Jermain Defoe on the crest of a wave!
I wouldn't call it the form of his life, but Jermain Defoe is on the crest of a wave in truly fine goal-scoring form at the moment, for his club and his country. Jermain's relationship with his club was cemented earlier in the season with a new three year contract, and he has rewarded that with three Premier League goals in four games and two International goals in England's two games so far this season. No wonder, despite his private family tragedies, that Jermain is smiling as broadly as ever at this time!
Jermain was voted your clear man of the match (8.3/10) with his best mark since he also won that vote in another 3-1 in the FA Cup Fifth Round replay against Stevenage in March this year. Jermain got two goals on that day too. This season, Jermain has moved above Stephen Carr in terms of Premier League appearances for Spurs, and he is now seventh in the table of highest number of such appearances. He has for a long time been third in our list of Premier League goalscorers, with 79 league goals to his name, behind Teddy Sheringham (97) and Robbie Keane (91). On his current form, and if faith in him is maintained, Jermain will surely become our highest ever Premier League goal-scorer.
Jermain has his 30th birthday coming up in a few weeks (7th October), and his total goal tally for Spurs in 198 (+ 100 as sub) appearances is 118. He is rapidly catching up with Keane (122 total goals) and Sheringham (124) in terms of goals scored for Tottenham in all competitive football since the Premier League was established.
Remember that Jermain was unlucky to miss out on a medal in 2008, when he left Spurs for Portsmouth. He was cup-tied for Pompey so could not play in their Cup Final win over Cardiff, and in leaving us, missed our Carling Cup win over Chelsea. Wouldn't it be great if Spurs could win some silverware this season, and Jermain could get a much-deserved bit of football bling?
Jermain showed some great touches at Reading, not least when bringing that Naughton long ball down with one highly skilful touch of the boot. He also didn't get caught offside much, which is progress!
The win on Sunday was not just about Defoe though, and Vertonghen, Sandro, Dembele and Lennon also got rave reviews. Even Howard Webb scored well, and of course AVB won plaudits for his first win as Spurs' Head Coach.
Everything in the garden is rosy after Sunday then, but in football, you are only as good as your next game. In Spurs' case, that's Lazio on Thursday!
· See this week's Spursometer in full
Results 15-17.09.12
Norwich 0-0 West Ham
Arsenal 6-1 S'hampton
A. Villa 2-0 Swansea
Fulham 3-0 West Brom
Man Utd 4-0 Wigan
QPR 0-0 Chelsea
Stoke 1-1 Man City
S'derland 1-1 Liverpool
Reading 1-3 Spurs
Everton 2-2 Newcastle
Barclays Premier League
P W D L F-A GD PTS
1. Chelsea 4 3 1 0 8-2 6 10
2. Man Utd 4 3 0 1 10-5 5 9
3. Arsenal 4 2 2 0 8-1 7 8
4. Man City 4 2 2 0 9-6 3 8
5. Swansea 4 2 1 1 10-4 6 7
6. West Brom 4 2 1 1 6-4 2 7
7. Everton 4 2 1 1 6-5 1 7
8. West Ham 4 2 1 1 4-3 1 7
9. Fulham 4 2 0 2 10-6 4 6
10. Spurs 4 1 2 1 6-5 1 5
11. Newcastle 4 1 2 1 5-6 -1 5
11. Stoke 4 0 4 0 4-4 0 4
12. A. Villa 4 1 1 2 4-5 -1 4
13. Wigan 4 1 1 2 4-8 -4 4
14. S'derland 3 0 3 0 3-3 0 3
15. Norwich 4 0 3 1 2-7 -5 3
17. Liverpool 4 0 2 2 3-8 -5 2
18. QPR 4 0 2 2 2-9 -7 2
19. Reading 3 0 1 2 4-8 -4 1
20. S'hampton 4 0 0 4 5-14 -9 0
