Solanke can usurp Kane for England, Kinsky wasn't needed with Austin and Dragusin is a car-crash experiment : what we learned in Tottenham's defeat to Toon

By Alessandro Schiavone at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium

Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle

Entertainment was always gonna be guaranteed between two sides that had hit 73 goals between them before kick-off. And the pre-match hype didn’t let us down. Yet a third defeat in the last four outings confirmed our suspicions that Tottenham’s regression from heavyweights to middleweights is gathering pace at this rate.

Ahead of their Carabao Cup semifinal first leg against Liverpool tomorrow, Capital Football learned three things about Ange Postecoglou's lunatic side.

Solanke can be Kane’s heir for club AND country

Under the watchful eye of Thomas Tuchel, who took in his maiden game since officially taking over the Three Lions reins after the turn of the year, Dominic Solanke did his chances of being England’s main man at USA, Canada and Mexico 2026 no harm. Impressively it took the Bournemouth one-timer only four minutes to score his ELEVENTH goal of the season on Saturday after getting on the end of Pedro Porto’s immaculate delivery to nod home. His Midas Touch explains why he’s paid the big bucks and why many view him as Kane’s successor not just for Tottenham but also in an England shirt. Yet there’s more to his all-round game such as his excellent movement and coordination who were back on view deep in injury-time when he almost caught out Toon’s Slovakian deputy goalkeeper with a diving header. On more than one occasion [as a response to the lack of service and unwillingness to sit on his hands] he dropped deep before darting forward or linking the play. And it took a specimen like Dan Burns to stop him albeit by unfair means. And that wasn’t an isolated incident as his game evoked memories of his legendary predecessor. We've put two and two together and reached the conclusion that his high energy levels, presence in the box and goal threat make him the undisputed Kane back-up ahead of perennially crocked Callum Wilson, Saudi expat Ivan Toney and Ollie Watkins who hasn’t looked the same since downing Holland in the Euro 2024 semis. And with the Bayern Munich star's 33rd birthday coinciding with the World Cup across the Atlantic there’s no reason why Solanke can’t usurp England’s all-time record goalscorer in 16 months' time. He just needs to keep doing what he's doing and with Kane not getting any younger the future looks bright for the ex-Chelsea academy graduate for both club and country.

Brandon Austin can be relied upon... was Kinsky necessary?

Austin was one of few players to come out of the Newcastle defeat in credit as Tottenham’s no.3 goalie grabbed his chance with both hands on his Premier League debut. Filling in for Fraser Forster who caught a bug days before the Magpies’ visit, Brandon Austin played like a veteran and not like a rookie. Commanding his box with great authority, he came for crosses and unlike a host of other keepers in the game, he held on to them instead of punching away the ball. But it's his audacity and self-confidence that caught the eye as much as his shot-stopping ability. Did well to thwart Anthony Gordon one-on-one and Harvey Barnes with a superb one-handed save. But the feel-good factor didn’t last with the club announcing the capture of “new Petr Cech” Antonin Kinsky from Slavia Prague the following day. 

But that shouldn’t discourage him. And if Saturday was anything to go by, he’s got what it takes to go elsewhere and establish himself as a first-choice goalie.

Dragusin is a car-crash signing

Dragusin copped plenty of flak before the game and the noise just got louder after a poor day at the office. Bullied by Newcastle’s frontmen throughout, his awkward clearance fell invitingly for Isak to re-establish Eddie Howe’s men’s lead. Did little to indicate that he can retain his place when first-choice pair Romero and Van de Ven return from injury. Looks out of place in a high line, has shocking lapses of concentration, is more often than not sloppy in possession and doesn’t have the refined technique and vision to play out form the back. The great fanfare following his arrival from Genoa was quickly replaced by the unanimous agreement that he’s not up to it with a large majority of supporters immediately seeing through him. The Fulham stinker last season sums up his Tottennham career. Has had a good game here and there but cannot be relied upon. And fans would not mind getting rid of the “new Chiriches”, even at a loss. They would even give him a lift to the airport if that meant seeing the last of him...