Breaking Down Harry Kane's Stats for Tottenham Hotspur This Season
Two goals from Harry Kane in a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers moved Tottenham Hotspur up to sixth in the Premier League on Saturday.
Those are the basic numbers from the in-form striker's latest match-winning performance. The statistics gathered from his overall work this season help tell the larger story of an attacking presence who has been monumental for the north Londoners.
Relating to both Kane's influence on Tottenham and his own individual standing among peers elsewhere, this article breaks down the most pertinent stats.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Statistics are gathered via WhoScored and Squawka, as well as the official websites of Spurs and the Premier League. These sources are linked to as and when they are used.
3: shots per game
Kane has benefited from Spurs having a more defined identity in attack than last season. Under Mauricio Pochettino's management, they have become more positive than in the last days of Andre Villas-Boas' reign. There is also a better understanding of how component parts function collectively than during Tim Sherwood's brief tenure (though the latter was not helped by the transitional upheaval, and neither the challenge of integrating the several expensive new signings bought the previous summer).
Spurs' aspirations for a relentless, pass-oriented style—best seen in the 2-1 win over Arsenal—have informed Kane's work. His fearlessness also drives them on and has served as a fillip when performances have stuttered or gone awry.
The 21-year-old's average of three shots per game (tallying Premier League and Europa League fixtures) is more than either of his fellow striker team-mates Emmanuel Adebayor (1.5) and Roberto Soldado (1.5). Though accentuated by his greater recent involvement, it is also a testament to his ability and willingness to try to shape games to his will.
Soldado functions well as a cog in the overall machine, but so far as his own chances are concerned, he is mostly reliant on others. Bar a couple of games—the home wins over Queens Park Rangers and Southampton—Adebayor has not looked like the all-encompassing front man he is capable of being given his considerable skill set.
Kane is confident and motivated, possessing both the power and gracefulness to create or arrive in positions to shoot. As he is playing right now, he is as ideal a player to lead Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 as the coach is likely to find.
0.9: tackles per game
Kane's suitability to Spurs' desired pressing game extends to his participation in the recovery process. The 6'2" attacker is often found dropping back to make tackles that quickly put his team back on the front foot.
It is not a primary duty. Naturally, his numbers here are less than the deeper-positioned midfielders supporting him.
Kane's 0.9 tackles per game are more than either Adebayor or Soldado (both 0.4), though, and further demonstrate why he has been a better fit for Pochettino's system.
The England under-21 international also makes more successful challenges than several of the Premier League's others top scorers. Such as, forwards partly renowned for their work-rate and/or physicality, like Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin and Chelsea's Diego Costa, make less (both 0.6).
That difference is in part accounted for by a little less demand on Austin and Costa to pitch in further back. Kane does compare well here with forwards more of his ilk—or at least with similar duties—like West Bromwich Albion's similarly versatile Saido Berahino (also 0.9) and Olivier Giroud (1), the Frenchman being as involved as any striker is with his team's buildup play.
Delivering on the road and in big games
The above statistic further outlines the kind of company Kane is keeping these days.
The sequence dates back to December's 2-1 win at Swansea City. It includes goals in losses at Crystal Palace and Liverpool, proof even a player becoming synonymous with heroic performances cannot account for all his side's ills.
Kane's production on the road in league play extends prior to this run too. In fact, only in two of the 11 away matches he appeared in has he neither scored nor set up a goal—September's 2-2 draw with Sunderland and December's 3-0 loss to Chelsea. Not for want of trying in an explosive start at Stamford Bridge (his own goal against the Black Cats does not count here).
The striker's burgeoning status as a player for all occasions has been seen with seven Europa League and three Capital One Cup strikes to add to his 16 league goals. He has also proved himself comfortable in the biggest games on Spurs' fixture list.
"[Harry] Kane has scored eight goals in his last five league London derbies," noted an article on the Premier League's official website this week, "scoring against all five other London teams in the BPL this season."
Spurs have no derbies left to play in 2014-15. The battle for a top-four place will likely require their top scorer maintains his current rate, though. Matches with Manchester United, Southampton and champions Manchester City will be among the biggest tests.
English football's in-form man
This has been a largely complimentary look at the defining facets of Kane's tremendous campaign thus far. That is because, as interpreted through his numbers, there are few real flaws to pinpoint.
For instance, his Premier League shot accuracy of 59 percent might not immediately look impressive. But the mere number does not account for the quality of the chances. Nor the situations from which they arise.
Kane's accuracy is better than Manchester City's Sergio Aguero's (55 percent), but worse than the Argentinian's joint-top league scorer Costa (68 percent). The varying percentages of bottom-half players Austin (67 percent) and Berahino (52 percent) further reiterate the risk in putting too much stock in certain statistics.
Kane's least successful period since becoming a Spurs regular came in January, when Pochettino temporarily deployed him behind Adebayor and Soldado in a supporting role. He played well in those three games but unsurprisingly found it difficult to make an impact further away from goal.
He did not score when moved back up top away at Sheffield United. But he got off eight shots in that Capital One Cup semi-final second leg, compared to just two in the first. His shooting range duly found, Kane netted twice against West Brom three days later.
The most pertinent numbers to Kane's great form—the ones providing the most accurate reflection of his impact—are the most simple ones.
Only Wolverhampton Wanderers' Benik Afobe has scored as many goals in all competitions (both are on 26). Kane is also the Premier League's most prolific Englishman, a contribution that has helped Spurs to 50 points and sixth place.
With 10 games to go, they still are in with a shot of a top-four finish—something that did not look so realistic during their early-season struggles (i.e. prior to Kane getting his chance).
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
