Spurs win proves why Harry Kane - not Erling Haaland - is the real Premier League cheat code
Erling Haaland has been described as the Premier League's cheat code, but a scrappy Spurs win over Brighton proved why that tag is Harry Kane's.
"The first time was during the Arsenal game," said Antonio Conte.
"Never," replied the Italian when asked if he presented the formation to his team in pre-season. “I knew I had the players for this system, but we had never tried this solution during our training. I always played four behind, then 4-2-4, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3…”
The rest of the quote contained no surprises. Conte said the improvement was not "simple" and "took work", noting that he "only decided to do it 10 minutes into the second half at Arsenal". It was actually a way to discuss an ingenious solution that saved his club's season.
Conceding three goals in the Premier League loss to Arsenal certainly does something for Conte. It's a punishing experience that alters his psyche, confirming long-held suspicions and asking questions he'll obsessively study the answer to for hours in the corner of a darkened room.
The 3-0 loss to the Gunners in September 2016 helped persuade Conte that three at the back was the way forward for Chelsea; they embarked on a 13-game winning streak and won the Premier League eight months later. There won't be a similar genesis story for Tottenham's glorious title march - even though Roberto de Zerbi reckons "they're in the right condition" for it - but a three-man midfielder was a innovation needed to face Brighton.
The 3-5-2 gave Yves Bissouma the rare opportunity of a start and he performed well in familiar surroundings. He was an excellent midfield driver for Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - who was excellent - guarding their luggage whenever they decided to advance.
There were fantastic defensive performances. Hugo Lloris continues to prove his worth. Eric Dier is in impressive form. Matt Doherty – of whom Conte said, off the cuff, five days ago: “I don't see it in the right way to start the game. I am not an idiot. I don't want to lose" - was rightly out of practice, but his late challenge over Leandro Trossard preserved a hard-fought victory.
No result in Brighton is no longer something to be laughed at. The Seagulls were perfect for large swaths of the game and beat Liverpool three times last week. They have a reputation for being lavish, but only once in their last 12 Premier League games have they failed to score.
Coming into the game, Spurs were the last side to hand Zerbi's side a home defeat in April. Harry Kane inevitably scored then and now.
His film of Heung-min Son's cross was instinctively beautiful. Kane's extensive catalog of finishes includes a whole separate section of improvised lenses from completely disadvantageous positions or angles.
Son delivered quickly, about waist high. Kane was about 10 yards away and quickly glanced over his shoulder to check that he was free and in play a moment earlier. He had only a split second to calculate the situation, deflecting the cross with his head as he fell backwards.
His remarkable intuition was undoubtedly overshadowed by that of Erling Haaland, like a toddler having to adjust to all the attention given to the baby-faced bionic mutant newborn.
But Kane is still the real cheat code. It's just not a description that matches its Norwegian counterpart; cheat codes are used to cut corners and skip levels without getting the job done. Manchester City have already finished the game and seeing how many records Haaland can break is the side quest that Pep Guardiola has embarked on.
It suits Kane and Spurs much more. Manchester City victory with or without Haaland; four titles in five years prove it. But take Kane out of Spurs and you drop the nil goal that turns a deflating draw or disappointing loss into a battle victory in incredibly difficult circumstances, you lose fouls won late to ease the pressure.
Someone would take his place. Richarlison, most likely. But no one could come close to playing his part. Not with Son in a bad mood. Not with Dejan Kulusevski out.
Perhaps Brighton deserved better - indeed,...
Erling Haaland has been described as the Premier League's cheat code, but a scrappy Spurs win over Brighton proved why that tag is Harry Kane's.
"The first time was during the Arsenal game," said Antonio Conte.
"Never," replied the Italian when asked if he presented the formation to his team in pre-season. “I knew I had the players for this system, but we had never tried this solution during our training. I always played four behind, then 4-2-4, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3…”
The rest of the quote contained no surprises. Conte said the improvement was not "simple" and "took work", noting that he "only decided to do it 10 minutes into the second half at Arsenal". It was actually a way to discuss an ingenious solution that saved his club's season.
Conceding three goals in the Premier League loss to Arsenal certainly does something for Conte. It's a punishing experience that alters his psyche, confirming long-held suspicions and asking questions he'll obsessively study the answer to for hours in the corner of a darkened room.
The 3-0 loss to the Gunners in September 2016 helped persuade Conte that three at the back was the way forward for Chelsea; they embarked on a 13-game winning streak and won the Premier League eight months later. There won't be a similar genesis story for Tottenham's glorious title march - even though Roberto de Zerbi reckons "they're in the right condition" for it - but a three-man midfielder was a innovation needed to face Brighton.
The 3-5-2 gave Yves Bissouma the rare opportunity of a start and he performed well in familiar surroundings. He was an excellent midfield driver for Rodrigo Bentancur and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg - who was excellent - guarding their luggage whenever they decided to advance.
There were fantastic defensive performances. Hugo Lloris continues to prove his worth. Eric Dier is in impressive form. Matt Doherty – of whom Conte said, off the cuff, five days ago: “I don't see it in the right way to start the game. I am not an idiot. I don't want to lose" - was rightly out of practice, but his late challenge over Leandro Trossard preserved a hard-fought victory.
No result in Brighton is no longer something to be laughed at. The Seagulls were perfect for large swaths of the game and beat Liverpool three times last week. They have a reputation for being lavish, but only once in their last 12 Premier League games have they failed to score.
Coming into the game, Spurs were the last side to hand Zerbi's side a home defeat in April. Harry Kane inevitably scored then and now.
His film of Heung-min Son's cross was instinctively beautiful. Kane's extensive catalog of finishes includes a whole separate section of improvised lenses from completely disadvantageous positions or angles.
Son delivered quickly, about waist high. Kane was about 10 yards away and quickly glanced over his shoulder to check that he was free and in play a moment earlier. He had only a split second to calculate the situation, deflecting the cross with his head as he fell backwards.
His remarkable intuition was undoubtedly overshadowed by that of Erling Haaland, like a toddler having to adjust to all the attention given to the baby-faced bionic mutant newborn.
But Kane is still the real cheat code. It's just not a description that matches its Norwegian counterpart; cheat codes are used to cut corners and skip levels without getting the job done. Manchester City have already finished the game and seeing how many records Haaland can break is the side quest that Pep Guardiola has embarked on.
It suits Kane and Spurs much more. Manchester City victory with or without Haaland; four titles in five years prove it. But take Kane out of Spurs and you drop the nil goal that turns a deflating draw or disappointing loss into a battle victory in incredibly difficult circumstances, you lose fouls won late to ease the pressure.
Someone would take his place. Richarlison, most likely. But no one could come close to playing his part. Not with Son in a bad mood. Not with Dejan Kulusevski out.
Perhaps Brighton deserved better - indeed,...
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