Interesting JD article

[n0.1.spurs]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/stand...main-defoe-greaves-can-help-me-score-again.do

Jermain Defoe loves nothing more than seeing his name on the scoresheet so it is no wonder his one-year anniversary without a Premier League goal from open play is playing on his mind.

It is hard to believe the talented striker is on such barren streak since opening the scoring for Tottenham in a 3-1 win over Blackburn 12 months ago and naturally he is not too happy about it.

Fortune has certainly not been on his side - a serious ankle injury against Switzerland in September, just a few days after his first hat-trick for England in a 4-0 win over Bulgaria, has interrupted his season.
Since his return in November, Defoe has struck just four times, twice each in a Champions League match at Twente and an FA Cup victory over Charlton.

However, rather than sulk or look for others to blame, the 28-year-old is doing overtime in training and at home to put things right.
No stone is being left unturned and that includes watching footage of Jimmy Greaves, who scored an incredible 221 times for Spurs between 1961-70.

Defoe said: "The lack of goals does get to me. I am watching a lot of videos of myself when I was scoring but also of other strikers as well because you can always learn from them.

"The reserve team coach, Clive Allen, who obviously knows what it's like as a striker, gave me a DVD of Jimmy Greaves the other week and told me to go home and watch it.

"It was brilliant to see. I saw his finishing, a lot of his goals seemed to come when he just passed the ball into the corners. He never seemed to hit it that hard. He was just really clever.

"So that week in training I was practising his technique and trying to catch the keeper off guard. Clive pulled me to one side and said, 'You have been watching that DVD, haven't you? I can tell'. Hopefully, I can put it into practice in a match.

"Les Ferdinand has also been a big help. I work with him after each match by using video analysis, it helps me keep improving.
"He just keeps telling me that the goals will come again - Tottenham have a lot of big games from now until the end of the season and I'm raring to go."

Spurs could certainly do with their talisman returning to his best as they fight to finish in the top four while trying to continue their remarkable run in the Champions League.

Since their disappointing defeat to Blackpool last week they have been on a training break in Dubai which has helped heal some mental as well as physical wounds ahead of their trip to Wolves on Sunday.

They have dropped to fifth in the League following Chelsea's win over Manchester United but Defoe, who is fit despite reports this week that he had broken down with an ankle injury, insists the mood is upbeat.
"The break in Dubai was good for us," he said. "We could really switch off, have a good rest. We still trained and it really helped the team spirit.
"We were in the hotel for a week and I think it is important to do stuff like that. The Blackpool game has been forgotten and everyone is just looking forward now. We have regrouped and everyone is still confident.

"There are players coming back from injury. Ledley King trained over there, which is good, Jonathan Woodgate had picked up a little groin strain but should be all right soon and Younes Kaboul is back. Gareth Bale's back injury is fine so he isn't too far away. Wolves will be hard opposition as they are strong at home.

"They have shown it by beating Chelsea and Manchester United. They stop you from playing, compete and everyone works hard. It is going to be a massive match for us."

Defoe also has one eye on next week's huge Champions League encounter at White Hart Lane with AC Milan and the prospect of booking Tottenham's place in the quarter-finals. They boast a 1-0 lead from the first leg at the San Siro and he insists the club won't be fearing the other teams in the draw if they make it to the last eight.

"If we get through to the next stage we'll take on anyone," he said. "The confidence that knocking out AC Milan would bring to the players will make us look forward to playing anyone.

"The tie isn't won yet and I think they will sit back, try and frustrate us and hit us on the break. It will be interesting to see what our manager wants us to do but we're an attacking side with a lot of pace so I'm not sure we will just try and defend the lead."

Defoe has already got a feel for the adidas ball that will be used for the final at Wembley in May having attended an event to promote its launch in the shops at Preston Manor High School.
He added: "I want to be scoring with this ball in the final at Wembley in May. It would be a real special day."

With Greaves' help, he may do just that.

 

[Spurger King]

I still firmly believe that if he can get one...whether it comes off his arse, his back, or an unnoticed hand...he'll hit a scoring streak again.

The pressure he's putting himself under to score is evident. He's trying too hard, and obviously making things more difficult for himself. Once he finds the back of the net again he'll play with a more relaxed attitude.

It's only a matter of time. The real question however, is should he be getting picked on the off-chance that "today will be the day" when Pav surely deserves more of a chance?

 

[Azrael]

It's only a matter of time. The real question however, is should he be getting picked on the off-chance that "today will be the day" when Pav surely deserves more of a chance?

No is the answer.


But since Harry will pick him anyway I have to hope that he finds the net in his next game.

 

[soup]

I've still got faith in you, JD. I just know you'll come good.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Tbh I'd rather see 71-year-old Greaves pull on a shirt for us against Wolves and Milan than Defoe.

I bet he can still effortlessly pass the ball past any keeper out there, with no need to resort to hopeless snatched blast shots.

Defoe could learn everything about Greaves from videos, but would still lack what it takes to become him - calibre and composure.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I still firmly believe that if he can get one...whether it comes off his arse, his back, or an unnoticed hand...he'll hit a scoring streak again.

The pressure he's putting himself under to score is evident. He's trying too hard, and obviously making things more difficult for himself. Once he finds the back of the net again he'll play with a more relaxed attitude.

It's only a matter of time. The real question however, is should he be getting picked on the off-chance that "today will be the day" when Pav surely deserves more of a chance?

He got 2 against Charlton. The difference is those defenders were of the level that he's effective against.

 

[guate]

I hope for J.D's sake that he starts to hit form again as many on this site, including myself, are fed up with him and the other two strikers constantly letting us down. Crouch, in all fairness, does seem to come alive in European games but J.D. and Pav. can be so frustrating to watch as they miss chance after chance after chance.
I understand 'Arry's faith in the little fella, especially having signed him 3 times for the different clubs he's managed, but I personally now believe it's time for the youngsters to be given a chance and come the end of the season get shot of the above two.

 

[PT]

He got 2 against Charlton. The difference is those defenders were of the level that he's effective against.

Have you ignored the Bulgarian and Twente defences then, when he was match fit and confident in his game?

 

[Delboy10]

I've still got faith in you, JD. I just know you'll come good.

This.

 

[Spurger King]

He got 2 against Charlton. The difference is those defenders were of the level that he's effective against.

I specifically meant in the league. It's obviously become a bit of a psychological block.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him score against Milan, but that wouldn't fill me with confidence that his league form would improve.

As for the Charlton defenders being of the level he's effective against, I couldn't disagree more.

 

[Gilzeanking]

Interesting . I'm far from JD's biggest fan..er very far , but yes Greaves style rolling the ball along the ground ,is exactly what JD has stopped doing . I say stopped because I have a memory of him through on goal and sliding a ground shot into the corner a la Greaves , so ,if my memory hasn't failed me he can do it .

Another thing JG could teach him is getting into dangerous positions in the box...goalhanging as we used to say . JD doesn't seem to do this effectively y'know getting little scuffed shots from 3 yards out . Obviously JD has a long way to go to compare...but this new insight is exactly what he needs imo

One further point is JD has never struck me as anything other than keen ,some suggest laziness..dunno his problem may be something else ...often doesn't seem to be the smartest of players . Anyway we're desperate maybe this'll help :shrug:

 

[Samson]

Have you ignored the Bulgarian and Twente defences then, when he was match fit and confident in his game?

Those are some fearsome defences, that is for sure.

 

[danielneeds]

I hope all his work pays of for him, I really do. Whatever his faults, he clearly lives for the game, and deserves a bit of luck after this wretched run.

 

[worcestersauce]

"It was brilliant to see. I saw his finishing, a lot of his goals seemed to come when he just passed the ball into the corners. He never seemed to hit it that hard. He was just really clever.
"So that week in training I was practising his technique and trying to catch the keeper off guard.

At 28 and a premiership striker you'd think he'd have learn't that before wouldn't you? His problem isn't that he doesn't do that, he never has, he has always been an instinctiove "hit it" merchant his problem is that he's lost his knack at that.
Let's hope this helps him, although if it does why hasn't anybody taught him it before?
Good luck JD.

 

[Black]

The article just proves defoe has no brain, he has no tekkers and never will.

Read the whole thing on the tube shaking my head

He is So fucking whatless

 

[SpurSince57]

"It was brilliant to see. I saw his finishing, a lot of his goals seemed to come when he just passed the ball into the corners. He never seemed to hit it that hard. He was just really clever.
"So that week in training I was practising his technique and trying to catch the keeper off guard.

At 28 and a premiership striker you'd think he'd have learn't that before wouldn't you? His problem isn't that he doesn't do that, he never has, he has always been an instinctiove "hit it" merchant his problem is that he's lost his knack at that.
Let's hope this helps him, although if it does why hasn't anybody taught him it before?
Good luck JD.

He's always got around 50% or more of his shots on target; no-one but an idiot could complain about that. The problem has been that he's tended to whack it whatever, frequently, it seems, straight at the keeper; that may just be an impression, but the fact that it's a generally held one suggests there's some basis to it. Placement is not JD's thing, although few strikers connect with the ball more cleanly.

I thought he'd got things more together at Pompey, as his conversion rate improved from a seriously so-so 1 in 8 to a decent 1 in 5 last season. There also seems to have been a general impression that his work-rate has improved.

But you ask, why hasn't anyone taught him this? Can you teach the extra magic, instinct, call it what you will, that elevates the likes of Greavesie, Gerd Muller, Klinsmann, Lineker etc. above Defoe and co?

 

[Mr Pink]

He's always got around 50% or more of his shots on target; no-one but an idiot could complain about that. The problem has been that he's tended to whack it whatever, frequently, it seems, straight at the keeper; that may just be an impression, but the fact that it's a generally held one suggests there's some basis to it. Placement is not JD's thing, although few strikers connect with the ball more cleanly.

I thought he'd got things more together at Pompey, as his conversion rate improved from a seriously so-so 1 in 8 to a decent 1 in 5 last season. There also seems to have been a general impression that his work-rate has improved.

But you ask, why hasn't anyone taught him this? Can you teach the extra magic, instinct, call it what you will, that elevates the likes of Greavesie, Gerd Muller, Klinsmann, Lineker etc. above Defoe and co?

I think you sum it up nicely with this sentence...a perfect example being our 2-0 win, at home, over the Pikey's last season. Modric gets the first goal, but for the second Defoe shoots and Green repels it...and then Defoe rifles it again at him straight into the net...it just skims Green's arm on the way in. That wasn't really good placement, he just catches it sweet as a nut, the velocity of the shot beats Green. An easy placed shot in the first place would avoid all that!!!

 

[yusrisafri]

I for one am glad if Harry continues to give him a chance, because he is indeed our best striker. Even if he doesnt score, you can see the impact he provides and the options he gives to the midfielders, in the sense that they can give through balls, knowing there's a quick striker up there who can run for the through balls. In terms of striking ability, no one shoots it better than him on his day. Come on Jermain, I have faith in you.

 

[roosh]

"It was brilliant to see. I saw his finishing, a lot of his goals seemed to come when he just passed the ball into the corners. He never seemed to hit it that hard. He was just really clever."

Is he seriously only figuring this out now?

 

[liam17oi]

I for one am glad if Harry continues to give him a chance, because he is indeed our best striker. Even if he doesnt score, you can see the impact he provides and the options he gives to the midfielders, in the sense that they can give through balls, knowing there's a quick striker up there who can run for the through balls. In terms of striking ability, no one shoots it better than him on his day. Come on Jermain, I have faith in you.

That's rubbish mate. He offers nothing if he doesn't score.

Pav is our leading League goalscorer. Chance? Not in Redknapp's books, sticks with one-dimensional pot-shot Defoe.