Defoe has been an integral player for Tottenham Hotspur in both spells for the club; joining in 2004 he has since scored 143 goals for the club and holds the record for the most goals in European competition for Spurs. Being one of the few long standing players left at the club his departure, although expected, has been met with dismay with many Tottenham fans.
Although having not showed poor form that has made him deserving of being dropped, Defoe has struggled to keep a first team place this season with the acquisition of Soldado. A player clearly with ambitions to play for England it is understandable that Defoe is looking for first team football. It is questionable however, whether Torronto will be the platform for Defoe to achieve his full potential. The MLS is not known for its high quality football and it is questionable whether Hodgeson would regard the league a high enough calibre to warrant Defoe being chosen as form would be hard to gage in such a low quality league.
In recent days Defoe has told Sky Sports News ‘I’ve played in the Premier League my whole career, there’s not much more I need to prove, but it’s up to the manager’. Although Defoe has been a top Premier League performer over the last decade, it’s unlikely he will be chosen for the World Cup purely on good merit.
Although Defoe may not have got the regular starts he required whilst at Spurs this season, he has still racked up 21 appearances in overall competitions; competitions that Hodgeson will no doubt hold in higher regard than the MLS. Understandably, the rumored ninety thousand pound a week contract will have swayed the Tottenham star, who in the later stages of his career will undoubtedly be seeing his career out at the club. To many football fans it is perhaps saddening that a player with potential to make the National side still would chose a lifestyle over quality of football, but not uncomprehendable.
For Spurs fans however the worry again is the loss of a striker, a position Spurs have always struggled to have a quality of depth in. With Sherwood playing a 4-4-2 is questionable allowing Defoe to go which would leave no experienced striker to fill the place of Adebayor or Soldado if an injury does occur.
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