Tottenham’s Defense Can Cover for Harry Kane’s Influence
By Ryan Wrenn
Though it remains uncertain how Tottenham will replace the production of Harry Kane at the top of their formation, the club come with a built in safety net.
Tottenham’s defense is tied with Chelsea for the best in the Premier League, with just 20 goals conceded in 27 matches. Kane’s goals count for plenty, but they could easily have been undermined by a more porous backline.
That, of course, was precisely the circumstance Spurs suffered through in Mauricio Pochettino’s first season in charge. Kane established himself — and his goals — in the starting XI by October of that season, but even with him and Christian Eriksen scoring freely Spurs weren’t breaking through to the next level.
The problem was a midfield that did little to properly shield the centre-backs, and centre-backs that did little to shield Hugo Lloris. Even if the Frenchman was then — and remains — among the best in the world, his effectiveness is in direct proportion to the effectiveness of the lines in front of him.
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Pochettino took swift action in addressing the issue come summer. Toby Alderweireld was brought in to more properly balance Jan Vertonghen, and young utility defender Eric Dier was pushed forward into midfield as a sort of advanced defensive presence.
The effect was immediate. Dier cut off routes to goal and broke down attacks before they could even begin. The centre-backs, in turn, caught what got by Dier and, with help from increasingly mature full-backs in the form of Danny Rose and Kyle Walker, established themselves as the best defensive unit in the Premier League.
It was from that firm foundation that Tottenham truly began to grow under Pochettino. The high-energy press works better if losing tactical shape isn’t so consistently punished, and players like Kane and Dele Alli are freed up just enough to more reliably attack the opposition goal.
Perhaps one of the most beneficial aspects of such a cohesive gameplan is that it can absorb blows. The absence of no one player — even Harry Kane — compromises it. Spurs thus survived through a slew of injuries both this and last season without missing many, if any, beats.
Dealing without Mousa Dembélé, Toby Alderweireld or Danny Rose are small matters compared to losing the reigning Golden Boot winner of course. There is no one in the squad — or perhaps no one in all of England — who can replicate Kane’s goalscoring streak of late. Heung-min Son, Vincent Janssen or some combination there of will never make up for the England international’s haul.
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What will continue with or without Kane is Tottenham’s defensive solidity. Opponents will struggle to get on the scoreboard, as they have all season, and still have to deal with proven threats like Dele and Eriksen on the other end. No, without Kane Spurs might not enjoy 3-0 of 4-0 results. But 1-0 and 2-0 are just as possible without him in the starting XI.