Return of the Prodigal Sons
It wasn’t a surprise when Jermaine Defoe was brought back to Spurs. After all, he was the one of the 3 strikers who left but whose loyalty was never questioned. All he wanted was a regular starting spot, and he got that under ‘Arry Redknapp at Portsmouth. Understandably, he followed the man whose been his manager also at unfashionable Bournemouth and West Ham to Spurs where he rightfully should get a starting spot.
So why are Spurs trying to bring back Keane?
All the professional pundits around the world say its a good deal for all parties. Keane ends his misery at his “Dream Club”, Benitez gets rid of a player he never bought, Liverpool doesn’t have to pay Spurs any money, and Spurs get the striker they so desperately need.
Or do they?
We’ve already seen Spurs admit their mistakes in their transfer dealings by buying back not only Defoe at an inflated price, but now Pascal Chimbonda. By buying back Keane, not only will the same admission of mistakes be made, but also the same problems!
Does anyone look at it from the point of Jermaine Defoe? We all remember what it was like for Defoe and Keane to play together. It just didn’t work! This is a tried and failed partnership which means one of them has to sit on the bench. As has gone before him, there is a good chance Defoe will be that man to warm the sidelines!
Pavlychenko and Bent are undoubtedly the target men, as admitted by Gus Poyet, they are too similar. Why does Spurs need to make the same mistakes again? Why can’t they use the money from the Keane deal to secure a slightly different player? Someone the likes of Arshavin who they wanted to buy earlier and can definitely outbid Arsenal, or someone on loan like Javier Saviola. Sure we all know Defoe is injured for a month, but once he gets back, will he get a game?
I’ve always liked the commitment Defoe gave to Spurs. He was one of the few who had the club in his heart. I am also sure Keane as captain of Spurs on so many occassions had the same commitment, but do you think Keane would have stayed for 2 and 1/2 years warming the bench had he been in Defoe’s shoes? I doubt it.
As much as I think it would be a fairytale story for Keane to return to Spurs, I believe it would only work if Keane was brought on loan and Spurs had an option to buy. A permanent transfer would mean a repeat of the same problems up front, and that is something that they don’t need.
