In the recent FA Cup quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Millwall, striker Harry Kane suffered a horrible ankle injury that forced him off before the tenth minute and looked set to derail Spurs’ season.
The reaction on social media would have you believe that Kane would be out for the rest of the season, but as it transpires the England striker will likely be back in action within the next 4-6 weeks, and giving Tottenham a massive boost towards the business end of the season.
Also Read: EPL 2016/17: 5 reasons Harry Kane is the best English striker
Without Kane earlier in the season, Spurs managed to stay in the fight for the top 4 and for the title until Chelsea steamrolled their way through the league, but with the new injury to the star striker, could this be what stumps Spurs once again?
Here, I will discuss why Spurs will be fine without Harry Kane.
#1 Good form of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son in midfield
When Kane was injured earlier in the season, a lot of pressure was put on Heung-min Son and Dele Alli to step up and score the goals that Spurs missed from Kane. In that period, both Son and Alli did relatively well in that regard, with Alli scoring twice, including one in a huge win at home to a Manchester City side, who at the time, were still unbeaten.
As for Son, he also chipped in with two goals, and proved to work fairly well to fill the void left by Kane, but not as well as Spurs would have hoped.
Also Read: Pochettino backs Son to deliver in Kane's absence
Recently, however, Spurs seem to have goal threats from all over the pitch – not only from Alli and Son – but Christian Eriksen has proven his worth to the side with his recent performances.
The Dane has become one of Spurs’ most vital players in 2017, with his link up play between midfield and attack being something opposition defenders struggle to deal with. Without Kane, Spurs will struggle to score out of nothing, but Eriksen, Alli and Son all have the ability to hit the back of the net from almost any angle, at almost any time.
#2 Vincent Janssen, is this his time?
The Dutch striker recently scored his first goal in open play for Spurs in the 6-0 FA Cup victory over Millwall, and in his cameo in that game, he looked eager to get onto every ball and was prepared to take players on and get his shot away.
Of course, after such a hard start for a young player, it would have been easy for him to cower and hide from responsibilities, but Janssen’s work-rate has never changed. He’s always hungry for goals and will always try his hardest.
Also Read: Pochettino backs Janssen for Spurs success after 'wake-up' call
With Kane now out, that obviously leaves a massive hole up top for Spurs, and it’s between Janssen and Heung-min Son to take up the mantle of the team’s key goalscorer, but with Son likely to play behind the striker or not even get on the pitch at all, this could be Janssen’s time. Similar in style to Harry Kane, if he can form a bond with those around him and take his chances, Janssen may finally come good for Tottenham.
The joy on everyone’s faces when he scored against Millwall was evident for all to see, and it may be easy to forget how good his finish was. Janssen could still yet prove to be a huge asset to Spurs.
#3 Mauricio Pochettino’s ability to adapt
Mauricio Pochettino has established himself as a top manager for how his teams play, and the way he develops young players, but not many people speak about how he adapts to certain situations. He can adapt his style and his players to certain situations; for example, he set his Spurs side up against Manchester City and Chelsea in a completely different way to how he set them up against sides who sit deep like Middlesbrough and Hull, and that’s a testament to his adaptability.
This injury to Kane will throw up some problems for Spurs and for Pochettino, but the Argentinian will have a trick or two up his sleeve. Thankfully for Tottenham, they only have one fixture before the international break, which will give Pochettino the chance to sort his side out and figure out the perfect way to set up without Harry Kane.
Whether it be with Vincent Janssen up top with Eriksen and Alli behind him or Alli and Son together, Pochettino will know what suits his side best and will know how to defeat the opponents in the next few weeks.
A few good weeks for Spurs, and that could see them solidify second place in the Premier League, and they may even end up in the final of the FA Cup final.
#4 The meanest defence in the Premier League
The defensive unit of Tottenham Hotspur is the best it has been in years. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker are arguably the best full-backs in the Premier League. And the switch to a back three has given Eric Dier another chance in the back line after losing his place to Toby Alderweireld, who himself has proven to be an incredible signing for Spurs.
Alderweireld has managed to form a formidable partnership with Belgium team-mate Jan Vertonghen, and all of these players together have formed, statistically, the best defence in the Premier League.
They are practically impossible to get past as a unit, and even when teams do break them down, they will have to face Hugo Lloris, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Their game intelligence, power when up against attackers, and their structure as a backline have improved massively over the course of the season.
Whether it be a 4 at the back or a back 3, the Spurs defence is one of the best in Europe and provides the side with a solid backbone and a good foundation where the rest of the squad can build upon.
#5 The team plays as a unit
Whether you see the videos on social media of Dele Alli and Eric Dier playing basketball together or the various handshakes as a goal celebration, it’s clear to see that this squad are clearly good friends and have bonded extremely well.
This is often something that is overlooked in football, as the team spirit can often pull teams out of dark situations and drag them to glory. The way that this team plays on the pitch is also a factor of good team spirit, as each member is ready to fight for everyone else in the squad. They all realise that they are in the fight together, and are willing to do what it takes to win.
Without Kane, Spurs will need someone to step up and work hard, but whether it be Janssen, Heung-min Son or Dele Alli, they work as hard as possible to win.
Of course, there are other factors apart from just team spirit, that has made this side a joy to watch. Spurs’ talented players work in a correct system and also play as a unit rather than as individual players which means that they are in a great position to fill any gaps left by important squad members.
