Article by e-Spurs Writer Jimmy Lyden (UK)
It’s not exactly a new topic of discussion but with the signing of Soldado as our presumed first choice striker, the fact is we need to shift some of the deadwood up front. The likes of Harry Kane can always be loaned out for another season or so to gain more experience but the problem is having two veteran strikers in Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor with the knowledge that neither one of them will be first choice so the fact is Levy needs to sell one of them to keep morale up as they both would become disheartened by being rotated as 2nd choice striker. The question is, Defoe or Adebayor?
Let’s start with Jermain Defoe. The fact is Defoe was our 2nd top scorer last season with 15 goals in all competitions which sounds a very decent return rate for a man who will end up being a 2nd choice striker if he stays at the club. Defoe has always said how he loves Spurs as a club and would love to remain with us for the rest of his career so his dedication and passion to play has never been in question. Remember as well, Defoe was injured last season and never quite bounced back from it when he returned so it is possible to use that as a reason for his goals drying up completely in the 2nd half of the season.
However, I would not use that as an excuse. Jermain should be a 2nd or 3rd choice striker at Spurs because the fact is he simply is not consistent enough in front of goal. Remember during his first spell with us, he was behind Berbatov, Keane and even Mido in the pecking order! For every goal he will score, there will be 3 better chances he will miss. I remember watching Sky Sports News a few months ago and they showed the 5 contenders for “Save of the Season” and 2 or 3 of the saves were from....Jermain Defoe.
He has always been billed as an impact player but I don’t really see that as being that true if I am completely honest. Most times when Defoe comes on, he rarely impacts the game at all and mainly just gets caught offside or is nowhere near the ball when it comes forward. AVB recently stated that Jermain was a “hero for Tottenham” so this question might be rendered moot as he said that he had no plans to sell JD and wanted him to stay at the club but I’m sure if a club comes in with the rumoured £6million we want for him, Levy will snap their hands off, as he should.
As with Adebayor, the feelings are equally complex. On his day, the man from Togo can be absolutely unstoppable and he ended the season far more impressively than he started it, showing that maybe he could be picking up his game and wants to remain at the club. He is capable of scoring brilliant goals and can dominate opposition defenders with his power and sheer strength (something with JD sorely lacks). He also creates more chances for other players due to his ability to control the ball and hold it up for others so he could be more useful to have in a linkup situation. However, he was truly abysmal for 95% of last season.
He showed nothing of the skill and finishing that he proved he had when on loan with us the season before, leaving many to believe he was simply coasting due to the fact that we signed him permanently from Man City which angered and rightly upset many of the Spurs faithful. The fact is that “Manu” would certainly not have the right attitude to be a 2nd choice striker as well, despite the fact I think he is better and more useful to have than Defoe, there is no question that Defoe’s commitment and dedication to the cause exceeds Ade’s by leaps and bounds.
In
conclusion, I believe the choice between JD and Ade comes down to
attitude vs skill. JD always works faultlessly for Spurs and has
never come out slagging the club off and can be seen as a model for
hard work and endeavour which is very admirable to have. However, out
of the two, I believe Adebayor could give us more in the striking
department if he can sort out his childish attitude despite JD
scoring more goals than him last season. What do you all think?
Should we sell JD or Ade? Or both? Or neither?
Comment on this article below.
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Difficult question,. The answer based on footballing ability is of course Ade, but,. As you rightly mention, he was just crap last year! Sooooo infuriating when we know what he CAN do,. My personal feelings (which dont count for much as im not in charge or anything!) would be to sell both, again, that is fantasy as you need timely and adequate replacements. But I would love to sell both and sign Damiao, whilst promoting Kane to 3rd striker along with another youth player! - Do we still have lancaster? Is coullabilly ready? Has Obika been loaned out??,. I dont know, but all irrelevant without Damiao, oh to dream! ;()
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