Headline Grabber: Harry Kane's Sensational Display, Man Utd's Midfield Dilemma, and the Remarkable Rise of Gary O'Neil at Wolves

Having the opportunity to be in Munich while Harry Kane's transfer to Bayern was accelerating was incredibly lucky. Attending Thomas Tuchel's press conference on Friday, I felt like I was in a dream, sitting in a small room at the club's training base on Sabener Strasse, being the only British reporter present to ask him about what would soon become the biggest football story.

Just 48 hours later, Kane was being officially introduced at the grand Allianz Arena, with much more excitement and attention from the global media. The world had gathered in Bavaria, and the England captain had already played his first match for Bayern in front of a crowd of 75,000 people the previous night.

The interest in Kane's move to Munich is often perceived as parochial, but it extends beyond England. Germany's reaction has been nothing short of frenzied, with newspapers avidly covering every detail, focusing not only on his family but also on his beloved pet dogs.

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Bayern Munich supporters on the streets of the city wearing Harry Kane shirts

Werder Bremen

Bayern Munich

Friday 18th August 7:15pm

Kick off 7:30pm

Kane's shirts were made available for sale on Saturday morning, and within a few hours, they were highly visible not only in the city center but also at the stadium later in the day. As a record signing for Bayern and the Bundesliga, Kane should anticipate overwhelming attention.

The Supercup presented some challenges for Kane. He was given only thirty minutes on the field, playing with a team he had never trained with before. This is in addition to the emotional energy he exerted during his first career transfer.

With the sense of excitement buzzing in Munich and considering the club's characteristics, it is anticipated that he will soon have a significant impact. Interestingly, I had a conversation with Mario Gomez at the Allianz Arena about the distinctive pressure that comes with being Bayern's striker.

"A striker at Bayern Munich is constantly expected to score. One goal is never sufficient; you must score another, or even better, a hat-trick. If you fail to score in a crucial match, they would acknowledge you as a good player but not an elite one. It is a unique form of pressure."

Returning to the topic of Kane, his ability to handle the situation will undoubtedly be intriguing. However, Bayern's recent loss to RB Leipzig indicates that there are certain matters that need to be resolved. Nonetheless, their campaign in the new Bundesliga season will kick off on Friday against Werder Bremen. It would certainly be a significant milestone in Kane's Bayern career if he manages to score a goal in this match.

Returning from Munich, the focus now shifts to Manchester United's performance at Old Trafford on Monday evening. Even though they emerged victorious, their display left more questions than answers regarding their credibility as title contenders. One area of concern could be the composition of their midfield.

Mason Mount, a talented player, is expected to bring both energy and quality to their game. However, his positioning next to Alejandro Garnacho on the left wing leaves little defensive support for Casemiro on the counter-attack.

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Mason Mount popped up in advanced areas on the left for Manchester United

While pushing high has its benefits, Erik ten Hag highlighted United's success in regaining possession in the final third against Wolves. On the opening weekend, United managed five shots from high turnovers, surpassing all other Premier League teams.

However, United's defensive struggles were evident as they conceded 23 shots, the highest number allowed to a visiting team at Old Trafford in 18 years. Many of these shots came from runs through the central area, where Casemiro was left isolated. Although Casemiro is a remarkable player with exceptional positioning, he lacks the speed to handle these situations on his own.

In order to mitigate this risk, the top teams in the Premier League have taken proactive measures by strategically repositioning a full-back to defend the center of the pitch. During the match against Wolves, Manchester United made frequent advancements with both their forwards, ultimately securing the winning goal through an exceptional run and cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

United already have three more points than they accumulated from their first two matches of the previous season. However, for Ten Hag's team to truly compete against the top contenders, a modification in the equilibrium of their midfield might be necessary. The current trend of conceding numerous chances is clearly unsustainable.

Tottenham Hotspur

Manchester United

Saturday 19th August 5:00pm

Kick off 5:30pm

Man Utd midfield balance key

It was Wolves' best anticipated-goals count on an away game in the Premier League in nearly two years; however, they were unable to capitalize on this advantage against United. This likely comes as no surprise, as none of the players in the starting line-up had scored more than two goals last season.

Wolves have gathered a skilled ensemble, with Pedro Neto displaying agile moves, Matheus Cunha initiating strong attacks from deep positions, and Fabio Silva emerging as the sole individual in the team possessing a natural knack for finishing. Is there a reason for O'Neil to worry about their lack of impact?

Posing this inquiry during the post-match press conference, O'Neil seemed hopeful. "Not presently," he responded. "If I have been a part of this team for a considerable period and we continue to take 23 shots per game without finding the net, then my concern will begin to arise."

"I observe players with genuine talent, witness players who possess remarkable abilities. My responsibility lies in continuously bringing them in, working together to enhance their precision. I am confident that they will demonstrate their capabilities as exceptional players, enabling us to achieve our goals by scoring sufficient goals."

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Wolves' shot map in their first Premier League game under Gary O'Neil against Man Utd

O'Neil would have found the engagement of his players to be the greatest source of encouragement. Despite the negative noises and relegation talk, Wolves showed great determination in their tackles and running until the very end, receiving a spirited reception from their fans even in defeat.

The statistics clearly demonstrate the transformation. Wolves recorded 191 high-intensity sprints at Old Trafford, more than any other Premier League team on the opening weekend. Last season, their highest total in any game was 164, placing them in the bottom three teams for overall sprinting.

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Wolves surpassed their sprint record from any of their Premier League games last season. If O'Neil can sustain this level of intensity and his team can keep generating opportunities, fans will react positively, and the players will inevitably be rewarded. Those who had dismissed Wolves should reconsider their stance based on Monday evening's performance.

When I witnessed Russell Martin's team completely dominate Sheffield Wednesday in his first match as manager, it reminded me of the discussions I had with Ralph Hasenhuttl about his Southampton playbook. It wasn't too long ago when Hasenhuttl had a completely different idea in mind.

The playbook served as a comprehensive guide to outline his vision and ensure that there was a unified philosophy throughout the club, aimed at cultivating the next generation of Hasenhuttl's pressing machine. "All the coaches in the academy have access to the playbook and receive proper training," he mentioned in an interview with We.

The plan started to unravel when Hasenhuttl was fired in November. Relegation ensued. However, seeing Southampton amass 1564 passes to date - nearly 500 more than any other Championship team - serves as a reminder that identities can change rapidly.

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Southampton have completed the most passes in the Championship this season

Southampton completed a remarkable 930 passes against Wednesday in a league game this decade, a feat unmatched by any team in England's top two divisions. Only Pep Guardiola's Manchester City, in seven seasons, has surpassed this tally once. The speed at which Martin has transformed Southampton's style of play is truly extraordinary.

Throughout his tenure at MK Dons and Swansea, he has demonstrated a firm dedication to employing a possession-based playing style, commonly referred to as "playing out from the back." When discussing the most tactically captivating teams in football, numerous coaches have mentioned Martin's Swansea as a prime example.

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Southampton have controlled possession in deeper areas so far this season

His clubs have not benefited as much from this style, compared to his own progress. Can his teams consistently translate possession into positive outcomes? Only a small portion of the passes have been effective in breaking through. They showed vulnerability during the 4-4 draw against Norwich, especially during transitions.

Regardless of what unfolds next, Martin's remarkable ability to swiftly establish his vision is striking. Coaches who demonstrate such aptitude attract attention, as seen with Vincent Kompany's transformation of Burnley. Southampton now possesses their own distinct approach. The Hasenhuttl ideology is a thing of the past.