That isn't a criticism you can aim at Defoe imo. The guy loves Spurs and gives his all every time i've seen him play
It's very easy to underestimate Ade and Defoe because we always compare them to the best strikers in the world. The very strikers we have very little chance of bringing to Spurs. The grass is always greener etc. We will do very well to find some better strikers than we already have but I live in hope.
You give them too much credit, stats don't lie. Either one of those should be able to score 15 goals a season with our squad of late.
I make you right Spurm regarding Defoe. He gives it his all in every game selected. Might not be the most lethal striker but one of the most committed. Before Christmas when he played regularly he done well for us. Then Ade came back, JD got injured and was in and out of the side for the rest of the season
Defoe's main problem is that he scores in spurts. Even his best season for Spurs (goal-wise) consisted of 5 vs Wigan and a hat-trick. Much more useful to the team would be a striker than scores 1 every 2 games rather than going through barren spells. Before xmas last season Defoe was great. He was carrying the team at that point, Bale hadn't hit his stride yet. Even when he wasn't scoring he was contributing and he was bringing other attacking players into the game while playing up top on his own. It was very surprising as i had assumed he couldn't do that role. The problem is that he never maintains the form, for whatever reason that is (inc injury), which leaves us short
Stats lie all the time as there are far too many variables. Either one of those CAN score 15 goals a season as they have done but if you discount the very interupted season that Ade had and the learning of a new way to play achieved by Defoe then you can easily underestimate their quality. I'm not saying they are the best but they are both at the level that we at Spurs can reasonably expect to get atm. If we get better then very well done to the management.
Where is this mythical striker who never loses form and is consistent through every season? I don't believe he exists.
Rumours going round twatter that Baldini is in Monaco putting the final touches to a deal, swap deal for Adebayor and Parker. Should be with us by the end of next week
this is why i've been banging on about a player like Christian Eriksen. with 1 year left on his contract and at 15mill (supposedly) i can't understand for the life of me why we haven't gone all out to get him. Regardless of the striker situation, we rely far too much on Bale for a "spark". IMO, Dembele was a good signing, but we still miss a lot of the attributes that Modric possesses. I'd be nice to know we've got a top quality creative player like Eriksen who can provide us with a solution when we need it most; not just bale.
Thanks Spurcat, first, for your insight into how the team is looking. It's so much more valuable and informative than twats about rumours. If you look at Ade/Defoe/Dempsey as one player, he's not bad at all (and also filled 1.7 or so players' spots, so he should be!) 24 PL goals (or so--can't be bothered to look it up); had great speed at times (Defoe), banged them in at times (Defoe and Dempsey), served as the shield behind which Bale flourished (Ade)--and knocked in his rebounds (Dempsey). But Adefompsey, for some reason, is seen as inadequate to take us forward. I feel good about next year. Though I ought to mention I have been drinking. I'll also say our fate will be more likely to be determined by the interaction of our players, manager and staff than by whether we get that striker. Never bet on a team sport because it's down to the intricacies and complications of group psychology. But by the same token, when things look good on that front, and they do for us now, things just might turn out very well indeed.
Usually I can never get excited about the start of the new season until after the September International Break, but given what the fixture list has thrown up in August, it's hard not to. Like yourself, I am much more optimistic we will have a better season than last, especially as we have addressed the issue of squad depth and finally brought in a top manager.
