HIAG, it may well only be reading, yet surely we then have to apply that Logic to AVB, as now fans are saying "AVB has shown his way works"......but its only reading! lets be consistent here! Defoe has been getting a huge amount of stick on here recently, he seems to be the player everyone looks to blame first, yet the guy has stuck around, not really made any trouble for managers and is happy to finish his career with us, so when he's in great form, the guy does shut everyone up, but why are people waiting for him to go on a drought? Whats the reason for wanting to say "i knew the goals would dry up". Lets just accept Defoe is a top quality squad player, has his flaws but is clearly the best goal scorer at the club and looks like he will flourish under avb's system.
As I said, let's have this discussion after the next 10 fixtures. He's getting a good run of games, and AVB is obviously placing his faith in him, as is Roy Hodgson. No one will be able to argue that he hasn't been given a fair chance, or that he hasn't had a boost to his confidence (or what ever other excuses are usually made for him). At the moment, he's had four starts and he has helped us to win only one of those games. However, I am a fair man, and I am prepared to accept that AVB did not have a settled squad to work with for the first three matches, which is why I want to give Defoe a fair crack at the whip, over the next 10 games, before changing my current view of him.
So, Defoe has to always help us win games! what about the other players? Overall I would say he has been our best player this season, was sharp against Newcastle, and was unlucky not to score twice. The two home games were shocking for all players, yet avb got the selection wrong by playing Defoe up top and not setting the team up to offer enough support. I think whats most interesting, is that we have played our best football away from home, and Defoe has been the best player in both these performances.
Hiag, you must remember the other 3 games we didn't win, we had Sandro and Jake in CM, as we've seen, cutting support and supply to JD in those games. He still missed a few in those games agreed, but hey, they can't all go in every game. I'm not getting ahead of myself, just saying things as I see it game by game, I agree with you consistancy and tougher oppostion will determine any change in overall view of him.
I like Defoe, but he's always seemed completely unsuited to the lone striker role. Perhaps his hard work has paid off and he's managed to learn how to be effective in that system, but only time will tell. Playing that way at both club and international level will only help, so let's hope that he can keep up this form and prove me wrong. He missed a few chances yesterday, but his overall game was superb. Put in a great shift, created chances for others and the pace that we had available was extremely impressive at times. No defence wants to see the likes of Bale, Lennon and Defoe running at them on the break. It doesn't matter how good you are, if you can't actually catch the opposition.
Like HIAG says, lets wait and see over the course of a few more games. there's been so many new players come in that need to settle, and it was clear that the change in midfield made all the difference. IMO Defoe was poor for us over the first 3 games, but this could be due to lack of service. - different story yesterday. but was this because reading were poor? or perhaps he can work in this lone striker role? it's all too early to tell and there are too many factors that come in to play at this stage, which have already been mentioned. Regardless, the win is going to help confidence across the squad. let's hope we get the likes of Dempsey, Ade, Lloris & co playing against Lazio and see a good performance with those who've not had much game time. the squad is far more trimmed now and all of those players will be playing a lot this season, so we must start rotating early! it'd be very nice to have 16-22 players who are all playing well!! headache for Andre though. - but he can deal with that!
Just in defence of this, typically the lone striker role is for a striker with a physical presence, that can hold up play and provide knock downs. This high pressure, 4-3-3, needs a striker up top with pace, harasses defenders and is direct, so as long as we have two pacey wingers, and dembele in centre mid, I would say Defoe actually suits the system better then Adebayor. If we was playing 4-4-1-1 and counter attacking football, even though it looks similar to 4-3-3 in terms of personnel, I would then say Adebayor is more suited. But yes I accept Defoe will at some point be out of form so Adebayor will get a chance and it will be interesting to see how Adebayor reacts.
I totally agree, Boss. This is the first time I've seen Defoe play in a system that actually suits him. In the 433 yesterday the wide players and the central midfielder were usually close enough to him to get a quick pass which means a lot of Defoe's weaknesses are hidden and his strengths can shine. Now if he can be coached to look up a bit and play more passes and fewer shots then he'll be a real handful for anyone. My main frustration with Defoe has always been unfulfilled potential with him relying too much on his goalscoring and doing little else, but this might now change.
The one major pass that he did give yesterday was straight to Sig. I think we can all remember what happened next. Let's hope it doesn't just encourage JD to try and do the job himself next time.
I think that the support behind Defoe yesterday was much better - much quicker to arrive. Plus, maybe it's my imagination but his runs and positioning seem to be more thoughtful. I know Reading's defence is hardly the best, but he seemed to use space far more intelligently, yesterday.
Absolutely delighted with his performance yesterday, I didn't want him in the team and thought it would be best for him and us if he went elsewhere in the summer. But he proved me massively wrong yesterday, I just hope he now keeps it up. I expect him to start v QPR, and here's hoping for another super Spurs performance, a convincing win and a goal or two from JD.
Defoe's been unsuited to the lone striker role due to the fact we've never played to his strengths. The amount of times we lumped the ball up expecting him to beat 6'2 lumps in the air was really p*ssing me off in the first few games, Norwich especially was really aggravating, Bassong knows Defoe well and so to play to Bassong's strengths was ridiculous by our players/ AVB. Yesterday was totally different, we played a great short passing system that tires the opposition yet entertains the fans, 99% of our play yesterday was on the ground and that's where Defoe can become both useful and lethal. Play to his strengths and he's as effective as any striker in the league in my opinion.
Defoe should've scored more yesterday. He was brilliant all over the pitch but his shots were largely poor and he should've tested the keeper on several occasions. In short, if he's going to be that greedy taking shots when other passes are on, he needs to score every game. For me, writing Defoe off is a bit of a hobby. It always comes back to bite me on the arse but I enjoy it
That's similar to how I am with AVB. I'm not a fan of his but if he can get us to produce similar performances and results as yesterday, I'll happily take the criticism for slating him.
No matter how well he's playing at the moment, it's clear that we'll be in the market for another striker in January - common sense pretty much states this will happen, as an injury means Coulibaly, Lancaster or (dear God, no...) Obika will be in line to get some games.
I'm one of the posters that had not slated Defoe., and I couldn't understand why he came in for so much flak on here. We all know strikers can be off form for Weeks sometimes Months at a time., and some develop an overwhelming desire to start scoring again which can over-shadows' all esle. Then there is the 'try too hard factor' which negates natural ability. Defoe has a depth of natural ability and over the coarse of a season, will get a decent amount of premiership goals.
I rinsed a Gooner mate of mine for putting Defoe in his fantasy team when all the big name strikers started getting injured, saying he was unlikely to keep his starting place, he is proving me wrong and making me look rather stupid.
