison with other players. Why just look at Kane's greed, why not look at Dembeles lack of goals, or the number of corners that hit the first man? Change one if those at a significant point in the season, like the game against Leicester, and we're suddenly top of the table.

But Kane can get more assists, and he will do as he gets more experience.

We agree on a lot of that.
Don't even get me started on corners.

 

[nssmuckers]

It's strange because he used to be too unselfish if anything...it's almost a surprise that he's changed his game to be a pure #9 when a lot of people saw him developing as more of a support striker who played off the front a bit. He's still a creative player, but it doesn't seem to be a huge part of his game right now.

I think it's far more important that he's scoring lots of goals than making the correct decision every single time, but it wouldn't hurt him to dial the selfishness just a few clicks back. Like if you get a guy who can score 20 goals a season, you can put up with some greed IMO. I just think he can be a really complete striker if he sort of combines his old playstyle with his new.

 

[Spursidol]

I don't agree. I'm not happy with "Oh, he is so good, he should just get on with it". It's just not a paradigm I subscribe to in general.
All the players can improve, not only Kane, but him as well. And his added potential rests within getting more acquainted with the fine balance of when to shoot and when to pass. I think it's a tweak, it's a mere nuance. I'm sure within 90 minutes, we are talking about 1, 2 or 3 decisions only. But this entire thread is about that nuance, which is a decisive one actually, and I would say yes, it is something Kane can work on.

BTW, haven't you on general ground refuted the importance of Squawka stats earlier, or was that somebody else ... If anything, your example strengthens my case, that Kane should learn to make better passing decisions. Maybe the lack of conversion stems from his inferior ability to make sound passing decisions?

Stats can be overused but goalscorers rates of conversion are ones which are relatively reliable.

The point being made is that there is a firm measurement of how good his judgement is on deciding to shoot or pass.

Not too many will have better stats than Harry has in terms of shooting accuracy, and that's why his judgement not to pass to a colleague has been verified - their conversion rate is not as good as Harry's

There is no point in a thread where posters make assertions (as you have) without any facts to back it up - unless you acknowledge its just your opinion.

 

[Dazzazzad]

i.e. he is doing exactly what all good strikers should do.

I disagree. The Barca front 3 are surely close to the ideal. Always looking for the best option.

Do you really think that Kane at a bad angle with two guys in front of him should try and squeeze it in when another player is more or less free and with a better angle? You seem to be advocating that he if he is near the goal he should always be going for it.

The funny thing is if he passed more teams would probably become aware which would actually give him a bit more space.

Defoe is a very good forward but I always felt his one track mind hindered him because defenders never considered that he'd lay it off to someone else.