In need of a goal? Take off your top scorer (Video)

His Tottenham team were trailing Wigan 1-0 and with half the second half gone he opted to send on striker Emmanuel Adebayor, at the expense of lone striker Jermaine Defoe.

The switch drew confusion and boos from the White Hart Lane faithful who struggled to understand the removal of their top scorer when they were chasing the game.

Especially the removal of Defoe, the man who once scored 5 in a 9-1 demolition against the perennial relegation strugglers.

So, with apologies to Wigan fans, here’s what Spurs fans were hoping for a repeat of on Saturday.

Robert Lock

Follow @rj_lock

Comments

[jabbatheyid]

defoe has scored goals this season, no doubt about it, but saturday he wasn't getting a look in, he's also gone off the boil at the moment as he usually does. making the substitution was correct imo, so why all this negative pathetic drivel from the writer of this article? maybe that's why you write and don't manage a football team? c

[Sam]

Well said jabbatheyid.

Defoe is greedy, he doesn't know when to pass, he doesn't have a placed shot either - it's either he connects sweetly and hits the ball as hard as poss, or that's pretty much it. He completed about 5 passes against Wigan, and offered nothing up front. Potentially it's not his fault he was played against big defenders, but then again, why should AVB be blamed for picking his in-form striker?

Anyway - Defoe wasn't up to scratch against Wigan, so bringing on Adebayor was a fair substitution. Taking off Dempsey would have left us light of muscle, and taking of Siggurdson (who'd not long been on) would have been a little harsh on him. And also, without Sandro, we needed Siggurdson's pace.

The same fans that booed on Saturday are mostly the same fans that probably spend their week writing on forums that Adebayor should be starting over Defoe... also, if they're not going to make any noise, you don't even have the right to boo.

Add to this, the press in every form jump on AVB's back whether Tottenham lose or win, so booing will give them a field day. And, finally, Defoe milking said booing when he was walking off didn't help either. In fact, Defoe should think about how he reacts in the future. Save it for the dressnig room, not on the pitch. Hossam Ghaly once threw his shirt to the ground, and was ostracised by our fans, and act which I saw through and took as a guy who was frustrated at being subbed on and then off in the same match. It wasn't disrespect for the club - it could just have easily been a training-bib or a water bottle. It was just the unfortunate way his frustration came out. What Defoe did, bating his own crowd when they were booing their new manager, wasn't on.

To surmise: whatever AVB does, the press, and pointless websites like this, are going to write a negative article either way. Spurs could finish top 4, win the Europa League and the FA Cup and the press would still find fault...

One word: YAWN.

[Robert Lock]

jabbatheyid- I wasn't being negative of AVB, just suggesting that taking your top scorer off when you're losing is a strange decision.
Defoe was having a poor game, but we've seen time again how he can snatch a goal against the run of play even when he is having an off day. And surely having the presence of Adebayor alongside him would have only improved his chances?

Thanks for commenting

[Alex]

Jabbatheyid & Sam... Shut up. That is all.

[Sam]

Lol @ Alex. How articulate and worth it.

@ Robert Lock - did you watch the game? What do you feel Defoe offered? He can't work a big back line Like Wigan. Even though I'm not his biggest fan, but Rooney would. Doesn't matter how big you are, you give them a tough time. He didn't. Defoe's presence - or lack of - affect the midfield, more than Huddlestone or anyone else, especially, as they have nothing to aim for. He's a brilliant opportunist, and a scorer of great goals. But also, much like Rooney, he goes through spells. Against Southampton last week, a team who have let in the most out of anyone, he should have scored three or four, or at least troubled the keeper more. He didn't.

Defoe, as much as we love him, is often carried by Spurs. If we want to move on, we can't afford to carry people.

He's a great "last 20mins" of a game sub, because he gives you 90mins of football condensed into that 20mins. I'm starting to think Harry knew what he was doing with him... keep him sulking on the bench, and then unleash him at the end of a game, when he runs around trying to get that goal to make him a hero so he can prove a point. He had a point to prove when he went on loan to Bournemouth, and he has a point to prove every time he joins a new club. Now AVB is picking him, he doesn't have a point to prove any more. His greatest downfall.

For all his goals, he doesn't offer much across 90mins, and if he does, it's not consistent.