The main criticism that gets levelled at JD is that he's quite a streaky player: he'll score a couple (or 5!) in a match, and perhaps put a run together, and then won't score for a while.
This IS true, looking at his form since he returned to us from Pompey, but looking at last season, it seemed to me that after Bale, he was the only player that could score a difficult chance (albeit within 20 yards of goal), or that when he was presented with real chances, he would score far more often than not. To me his dry spells came when we were playing him when he was injured, thanks to our amazing squad depth in that position, or when we weren't creating many chances because Lennon or Bale were injured (again, great depth there even before we loaned out Andros).
Now according to rumour he was one of the players who was told he could go during our post season tour, and I hear a lot of people here saying he's not a striker that can take us to the next level. Does anyone else disagree with selling him? Yeah, to say he likes a shot is an understatement, but I honestly believe our problem has been in creating chances, and in having a fit centre forward. The idea of selling him because Ade and his wages will be difficult to shift sounds so silly. Even off the bench, and playing as cover, I'm convinced that Defoe has a place in a top 4 squad.
Anyone else agree?
Does anyone else rate/feel sorry for Defoe?
posted on 7/7/13
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posted on 7/7/13
If Stoke bid
6million..I would not be opposed to offering him to Liverpool for 8-10million once the racist gets sold. I know they have signed Asparagus or whatever his name is but with Sturridge out of the start of season they could be hunting for another panic signing.
posted on 7/7/13
BLB,
Very true. With all due respect to Defoe, had he been banging in 25+ goals a season for us we'd have been fighting off interest to keep him at spurs. I can't really recall any real concrete interest from bigger clubs so maybe that's indicative of his ability?
posted on 7/7/13
Defoe is a proven PL goalscorer, one of the best finishers in the league and can get you a goal out of nothing and he loves Spurs.
There is no guarantee a replacement for Defoe will be an immediate success so I would like a new forward but also like to keep Defoe, he will score goals and will still be a useful player for the squad.
posted on 7/7/13
^this
posted on 8/7/13
We are probably going to go with one actual striker as the focal point, whatever formation that may be. As such we really need three options to play up top.
Ideally two of which will have an all round lone striker's game - being able to hold the ball up, have a physical presence, good in the air. Defoe doesn't fit this. Ade
does.
The third striker will ideally be able to play up front alone, partner one of the other 2 if we go 442, and also ideally be able to fill a couple of other attacking roles - either wide position, possibly behind the forward. At a stretch Defoe could do this, and play wide in a 3, but if we sign Villa then he has this spot as he is so much better its unreal.
Four strikers is too much, two strikers is too little. Fine balance. If Villa doesn't sign, and we don't sign a player of similar style/versatility then Defoe has to stay. This is true of the strikers as it is of other positions - you can't leave yourself short
posted on 8/7/13
He has a lot of time out injured. He'd be hitting that 20+ mark easily, if he could stay fit for a decent run, as he gets older can you honestly see that happening?
posted on 8/7/13
Hi Villa fan
No, he'll probably not hit 20+ goals whatever happens.. you should give us Benteke, don't let Chelsea have him.
posted on 9/7/13
If spurs stump up the 25m we have asked, then you will get.
Your cast offs are no better than what we have and their wage demands are rediculas.
posted on 10/7/13
Our 'cast-offs' helped us get 5th place and over 70pts while you narrowly escaped relegation - to say they are no better is a little silly. I do admire what Lambert is doing there, but a little more experience is probably needed next season to really push you up the table.
Rightly or wrongly we are supposedly looking to offload Livermore, Parker, Huddlestone and Defoe. I think all four would probably get in your side, but if I was Lambert I'd be demanding Defoe and Hudd plus cash.