Defoe can do far better

Whoever said the key to Harry Redknapp’s success as a manager was the fact that he put an arm around his players? Judging by his reaction in the Sun to Jermain Defoe’s match-winning performance for England, the Spurs boss is more regimented and hard-nosed than Fabio Capello will ever be...

Jermain Defoe eased the worries of every England fan with his fantastic winner against Slovenia - but I know for a fact he can play a lot, lot better.

When it comes to nicking a goal, you would be hard pushed to name players who would be ahead of Jermain in the queue. But there is more to being a striker than simply knocking the ball into the net.

Last season, against Hull, he was virtually unplayable for Tottenham. He held up the ball brilliantly, knocked defenders off it and, yes, he scored - a hat-trick in fact.

Then he stopped doing those things. He could have held the ball up better against Slovenia and used his physique - he's stronger than he looks - to worry his markers a lot more. I hope I'm not sounding harsh, because I know if you give JD the ball in the danger areas there is every chance it will end up in the back of the net.

I also hope he gets a run in the team but that will depend on what approach Fabio Capello takes in the next round. The decision for the national manager is whether to play as open as England did against Slovenia - who, let's face it, were a poor side - or play an extra man in the middle of the park, which would mean sacrificing one of our strikers.

I can't praise Jermain enough for the way he finished, or James Milner for supplying the cross.
They were two big calls for the England manager to make in starting with those two - and they paid off handsomely. What I like about Milner is he doesn't try to do too much of the fancy stuff but instead concentrates on what is bread and butter to strikers - getting his crosses in.
Every manager should show Jermain's goal to their players as it demonstrates you don't need to beat players on the wing to put in a match-winning cross.

David Beckham was a master at it. You rarely saw him take on players but you knew the quality of his delivery as he bent the ball in would be top class. And it was that kind of crucial play from Milner that decided the game. Great movement, great cross.

There's nothing worse for strikers than seeing your winger constantly lose the ball when he tries to dribble past a full-back. Or watch your winger go on a run and the ball doesn't come in.
You don't have to beat people, you can cross effectively in front of a full-back instead of trying to get past him all the time.

By the way, did anyone notice the bargains of the century who played against Slovenia in Port Elizabeth? Both Joe Cole and David James are available on free transfers.