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Time to bring back the classic debate

What are you?

  • Team Defoe

  • Team Keane


Results are only viewable after voting.

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
1,723
8,579
Quarantine sucks. Let's use the time to settle the classic debate once and for all with the beauty of hindsight.

Two of our best players of the 00s that for some reason could not play together, and as such used to regularly keep the other one out of the side. Opinion might have swayed back and forth between them but both had their fanboys throughout that were adamant that one player was always superior. Now it's time to see who won the test of time.

Robbie Keane Vs Jermain Defoe. Who was better?

Before you answer, here are the stats:

Two near identical goalscoring records at Spurs - with Defoe having a higher overall score at 143 compared to Keane's 122, but with 57 more appearances to his name (363 to 306). That puts their overall goals per game record at 0.3939 GPG for Defoe Vs 0.3986 GPG for Keane. Both players scored exactly the same number of league goals for us, 91 goals each, with Keane doing it in less appearances, however Defoe's record in cup competitions is superior particularly in Europe where he was our record European goalscorer until the Dortmund game last season when Kane surpassed him. Defoe had the single best goalscoring season of the two (09/10 season, with 18 league goals and 24 overall). In the big games, Keane scored 14 goals to Defoe's 12 against the old top four plus post-2008 Man City, however if you remove penalties from the equation then Defoe leads 11-10. Keane scored two hat-tricks for us plus a four goal haul against Burnley, Defoe scored four hat-tricks for us plus a five goal haul against Wigan. Keane won the 2008 Carling Cup whilst Defoe was out on his "loan" at Portsmouth, the only trophy either player won at Spurs, although Defoe was later given a winners medal as he played in every fixture apart from the final. Keane won our Player of the Year award three times to Defoe's one.


Time to decide once and for all. Who was better?
 

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,622
17,171
Will always love the both of them. For me it’s Defoe, not sure why but I just think he loved the club more than Keane! However, Keane does seem more vocal about us now than Defoe is (possibly because he is still playing).
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Keane. As you say an identical goalscoring record, and had more to his all-round game. Would also say he was better in his prime, leading to that disastrous Liverpool transfer. Absolutely love both of them though.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
I always used to prefer Keane but the way he left us for Liverpool didn’t sit right with me.

Defoe gave me one of my most memorable days as a spurs fan against Wigan. But my god did him going offside annoy me.
 

SUIYHA

Well-Known Member
Jan 15, 2017
1,723
8,579
IMO - Keane was the more effective player for us, he was more consistent and the partnership he formed with Berbatov was as good as any that I've seen at Spurs. We'd have most likely been relegated in the early to mid 00s without him, and he stepped it up a level and became one of the best attackers in the league when we improved and started pushing for Europe in the latter part of the decade. But I do think Defoe had more natural talent, and the ability to pull something out of nothing like this:





Even at 34 years old he was still good enough to get 30 league goals over two seasons with a crap Sunderland side. I do think if he'd had better coaching in his key early years he could have been something really special but I think the best manager he played for was probably Redknapp, and I seem to remember that he got a serious injury under him at Spurs just when he was in the middle of a hot streak and never seemed to get back to his best.

One thing that's always really annoyed me about Defoe is how badly he was used at international level. Left out of Euro 2004 in favour of Heskey and Vassell. Left out of the 2006 World Cup in favour of Rooney and Owen who were both injured, Walcott who still hadn't even made a Premier League appearance yet, and Peter Crouch. Went to the 2010 World Cup but not used until the final group game when he scored the winner to get us to qualify. Went to Euro 2012 but left on the bench in favour of Carroll and Welbeck. Left out of the 2014 World Cup in favour of Rickie Lambert and Welbeck again. There was an argument for taking him to Euro 2016 as well given the season he'd had with Sunderland. Keane on the other hand - always first choice with Ireland - more international goals than the likes of Ronaldo, David Villa, Gabriel Batistuta and Thierry Henry whilst playing for a vastly inferior side.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
Love them both, both heroes. JD more so recently due to his charity work. But yes can’t choose for me. Keane has flair and skill, JD has an amazing shot.
 

spurs mental

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2007
25,075
49,234
Keane was a better all round footballer and the time he was paired with Berbatov they were ridiculous together. Mad amount of assists to each other.

Defoe was an excellent goalscorer but he very rarely offered much else in terms of all round involvement. As far as I remember. I'm open to correction.
 

waresy

Well-Known Member
Mar 22, 2004
2,421
1,569
Keane was one of my favourite ever Spurs players and I was gutted he went to the scousers. His all round game was good and he had a flair about him that sat perfectly at WHL. Went mental with his equaliser against Chelsea in the 4-4 draw. Didn't really get many glimpses of the player that left us on his return, which could be harsh to say.

Likewise, Defoe had a knack of finishing. Was at his debut and for his reintroduction to the crowd on his return. I would say his second stint was equal to his first.

Over all Keano does it for me, both served their best years with us and have the goalscoring records to match. Shame neither of them have more trophies to remember their time with Spurs. Defoe was a quality player and rightly a Spurs legend too but I'd edge to Keane.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,987
81,918
For me Keane was the more intelligent player. He couldn't lead the line but when linking with Berbatov and Kanoute he showed how he could create and score.

Defoe was more one-minded and his partnerships were based more on who provided for him rather than it being a two-way partnership. Lennon was actually his best partner.

Happy we had them both but the Keane/Berbatov partnership was a real Spurs fan highlight for me.
 

hellava_tough

Well-Known Member
Apr 21, 2005
9,429
12,382
All this thread reminds me of was the crazy decision to sell Keane and Berbatov in the same summer...AND not to replace them.

What on earth were we thinking?
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
Keane was a better player, but I've voted for Defoe as I had a real soft spot for him. I found him a bit more exciting and explosive to watch, and I remember how delighted I was when he returned to us for his second spell. Probably the most excited I've ever been about a signing.

I loved both during their time with us, and have the shirts to prove it, but Defoe edges it for me.
 
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