Defoe + Keane: Will it work?

[VegasII]

Japanese Midgets Utd have a midget strike force...but then they'd have to wouldn't they.

 

[guy]

its great how armchair pundits have written off a manager of 20+ yrs experience's plan

great stuff


it can and will work in certain circumstances and it wont when we're playing other games. simple as that.

 

[Makkaveli101]

Give it a go, I'm sure 'Arry would'nt have signed Keane back if he didnt think he could play with his golden son Defoe.

Why else would he have signed them for the same team. Defoe left because he was an "understudy" to Keane, Redknapp wouldn't have splashed 30 million to create the same problem we had for years. He obviously thinks they can. Wouldn't be surprised to see the pair starting up front for our first game of the season.

 

[Spurs_Q8]

yes it could work, if you look at our last games, you can't remember Bent won a single ball in the air.

while Tevez & Rooney worked for Man Utd to win the title, with less expectations here, Keane & Defoe can do good job.

 

[Bill_Oddie]

At the moment we're benefiting from the fact that sides haven't cottoned on the fluidity of movement from Lennon and Modric, combined with Keano dropping deep. We're punishing sides 'in the hole' and at the back post. This tactic works well as Bent is constantly either on the shoulder or trying to run behind the back line, pushing defences deep and helping to create space for Modders and Lennon.

The issue we have is how soon this tactic lasts before it gets found out. Sides who clog the centre of the park, pass quickly and try to win dead balls will probably cause us problems like Chelsea did for the last half hour on the weekend. Still, they are Chelsea.

For me, this way of playing is not only attractive but effective. And, best of all, it doesn't strongly rely on a tall striker. We'll have an option on the bench, of course (probably Pav) and that's fine as if we're not ahead on the hour, then a rethink will be necessary and going 3 up (Keane just behind) will be arguably even more effective.

I trust Harry on this one.

 

[guy]

yes it could work, if you look at our last games, you can't remember Bent won a single ball in the air.

while Tevez & Rooney worked for Man Utd to win the title, with less expectations here, Keane & Defoe can do good job.

spot on mate. And defoe can hold the ball up better than bent anyhoo because he has better control

 

[archiewasking]

The Gooners relied for quite a few years on small men and pace and accurate passing. That's only changed as Adebayor emerged and even then he's not playing a lot this year. It now seems to be Eduardo, Van Persie and Bentner, with Walcott and Arshavin, not a lot of height there. Greaves, Lineker, Klinsmann weren't big and they seemed to do ok.

I thought re-signing Keane after getting Defoe back was barmy, but now I think a partnership might just work. And getting Robbie back must have been partly motivated by losing Defoe for a lengthy spell to injury. Although I would feel mighty sorry for Benty if he gets benched again, given the goals he's scored for us and without which we would be in a heap of trouble.

 

[Garm]

Yes, play on the floor and this will work fine.

 

[dannythomas]

:bang:

No chance and we all know it. Defoe will be gone by next summer, but tbh I be quite happy to see them both shipped out.

:bang:Why not ship out King, Woodgate, Lennon and Modric while you are at it ? FFS.

 

[idlepete]

Yeah how many times did they play together though?

Ok yeah, you win. Those forty goals they got between them are made to look soooooo much worse by the fact they only got to play half a season each.

 

[THOWIG]

:bang::bang:Why not ship out King, Woodgate, Lennon and Modric while you are at it ? FFS.

Ah I've never felt more loved. The point of this site is based on peoples opinions. You rate Keane and Defoe that's fine, but I don't. Seeing different ability in players is what it's all about.

 

[THOWIG]

Ok yeah, you win. Those forty goals they got between them are made to look soooooo much worse by the fact they only got to play half a season each.

That's not the point of this thread or the point I made. I think you knew that though.

 

[dannythomas]

Ah I've never felt more loved. The point of this site is based on peoples opinions. You rate Keane and Defoe that's fine, but I don't. Seeing different ability in players is what it's all about.

Whatever you would like do you really imagine for 1 moment that Harry will get rid of both Defoe and Keane who he only bought yesterday ? Would you like him to get rid of Pav and Bent too ( who are much more likely to go ) and then sign another 4 strikers ?

Don't you think we need a period of stability so we can build on our recent encouraging form and team shape ?

 

[THOWIG]

Whatever you would like do you really imagine for 1 moment that Harry will get rid of both Defoe and Keane who he only bought yesterday ? Would you like him to get rid of Pav and Bent too ( who are much more likely to go ) and then sign another 4 strikers ?

Don't you think we need a period of stability so we can build on our recent encouraging form and team shape ?

No of course not, but if he sold any of them I wouldn't worry. I'm just expressing my thoughts. I'm quite picky about players I like and dislike, but any player that plays for Spurs I support 100 percent.

I think people are getting carried away in regards to the shape and recent form. These types of threads always start after a couple of wins. I applaud Redknapp for his restructering of the midfield, but our forward line is our weakest area.

 

[g_harry]

in the stoke game i thought pav and defoe were starting to link well together

 

[steve]

Some games it will work, some it won't - that's why you have a squad. Defoe is definitely a better player than before, his all round game and attitude have improved without doubt and Keane is now back to where he was before he left.

Potentially with the right service they could devastate teams, certainly the weaker ones at home. But away from home things could be different as Defoe's away record is poor and the need to hold the ball up and provide a greater physical presence in order to relieve pressure will be greater. We need a physical, strong and good hold up player. Two who spring to mind are Ashton and Santa Cruz. Shame they're both crocks....

 

[ultimateloner]

It won't work and neither could play as a lone striker. We are going to get someone better in the summer.

 

[ravo]

I think that Bent is a lot better in the air than people give him credit for. However, that said, I still think that playing the ball on the deck the way we are now (thanks to Modric and Lennon for this), Keane and Defore CAN play together...

 

[DC_Boy]

I can't see it working on a regular basis - there may be occasions when it will work - depends who else is playing

certainly couldn't see those two plus lennon and modric all playing successfully together - except on very rare occasions

as for AFC I don't recall anelka or henry being small

tevez and rooney certainly aren't, they're far more powerfully built than keane and defoe

 

[BringBack_leGin]

The presence of Lennon and Modric is the very reason why Keane and Defoe can work well together. Those two players create so much space, which is what in their own ways both Keane and Defoe need. The presence of Palacios also helps, because he wins the ball early on in the opposition attacks. This means that we get possession back early, while our attacking players are still in advanced positions, so can attack quickly and incisively, again perfect for Keane and Defoe to work together. Of course it won't work every single game, but there is no reason why is should not be a commonly used weapon as it is an attack full of flair, pace, guile and creativity. Ideally we will have a big striker to offer something different when we need to, but i hold high hopes that Defoe and Keane can be a potent strikerforce, serviced by Lennon and Modric.