Hurri-Kane forecast: How Fiorentina can stop Tottenham Hotspur’s hitman

Date: 17th February 2015 at 10:00am
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La Viola travel to England and will have to come up with a plan to contain Spurs’ in-form striker.

Tottenham's Harry Kane celebrates scoring in the Europa League at White Hart Lane

On February 19 Fiorentina will head to north London to take on Tottenham Hotspur under the lights at White Hart Lane in the Round of 32 of the UEFA Europa League.

Both sides have started to hit form in the run up to the clash and both have two hot young strikers in their ranks. The Viola have Khouma Babacar, while Spurs have the currently unplayable Harry Kane.

Kane is the heart and soul of a young and exciting Tottenham team that is sympathetic to neutrals, with their reliance on young, homegrown talent such as Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason. Kane and Andros Townsend are both products of local youth side Ridgeway Rovers and the Gigliati will have a tough time stopping Chingford’s greatest son.

Harry Kane Tottenham

The 21-year-old striker has scored an amazing 23 goals in all competitions and is currently Tottenham’s star man in the English Premier League.

Kane isn’t an easy player to defend against as he defies traditional labeling, which is what will challenge the likes of Stefan Savic, Micah Richards, Jose Basanta and Manuel Pasqual.

He looks as though he should be a lumbering, traditional centre-forward but in reality he has a good touch and can play just behind another striker as a sort of nine-and-a-half. He is technically proficient but his rise to his current hero status, after some seasons as a perennial loanee, derives from a great increase in his physical attributes.

Harry Kane Tottenham

Most notable is Kane’s strength. He can hold off defenders exceptionally well for somebody still so fresh in his career, especially after he injured his metatarsal while at Norwich City. Such strength allows him to get up and above his marker and win headers as he did against Arsenal or to go on unstoppable, mazy runs as seen against Chelsea.

So how can Fiorentina stop Kane? There’s no obvious answer thanks to his incredible form and ability to finish moves, forge space for himself or get onto the end of crosses. But there have been periods when he has looked quieter.

Kane’s enthusiasm and desire to be involved with every aspect of play means he does have something of a tendency to drift into wider areas, particularly down the left hand side.

Arsenal had some success with a negative brand of football in the north London derby before Spurs deservedly went on to win, as Kane was shepherded into blind alleys before exploding in the second half.

Harry Kane Tottenham

A deep Fiorentina defence would allow Tottenham time on the ball but at times the Londoners can become overly pensive in possession and Kane’s strengths are undermined slightly when he goes looking for the ball. Fiorentina will want to sit off the striker and if possible keep more than one man on him to force him wide.

Richards could be a key man with his experience in English football and his ability to act as a sort of hybrid between centre-back and right-back. It will be a tough ask as Kane is more than capable of cutting onto his right foot and scoring from range but Fiorentina’s best bet is to force him out wide and stop him driving down the middle.

Micah Richards Fiorentina

Kane’s strength largely derives from his no-nonsense style of football. He is direct and at times Italian sides have struggled against English sides, who are content to boldly run straight at the opposition. Patience is what Fiorentina will need to stop Kane.

Fiorentina and Tottenham are both similarly glamorous clubs that have a history with relatively little in the way of silverware. Kane is the main goal threat for Spurs and the Viola will have to play a patient game to try and shackle him; but Fiorentina mustn’t worry solely about the man up top when the likes of Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen can all score from midfield.

Patience and a degree of cynicism is how to best try and stop Kane and Tottenham are more than a one-man team, but Fiorentina should be able to pose a real test over the two legs.

Tottenham v Fiorentina

 

One response to “Hurri-Kane forecast: How Fiorentina can stop Tottenham Hotspur’s hitman”

  1. Anon says:

    You won’t he will score.