This game simply underscores why we need another top quality CF.
How did you feel the game changed character when Kane came on? If what you're saying is true and this game underscores the need for another CF surely the game should have changed significantly when Kane (a top quality CF) came on?
If anything I thought the game yesterday was very similar to a lot of our league games this season when Kane has been playing. We struggle to break down well organized, hard working teams like Leicester. This is a problem for the majority of teams in football. Our best period in terms of play and chances was in the first half (imo) with Son up front, not after Kane came on.
If we had there wouldnt have been anyone in the middle cos Son seemed to be out wide all the time. I thought he had a lot of good touches, tried to create things, but that guy just isnt a striker.
If we'd had an actual forward on the pitch, perhaps he would have been making the right runs for balls played through? Or indeed be able to hold a long ball up to bring runners into the game?
Son did quite a few things Kane often does. Working the channels, dropping deep, coming wide. Perhaps a bit less in the box than Kane, but being in the box for crosses isn't his strength so that seems fine. He's not Kane, and like you I would like another striker tha is good with his back to the goal. But Son did fine for me yesterday - particularly as he too isn't exactly in top form.
We were also without Lamela and Alli - and of course the much lauded Dembele. Alli has at least at times been further forward than Kane on heat maps etc this season, those runs into the box from midfield to go past Kane is important for us. And we saw again yesterday when Alli came on that he did that really well at least on one occasion. Off form Chadli, very young Onomah, not fully firing Eriksen and still settling Carroll simply didn't offer anywhere the same quality as our first choice 11 does in terms of supporting the striker.
We had no focal point - Son looked wide and in behind meaning we needed to find the perfect pass or move. Kane drops deep but he is excellent back to goal and brings others into play in the final 3rd. The ability to do that means we get our best attacking players on the ball in good areas and allows others to make runs in dangerous spots. For a large proportion of the second half, Onomah seemed to be the furthest forward. If we don't get back up for Kane, we will struggle to break teams down at points this season.
For me the gamble is an obvious one - spend a little more than we would like to secure a couple of good level players who will add in key positions (striker and a CM/centre half) if we do so the league isn't impossible and you would back us to make top 4. If we don't (which is what I expect) and he get a few unfortunate niggles or injuries then I believe that we will miss out on top 4 which would be a real error. Of course we could sign players and still finish 5th, but the choice to do so is so blooming obvious
You accept then that spending more in the difficult January window will mean less money to spend in the summer? It just doesn't seem like a great answer to me...
Even some excellent January signings (Evra, Vidic, Suarez) has taken considerable time settling in and not really made an immediate impact. Signing players in January looking for an immediate impact also seems to limit our options significantly to mainly PL proven players...
I think our transfer committee has done great work since Pochettino arrived. People have done a hell of a lot of complaining, particularly about us not being willing to pay more for players we've been linked to. But I would say I trust our transfer committee to make good decisions on if a particular "gamble" makes sense or not. Regardless of how obvious it seems to you.