Jermain Defoe: One Portsmouth Supporter's Opinion

I’ve remained relatively quiet on Jermain Defoe’s official return to Tottenham over the past few days, mostly as my anger at the entire situation and Defoe’s own actions have left me very disappointed.

I wrote an article  several days ago about the situation with Defoe, but his actions in the press and his reaction to reuniting with Redknapp at Tottenham are simply insulting to Portsmouth supporters everywhere.

"I've enjoyed my time immensely here [at Portsmouth], but I can't deny that Harry Redknapp's departure as manager hit me hard particularly because he was the reason why I joined Portsmouth in the first place," Defoe told the Sunday Mirror .

Really, Jermain? I could have thought it was “to play football…to get as many goals as possible, and most importantly get three points and just do well for Portsmouth.” (Source )

"I could have gone to other clubs when I left Tottenham, but I wanted to work with Harry."

And that is, inherently, much of the problem with modern football today. Mercenary players like Jermain Defoe who have lost their commitment and passion for a club in exchange for the desire to work for a single man.

Or for the allure of money and power.

I am certain that Tottenham supporters who read this will be growing increasingly more angry, stating that "Jermain Defoe didn't want to leave our club to begin with! He was forced to!"

And Defoe himself argues my statement today, hitting out at Portsmouth supporters for labeling him as a mercenary.

"That's not true because when I was here last time not once did I moan or even knock on the manager's door…I just went training as normal like the rest of the lads,” Defoe told Sky Sports.

Defoe then had the audacity to go on and say that Tony Adams could have tried harder to keep him, saying “Maybe I thought he would try harder to keep me but he knows what he wants to do.”

Defoe, you must be having a laugh.

Adams repeatedly stated in the media over the past several months how highly he rated Defoe and that he was going to do all he could to keep the player at Fratton Park.

But he also said that he wouldn’t have players sit on their wages at the club if they didn’t want to play for the badge.

That isn’t what Portsmouth Football Club wants.

The truth is that Jermain Defoe wanted to go for himself, rather than any than any other reason.

Did he need to leave to save his career?

No.

Did he need to leave to improve his England chances?

No.

Those reasons, may I remind you, were the exact reasons he left Spurs to begin with.

The reason Jermain Defoe left is, quite simply, because he has no loyalty whatsoever. He never received anything from Spurs: although he was treated well by the Spurs supporters, short of his first season at the club, chances were always few-and-far-between and only grew worse as time went on.

All he had to show from his spell there was his Player of the Year award from the club during his impressive first season. He was loved by Spurs supporters, but do you really think that was anymore than Pompey supporters came to love him?

Manager after manager at Tottenham, however, seemed to believe that Defoe just wasn’t as good as other options.

Not as good as Robbie Keane. Not as good as Mido. Not as good as Berbatov. Not as good as Bent.

And what loyalty did the Spurs supporters, in truth, have to Defoe? Were they truly aghast at Defoe’s constant omission and bit-part roles in the team under both Martin Jol and Juande Ramos? Didn’t they, too, view both Keane and Berbatov as better players, deserving of their constant starting berths?

At Portsmouth, though, Defoe had everything that a player could want, but it still wasn’t good enough. Defoe was one of Portsmouth’s true “stars,” beloved by the supporters and always playing games. And it was thanks to Portsmouth’s faith in him that he earned his place back in the England line-up.

And who is to say if Redknapp saves Spurs from the battle they are currently in (which I definitely believe he will), and the club look to push onward and bring in even better players (which they surely will), that Defoe won’t be pushed to the back as the “new” Keane and Berbatov are picked up?

And does Defoe really expect us to believe this drivel that he was shocked and angry that he was dropped for two games against “big four” sides because of a tactical change ?

Boo-hoo, Defoe. You act like many sides don’t take more defensive approaches away from home against the best sides in Europe.

Don’t get me wrong, though: I am absolutely appalled at the apparent threats that some Portsmouth “supporters” made on our former player through mobile. There is absolutely no excuse for such actions, and those “fans” give a terrible reputation to the our club and all those who care for Portsmouth Football Club.

I do, however, hope he cracks under the great bit of stick he is going to get at White Hart Lane on the 18th. And while Spurs fans are a great group of supporters, I truly hope that Defoe loses his form and misfires for them despite his significant talent.

Or even better, that he helps them stay up, only to be forgotten as other (read: better) players are brought in.

The grass isn’t always greener, Jermain, and the rats are certainly always the first ones to leave the ship. No one man is bigger than the club and hopefully, one day you’ll learn that.