Three ways Spurs can give Harry Kane the rest he needs and still pose a goal=scoring threat

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Harry Kane is one of the world’s most prolific strikers, but even he needs a rest from time to time.

Such has been Tottenham’s reliance on Kane since he emerged as the team’s first-choice striker – and subsequently England’s talisman – the 25-year-old has barely been given a break over the last four years.

As a result, Kane has sometimes suffered from patches of poor form for Spurs. Those spells rarely last long, but he is often forced to play through them due to a lack of other options up front.

Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente have both failed to provide sufficient cover or competition for Kane, who is likely to keep his place in the side throughout August even if he fails to find the net.

It wouldn’t be the first time that has happened. Kane has never scored a goal in the month of August, something he didn’t really threaten to change during a tired performance against Newcastle United on the opening weekend.

That lethargy was on display during the latter stages of the World Cup, and Kane may again take some time to get back to his best. In the meantime, can Tottenham afford to rest him?

The Londoners didn’t sign anyone – let alone a striker – over the summer, while Heung-Min Son, who was used up front when Kane was injured last season, is away at the Asian Games, ridding them of the most logical alternative option.

So how can Spurs maintain a goalscoring threat if they choose to rest Kane? Here are three ideas.

1. Make Erik Lamela the focal point

Lamela missed Tottenham’s win at Newcastle with a slight muscle problem, but he is expected to return for upcoming games and will be hoping to replicate his form from the end of last season.

The Argentinian scored twice – although he initially claimed a hat-trick – in the 5-4 victory over Leicester City on the final day of last term. His ability to drift into goalscoring positions and finish calmly was on show against the Foxes, arguably proving he has the capacity to be Spurs’ focal point in Kane’s theoretical absence.

Dele Alli can also help in this system. His tendency to arrive in the box from the left against Newcastle produced a well-taken goal and demonstrated an alternate attacking threat Tottenham possess.

With Lamela providing a central presence in the No.10 role and Alli prowling on the left, the duo can essentially play as a front two when necessary. Kane dropped so deep against Newcastle anyway that playing a ‘false nine’ of sorts will not be too far removed from shape Pochettino’s side took at St James’ Park.

If Spurs line up in this way, it’s vital there is plenty of interplay down the right – something the likes of Kieran Trippier, Serge Aurier and Lucas Moura can provide – to make up for Alli’s wandering role on the left, but also to exploit it in an instant with a booming switch or deep cross to find the 22-year-old at the far post.

2. Give Dele Alli the midfielder permission to roam

Again, this option gives Alli something of a free role, or at least permission to roam from his fixed position.

The 22-year-old is still primarily labelled a midfielder despite the fact his best work happens in the final third. That said, his constant late surges into the penalty area are usually a result of the opposition failing to track his runs from midfield.

With that in mind, Alli is perhaps best suited to starting in the midfield three of a 4-3-3 formation. So long as the front three is creative enough – Lamela, Moura and Christian Eriksen are all inventive attackers – then Alli should receive plenty of service.

We have seen Alli thrive on good deliveries plenty of times for Spurs. England, too, prospered from Alli’s aptness in this role in their World Cup quarter-final win over Sweden.

One concern would be the loss of the sometimes telepathic relationship between Alli and Kane if one or the other wasn’t on the pitch. But Pochettino knows Alli’s goal threat is a must whenever Kane is unavailable.

3. Try Llorente as a last resort

Alas, Tottenham’s only option to replace Kane like-for-like remains Llorente, who appears to be keen to stick around despite his first-team chances being no greater than last season.

With Janssen deemed surplus to requirements, Llorente might be given a chance in cup games but is unlikely to feature in the Premier League or Champions League unless Kane is ruled out and the options above simply don’t work.

As a last resort, then, Llorente may get his chance. And perhaps that’s all he needs: more of a chance. The Spaniard played only 224 minutes of Premier League football in 2017/18, starting and scoring just once.

Returning to a three-at-the-back system may be the best way to exploit Llorente’s strengths.

With the window now closed, Toby Alderweireld certainly isn’t joining Man Utd so the Belgian can rejoin Davinson Sanchez and Jan Vertonghen at the back, allowing Ben Davies and Kieran Trippier to stay wide and supply a barrage of crosses to the Spaniard.

Eriksen and Alli can dovetail behind the striker and pick up the scraps from any crosses that drop in and around the area.

Llorente’s solitary goal, a header against his former club Swansea City, came in his only league start for Spurs. A run of starts could improve his confidence and sharpness, although at 33 his career may have petered out already.

And with Fulham struggling against Benteke in their opening fixture – Calum Chambers lost six out of his seven aerial duels – perhaps Pochettino should trust his target man at Wembley.

The need to find an alternative for Kane is clear, both Spurs and England risk burning him out, and this weekend’s game could provide the perfect opportunity to test one out.

The post Three ways Spurs can give Harry Kane the rest he needs and still pose a goal=scoring threat appeared first on Squawka News.



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