There was a moment, early on, when it was made clear what Harry Kane could do for Manchester City.
He had gotten into a dangerous situation around the penalty area and was fouled because, sometimes, that is what a defender can do. Kane took the free kick, hung it up and over the wall, banging against the top of the post on the right, while Ederson gripped air.
City have some pretty cheap catchers. They could do it with more opportunities like that. So could anyone.
Harry Kane’s main role is passing him by and Manchester City would be well deserved
That was pretty much from it, just 14 minutes in. City took control, it went through Rodri from the penalty spot eight minutes later and they were away shortly after half-time when Ilkay Gundogan scored the first of his two.
Tottenham tried to keep them in, but they couldn’t, and they only did a little of themselves. Jose Mourinho said his team were tired after losing 5-4 in extra time at Everton, but were also lower.
‘Defensive errors are always present,’ Mourinho explained, but Tottenham lack the tactics at midfield and are therefore at risk of attack. Their name is Kane, but for how long?
All clubs attacking these four main positions – even Leicester – have a requirement especially in times of financial crisis. But Tottenham look the biggest. How long can Kane stay, if loyalty is his only result?
It’s July 28th. A key role goes beyond it. Tottenham are in the Carabao Cup final, true, but their opponents are the team that won 3-0 here, and those odds show little sign of change, even in game one -hour. This case left ninth place.
So they are in a fight to keep the essence of Mauricio Pochettino’s team together. They are, as Mourinho admitted, Harry Kane’s team now.
Jose Mourinho has admitted that Tottenham are now the ‘Harry Kane team’ in the middle of a bad form
In the summer Kane may finally decide to leave Tottenham with the club struggling in ninth place
He can’t build around this defense – Davinson Sanchez was so bamboo with a powerful Ederson and Gundogan kick for the third goal, he literally fell flat on his face – his midfield is effective and infectious but not as good as Liverpool last year, so it’s all on Kane, and Son Heung-min.
Kane mostly. When he was out recently, it was the first time in Son Tottenham ‘s career that he looked lost on his own. So without Kane permanently they would be saddened. But if another season grows without Champions League football – perhaps any European football – will it be this summer that Kane finally decides: isn’t there more?
Sadly, the pandemic has devastated Daniel Levy ‘s grand plan. With this, the best stadium in the Premier League should have been generating huge matchday revenue, hosting NFL games and other major events, protecting the club’s finances and future investments while hunting among the elite.
Undoubtedly, Tottenham were left vulnerable. More than that with the revenue from Europe’s premier competition needed. As all club officials know, the Europa League does not compare – even if you win it. So where does the money come from?
Now to Manchester City, the team that is currently winning the League, in some games without a striker. Does anyone else see a way out of this?
Manchester City may be traveling at the top of the league but they need a new striker
The best teams come forward, sometimes even after a big win. Kane would have a rebounding effect, it would give them a choice they didn’t get this season with Sergio Aguero injured.
Gabriel Jesus has made a reasonable contribution but when one considers City’s most dangerous players in this campaign, he is not in the top five. He has as many goals in the Premier League this season – in 11 starts and four substitute goals – as Timo Werner, Scott McTominay and Nicolas Pepe. It’s true to say, in a City team, Kane would have scored more than four times.
What then keeps them or him? Pep Guardiola has never been sold on the idea of a normal forward center, but Kane is hardly that. If Guardiola’s elegant lineup remained as 11 midfielders, Kane would not be out of place. He has 11 assists this season, more than any other Premier League player. Kevin De Bruyne has 10.
How could Guardiola not appreciate Kane? Of course it does. His assessment of Tottenham – ‘Harry Kane’s team’ – was considered a real deception. Maybe, but not to Kane.
Pep Guardiola has never liked the opinion of a mainstream striker but Kane is flexible
City, despite a win over Tottenham, need a glimpse of life beyond talgiomanic Sergio Aguero
He knows Manchester City ‘s performance this season is to get as far as they are without a talismanic front man; without the one game winner who often defines the biggest teams.
‘With us, everyone helps with the ball,’ Guardiola said. ‘We don’t have one player who, by himself, can win the game. We don’t have Messi, we don’t have Ronaldo, we don’t have Mbappe, we don’t have Neymar. The players know this. I have told them many times, we have to do it as a team. Ederson has to play with the ball, but Phil Foden has to play without the ball as well. Then we can compete with anyone.
‘I would like to have a player for a score, every single game, four goals and a run as those players can run. I liked it. But I wouldn’t change any player we have right now, this season. All of them are revealed in the bad times. The big teams, the big players show it in the bad times.
‘In good times, it’s easy to play. But we were about 12th in the table, five points away from Tottenham. They were at the top of the League when we lost there. We now have 17 points ahead of them. That shows how consistent we have been, how we have turned the situation around. That means a lot. ‘
Aguero City ‘s career could come to an end shortly after an injured season
Does it mean, however, that nothing will change? Seriously. Manchester City bought this summer in response to a finish so far behind Liverpool. But Liverpool also bought.
Despite ordering the league, they put money into exile for Andrew Robertson, who did not play because Robertson has stayed healthy, Diogo Jota, who made a brilliant victory until he was injured, and Thiago Alcantara, who also suffered an injury and is still adapting to England’s game demands.
It’s incredible that Guardiola is just sitting on what he has this season. Certainly when Aguero is 33 in June, out of contract in the summer and has started just three games this season through illness and injury.
Messi’s statement with Barcelona is yet to come. But he’s a year older than City’s main man now. City need a vision of life beyond Aguero, so much so that Kane would have to think beyond Tottenham. Look at this place.