Anyone who looks at Bayern Munich’s woes as some form of retribution for Harry Kane upping sticks to Germany, where titles are apparently a given for his new club, is particularly mean-spirited.
It is ironic given the upheaval, upset and lack of achievement at Tottenham that, after winning the title for 11 years in a row, it looks like Bayern are going to miss out this season. Cue much hilarity for miserable souls who seem to take delight in Kane’s failure to win a trophy.
But, really, it is unfair to suggest Kane is complicit in Bayern falling short. He has done his job, scoring 25 goals in 22 games, so placing any criticism at his door is ridiculous.
Although Kane could be the perfect signing for any elite Premier League club looking for that elusive world-class striker, I don’t see him coming back to England this summer. If I were him I would want to stay until I had won something, otherwise what was the point in going?
Harry Kane has been criticised for Bayern Munich falling short despite his goal record
Munich face an uphill challenge in the Bundesliga as they are eight points off Bayer Leverkusen with a game in hand
Bayern Munich lost the first-leg of their last-16 tie with Lazio 1-0 in Italy last week
In fact, a barren year would be even more reason to stay. The fact that the allegedly wonderful, revolutionary and innovative manager Thomas Tuchel will not be there is unlikely to affect his thinking either.
Would his appetite to win trophies have been sated by winning something with an all-conquering Bayern this season? No. So why would he leave after one year when they haven’t won anything?
At the time of his transfer I questioned whether a Bundesliga title would be meaningful to the England captain, but he made his choice and I don’t see him cutting and running just because Bayern are having a poor season.
He went to Germany to win things and it is more likely than not that they will win something next year. They are certainly a better bet than any Premier League side who might want to sign him — apart from Manchester City.
In the unlikely event that Bayern were happy to cash in, Kane would obviously interest England’s top clubs. Chelsea and Arsenal may have most need for his services and are perhaps able to meet his expectations. But a move to either of Tottenham’s arch-rivals is a flight of fancy and would be the ultimate legacy killer for a player who appears to pride himself on loyalty and integrity.
If he were available, it would obviously be tempting because buying a striker is always the hardest deal to do, selling clubs having an enhanced valuation on anyone who scores goals.
The one thing about life and business you can be certain of is that if you have scarcity, you will get top prices.
That translates to football because top strikers are such a rare breed. They are cut from a different cloth, with different mentalities and a different set of responsibilities.
Kane will have a new manager at Bayern Munich past this summer with Thomas Tuchel leaving
Players like Kane consistently score goals regardless of the team’s form or players around them
But it is such a confidence position. Players run around telling you how much they are worth and how much they should be paid, but the moment adversity comes knocking, their confidence falls away and you are left with an expensive asset not doing their job.
We’ve seen it with so many strikers over the years who have a great run of form before they dip. That is what separates the very best from the rest. Players like Kane and Alan Shearer consistently score goals regardless of the team’s form or the quality of players around them.
Ironically, at the same time that football has become more offensive, we are seeing fewer standout centre forwards.
In years gone by we had loads of them in English football. But the game has changed and the onus on centre forwards is not what it was.
But if you do have a striker, like Kane, who can bang them in consistently, they are worth their weight in gold.
