The difference between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich fans are often asked a simple question: If you could choose between Harry Kane and Robert Lewandowski, who would you pick? Let’s talk about that.
Lewandowski was a cannon. Before he went to FC Barcelona, he was a terror that tore open defenses every game. Lewy never stopped asking questions. He would bully defenders all game, make his presence in the box known and accounted for. His holdup play was second to none. He was the adamantine speartip of a robust Bayern attack, one that put
him at the center of all things. The scoring burden was on his shoulders and he delivered.
Harry Kane isn’t the star of the show. Sometimes, he feels almost anonymous. He doesn’t challenge defenders the way Lewandowski did, he doesn’t bully them physically or relentlessly attack spaces inside the box. The game vs Leipzig was a microcosm of that. For 66 minutes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Kane wasn’t even on the pitch. Then, in the 67th, he popped up and scored the goal to make it 2-1.
Kane is not a battering ram. He’s a knife. When wielded skillfully, he will cut defenses open. His shooting is a level beyond Lewandowski’s, meaning he has a wider range of scoring angles to exploit. His passing range is also superb, so he can make things happen for his teammates — see the ball to Olise which lead to the goal by Pavlović. Kane’s contributions are less loud, more subtle.
So who is the better striker? Honestly, it’s a matter of opinion. Bayern definitely could have used a player like Lewandowski in the first half, while Kane proved his mettle in the second. It’s a position of privilege for FCB fans, to be able to say they watched these two world class strikers at the club in their prime.
Tom Bischof has the toughest role in the squad
Tom Bischof has the most thankless task in the world — that of the designated backup. When Vincent Kompany needs a position filled, Bischof is his go-to player. This is a tough job for a 20-year-old, made tougher by the fact that he has to play roles he has no experience with.
For most of the first half of the season, Bischof played as a left-back. Then, vs Leipzig, he had to play right-back. He struggled in the first half, failing to track Nusa in the sequence that led to their goal. His linkup with Lennart Karl was lackluster, and defensively he was exposed over and over again.
The performance does a disservice to Bischof’s quality, which is far higher than what we’ve seen so far. Hopefully, once some players get fit, Tom Bischof will get some chances to stake his claim in midfield. Being the designated backup is not good for his career.
Lennart Karl is not that guy (yet)
Lennart Karl wasn’t bad in the first half, just not very effective. In fact, he had a better first half than some of his colleagues — notably Harry Kane and Serge Gnabry.
But if you compare what Karl did to how Michael Olise performed when he came on, the difference is night and day. Karl is a fair dribbler and very good at shooting. Olise is all that and much more. Olise is the best right-winger in the world right now, and it’s not particularly close. He changed the game completely after coming on, almost singlehandedly ripping Leipzig’s defense to shreds.
THAT is star quality. That is the quality that a Bayern Munich starter should have. Karl isn’t there yet. He scores plenty of goals, and his performances are generally good, but Michael Olise demonstrates the dizzying heights he must reach before he can consider himself a success at Bayern Munich. Karl will have to put his head down and work hard to get to that point.
He will learn. He’s only 17, after all.
Joshua Kimmich justifies himself
Joshua Kimmich gets a lot of criticism from the fanbase for a wide variety of reasons, some of them justified. However, this game (more than any other) demonstrates how important he is to the team and Vincent Kompany’s system.
Once Kimmich came on, Leipzig lost their grip on the midfield. They could still play through it, but Bayern had the upper hand in terms of control. Suddenly, FC Bayern were the ones on the offensive. The breakthrough came eventually, from a goal by Serge Gnabry. While Kimmich wasn’t directly involved, the offensive pressure generated by his entry opened up the space for Gnabry to exploit and score.
Kimmich was clearly half fit, and he made some obvious errors at the back. Despite this, his presence was an overall positive for Bayern Munich. It brought control and momentum to the team, something that was lacking in the first half. It goes to show that Kimmich is still a key player, despite the his shortcomings.
Hopefully, he gets fit soon.
Jonathan Tah is a perfect fit
Jonathan Tah has mostly been overshadowed this season, playing second fiddle to Dayot Upamecano in most respects. He is never the “main” guy, never going out of his way to make highlight reel challenges or marauding runs into the box.
Despite this, Tah has quietly been a rock at the back for Bayern Munich this season, and a key reason for the team’s success. He is not the passing savant that Upamecano is, but he is very comfortable on the ball — making him key to the team’s overall buildup. At the back, he was critical to preventing several Leipzig goals, making last minute interventions no less than three times. And of course, there was his goal.
When FC Bayern signed Tah from Bayer Leverkusen, there were some doubts about him. Now, it seems like those doubts are dispelled. Jonathan Tah has established himself at Bayern Munich, and is playing like a top tier center-back. Let’s hope he keeps these performances coming in the business end of the season.
Miscellaneous observations:
- Is this the best Bayern Munich attack ever? 71 goals scored in 18 games, you can’t argue with those numbers. Even Hansi Flick didn’t have his team scoring at that rate.
- The foul that Leon Goretzka took should have been a red card. Shame it wasn’t reviewed by VAR.
- Manuel Neuer kept FC Bayern in the game during the critical moments of the game. He is a player that shows his quality when the tide is against the team, like against PSG.
- Jamal Musiala with an assist with his first touch of the season. Auspicious start.
- Yan Diomande was Leipzig’s biggest threat during the game. A fit Alphonso Davies could have gone a long way to containing him.
