Tottenham: Kane Can Form Partnership with Janssen
Harry Kane believes that he can form a partnership with Vincent Janssen, but when will Tottenham actually transition into a new formation?
A two-striker formation is something that Mauricio Pochettino has rarely tried since he arrived in north London two years ago.
Instead, the Argentine manager has stuck to one set formation and that is the 4-2-3-1. It has been the basis of Tottenham’s revival into a rising European club with the hopes of reaching elite status — potentially — within a few seasons.
Related Story: Tottenham: Janssen Provides Competition for Kane
Playing with two strikers wouldn’t automatically make Spurs world beaters and Premier League champions right off the bat, but having Harry Kane and Vincent Janssen up top would provide Tottenham with a major advantage over many teams.
During last Friday’s friendly win over Inter Milan, while the score was lopsided and in Tottenham’s favor, a brief 15 to 20 minute window of opportunity presented itself.
Mauricio Pochettino, who was vocal during the winter transfer window in January, said that he could play two strikers if Spurs signed one. Well, he decided to try it out and see what would happen.
With Vincent Janssen introduced into the game during the second half, it would allow Harry Kane to provide support as a secondary striker while the Dutchman would lead Tottenham’s attack.
Having two very good strikers on the pitch at the same time is tough to defend, but having Dele Alli playing behind them, who is no slouch when it comes to scoring, makes things even more difficult.
By getting a pass from Alli and holding the ball up, Janssen was able to drag an extra defender onto him before returning the pass to the 20-year-old.
Alli would then score a magnificent goal to put Spurs ahead 3-1. It was reminiscent of Harry Kane’s hold-up play as he has done these kinds of things time and time again.
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Following the victory, the results of a two-striker formation for just 20 minutes tops, were more than enough to convince everyone watching that a shift in tactics could be on the horizon.
The only question is, when would it happen. Mauricio Pochettino has said that good players always need to be on the pitch. But at the same time, he does bring them along slowly.
To begin the season, it’s likely that Vincent Janssen will be on the bench providing a spark late in games. However long it takes him to get acclimated into Pochettino’s system (which doesn’t seem long at Janssen’s current pace), a change in formation looks even more promising.
It will be shocking if Tottenham hasn’t transitioned into a two-striker formation if both Kane and Janssen are scoring goals left and right by the midway point of the season.
Even Harry Kane believes that he will eventually play with the Dutchman this season.
“Vincent is a great player, he likes to hold the ball up and bring others into the game and I’m sure we’ll play together this season,” Kane said (via London Evening Standard).
“He’s strong and has a good finish when he gets the chance. He’s a great addition to the squad.”
Next: Juventus Eyeing Tottenham's Bentaleb
What initially started out as a search for a backup striker to provide Harry Kane with some cover, could see Tottenham’s plan evolve into something much better.
If everything goes well for Vincent Janssen, when given an opportunity, his goals for this season of earning playing time and scoring will become a reality sooner rather than later.