The Harry Kane and England situation is a really interesting one.
If we go back to the Euros, I was always adamant that you have to play Kane. Get him in the team in any way, shape or form, even if he’s not quite right.
His goalscoring record is phenomenal and he’s a clever player who can play as a No 9 or No 10. But this is something Thomas Tuchel has to look at going forward.
Kane is not as mobile as he once was, although people can say ‘well, he’s never been overly mobile’.
I understand that people will say he played that sublime pass inside Ireland’s Liam Scales for Jude Bellingham to chop inside and win a penalty during Sunday’s 5-0 win at Wembley.
That moment, which changed the game, came from Kane’s brilliance in dropping deep.
Harry Kane opened the scoring with a penalty in England’s 5-0 win over Ireland on Sunday
Kane had replaced Ollie Watkins (left) as a sub in a 3-0 win over Greece three days earlier
But if England want to win the World Cup in 18 months’ time – and Lee Carsley thinks it’s possible – you have to have the best balance in the team and the most potent threat in an attacking sense.
Kane never runs in behind. That makes him predictable.
When he drops deep he’s brilliant on the half turn, but you need players to stretch backlines because you don’t want to be predictable.
Whether it’s Noni Madueke, Anthony Gordon or Bellingham, you have to have that threat and you have to have it throughout the whole game.
When Kane plays, England become predictable because as a defender, you know he’s going to drop in and not stretch it the other way.
Over the next 18 months, I don’t think his physicality or athleticism is going to improve.
There was a moment in the second half at Wembley on Sunday where a ball was played into the channel and he wasn’t ever going to get there.
So Tuchel needs to think about whether Kane will be the best guy to lead the line at the World Cup. I’m not so sure he will be.
Striker Watkins scored the fifth goal of his international career against Greece
Watkins pictured (centre) celebrating next to Antony Gordon (left) and Jude Bellingham (right)
I have total respect for him, the way he’s carried himself for his whole career. He is a phenomenal goalscorer and finisher.
But if you’re not creating opportunities for him, then it can become a problem and you need somebody who is less predictable.
If I think about centre backs and who they would rather not play against, Ollie Watkins is less predictable. You don’t know whether he’s going to stretch you in behind or come to feet. You always have to make defenders think as a striker.
The one place centre backs don’t want to be taken is backwards. Watkins makes those movements, as he did when he came on in the Euros.
It seems to be a better fit and a better balance. It will give opposition defenders more to think about if you have a centre forward who plays that way.
