I’ll preface this post with a note: Part 1 was always intended to be a brutal analysis of our biggest short coming – our defence. When I started going through the goals we’ve conceded, I didn’t expect anyone to stand out as much as Paul McGinn did for me, so the last blog ended up reading like a hatchet job to some – it wasn’t intended like such, but that’s the nature of the beast in analysis. I live by Gary Neville’s maxim that “I don’t apologise for spending 5 minutes on a corner, a series of set pieces, a pattern of play or one individual.” If that doesn’t work for you, fine, one mans over-analysing is another mans (usually a coaches) perfect detail.
So looking on the flip side, it’s clear to most that our attack is now phenomenal when they click. Even when they don’t click, we’ve still got a formidable one to pair with any other in the league to me. The increase of 0.21 goals per game scored comes from having actual options up from, as opposed to relying on Greg Stewart so heavily to produce (which he did, and still does). Greg has went from scoring 31% of our league goals by this day last year to scoring 18% of them, which is a much more sustainable average and balance.
The biggest influence in this is undoubtedly Kane Hemmings, and their partnership. 20 goals in just 32 matches is a phenomenal return, and much more understandable and sustainable from a centre forward/striker than a wide man/inside forward.
His best strength is playing off the last man, or between defenders. He seems to be comfortable creating havoc by switching between the 2 or 3 defenders around him, and finding space this way.
Goal 1 – Dundee 1-2 Hearts
There are 2 very similar links between the first two goals – not just that they’re from crosses. With this goal, as with the next, Hemmings shows an innate ability to communicate with the crosser, and predict where the ball is going, in this case with his Cowdenbeath strike partner Greg Stewart.
The real beauty in this goal comes from 2 real pieces of skill by two different players. Firstly, Kane manages to work his way off of Callum Paterson, and make there be reasonable doubt between the two centre half’s (Blazej Augustyn the other culprit) as to who should be marking him, but to really make it work, the credit could quite easily also go to James McPake who makes the short pass option run to Stewart, which makes the gap for Hemmings, and leaves Paterson realising it was indeed his man, and not Augustyn’s.
The finish? Doesn’t need explained – he’s a quality finisher.
Goal 2 – Dundee 2-1 St. Johnstone
The similarity between the goals in this case is exemplified by the fact that he’s learned to play the space, and not the man, which will often create room for the ball to be played in.
Lows (what you’d likely deem as heavy) first touch, works perfectly here as it creates confusion between Dave McKay and Chris Millar as to who will close Low down, it what is really an easy choice, had McKay remembered Kane was behind him. With just 5 steps at an incorrect angle, Hemmings has managed to open up that many between the two directly, which is what makes the chance.
The ball quality from Low cannot be overlooked. He’s floated it in to where you want your striker to be, using that natural sense to understand that Low knows where he should put it, on the penalty spot. Doing what you expect of every player at every chance, he’s won his battle.
The 5 yards distance destroy McKay. It’s near impossible to win a header when you’re on your back foot, and the striker has the run on the ball.
The finish? HE’S A QUALITY FINISHER!
Goal 3 – Dunfermilne Athletic 3-1 Dundee
This goal, while being a heavy portion of poor defending (and tracking by the Dunfermilne players 4, 6 and 8), just exemplifies the Hemmings movement pattern and spacial awareness.
He (and I hate this word in this sense) gambles on the ball going across goal, and finds the space. Credit must really go to Nick Ross for the run which pulls the defender away from Hemmings space, and the dummy.
Goal 4 – Dundee 1-1 Inverness Caley Thistle
Is the pattern visible to you, without needing to look for it twice yet? He plays the shoulders of Danny Devine and David Raven, and runs for the gap. It’s another tremendous finish, to keep the ball down and slot it to the corner.
Goal 5 – Dundee 1-1 Partick Thistle
This is the most intricate goal for movement, but shows once again his love for shoulder play (that sounds too much like a BDSM fetish for my liking).
The Loy movement and subsequent drop deeper for the ball is what makes the room, and it confuses Seaborne in to trying to play the gap, and not his man (Kane), who he was with since the previous phase of the play. The touch by Nick Ross and the above goal against Dunfermilne show that Ross is likely much more effective as an advanced player, and not a holding one. But with Harkins in our side, we seem a much more potent threat going forward, which leaves PH with tough decisions.
Goal 6 St. Johnstone 1-1 Dundee
Let’s overlook the utter quality, and connection between Greg Stewart and Kane Hemmings with the back heel and 1-2 to focus on what the trend is – Hemmings’ movement.
I’d advise on watching this on 0.5 speed on YouTube.
*Click this link, then the Settings Wheel and alter the speed to 0.5*
There are a handful of things done by Hemmings which many run of the mill strikers at this level won’t do correctly. The very first is thinking 2 passes ahead of the game, which is something that top level managers notice in players very early. Listen to Gordon Strachan describe Shinsuke Nakamura thinking 4 passes ahead of the game, 18 mins 10 seconds in.
He’s done the advanced thought with the look over his left shoulder 2 and a half seconds before he even touches the ball, and a second before the ball is even played in his direction. What he’s seen is Dave McKay (who isn’t the fastest player) having to catch up with the defence line, and coming out at an angle. With McKays lack of pace, a single touch for the 1-2 with Stewart can take him out the game – and Hemmings knows this subconsciously, thus the run (to the open gap, which he’s seen open with the shoulder look) becomes an easy movement.
The finish, he’s quality etc.
Goals 7, 8 and 9 Dundee 4-0 Hamilton Accies
These two are stupidly similar to the Inverness goal, that it seems like Hamiltons defenders (#44 Tagliapietra and #15 Sendles White) weren’t shown how he plays, and even then, they failed to do any of the basics expected before that.
The movement and chasing by Kano is what you need from an isolated solo striker on balls over the top (albeit with GGH behind). Exactly the same as the Inverness goal, he makes the run to the space knowing there is a chance, but more importantly is his position when the ball comes forward in both cases, if you don’t see what’s common about his position in relation to the CHs when the fall pas to him is made, here’s a compilation of images to show you.
This is much more similar to goal #6 than any other thus far.Once he gets 1 on 1 with the final defender, he knows exactly where he is taking it – to the space to hit back across goal, with a finish that is a repeat of Goal #6. The technique is flawless also, the key being his use of his arms to control his body angle, and his core to keep himself steady and over the ball.
Goal 10 Ross County 5-2 Dundee
Not so isolated this time, the directness of Stewart forces Hemmings to make a run away from goal, but the very neat thing about the run is that it’s one which creates space for the Stewart>GGH pass if the marking is too good.
Goal 11 Ross County 5-2 Dundee
I’m sick of saying it, but not of seeing it. Off the shoulder, in the space, quality finisher.
Goal 12 Dundee 2-1 Dundee United
When Kane was in the papers the other week saying he learned so much by training under Ally McCoist, this was the goal that flashed in my mind. This is the sort of position that Ally would always find himself standing in. He didn’t often challenge for headers in the box or stick himself about, he stayed on his feet and instinctively knew where to be, just like Kane here.
Goal 13 Partick Thistle 2-4 Dundee
Not much to say about penalties is there? No nonsense, foot through it, ice in the head. Goggles on after it hits the net.
Goal 14 Dundee 3-1 Falkirk
Guess where the run started? Ignoring the offside debate, the audacity to hit it from 20 yards out is brilliant. It’s what we as fans want to see, players taking chances/risks. The way he’s lined his body it seems like he’s went for the post across goal, but it’s took a great swerve from the side off his foot and completely took the keeper by surprise.
Without wasting any more time, it’s fair to say the pattern in Hemmings play is noticeable, and the teams who manage to keep him quiet play a tight marking scheme on him, or make him drop deep and off the front line.
Kane is 3 league goals off equalling Nacho Novo’s SPL/SPFL Dundee record of 19 league goals in 35 league appearances (25 in 44 in total). That something which he is entirely capable of doing, and if he gets enough service, we should see him do.
Vive La Hemmings.
Dundee Tactics 