Tottenham Hotspur strikers can’t score for club nor country
What has gone wrong with what was one of the deadliest strike forces in the Premiership? Robbie Keane used to score for fun, and Defoe, whilst never prolific at least offered a good alternative, now neither of these strikers seem to be able to get off the mark for Tottenham (without the aid of a dodgy penalty anyway), and at international level they just couldn’t buy a goal!
Even Bulgarian star striker, Berbatov, seems to be suffering from the same malaise since he moved to Tottenham. After previously having an excellent scoring record at Bayer Leverkusen, he’s finding it impossible to hit the net for his new club (apart from a tap-in against the Premiership whipping boys Sheffield United), and this weekend he was never in the game either, after previously scoring 31 in 50 games for Bulgaria.
Is Jol still taking the team to the Marriott hotel for dinner?
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53 opinions for Tottenham Hotspur strikers can’t score for club nor country
dannymackay
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:08 pm
what a rubbish analyis.
Keane and Defoe scored in spurs’ last couple of games. meanwhile Keane is Ireland’s highest ever goalscorer and Defoe scored two for England a couple of weeks ago.
As for Berbatov - he has only played four games in England (i think) - with injury keeping him sidelined.
jasonyid
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Yes keane and defoe have both been poor in front of goal but you cannot judge berbatov as he was out for 5 games injured
Sack the Juggler
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Good point about Berbatov being injured and that probably affected his performance at the weekend, although having said that he was publically criticised by Bulgaria’s former golden boy Lechkov as being “nothing but a dummy player in the past several games”
yiddorui
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:22 pm
what an arse….. Berbi is just coming back from injury and robbie keane just needs a few games to get up to pace and then they will both be smashing them in for both club and country. Pretty much a non-storey and lets remember it could be worse….we could be West Ham!!!
Richard
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:40 pm
What w*&ker (obviously a gooner) wrote that shite report on Tottenham strikers cant score for club nor country? Following Jasonyid’s comment on Berbatov, Defoe came off the bench for England with 14 mins to go on Saturday against Macedonia? That leaves Robbie Keane who is currently Tottenham’s leading goalscorer together with th fact that he has also recently beaten Nial Quinns existing goalscoring record for his country to become The Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer!!!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 9, 2006 at 2:49 pm
How many more games does Keane need to get up to pace?
dannymackay
Oct 9, 2006 at 3:05 pm
Keane scored in our uefa cup win about eleven days ago. so perhaps he is up to pace…
as for Ireland, I think their problems go much deeper than any one play.
michael
Oct 9, 2006 at 5:28 pm
think jenas is actually our top scorer isnt he?
Spursy2j
Oct 9, 2006 at 10:09 pm
you only post anti spurs posts? It seems a bit de ja vue
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:57 am
believe me, STJ is no gooner. Though I am. So Defoe comes off the bench vs Macedonia. With 14 minutes to do something. I didnt even see the game, but I can tell you one thing: he didnt score…
and I dont think the Rep Ireland scoring record is anything to write home about. What is it, 20 something? Though he’s done well to get that many in a poor team that don’t play so many games… who’s he beating? Niall Quinn?
you wont want to hear it, but your problem is the same as ever. Decent skill, but not enough top players, nor enough spirit…
Top 10, yes. Top 6, maybe. Above Arsenal, or anywhere in the top 3? No chance. You need 2 more midfielders, cos Jenas is overrated, and Davids slowing down… Lennon is awesome though…
RavSpur
Oct 10, 2006 at 7:15 am
I like to see articles like this, especially when we just have to wait for the weekend to prove them wrong. I am sure our strikers will get on the scoresheet this weekend against Villa. Our Midfield will also sooner or later start banging in goals with the likes of Murphy, Jenas and Zakora.
My only concern for spurs is the king. He needs like a month off to recover.
yiddorui
Oct 10, 2006 at 7:30 am
suprise suprise sammy is another gooner that didnt actually see the game!! keep it up son and you could end up as part of the management team at the emershites!!!!!!!!!!!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 8:15 am
Michael - Jenas is top scorer with 2, although to be fair that should have been 3, I’m sure that miss against Liverpool will come up as a “what happened next?” clip.
Spurs2j - Its not an anti-spurs post, its just a comment on the international results at the weekend, in fact Ravspurs has a point its up to the likes of Keane, Defoe, Berbatov (I wont say Mido because he’s just crap), to prove the article wrong - they’ve definitely got the ability, they just can’t find the net - don’t know if its a confidence thing or if they are just not interested in Jol?
To be fair I was just focussing on International and Premiership form, but even though Spurs are progressing in the UEFA, its still annoying to see the amount of chances missed
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 9:52 am
WTF!!!! Are you insane. How can you begin to have a debate that involves JER MAIN MAN at international level when the poor little sod only played about sixteen minutes! What about the boy wonder Rooney who has had a far longer rough patch. Don’t get me wrong Rooneeyy is outstanding but Defoe looked far more threatening with the ball for the short time he was on. There’s a talking point!!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 11:21 am
You’ve got to admire Defoe’s skill on the ball, but when is he going to start converting that into goals? Ok I accept he only had 14 minutes, but why is that? Whay is he not first on the team sheet every game? Its partly because Crouch is the only player really scoring for England, but even that in itself is a damning indictement of the England forwards. England have a good team right up to our forward line, but then it breaks down…
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 11:35 am
To be honest Rooney at best is number one and having a target man seems to be flavour of the month so thats Crouch. As Far as Defoe bent Johnson etc, they are so desperate to impress and make a descent claim they often fluff their chances. It’s all about the presssure!!!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 11:44 am
Sussex Spurs - I know pressure has an impact, but when you are playing each week infront of 30-40k fans, who criticise each mistake you make, or your team makes, or the ref makes, and you know that the TV cameras are on you every minute of the game so millions will be watching across the world, then you should be used to the pressure.
The only additional pressure is knowing that you are doing this for yourself, not for your wage packet or for the fans, but for you…
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:02 pm
yes i know i get that but when you only get 10 or so mins agains t semi to quality opposition how can you get over those initial nerves ang get a descent percent of chances to work on and i’m talking more Bent and Johnson here as i know Defoe has had a fair few chances and yes he’s not a prolific scorer, but he IS dangerous as i know you have acknowledged.
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:13 pm
continued. steve should take the bull by the horns and play Johnson against Croatia from the start and really see what he’s made of. What harm could it do? We’d still have our defensive capabilities and at least we’ll have tried different strikers, which is more than sven borin ever did!!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Isn’t AJ injured for Croatia?
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:25 pm
Hang on a minute clever clogs, i never said i knew anything about football!!!! Bent then it doesn’t really matter, just try something new for longer than ten mins.
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:30 pm
I agree, give Darren a go. If he can score as many goals as he did last season in a side as poor as Charlton were last season, I think he could be useful. The other benefit with DB is that he works really hard and has great pace which England has lacked in some matches recently.
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:34 pm
Johnson has a slight hamstring problem, so while he may be fit again for Everton’s next game, its unlikely his club will allow him to be risked against Croatia, but I would like to see what he’s made of. He seems to have made the step up from Championship to Premiership effortlessly, so he’d probably continue to work as hard at international level.
Bent also has amazing pace, and is a great finisher, but not sure of his overall work ethic.
I think Bent and Rooney might work well, with Bent’s pace forcing the Croatians to defend deep and Rooney exploiting the empty space infront of them.
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:36 pm
AS far as I have seen (and I saw probably 15 Charlton matches with Bent start last season at various grounds), Bent has a really good attitude. He isn’t afraid to track back when he needs to and his skill and pace is unquestionable.
That is of course only my opinion and there will be people who will have seen a lot mroe of him last term and will disagree no doubt.
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:37 pm
Quite right. With the abscence of Aaron Super Lennon and your ONLY english player not being given a shot. What othe roptions have you got????
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:40 pm
Not sure who the dig is at Sussex?
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:43 pm
Can anyone tell me why oh why Kevin Davis of Bolton has never been picked (to my knowledge). I think he could bring a lot to the England team. I am of course assuming he is English?
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:45 pm
Come on Laura, Only some friendly neighbourly banter. We’ve not got much to dig about,at least let us have that one, eh?
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:47 pm
hmmmm, I guess if you have to have something to dig at it could be worse
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:53 pm
I don’t have to dig i’ve just become bitter after years of Gooner abuse. Even if a lot of it is true!!!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Laura, i’ll go with your view of Bent’s overall attitude, thinking back it I can only remember one game where i felt he wasn’t giving 100%.
As for Kevin Davies, his style works for Bolton, and no doubt if Big Sam had been made manager then we’d've seen him in an England shirt, but his physical approach to the game would have probably seen him sent off probably in each game he played, not that he’s dirty, just physical and FIFA doesn’t like the game being a contact sport!
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:06 pm
STJ -Contact sport, Don’t even get me started on that one!!!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:14 pm
I have to say SS that I’m not too keen on the digging at other football fans - I hate it when people do it to me (when it is more than a bit of banter I mean) so I don’t do it to other fans.
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Ok we’ll agree not to do it anymore. Have to say the stadium is quality. I can’t believe i just said that. GOOOOONNNNNEEEEERRRR!!!!!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:33 pm
ha ha, you better cleanse yourself with a trip to White Hart Lane! No, have to admit, it is impressive, I unlike many Gooners have no issues with it!
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Maybe spurs might actually be able to beat you there. We certainly didn’t have much joy at highbury!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 1:55 pm
You never know - it all depends whetehr your strikers start scoring and our midfielders start taking shots! I for one will be praying for a home victory!
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 2:02 pm
And i’m sure you’ll get it!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 2:03 pm
I’m not too sure, new stadium is a bit like Wembley and we all know what happened when Arsenal played there regularly!
Sack the Juggler
Oct 10, 2006 at 2:29 pm
Is it true that one of the workers bricked up a Tottenham shirt somewhere whilst building the Emirates stadium?
Mind you the way Spurs are playing at the moment I think he’s bricked up half the Tottenham team as well!
Laura
Oct 10, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Apparently there is a shirt underneath one of the goals - it did look like it was going to work afetr the first few matches!!
sussex spurs
Oct 10, 2006 at 3:26 pm
We don’t need to be bricked up. Good old fashioned poison normally does the trick!! (like the murphy’s i’m not bitter)!!!
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 12, 2006 at 10:15 pm
yiddorou, ya missing my point. Defore isnt scoring, cos he doesnt have the midfield to back him up. and theres only one comment I could make about the game, having not seen it… that defoe didnt score. Am I wrong?
sussex spurs
Oct 14, 2006 at 2:47 pm
sammy goonersRpants - I don’t think any Gooner can cricise an england player. You don’t have any so cannot have any of your boys criticised (which is convenient)! Why don’t you go on some french blog or somethin, you should feel at home there!!
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 15, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Actually, it probably makes me a bit more objective about England that there arent any Arsenal players currently in the (senior) line up… though I could maybe talk about Walcotts 14 minutes for England being better than Defoes….
Its probably a few years since there were so many Spurs players in and around the England squad, isnt it? Maybe thats why you’re excited. And guess what? England are crap just now.
You are correct with your witty pun on my nick… I must admit that gooners r pants. What with the new 60,000 seat stadium, a groaning trophy cupboard, and 10 places ahead of you in the league. Your words carry much truth, friend. Typical bleedin Spud.
Oh before I forget, how many foreign players in your team? Plenty. Drop Zakora, Berbatov, Keane, Davids and the rest, replace them with Englishmen, and then you can talk about foreigners…
You know what probably hurts you the most? Knowing that the gooners are far more concerned about Chelsea than your mid table outfit…
sussex spurs
Oct 16, 2006 at 11:25 am
Hey man i’m not bitter i’m used to it. Why would you be concerned about Chelsea? I truely am baffled. The one thing about you boys i actually respect is the way you go about buisness, ie honesty and not going out and paying way over the top on NAMES alone, and you like us have a lot of history so i therefore respect you as a football club.
Chelski i do not respect at all, no real history and have bought everything they have achieved. Can’t compete with that so why worry about it!
Come on pal, without our age long local rivallry and tirelees banter where would we be if the other weren’t there????
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 16, 2006 at 2:34 pm
hehe. I said we’re concerned about Chel$ki. We dont respect em. We do worry, cos we CAN compete. (unlike Spurs) We’re the only club that can, along with Man Ure.
But ya right. 2-3 years ago when spurs were still 15th or so come march ( usually you’ve rallied to the top half by then~) I was worried. What would Tom be without Jerry, after all? I was like a dog with two bones. What would be better… watching Spurs drop, or having them around for another season to laugh at?
But, truth is, ya not bad enough to be relegated. Just bad enough to give your fans false hope, and us Gooners a good laugh, year after year.
Keep it up.
sussex spurs
Oct 16, 2006 at 9:26 pm
Every dog has his day!! And one day it will be our day. I’m not going to waffle on about past glories because that would be boring and what you would expect as a spurs fan, but all to soon you lot will be doing exactly the same.
The French revoloution has almost come to an end. You’ve not exactly replaced Viera and as much as it pains me to say it Henry is unreplaceable. Face it you are all to quickly also becoming also rans.
But sympathy is felt about Judas boy Campbell. Wanting to go to a foreign club then moving 70 miles down the road to Pompey. Thats one thing we’ve all got in common.
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 16, 2006 at 10:18 pm
LOL.
Ding! no comeback on that one. (Campbell)
But Henry is replaceable. ( it pains me to say it, but if nothing else, he’ll age, so…) The lads name is Walcott.
You say we havent replaced Viera? I say you havent replaced Gascoigne. I doubt I’ll be living on past glories for a while yet…
And finally…if we are also rans, then so are every other team in the EPL - we should crown Chelsea now and save our money. 2nd / 3rd and ECL is not “also ran” - it’s a place, if you want to keep up the racing analogy. 8th/9th and a cup quarter final, however, most definitely is.
sussex spurs
Oct 17, 2006 at 9:36 am
Of course, a place, thats what you lot cheated us out of on the last game of last seaon!!!!
Ok, i’m joking, i know you didn’t, but someone else who stood to loose alot of money did.
Before anyone says it’s sour grapes, here’s a thought. The only players who became vilolently ill were the ones who ate lasagne. The medeical report stated the players went round with some sort of bug. Bollox, when a stomach bug goes round a primary school it takes a couple of weeks to spread through a class. Kids with far weaker ammune systems than pro footballers. But somehow it managed to spread through half the spurs camp in twelve hours!!!!
On this occasion we were cheated and we deserved it more than you. For once in this conversation admit that point, i dare Ya !!!!
sussex spurs
Oct 19, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Henry’s anger at the refereeing!!
To coin a phrase used by Henry and the masses of gooner at the end of last season,
GET OVER IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 22, 2006 at 10:55 pm
Theres no doubt you were unfortunate, yes. Cheated? No…Did you deserve it more than we did? Well, we made 4th whilst playing EPL all the way to the final, and with 8 long term injuries to first team players. You very NEARLY made 4th with a much lighter load, and one piece of rank bad luck. No, we deserved it more.
I thinks it’s obvious, no? The lasagne was bad news. Unlucky - the players that ate it got the shits. Plain and simple. You know any different? if it’s a conspiracy rather than dodgy catering, say so, and name names.To also assume you’d have beaten West Ham is disrespectful to that club…. who could well have held you or even won against a full strength team. If anyone needs to get over anything….its you for your clubs failure to nail an EPL place. If you had our depth of squad, you might have won at West Ham with those players out… we were onto our 8th choice Left Back at the time, and we made it…
Henry’ll get over CSKA. Probably by tapping a couple against em at Ashburton. He’s angry cos it was a perfectly good goal… any striker and team captain would be.
You’re onto a hiding to nothing there… if the best you got is to crow about a bad decision that cost us a point, rather than your own team… well, that says it all.
SammyNelsonsPants
Oct 22, 2006 at 10:56 pm
ECL, I mean, obviously….
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