Kane & Son vs Southampton

Examining the impact of the Son/Kane partnership vs Southampton, and what it could mean for the future.

Following Spurs’ 5-2 away win against Southampton, there was only one thing on everyone’s mind: Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min’s partnership. Even before then, they were both always considered as two of the best in their positions, individually and as a partnership. What we witnessed against Southampton was something we haven’t seen enough of them in recent times, as well as a glimpse into how that partnership might develop moving forward.

The Goals:

Son and Kane successfully combined just 8 times in the match, with 4 of them ending in a goal. They combined for 4 out of the 5 goals Tottenham scored against Southampton: Son scored 4, with all of them being assisted by Kane (Kane also scored the 5th goal). All 4 goals were characteristically similar, in that Kane acts as a focal point in the Spurs buildup, receives the ball, and feeds the onrushing Son in a transition situation.

Goal #1:

Receiving the ball near the half-way line, Kane takes advantage of Southamptons high line and plays a first time pass into the path of Son. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: Tottenham’s first goal vs Southampton

Goal #2:

Receiving the ball near the half-way line, on the turn, Kane plays a through pass between Southamptons left back and centre back, finding Son one on one with McCarthy. (Figure 2)

Figure 2: Tottenham’s second goal vs Southampton

Goal #3:

Picking up the ball near the halfway line again, Kane turns and feeds the onrushing Son with ball over the Southampton back line. (Figure 3)

Figure 3: Tottenham’s third goal vs Southampton

Goal #4:

Similar to the first goal, Kane passes the ball from a wide area behind the Southampton high line, finding Son who goes on to score his 4th of the night. (Figure 4)

Figure 4: Tottenham’s fourth goal vs Southampton

Just looking at the goal, we can immediately see the similarities. Kane picks up the ball in a deeper position (centrally or wide), holds the ball and then picks out Son behind the defensive line, who had made an in-to-out run in the space behind the full back and centre back. It has to be noted that Southampton’s defensive line was extremely high, most teams won’t play that high, and undoubtedly helped Kane & Son find so much space.

What does this mean for the future?

Given the signing of Gareth Bale, Jose Mourinho will now likely utilize his front-3 in a similar fashion to Madrid’s famed BBC, or Liverpool’s attacking trio, where the striker receives the ball in buildup and transition situations, and feeds two quick and prolific wide options. Bale and Son are two wide players that excel in running behind the defense (in-to-out) and are extremely clinical in front of goal. Alongside Kane’s passing range and hold-up play, Mourinho may have stumbled on a framework that would allow him to create one of the most devastating front three’s in the Premier League this season.