Thats a baseless comment, just an opinion, as Defoe is proven at the highest level. Defoe is what he is, a goal scorer, but needs the right support around him which is why last year he worked well at the start of the season and agaisnt west ham we would have been better off using Holtby and Defoe as they have developed a partnership of sorts. Whats typical of some fans is we lose a game and then instead of focusing on who is to blame, they look at the players they personally don't rate, like Defoe, instead you would focus on the person who picked the team, the team setup and tactics, Avb was outwitted by Allardyce, rather then focusing on Defoe who was 1 out of 11 spurs players who started the game. Also Power, I would add last year most of Defoes goals I believe came from the counter attack and the link up play with Lennon and Bale, key attribute there is pace and width. Our current team is lacking in width and not just that, we're trying to control the game more, so to have a lack of width and not use Holtby (even earlier in the game) are areas which don't play to Defoes strengths as Eriksen is more used to Soldados movement, while Holtby is more used to Defoes game/movement.
Well buddy, if Defoe isn't suited to the lone striker role and can't play that role, then who picked him for the lone striker role agaisnt West ham? was it Defoes mum ...If AVb can't see Defoe and Soldado have different strengths and its not just a case of swapping player for player in the same line up, then why not look at him, rather then Defoe? I know Defoe isn't perfect and has limitations, yet he is a great squad player, proven at this level, scored goals to help us achieve our targets and if he doesn't perform in a setup which doesn't naturally suit his game then I don't see how we can lay any blame at his door.
Defoe was more suited to the 4-4-2 formation which most teams played when he was at his peak. 4-2-3-1 with a loan striker who is often required to hold up the ball and link up play is not his forte. He's a goal poacher and needs to play off that target man. He's not a strong, physical presence (Lukaku, Lambert, Ba, Giroud, Dzeko) or a versatile all rounder (RvP, Suarez, Aguero). He doesn't fit in too well in the preferred formation these days.
Can't see it working. Suarez and Sturridge works because both play very different games. The former likes to move around a lot, harassing defenders and dropping deep to lose markers, whilst the latter's a last defender predator. Soldado and Defoe both like to play a similar game, though I think that the Spaniard's more relaxed about having big chunks of the game where he won't touch the ball. It works for him.
And yet, two seasons ago he scored a mere 5 goals in the prem. Shocking for a so-called "natural goal scorer."
Until adebayor returned to the team in December defoe played the lone striker role last season and in my opinion did a decent job and scored a fair few goals. Away at reading, Southampton, villa, Fulham spring to mind plus a few at home.
Defoe and Soldado are both great goalscorers, but they contribute little/nothing to the all round team play. When all three are at the top of their game Adebayor is easily the best of the three, the problem is that inconsistency and no manager since Wenger has come close to unlocking his true potential.
I think that Soldado contributes to overall play in a couple of ways. He's already been involved in the build up to a couple of goals, but his constant movement in behind the opposition defence is what really does it, in my opinion. He's happy to not get the ball and just pull people around with his movement, which creates space and opportunities for others. Defoe gets frustrated and starts dropping deep, where he's totally ineffective.
Fair enough, to be fair you've watched him far more than me. I believe Soldado is probably the best goal poacher in the league but needs the service. I wouldn't be surprised if Lennon was thrown straight back in and Townsend had a reduced role or played on the left.
Depends who's fit, for me. Rose and Walker at full-back? Townsend. Anyone else in those positions and we need added width.
