When looking at Mike’s thread on Southgate’s most recent squad, it made me think.
“Feck, when did they suddenly get that old?" I’m often guilty of thinking of him as still in his early to mid 20s
Defoe is 34 (which I know outside football is not old before somebody says) And the one I’m most guilty of forgetting he’s not a teenager or in his early 20s is Danny Sturridge he's either 28 or fast approaching FFS.
But somebody just said to me, Defoe is currently the 2nd top English Goalscorer in this season’s Premier League in a poor Sunderland team that seem doomed this time.
Considering the times I think he has been unfairly overlooked (06 being a crime) by England Managers, I don’t grudge him this call up. But am I letting sentiment rule my head?
One thing I would say. When he returns to fitness, if scoring for Spurs. I think the England Manager should reflect on how long Shearer went without scoring for England (9 games?) and go with Kane.
Is Defoe too old?
posted on 16/3/17
comment by BruceAndPally (U8201)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
If Defoe continues to score goals next season he should most definitely be in contention for the WC, one of the problems with England is that we're always building for a tomorrow which never comes.
I heard journo's saying we should "sacrifice" the 2014 WC and play youngsters ahead of going for it in 2016, well, we we're sh*te in both, with a large chunk of that blame going to the manager and his coaching staff.
We're not good enough to overlook players because they're "too old", we HAVE to pick the best players for the style the manager wants to play, or at least players who are in form imo.
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Always building for a tomorrow that never comes? What planet are you on. England's failure to plan ahead is its downfall.
Lump it to the fast one who can bully poor defenders and we'll worry about playing a serious side later.
posted on 16/3/17
Not if he hits the back of the net on a regular basis he isn't!
posted on 16/3/17
Imagine if Moyes didn't have Defoe being so lethal this season lol. Moyes supposedly deserved time at Man Utd but look at the job he did at Real Sociedad and now Sunderland.
posted on 16/3/17
Age isn't a problem if you're a top player still like Zlatan, but the fact is that Defoe is massively overrated by casual fans in England nowadays, he offers absolutely nothing outside goals, and if you take away his pens this season he hasn't actually scored too many
posted on 16/3/17
Teddy played for England at 35... If you're good enough, you're not too old.
JD is fully deserving of his call up. Kudos to him for keeping himself fit... Wazza could learn a thing or two from him.
posted on 16/3/17
comment by Giröulski Alt-153 and Alt-160 forever (U14971)
posted 1 hour, 12 minutes ago
comment by BruceAndPally (U8201)
posted 1 hour, 23 minutes ago
If Defoe continues to score goals next season he should most definitely be in contention for the WC, one of the problems with England is that we're always building for a tomorrow which never comes.
I heard journo's saying we should "sacrifice" the 2014 WC and play youngsters ahead of going for it in 2016, well, we we're sh*te in both, with a large chunk of that blame going to the manager and his coaching staff.
We're not good enough to overlook players because they're "too old", we HAVE to pick the best players for the style the manager wants to play, or at least players who are in form imo.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Always building for a tomorrow that never comes? What planet are you on. England's failure to plan ahead is its downfall.
Lump it to the fast one who can bully poor defenders and we'll worry about playing a serious side later.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That's what I mean, planning but not planning properly. "When tournament x comes around we'll do this and we'll do that", didn't Greg Dyke say England aim to win the WC in 2022? Then we have our worst ever showing at a WC in 2014 and were awful at the Euro's,no signs of progression at all.
posted on 16/3/17
Still England's best finisher, still looks pretty fit so why not. He is if anything at least good enough for England's squad, embarrassing to leave someone with his ability out of it altogether.
posted on 16/3/17
He's not too old. He's rightfully earned a call up for sure. Plus we don't have much other options.
I agree with building a team, and picking younger players. But you don't need to go all out. It's fine to have a few older heads in the group
posted on 16/3/17
He's putting the ball in the back of the net and doesn't look like he's lost any pace.
I'm glad Southgate looks to be picking players on merit rather than name.
posted on 16/3/17
What could it possibly hurt including a player with a knack for goals? I reckon DeFoe has a few to offer us before he retires.