If only he was in the start-of-season form that saw him grab five goals in the first five Premier League games, the decision would be so much easier. If only he was fully fit and performing like he was back then, in a series of displays that saw his price rocket 0.5m in the first six Fantasy Premier League game weeks, all the umming and ahhhing over whether Jermain Defoe is worthy of investment for double gameweek 37 would just not be an issue up for question.…
Spurs enter the penultimate week of the season one point ahead of Champions League rivals Man City, and in a great run of form. Seven wins out the last nine games in a run that includes five successive wins at White Hart Lane, including recent back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Arsenal.
First up for Harry Redknapp’s boys is a home tie against a Bolton Wanderers side that, under Owen Coyle, have chalked up one clean sheet in ten on the road, and with the threat of relegation now gone, will not be fired up like their hosts. Spurs’ second game of the week sees them travel to Man City in a showdown that could ultimately decide fourth place. A tough tie, no doubt, but as the following figures show, Defoe finds the net on the road with almost as much regularity as he does at home:
Defoe Home- 16 games…10 goals, 5 assists, 4 Bonus Points. 89 FPL Points
Defoe Away- 15 games…8 goals, 0 assists, 4 Bonus Points. 55 FPL Points.
With the home blanks against Stoke, Hull and Wolves still fresh in many memories, Spurs seem to have turned the corner in terms of scoring consistently, having now netted in nine consecutive Premier League games, easily their best sequence of the season. The fact he is back on penalties further-strengthens Defoe’s case for consideration.
Having struggled of late with a hamstring injury, Defoe has been eased back into action by Redknapp, and has not lasted the full 90 mins since mid-February. In spite of that, he has -at least- either scored or assisted in Spurs past four home games in a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) points sequence that reads (5,9,5,6). Not as prolific and as headline-catching as earlier in the season, but still racking up the points, nonetheless.
Defoe is still reasonably-priced at £8.7m and, at present, is the number-one transferred-in forward in the FPL so far this week; with over 30,000 transfers already, 10,000 more than second-placed Carlos Tevez. With 30% of managers owning Wayne Rooney and 16% owning Fernando Torres, expect tens of thousands more to trade strikers over the next few days, as they sell on their injured stars in light of the upcoming double game week.
Furthermore, the race for fourth – like the battle for top spot – looks likely to run till the final day of the season now. Spurs could find themselves in the position that a win would see them pip Man City to the last Champions League slot. Up against Burnley at Turf Moor that day, who could bet against the man Harry Redknapp hails “the best finisher in England” bagging the goals that takes them there?