In defense of Harry: standing with the Tottenham striker after a testing couple of weeks
Everything Harry Kane touched seemed to turn to gold; well until we questioned if he touched it at all. Let’s take a look at the backlash following Tottenham’s infamous goal claim.
That goal
Harry was lauded for showing extraterrestrial healing capabilities and returning to the first team, hungry to bridge the gap in the race for the Golden Boot. But just as many almost exhausted the superlatives, there came a moment of caprice: the striker scored a goal.
Kane celebrated after getting the faintest of touches (confirmed by the league’s committee) on Eriksen’s delivery, and social media has been abuzz ever since.
Gibes from current and former stars, official club accounts, and anyone capable of operating a keyboard ensured it has become one of the most painfully worn out jokes in all of sport.
The tiresome mockery continued last night as the PFA chairman showed avant-garde wit, again, recycle the gag at the POTY awards.
And to add to the furore at Kane’s expense, the FA were today forced to apologise for taking a swipe at him via their Twitter account after Saturday’s game.
It is quite ironic that in two months these very associations, keyboard warriors, and pundits will be pinning their hopes on Kane’s insatiable hunger for goals that has generated such derision.
In a recent article, I praised Harry for his humility and being a team player, sentiments which I still fully stand by. Harry is Spurs to the marrow, and only three days before the controversial incident Kane was praised for celebrating the goals of his teammates against Chelsea as if he were a season ticket holder in the stands.
Fitness
As stated already, Harry’s unquenchable thirst for goals lead to a Dave Mackay-esque rehabilitation. However, it was apparently a case of too much too soon as Kane has looked somewhat cumbersome and nowhere near his usual sharpness.
Spurs proved they were more than capable without their talismanic striker with Son Heung-min spearheading a roving quartet that provided ten goals in his absence.
In 20:20 hindsight Spurs should have maintained such a system until Kane was fully fit, or at least rested him in preparation for Saturday.
But before Kane’s detractors jump to brand him a sordid narcissist only interest in individual accolades, let’s debunk such a myth.
A player can only be commended for showing such desire to return and for making himself available. Times have long moved on from a sponge and a bucket, and there is a whole cadre of backroom staff responsible for assessing whether a player is fit or not.
What next?
After a sobering couple of weeks, Poch will be desperate to finish the season in good form. The team looked thoroughly deflated after Saturday’s defeat, but if Kane can regain full fitness, he may be the man to add some much-needed zest.
Next: Tottenham’s FA Cup dreams dashed again
It may be another season without a trophy, and Harry’s chances of winning the Golden Boot are fast receding, but the four season wonder loves silencing his critics and lest we forget he did score seven goals in Tottenham’s final two games of last season.