How will history view Defoe?

[InOffMeLeftShin]

We had a thread after Van Der Vaart left asking whether he'd be regarded as a Tottenham legend despite only being with us for 2 seasons and struggling with fitness. Clearly Van Der Vaart was absolute quality and one of the very best players we've seen at the Lane in recent years and I think he can easily be considered a legend purely on the style he brought to us.

Now Defoe is a different story altogether. I don't think anyone would suggest that Defoe is close to the quality of the player of Van Der Vaart and in fact he is a player who receives as many or more negative comments than he does positive comments from Spurs fans. But he has now scored 123 goals for Tottenham moving up to 8th all time above Keane and Sheringham. He is our second highest scorer in Europe behind Chivers. So in 10 or so years, how will he be viewed?

 

[Pete Spur]

No for me. Legends are players like Gazza or Hoddle, you know players who are capable of producing magic on a footy pitch. He'll be remembered as a good servant of the club who had a knack for scoring and not much else. Probably like most things in history though it will depend on who you talk too.

 

[Mullers]

Not a legend as things stand at the moment, I think this is the best I've seen him play in his career and I give him credit for reaching that milestone but he isn't better than Keane or Sheringham in their prime. I don't think he has to score 150 goals but scoring in a cup final, preferably the Europa cup final can make him a legend.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

He needs to add the odd dragback to his game. Also to beat at least 3 or 4 players before dummying the keeper, stopping the ball on the line and kneeling down to head it in. And it wouldn't hurt if he started to knock one in from 30 yards now and again. Preferably on the volley. Other than that a fine player and servant to the club.

 

[sweyid]

I think he will be. He's scored more than 100 goals for Spurs. If he scores the winner in a cup he'll be a definite legend.

 

[RichSpur58]

He won't be a legend. Legend has to be world class.

I think he will be remembered as a good finisher and loyal player.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

He won't be a legend. Legend has to be world class.

I think he will be remembered as a good finisher and loyal player.

So how many legends do we have then?

 

[kcmei]

Will be legend if we win our last game

Will not be legend of we lost our last game

 

[mano-obe]

Spurs fans seem to worship Defoe, when he returned from Pompey I think a lot jizzed in their knickers. Even when he's playing poorly people don't want him to leave the pitch.

His finishing in the past has let him down, especially the blast instead of placement. I'll look back on Defoe thinking he could have scored at least 50 goals more. Consistency and decision making has let him down.

He loves spurs though and that for me will make me look back on him with a big smile.

Legend? Not quite, that's saved for the Ginolas, Gazzas and the klinsmanns!

 

[tototoner]

Said yes, I based that on quantity not quality

He will be remembered alongside the likes of Peters , Sheringham , Gilzean and Keane

He is no Greaves, Smith , Jones or Chivers though

 

[Wsussexspur]

Depends how you view legends. In my years of supporting Spurs in my view legends are players like Ginola, Klinsnann, Gazza. At the moment in my view Defoe at the moment will go down with players fondly remembered like Darren Anderton, Robbie Keane, Teddy Sheringham, Berbatov and VDV.

 

[Challows]

How will history view Defoe? Offside probably....

On a serious note, he's been a good servant to the club and has obviously scored a large amount of goals, but I've got a feeling I'll be stuck in the 'He could have scored twice the amount if only he was more than shift and shoot'.

In 30/40 years I would be telling my grandkids about the Sheringham's, the Berba/Keane partnership and hopefully many more top strikers at Spurs. Not sure I'll have many top memories of Defoe unless he does something stand out, i.e winner in a cup final etc...

 

[myhartlane]

I think that sustained, overall contribution to the club goes a long way to cementing legend status. As much as I love Klinsmann and Ginola, although they are far more glamorous and gifted players than Defoe, in relative terms their contribution was limited. Since scoring goals is the bread and butter of a football team, as one of the all time top scorers jermanie Defoe is most definitely a club legend in my eyes.

 

[myhartlane]

So how many legends do we have then?

Exactly. Gary Mabbut, world class? Club legend no question.

 

[Gbspurs]

Feel a bit sorry for him. Just overtaken Sheringham in the goals for us. 8th in the all time which is pretty impressive given some of the amazing strikers who have played for us. Still don't think he will be considered a legend though.

 

[OneHotspur1988]

Woodgate for facing in that goal against the chavs to win us a cup.

 

[mattyspurs]

He has his faults, I think he is a greedy player, doesn't bring others into the game, gets caught offside too much. To be honest I would have been happy to move him on in the summer, because I felt that we had outgrown Defoe.

However, if he was at Everton, Villa, teams like those, and had scored 123 goals for them, the fans would be over the moon to have a player like that in their history.

For that reason, he has to be considered a legend, surely. At the end of the day, history defines legends, and when your kids, grandkids etc, look at the scoring chart for Spurs PLayers, Jermain Defoes name will be well cemented in the top 10.

Thanks for your effort JD.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Defoe should be remembered for what he is, a good striker. Because he is.

The problem is the game has evolved, and he hasn't. Same as the game went through a 3-5-2 phase years ago, or the Christmas Tree formation, it's now in a period where the 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 is the formation that the majority of clubs plump for. This just doesn't suit his game at all.

As far as club legend goes, not for me. But good striker and good part of our recent history.

 

[max cady]

In an era when the word 'legend' is loosely used I would not credit Defoe with that title......I save that for the old boys, who I grew up with Blanchflower, Jennings, Greaves, Mackay, Chivers, Hoddle..........the whole double winning team and of course Sir Bill.

 

[jimmy-jojo]

Not a legend for me.

When he starts scoring in the big games against big oppostion then he might be considered one. Quality over quantity to be considered a legend.

IMO, a legend is someone who is consistently very very good...or consistently very very shit. Defoe is neither of these things.