Opta Jury: Jermain Defoe
The latest subject of the Opta Jury is Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe.
With the injury problems currently afflicting Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, England's second choice strikers may have to take the reigns during the forthcoming World Cup. One of the men being touted for this role is Spurs striker Jermain Defoe, a player who already has 15 caps to his name.
It is worth remembering that England's strikers scored only four goals during the World Cup qualifying campaign, three of them from Owen and the other from Defoe, away in Poland. But although Defoe has scored in a competitive match for his country, his form at Spurs this season has given some cause for concern.
Defoe has now played the same number of matches in 2005-06 as he did last season, yet has bagged five goals fewer. The goalscoring duties at White Hart Lane have increasingly fallen to the likes of Mido and Robbie Keane even though the Irish striker has still made more substitute appearances for Spurs than Defoe this season, contrary to popular belief.
| | Jermain Defoe | |
| Season | 2004-05 | 2005-06 |
| Appearances | 35 | 35 |
| Minutes On Pitch | 2,528 | 2,112 |
| Goal Attempts | | |
| Goals | 13 | 8 |
| Shots On Target | 44 | 42 |
| Shots Off Target | 33 | 25 |
| Shooting Accuracy | 57% | 63% |
| Chance Conversion | 17% | 12% |
| Passing | | |
| Goal Assists | 2 | 5 |
| Total Passes | 502 | 439 |
| Pass Completion % | 77% | 77% |
| Crossing | | |
| Total Crosses | 52 | 32 |
| Cross Completion % | 10% | 25% |
| Dribbling | | |
| Dribbles & Runs | 164 | 119 |
| Dribble Completion % | 56% | 45% |
| Discipline | | |
| Fouls | 44 | 33 |
| Offside | 73 | 42 |
| Yellow Cards | 5 | 3 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
But a closer investigation of the stats reveals that Defoe's so-called season of woe has still been one that many Premiership strikers would envy. His shooting accuracy of 63% is excellent and his total of five assists is already two better than last campaign, with one game left to play.
Further proof of Defoe's improving link-up play is evidenced by his increased cross completion rate, while his passing has remained consistent. England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has shown himself to be loyal in his spell as national coach and there seems little doubt that Defoe will be named in his final 23-man squad for Germany.
Whether the striker has the opportunity to perform for England remains to be seen, but he certainly has the capabilities.
What do you think? Has Defoe been a hit at Tottenham, a miss or is the jury still out?
