Dominic Solanke's Tottenham debut shows flashes, but no cutting edge

Tottenham opened their 2024-25 Premier League campaign in a very familiar fashion. Spurs were dominant all game, creating chance after chance, and led 1-0 heading into halftime.

By the 57th minute, though, fans were treated to a familiar sight. Jamie Vardy pulled Leicester level, and Spurs never recovered. Ange Postecoglou called the night "disappointing" and noted how wasteful the team was in the final third. Club captain Hueng-Min Son echoed that sentiment in his post-match interview.

All eyes were on Spurs's new club-record signing, Dominic Solanke. The striker had a solid debut in his first game as a Lilywhite. He was involved throughout the entire match and played the full 90 minutes plus added time, but he was lacking in front of goal.

He registered three shots on target, all of which never truly troubled Leicester keeper Mads Hermansen. It was not the debut the manager nor the fans were hoping for, especially after Ange said he was ready to win things after last season's identity-building.

Solanke could be forgiven for not being in total sync with the rest of the attack. He arrived only a week before the opening matchday, so he has yet to fully understand the tactical set-up. Still, fans should find solace in seeing that he was regularly involved in all the attacks.

He was also a true threat in the air, and could've easily scored off a far-post header in the first half had he got more power on it. His hold-up play was strong, linking the attacks and making passes out to wingers Son and Brennan Johnson.

James Maddison, who looked like he refound his form, was trying to feed Solanke the ball for a goal. Had all three attempts been more clinical, Tottenham would've walked into the dressing room up two or three goals.

Dominic Solanke's Tottenham debut shows flashes, but no cutting edge

Not every player has a great first debut, but because this is Tottenham, the concern has already started to grow. The worry is that Solanke is continuing old trends.

No Spurs center-forward outside of Harry Kane has been able to be as ruthless and prolific upfront. Finding a like-for-like replacement for Kane was never going to happen, as many have pointed out.

To quote from the 2011 hit drama Moneyball, "We can recreate him in the aggregate." Solanke was bought to be the new prolific striker Ange desperately wanted. His movement suggests that there are plenty of goals in the Englishmen, and we will see him score ad nauseam.

Yet it didn't go according to plan, and because Solanke failed to capitalize on Spurs' dominance in the final third, the door was left open for Leicester to claw back a point. A draw should not be so bad, but it's not good when you can't find a second goal despite being the better team.

Solanke may be seen as a long-term solution, but unless he starts scoring at least a goal match, there will always be some skepticism in the stands and online. However, it is important to remember it was only the first match of the year.

Keep in mind Tottenham are a much different squad than they were last season, and Solanke will benefit from more time on the training ground. There will likely be adjustments for the Saturday match against Everton, but the striker will definitely start up front.

If the attack can solve its scoring issues (and the defense not be so lax in their own box), Spurs will get back to their winning ways. Solanke was brought in to be the finishing touch on this team. Now he must show it before the tide turns on him.