Harry Kane

[theShiznit]

Early Kane pressed like crazy and never stopped running and he was the player he is because of it.

Now he jogs around barely (if ever) managing a sprint. and he is less than half the player because of it.

The fact he barely touches the ball and is having fewer shots with every passing season says he is not getting into positions to receive the ball or not showing for it.

He looks slow and lacks dynamism, you would say he was never that quick but go and have a look at some of his earlier games and his speed/energy looks a world away from now.

 

[Saoirse]

Hmm. It's almost as though buying a backup to your best player based on half a season of form in a crap league is diabolically stupid, refusing to replace him when it becomes obvious he's a total liability is shooting yourself in the head, and then having to play said star player every game including when he's barely recovered and watching him get a career-worsening weakness is the consequence of that.

It's not just Kane. We've run him, Dele, Dembele, Wanyama, Lamela, Trippier and Rose totally into the ground. They're all shadows of what they were. That's not a coincidence. We did not have the squad we needed to play the intensity Poch wanted in game and in training too, we didn't invest in the squad, and we didn't change our style until it was way too late. Between the coaches and the physios something is badly, badly wrong.

 

[Hakkz]

Early Kane pressed like crazy and never stopped running and he was the player he is because of it.

Now he jogs around barely (if ever) managing a sprint. and he is less than half the player because of it.

The fact he barely touches the ball and is having fewer shots with every passing season says he is not getting into positions to receive the ball or not showing for it.

He looks slow and lacks dynamism, you would say he was never that quick but go and have a look at some of his earlier games and his speed/energy looks a world away from now.

I don't know if this is controversial but...

I've never seen Kane as the "talented" type. His game and his success has always revolved around hard work and striving to become better. That's why, in my eyes, he looks so much worse when he's not putting the effort in.

 

[ohtottenham!]

Could be because of his ankle injuries and he’s purposefully trying not to go gung ho into tackles etc now? Ever thought about that?

He can still move across the defensive line and create space for himself and others, and stretch a defence, but he's not even doing that much these days. No-one wants him to fly into tackles, but that doesn't mean you nullify other parts of the game that made you a great attacking force in the first place.

 

[Shadydan]

Was just about to bump this one myself, because I cant hold my tongue any longer. People like to discuss the easy targets when someone like this is where the spotlight needs to fall because he's a shining example of the drop in standards.

The decline in his workrate in the last 3 years has been steady and he's now at disgraceful levels in my opinion. There is no question he's a supremely talented footballer/goalscorer and a lot of fans might be happy with a goal a game from a handful of involvements where he suddenly turns it on but we're increasingly seeing in recent months that's not enough overall to help us win a game.

He's not leading the line. He's not leading the press. He's got no energy. He doesn't work his bollocks off anymore for the cause. We get dubious selections/formations so Moura can 'do the running up front'. The guy is, deservedly, an integral part of the team. Maybe the integral part. But he shouldn't be untouchable and we should ask questions. When we're asking what's going wrong and why Poch's approach to football is seemingly not presently being carried out/working, look at the main components rather than the easy ones I say.......

As I've said before, I want that 2014-16 version of him back that put it all on the line. That means he probably plays only like 40 games a season rather than 60+, eventually the club might work out that's for his benefit.... But I want to see a bit fire back in his belly. Whisper it, but no matter what the goals stats look like, I don't particularly enjoy watching this version of him. And as I also said over the summer, if I keep seeing this anaemic, tbh lazy, present day version of him I'm going to have to keep hammering him on here. He's not the only one that needs to rediscover that bit of sparkle and hunger, but he's possibly the most crucial one.

I knew you'd be all over him after today's display and I completely agree, he just doesn't press anymore - he does this trot and barely closes down opponents or passing lanes, I just don't understand it.

If he starts the press then everyone follows behind him, I don't understand why Poch is letting him get away with it.

 

[mpickard2087]

Hard to disagree with that. He’s looking like Pavlyuchenko right now, and it’s hurting us. I can’t even think why, he’s a young, fit, gifted footballer, so either his attitude has gone south or the manager has developed him/ is using him poorly. Probably a combination of all of that, but the same end result.

I knew you'd be all over him after today's display and I completely agree, he just doesn't press anymore - he does this trot and barely closes down opponents or passing lanes, I just don't understand it.

If he starts the press then everyone follows behind him, I don't understand why Poch is letting him get away with it.

I think it's part being stale and run into the ground, our style of play at its best requires such high intensity (for our centre forward he's supposed to lead the line, and then lead the press. One of the more demanding positions with a lot of running required) and so many matches each season every season has caught up a little. Along those lines that initial youthful exuberance will be gone now, he's 26, so some of it is inevitable. And also probably obsessing a bit too much on goalscoring and trying to conserve energy for in and around the area. I do think some complacency has set in though, and a bit of hunger has been lost and he's almost certainly too comfortable as Tottenham's home grown jewel in the crown.

I'd be amazed if Poch didn't see some of this, and wished for more from him, but obviously the meritocracy doesn't apply to all and some players have exceptions made for them......

I just think it's a shame at the moment personally. Football for me is about being entertained (on whichever parameters we measure it by as individuals) by the performance in the 90 minutes, and I have a big focus too on performance and what we do to hopefully win. I want to see individuals playing at the top of their game and showing everything they have, and I think he is way off that. Give me 2014/5 Kane rampaging about the pitch getting 15-20 goals a season than the present one getting 30-40.

 

[Dzejkob]

Kane looks lost, unfit, out of form. I also think that our "style" of play doesn't help him. He and Moura cover the same places too often. I've seen Kane in such a strange positions today when he should be leading the line...

 

[Snarfalicious]

If Dele is healthy I think we see him, Son and Kane in attack. They just have a better understanding and I think Dele’s runs have been really missed. We desperately need him back and getting close to the form that made him one of the best young attacking talents in the EPL. I agree with others that there’s just a lack of understanding currently with our attacking front; it’s much of a muchness.

 

[KikoSpurs]

He became lazy. I don't know if his old injuries are holding him back or he feels he's already good enough.

 

[Primativ]

His lack of movement today was frankly disgraceful.

I watched him stand with his hands on his hips for the first 10 minutes of the game on the same spot like a lamppost. He touched the ball once in 20 minutes.

It poses the question though, why are so many players playing so below form, none of them look comfortable in the formation and system, it isn’t getting the best out of any of them, and on top of that they are playing with zero desire and effort?

It all leads back to Poch .

 

[ljinko888]

I think we've seen the best version of him already. He'll still keep scoring at a fine rate but when people look back at the period he was most devastating it'll be that 2015-18 period. Because that was when he was scoring for fun + dominating defenders + being important in big games.

He does not dominate defenders anymore. He's getting pretty easy to keep quiet these days - hardly touches the ball and when he does it's 30 yards too deep. And his big game importance is getting weaker. I think defenders actually fear Son more than him now.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Was just about to bump this one myself, because I cant hold my tongue any longer. People like to discuss the easy targets when someone like this is where the spotlight needs to fall because he's a shining example of the drop in standards.

The decline in his workrate in the last 3 years has been steady and he's now at disgraceful levels in my opinion. There is no question he's a supremely talented footballer/goalscorer and a lot of fans might be happy with a goal a game from a handful of involvements where he suddenly turns it on but we're increasingly seeing in recent months that's not enough overall to help us win a game.

He's not leading the line. He's not leading the press. He's got no energy. He doesn't work his bollocks off anymore for the cause. We get dubious selections/formations so Moura can 'do the running up front'. The guy is, deservedly, an integral part of the team. Maybe the integral part. But he shouldn't be untouchable and we should ask questions. When we're asking what's going wrong and why Poch's approach to football is seemingly not presently being carried out/working, look at the main components rather than the easy ones I say.......

As I've said before, I want that 2014-16 version of him back that put it all on the line. That means he probably plays only like 40 games a season rather than 60+, eventually the club might work out that's for his benefit.... But I want to see a bit fire back in his belly. Whisper it, but no matter what the goals stats look like, I don't particularly enjoy watching this version of him. And as I also said over the summer, if I keep seeing this anaemic, tbh lazy, present day version of him I'm going to have to keep hammering him on here. He's not the only one that needs to rediscover that bit of sparkle and hunger, but he's possibly the most crucial one.

It's been a long time since I've enjoyed watching kane. Hasn't been the same player since i think it was before he came back from injury for the arsenal game. Which was about 2 seasons ago. I thought he was one of the best strikers I'd aver seen. Now I don't even think he's the best striker at the club. And yes I do mean that. Son is.

 

[mattdefoe]

Kane seems to play worse with Lucas on . He seems to need everything on a plate now whereas a few years ago he could score from nothing
Are injuries catching up (eg: Michael Owen

 

[VanZan]

Think we play better without him now. Last time he was injured Son was on fire and when Kane came back the lethargy returned as well. Scandalous decision to drop Moura for the CL final in my opinion with Kane being ineffective against Liverpool. Obviously it's quite likely him and Poch are very close so it seems he's undroppable. The hunger seems to be gone as he's too comfortable now.....needs a kick up the arse.

 

[Timberwolf]

I agree that Kane has probably already peaked but think some of this chat is OTT. He's barely been fit in 2019 and this season we've played Man City away and 2 bus parkers - one of which he managed to score 2 goals against.

He's got worse in a few areas - notably his pressing - but he's improved in a few others and become a really classy all-round footballer. Against Newcastle - as much as he was far at his best - some of his touches had me wondering how much damage he could do if he was surrounded by more intelligent players on his wavelength. Hopefully some of our new signings can provide that as it doesn't look like Poch's system is doing him any favours atm.

 

[dtxspurs]

That was a game in which I'd like to see him come a little deeper and rocket some shots from outside the 18, we hardly did that today.

 

[dtxspurs]

Also, Im getting really tired of him being on the ground all the damn time. He always falls over hoping for a foul, what happened to the madman who would fight through every challenge?

 

[stevenurse]

I agree that Kane has probably already peaked but think some of this chat is OTT. He's barely been fit in 2019 and this season we've played Man City away and 2 bus parkers - one of which he managed to score 2 goals against.

He's got worse in a few areas - notably his pressing - but he's improved in a few others and become a really classy all-round footballer. Against Newcastle - as much as he was far at his best - some of his touches had me wondering how much damage he could do if he was surrounded by more intelligent players on his wavelength. Hopefully some of our new signings can provide that as it doesn't look like Poch's system is doing him any favours atm.

He looked really rusty today for some reason. First touch was garbage.

I want to see us go back to basics like from a few years ago. I remember Kane winning the ball back from the front and us being the poster boys for the press. Pep and Klopp have come into the league and Poch is being found out. Almost like he doesn't want to go up against the bigger boys at their game.

 

[ohtottenham!]

He looked really rusty today for some reason. First touch was garbage.

I want to see us go back to basics like from a few years ago. I remember Kane winning the ball back from the front and us being the poster boys for the press. Pep and Klopp have come into the league and Poch is being found out. Almost like he doesn't want to go up against the bigger boys at their game.

With a defender on his back when he receives the ball, and no obvious pass for release, his first touch hasn't been there for a while. Maybe bracing for contact and trying to protect his ankles.

Whatever it is, his hold-up play just ain't there. He's dispossessed more often than not, or waiting for a soft contact foul, because he's not actively shielding the ball or quickly turning with it. He had both of those skills down pretty comfortably in the past, to the point where good defenders had no choice but to give him some space. That ain't happening now.

 

[spurs mental]

Our whole style of play needs to be adjusted to get the best out of him again.

The high intense press, with full backs high up the pitch to create space. If he has a yard in the box 9 out 10 times he will score. He's one of the most accurate shooters of the ball I've ever seen.

Adjust to suit him. We have to