For Harry Kane, 2014 was a year to be cherished. The Tottenham Hotspur striker scored his first Premier League goals in the spring, established himself in the England under-21s and finished the year as first-choice for his club.
If his superb, two goal performance in Tottenham's 5-3 New Year's Day win over Chelsea is anything to go by, 2015 could be pretty special, too.
As noted by team-mate Danny Rose—himself a scorer against the Blues—there has been little to fault in Kane's form of late. Thursday's brace made it six goals in six games for the 21-year-old, with his season tally in all competitions now at 17.
The numbers Kane is beginning to produce would alone be impressive. Yet he is also leading the line for his team in a way which evokes the words "battering ram," except the crudeness of that destructive instrument does not do his skill and smarts justice.
Spurs do use him to find a way through their opponents, as was the case nine minutes in against the impromptu, blue coloured fort built at White Hart Lane.
Kane's powerful running style could have seen him attempt to run straight at centre-backs Gary Cahill and John Terry. Instead, his decision to slow his run, veer slightly sideways and then lay it off to Andros Townsend demonstrated a studied ability to assess the situation at hand.
Heading towards them initially alone, the Chelsea defence would likely have stopped him in his tracks—so he denied them that chance. Subsequently, Townsend proceeded to almost thread the on-running Ryan Mason through on goal.
Kane's close control and comfort exchanging quick-fire passes, either in central positions or in off the flank, has also marked him out as a skilled outlet. As it happened on this occasion, the best examples of this were his two scintillating goals and the one he provided for Spurs' other standout performer Nacer Chadli.
In its specific parts, Kane's first goal was as simple as described above. Coming against a team as strong as Chelsea, though, at a moment when they looked to be in control at one-nil up after Diego Costa's goal, there was a bravery about it that took it to another level.
The second, to put Spurs 4-1 in front, was arguably even better. He received the ball from Chadli, turned in almost one graceful motion and then placed it clinically into the bottom corner. Kane returned the favour for the Belgian 26 minutes later, showing great awareness after he collected Paulinho's tidy lay-off.
The recent wider public recognition of Kane's progress might, to some, make it seem like he has emerged from nowhere. He is no flash in the pan, though. At the professional level his development has taken in several loan spells, experience at international youth tournaments and work under different regimes at Tottenham.
It has undoubtedly been a steep learning curve under his current head coach Mauricio Pochettino already. Not necessarily from an individual basis (his aptitude for top-flight football was already apparent last season), but as part of a team adapting and being adapted to a demanding style.
As Kane noted post-match (above), things have been coming together for Spurs. Performances have notably improved since the November international break, and with them have come better results. The win over a Chelsea side who beat them just under a month ago was the best indication yet Pochettino really could be onto something with this young side of his.
With a break for the FA Cup third round this weekend, Spurs sit fifth in the Premier League. If things continue to progress for the north London club as they have of late, Kane has shown he has the tools to continue to flourish.
He has moved ahead of the older Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado in the pecking order. Both are capable of keeping him on his toes, but it is safe to say neither have come close to matching the quality of his work this season. Beyond a game or two at least.
Given the striker's increasing importance to the team's health, Pochettino must be careful Kane is not burnt out with so much football still to come. Saturday's cup meeting with Burnley might see him rested with that in mind. Then again, the Argentinian could keep him in should he judge it more important not to disrupt his momentum.
The possibility Kane's form might dip at some point should, of course, not be ruled out either. Even then, however, it is difficult to see this highly positive young man not finding a way to bounce back soon enough.
There is obviously a part-humorous intent attached to the mentioned fans communication with Real Madrid TV presenter and commentator Phil Kitromilides (above). But you can understand Spurs supporters getting a little nervous about something going wrong.
For a negative change of any kind to take hold when things are going so well with Kane leading the team, it would be bordering on heartbreaking for the White Hart Lane faithful. He is playing that well right now (though an approach from the Bernabeu club for the England under-21 international to follow Luka Modric and Gareth Bale's paths are some way off, if at all).
Health and fitness permitting, things are set up for Kane to go from strength-to-strength this year. He has carried on where he left off in 2014 and, with a long overdue win over a top-four rival already under their belt, Tottenham could be set to follow suit too.
from Bleacher Report http://ift.tt/1vLZS4B
via IFTTT January 01, 2015 at 01:27PM
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