The HurriKane - key to defence

[Dan Yeats]

I know he hasn't set the world on fire in front of goal so far, but boy the lad puts a shift in at the back.

 

[Spurrific]

I'd rather he started finishing the plethora of chances being laid on for him

 

[Dharmabum]

I'd rather he started finishing the plethora of chances being laid on for him

Of course but preventing goals are also important and he certainly did his fair share in preventing Liverpool from scoring.

 

[ilikeost]

I hope this is a joke based on the countless "Lamela works hard in defence" or "Lennon is more of a defensive winger" comments.

 

[Syn_13]

Of course but preventing goals are also important and he certainly did his fair share in preventing Liverpool from scoring.

The most successful teams don't rely on their strikers to put in major defensive shifts. If we need to rely on our only striker, seeing as though we play only 1 up top, to help us not concede, then the midfield isn't doing its job.

Edit: Just to put it out there, I do think our midfield is doing their job. Dier, Alli, and now Dembele, have been putting shifts in. We're just struggling to create and finish chances up top. Kane's started showing Defoe levels of greediness when it comes to trying to blast the ball through a wall of players instead of looking for the pass. The boy needs to improve on his decision making and teamwork. I wouldn't mind if he were getting them in all the time, but he's taking his chances badly.

 

[Dharmabum]

The most successful teams don't rely on their strikers to put in major defensive shifts. If we need to rely on our only striker, seeing as though we play only 1 up top, to help us not concede, then the midfield isn't doing its job.

At times the most successful teams do that in fact. But I did not in any way or form say that should be Kane's main task, as you seem to make it look like. I was simply acknowledging Kane's solid defensive work.

 

[mckenz]

The most successful teams don't rely on their strikers to put in major defensive shifts. If we need to rely on our only striker, seeing as though we play only 1 up top, to help us not concede, then the midfield isn't doing its job.

Edit: Just to put it out there, I do think our midfield is doing their job. Dier, Alli, and now Dembele, have been putting shifts in. We're just struggling to create and finish chances up top. Kane's started showing Defoe levels of greediness when it comes to trying to blast the ball through a wall of players instead of looking for the pass. The boy needs to improve on his decision making and teamwork. I wouldn't mind if he were getting them in all the time, but he's taking his chances badly.

Big disagree - Drogba used to be key to "that" Chelsea team's defending of set pieces. Big tall fella like Kane is needed at both ends

 

[Syn_13]

Big disagree - Drogba used to be key to "that" Chelsea team's defending of set pieces. Big tall fella like Kane is needed at both ends

Yeah, I get that but I'm not talking about set pieces. Of course it's great to have that extra help by having a big, strong, combative striker like Kane drop back to try and win headers during set pieces. Every team could do with that aerial presence.

What I was assuming this topic was about, was about how much Kane puts a shift in during open play. He comes back a hell of a lot and his help is really appreciated, but I was wondering whether that really was a good thing. That's what I was getting at by my comment earlier. Drogba didn't do a lot of tracking back, and he didn't do a hell of a lot of pressing either. He did some, sure, but it wasn't as much a focus as it is for Kane it seems.

I love the fact that Kane gets involved in as many areas of the pitch as possible, but I'm worried that it's because the 3 behind him aren't doing enough defensively. A lot of people argue that he's better as a #10, certainly many pundits and ex-professionals do whenever I see articles or TV spots about him on shows like MotD. I'm not entirely sure what I'd prefer because I honestly think he's an excellent all rounder that can do both #9 and #10 roles. However, he certainly is playing more like a #10 recently because of the way he drops back, but this leaves us empty up top. I'm concerned that the 3 behind him aren't doing enough to get ahead of him when he drops in order to create a goal-scoring threat. That's nothing against Kane, but more the other players, or perhaps the manager not organising or instructing them well enough. I think when Son gets back we'll see a bit more threat as it was clear he was willing to do that job, and we've seen Chadli and Lamela threaten it now and again.

It seems to me that Kane is trying too much. He wants to be involved in everything but he needs to focus a bit more on what his job is as a striker. Perhaps he feels that the 3 behind him aren't doing enough to help move that ball from midfield to attack, or perhaps put in a shift to win the ball back, but if he's going to drop to pick up the ball then the one or two of the 3 behind him need to push forward to provide options. In all fairness, that does sometimes happen but he chooses to go for glory and take the shot. We're looking great in defence this season, but we've got a lot of work to do up top, there's a serious lack of organisation and discipline.

 

[Gbspurs]

I'd rather he started finishing the plethora of chances being laid on for him

Plethora of chances laid on for him? I'm not buying that. He has been missing chances of course but he sets a lot up for himself.

 

[Spurrific]

Plethora of chances laid on for him? I'm not buying that. He has been missing chances of course but he sets a lot up for himself.

I suppose if you count him shifting and taking a pot-shot from 25 yards as creating a chance for himself - I agree.

He is being slid through a load of times and and not finishing, e.g. when Eriksen put him through and he strikes straight at Mignolet.

He isn't finishing one on ones and he isn't banging them in from distance. It just hasn't got going for him this year - I'm sure it will; but him being one of our own doesn't make him immune from criticism from me.

 

[Gbspurs]

I suppose if you count him shifting and taking a pot-shot from 25 yards as creating a chance for himself - I agree.

He is being slid through a load of times and and not finishing, e.g. when Eriksen put him through and he strikes straight at Mignolet.

He isn't finishing one on ones and he isn't banging them in from distance. It just hasn't got going for him this year - I'm sure it will; but him being one of our own doesn't make him immune from criticism from me.

I agree with you that his finishing isn't quite there but you do him a disservice with the eriksen chance. In my eyes he struck it well considering he hit it with his left foot. It was a good save. If he has slowed play down and turned inside to get it back on his right and missed, I would have been more critical.

The later chance was worse for me. Lets just hope he starts banging them in soon.

 

[Dharmabum]

Hazard dropped vs Villa because of his poor defending...

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/jose-tells-hazard-to-graft-sherwood-feels-safe?

 

[penfold_99]

I know he hasn't set the world on fire in front of goal so far, but boy the lad puts a shift in at the back.

You make it sound like hes the polar opposite of ginger pele.

 

[ultimateloner]

I think people need to give him a break. He is doing most of his other things correctly (holds ball up well, aerial, press, track back) and he is trying; can't fault someone if they are giving 100%.

Have some perspective. He didnt fold up like Soldado; an international, proven goal scorer. He didn't whine and completely ditch his duties like Ade; an ex-RM, proven, CL regular.

This is pretty good for someone in his second 'real' season as a starter during a rough patch. If this is the lowest of his low I would be happy to let him start to the end of the season.

 

[Gassin's finest]

I think we've conceded the least amount of goals in the league thus far IIRC? That's mostly down to the addition of Toby in defence, and a proper DM protecting the back for in Dier. It's helping that Kyle is back to some semblance of form.

It's not down to our lone striker putting in a shift. I like that he works hard, that he drops off and finds good positions. He's a proper footballer. But he needs to just do one job. Get in the box, put it in the net.

 

[Roynie]

I think we've conceded the least amount of goals in the league thus far IIRC? That's mostly down to the addition of Toby in defence, and a proper DM protecting the back for in Dier. It's helping that Kyle is back to some semblance of form.

It's not down to our lone striker putting in a shift. I like that he works hard, that he drops off and finds good positions. He's a proper footballer. But he needs to just do one job. Get in the box, put it in the net.

We've conceeded 7 goals, the least in the premiership alongside Ar5na1.