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Time to bring back the classic debate

What are you?

  • Team Defoe

  • Team Keane


Results are only viewable after voting.

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Keane was by far the more rounded player. A '9.5' who could drop off the front and link play with a bit of creativity/flair but also, especially in his younger days, was adept at getting in the box for his share of goals or bursting in behind. Also struck up better partnerships - most notably with Berbatov, another '9.5' albeit with different characteristics, which was wonderfully fluid at it's best. I did always think he had a bit of an overinflated opinion of himself and his abilities though, countless games especially away from home where he'd attempt to drop into midfield or out to a flank and offered diddly squat either with or without the ball.

Defoe was all about scoring goals, which you do need, but was absolutely one dimensional. He just lived to get in behind and peel off the shoulder of a defender down the channel. On a good day he could run riot and rack up the goals, but there were also just as many if not more where Spurs teams of that time were having a crap day and he'd barely get a kick of the ball and not be looking to do anything else - I remember so many game stats where it would be Defoe with 5 touches or less in matches.
 

Havre

Well-Known Member
Aug 8, 2019
829
1,065
Keane ended up being a moaning self-centered !%!"!"%, but in terms of quality for as long as he cared there is no comparison for me. Keane was by far the better player. I choose to remember Keane up until the summer of 2008. After that he was a poor player and his behaviour on the pitch unacceptable for what should have been a senior player helping our younger players.

Therefore I will always like Defoe more. Especially as he got older he just seemed like a really good guy.

Obviously I could be completely wrong - as these things are difficult to evaluate without knowing either of them. Roy Keane is an example is often spoken about in a completely different way than you might think from former team-mates etc.

As a fan wanting Spurs to be the best possible team I am on Team Keane unfortunately. I respect Defoe for what he got out of his career, but he was never proper top class.
 

Gbspurs

Gatekeeper for debates, King of the plonkers
Jan 27, 2011
26,945
61,824
I like Defoe for what he was which was a no nonsense, passionate goal getter. Problem is he didn't have much else to his game and he never got enough goals per season to justify this.

Keane was a "once in a generation" type talent, with a varied skill set. The fact that we saw the best out of him once he was with better players shows you how good he could have been with a top side (I'm ignoring the Liverpool debacle as they were on the slide and had bigger issues than him).
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Keano.

His partnerships with Kanoute and Berbatov were equisite.

Was absolutely gutted when he left and when we got him back always thought a shame we didn’t also get a decent strike partner for him.
 

millhouse

Well-Known Member
Nov 4, 2003
3,607
328
Keane every day of the week.

As much as I love Defoe all he could do was shift it and blast it
 

Misfit

President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
May 7, 2006
21,014
34,214
Jesus Christ. How sad is it that I knew exactly what this would be before opening the thread? And I wasn't alone. ?

And Keane btw. Not even close either and I lurve me some JD.
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
Keano.

His partnerships with Kanoute and Berbatov were equisite.

Was absolutely gutted when he left and when we got him back always thought a shame we didn’t also get a decent strike partner for him.

Now there’s a striker who was underrated by some I feel. I know we’ve had some great strikers over the years, but I think it’s a shame he didn’t play in a better team.

Although he wasn’t what you’d call prolific, I loved watching him play and when he was on top of his game he was quality. I’ll never forget his goal at WHL against Everton.
 
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stov

Well-Known Member
Jul 20, 2005
3,353
6,112
Keane. Better all round player. With forward tumble. Ireland's greatest goalscorer.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Now there’s a striker who was underrated by some I feel. I know we’ve had some great strikers over the years, but I think it’s a shame he didn’t play in a better team.

Although he wasn’t what you’d call prolific, I loved watching him play and when he was on top of his game he was quality. I’ll never forget his goal at WHL against Everton.

He was so so good at linking up.

I think he was better with Keane as more flexible partnership, he certainly had his most prolific spell up top with him.

We played him with Defoe too often for me.

Seemed a mentality player as well where you had to show him the love.
 

DJS

A hoonter must hoont
Dec 9, 2006
31,261
21,760
Would they have not tried to take the same spaces? make similar runs?

Same was thought of Keane and Betbatov when we first signed the latter.

I think they’d have thrived as flexible intelligent players with strengths that compliment each other.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Both good but not great goalscorers, Defoe the quick player with the better finish, Keane the more gifted and better rounded. Defoes actual skill and ability to pass was underrated, as was Keane’s ability to lead the line. Both were better with a target man to play off, mainly Mido and Berbatov in leaves case, Kanoute and Crouch on Defoes. Probably says a lot about their strengths that Defoe scored the bulk of the goals in his partnerships, which Keane shared the spoils pretty evenly.

I remember both fondly and as bright lights who played a huge role in our ascent from mid table to European regulars.

If I had to take one now, it would be Keane. But I’d say I rate them equally as players.
 

Yid121

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
3,463
3,139
For some reason I admire Defoe a lot more and am a big fan of him. Still follow him at Rangers. I think the fact he was English possibly meant I supported him for England which helped. His return from pompey probably helped whereas Keane moved onto "better" things with Liverpool. I think that left a bitter taste whereas Defoe gave THFC the pinnacle of his career.

Keane was a better all round player than Defoe, had more to his game in my opinion but I'm voting for my heart, I still remember a lot of Defoe's goals, even that 5 goal thriller, Fond memories. Not that Keane didn't score some greats either, Chelsea should remember. But Defoe it is! Legend!
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Its like asking which of your kids do you love most.
Defoe the more natural goal scorer for me.
Keane the better footballer.
Both fantastic and loved them both.
I remember Keanes first hattrick and Defoes 5 against Wigan the most.
 

topper

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2008
3,806
16,254
What threw me when looking at the title of this thread was trying to associate the words ‘classic debate’ with this site!
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
He was so so good at linking up.

I think he was better with Keane as more flexible partnership, he certainly had his most prolific spell up top with him.

We played him with Defoe too often for me.

Seemed a mentality player as well where you had to show him the love.

Yeah it all seemed to go tits up when he insisted on playing in the ANC if I remember rightly? Him and Jol’s relationship seemed to go downhill after that. I was quite gutted when we sold him.
 
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