Anderton - It's a mindset issue with Kane

Former Tottenham and England winger Darren Anderton was a better player than many Spurs fans gave him credit for, he had a few injuries, but that happens to some players. When they get a tag it is difficult to shift it and that affects people's perceptions of their performance.

Professional football is not Sunday morning stuff, you don't just turn up and play well, professionally you have a lot more to take in and as a striker you have the success or failure of your side on your shoulders. That is a heavy responsibility. Some personalities thrive on that pressure, some can thrive at a lower level, but buckle when they get to the top, others worry about it.

Imagine for a moment you are that striker, it is your responsibility for a team sitting 6th in the Premier League to score goals and secure points. Now imagine you are in a goal drought, how would you really feel? You would think about it, so mentally you would have to handle that pressure. At what point do you get a seed of doubt, how quickly does that doubt grow, how do you stop it?

As you know I maintain you have outside professional help to give you maximum efficiency in dealing with all situations. Anderton confirms it is all in a player's head in an exclusive interview with Bwin.

Bwin - When will Harry Kane find form and when does this become a problem?

Anderton - I think Kane will put more pressure on himself than anyone else. It is a mindset issue. He knows that the team hasn't been creating many opportunities this season. In comparison to last year, where he was creating opportunities for himself, it is a lot more difficult to score goals in a team that is struggling. Spurs have been a bit dour despite only having been beaten once, but you can see the team are struggling to create chances and play entertaining football.

Bwin - As a former player, what sort of thoughts go through your mind when you know that you’re out of form and things are going quite right? Do you try and adjust your technique/anything in particular or is it all in your head?

Anderton - I think it’s all in your head. You work hard in training if you’re a goal scorer, you work on your finishing. The first thing you want to do as a professional footballer after a bad game is to get it out of your system, whether that be in training or the next game. You want to start the next game on the front foot, getting comfortable, not giving the ball away, not being too elaborate. Simplify the game.

If you’re a goal scorer and you’re not scoring goals, people will start talking about it, no matter how well you’re playing. If Kane’s not scoring, it will affect his performance even if he plays well.

Bwin - You mention how Kane was on fire last season, do you buy into this ‘second-season syndrome’ or it complete myth?

Anderton - Well, it’s certainly going to be more difficult for him, players are more aware of his ability so naturally it will be more difficult for him. If he’s playing in Manchester City’s team, he would have scored goals. Centre forwards need chances, it’s a simple as that. That’s the only worry at the moment. If you’re team is creating chances and you’re missing them then there is less to worry about. Kane is too good a player not to stick chances away eventually. The problem is, as a team, they simply are not creating enough.

Bwin - So you reckon it is more a Tottenham problem than a Kane problem?

Anderton - Yes, everyone has spoken about it but he needs some help up there. Son has come in and started on fire, with three goals in two games and hopefully that will create space and opportunity for Kane to do what he’s capable of.

It is an interesting article which talks about more than just Harry Kane. You can read it at the link below.
Darren Anderton Interview

In all top level sport every individual, every action is analysed by a specialist to understand what a player does in given situations. Teams have worked out the Townsend flick through his legs and turn, Moreno scored a goal for Liverpool right after Townsend had come on with that move if you remember.

people usually revert to a default in certain pressure situations, therefore if you can create those situations or recognise them when they occur you have a good chance of knowing what a player will do. When a player is down on confidence he is more likely to revert to that default, which is in effect making things more difficult for himself even if it is the easy option. The more confident and thus more unpredictable have a greater chance of getting themselves out of any rut as they have the mental strength to try something different without fear of failure.

Kane has scored one goal, that is a relief and takes some weight off, but he isn't out of the woods yet. Lamela is progressing and each goal will boost his confidence, three in four games now, Kane could do with a similar boost.

As footballers and ex-footballers tell you, it's a mental game.

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