Defoe loving life at Rangers

[TheCutch 4,340]

Edit-

Scroll down to @Bears&Reds version further down the page. It's easier to read than my copy and paste.

 

[TheCutch 4,340]

Not sure where the interview is from as I lifted it from a Facebook page.

Makes for good reading though.

Wonder which players are eager to come? 🤔

[Davy Vandenbroucke 26,165]

3 minutes ago, TheCutch said:

Not sure where the interview is from as I lifted it from a Facebook page.

Makes for good reading though.

Wonder which players are eager to come? 🤔

I would have to disagree on that point.

[TheCutch 4,340]

3 minutes ago, Bronzy said:

I would have to disagree on that point.

Thats only because you can't read though. 

[Davy Vandenbroucke 26,165]

6 minutes ago, TheCutch said:

Thats only because you can't read though. 

I can, it's just that I'd prefer not to read a massive wall of text that hurts my eyes.

[TheCutch 4,340]

4 minutes ago, Bronzy said:

I can, it's just that I'd prefer not to read a massive wall of text that hurts my eyes.

It was a c&p job. Fuck putting it into paragraphs. 

I never even noticed as I had already read it on FB. Lol

[bluenoz 30,844]

A professional that gets it and appreciates what he has. The polar opposite of the man who just left by mutual consent.

[TMB 14,167]

His return of goals has been excellent and he despite him being 36 he seems to be in excellent condition.  He could get us 20+ goals this season no problem.

[.Williamson. 82,236]

32 minutes ago, TheCutch said:

It was a c&p job. Fuck putting it into paragraphs. 

I never even noticed as I had already read it on FB. Lol

They didn't use paragraphs in your day mate 

[Davy Vandenbroucke 26,165]

3 minutes ago, .Williamson. said:

They didn't use paragraphs in your day mate 

He should have typed it up in wingdings just to make it a wee bit more of a challenge for us

[TheCutch 4,340]

18 minutes ago, .Williamson. said:

They didn't use paragraphs in your day mate 

Ya young whipper-snapper ye. 

[Bears&Reds 460]

The paragraphed version. 😀

Quote

AT 36, Jermain Defoe has plenty of experiences and decisions to look back on. When it comes to Rangers, his only regret is that he didn’t make the move long before he put pen-to-paper on a deal at Ibrox.

Defoe is in the twilight of his career but there is a twinkle in his eye when he talks about working under Steven Gerrard in Light Blue. Having joined from Bournemouth in January, he is now looking forward to his first full season in Scotland.

That switch will probably prove to be the last that Defoe makes. It is one he has never regretted committing himself to as his former team-mates look across the border with envy.

“I wish I had come here three years ago,” Defoe said. “It’s a special place to be honest. I know players say that but I’m not saying that because I have to say it. Even with the new signings, I speak with them every day and ask them if they are enjoying it and all the new signings can’t believe it.

“It’s like ‘wow’, it’s a special place to play football. Even the game the other night, midweek, the tie all but done, and it was unbelievable to draw that level of support. You’ve got to enjoy every day, embrace it, I enjoy training every day, every game . It’s a special football club.

“Whether you are playing away at home or in Europe, there is that expectation and demand from the fans, which is a good thing.
“I have had a lot of players that I have played with who have messaged me saying they want to come. I’m not mentioning any names but, seriously, I have had a lot of messages saying ‘speak to the manager’ because they can see that I have really enjoyed it.”

His time with the likes of West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur saw Defoe make his name at the top of the English game. But it is in Scotland where he has the chance to earn the medals that are missing from his CV.
He was left empty-handed at the end of last term but he is encouraged and enthused heading into the new Premiership campaign.

Defoe said: “I always knew Rangers were a massive football club, even as a kid I always used to speak about Ally McCoist. I never thought I would be playing up here. I had my time at Tottenham and then went to the MLS and thought I’d probably finish over there and then returned to Sunderland and Bournemouth.

“Then I got the call to come here. It was an easy decision to be honest. I spoke to the manager and said to my agent, just get it done because I want to come and experience this, I want to play with the added pressure of knowing you’re with such a big club and have to win every game, home, away or in Europe.

“There is expectation and demand from the fans. It’s a good thing and I’ve had a lot of my ex team-mates, guys I’ve played with who have messaged me and want to come here too. I’m not mentioning any names but, seriously, I’ve had a lot of messages from people asking me to speak to the manager because they can see I’ve really enjoyed it.”

If Rangers can step forward once again, there could be plenty more for Defoe to savour in the coming months. The title is in their sights.
Defoe said: “It’s funny. Even from that first day of pre-season when we came back, everyone was speaking about it. There were encouraging signs in the game against celtic, the way we dominated.
“Even though it was last season, playing in that game felt quite comfortable. They are a top team of course, but I just felt like during that game they sort of ran out of ideas. We really showed people that there is a lot of potential there.

“I just hope that the lads understand and realise that they are actually a good team, especially with the new signings coming in.
“There are some quality signings. I feel like we are improving, the team look fit. Everyone worked so hard pre-season. Everyone is hungry. It’s a massive year for us.”

Before Rangers begin their Premiership title bid, they have business to take care of in the Europa League. There are mixed memories for Defoe in Euro action.
“I remember a massive disappointment after the World Cup in 2010 when I came back and injured my ankle ligaments,” Defoe said.

“”It kept me out of the group stage of the Champions League when Gareth Bale was on fire. That was hard because I had played all the games the season before and so to miss out the Champions League through injury was tough. Inter - Gareth scored a hat-trick, it was tough because I wanted to play.

“European games are different, under the lights, the atmosphere is always good, playing against the top teams.They are special nights and the ones you’ll remember when you stop playing.”

 

[Creampuff 22,628]

Imagine he had come three years earlier? Rocking up in January 2016 to absolutely maul the Scottish Championship  

[middli 1,579]

Great to see someone of his stature talking us up. Wonder who's been on the phone to him?

[Billy1984 6,314]

7 minutes ago, middli said:

Great to see someone of his stature talking us up. Wonder who's been on the phone to him?

Heard it was Peter crouch 😊

[Smell the hotdog 4,015]

Love that JD

[SuperPapac05 3,383]

Amazing for his age he still has his movement and pace. Years ago Defoe always came across as a massive bellend but reading into him and especially his experience with Bradley Lowery he really has shown cunts like me he is a top guy. Good to have him here. 

[middli 1,579]

2 minutes ago, SuperPapac05 said:

Amazing for his age he still has his movement and pace. Years ago Defoe always came across as a massive bellend but reading into him and especially his experience with Bradley Lowery he really has shown cunts like me he is a top guy. Good to have him here. 

Yes I used to think this about him when he was in the tabloids knocking about with Danielle Lloyd and the like in night clubs. Looks like he has matured massively as he's got older and now comes across as a top pro. Certainly not come here for a payday and to just phone it in. You can see his enthusiasm for even doing preseason on his instagram etc.

[Straight-Edge-Loyal 6,686]

It is still weird that we have him here what a player he has been the quality still shines through with him. 

[teddybear1975 2,014]

2 hours ago, middli said:

Great to see someone of his stature talking us up. Wonder who's been on the phone to him?

Gareth Bale.😎

[Blueteeth 2,185]

great positive interview, if you get the fans on your side then it's easy to give and receive energy to the support, feels like it's been like that from the very start with Defoe, so it's easy to see why he's loving it here.

remember an interview about mols and i think it was ex players saying that once he had a smile on his face he was really enjoying his football and that made him unstoppable. he had been in places where that didn't happen and of course he didn't perform as well. a lot of players go right up a full level when in a good place

[magic8ball 27,901]

8 hours ago, bluenoz said:

A professional that gets it and appreciates what he has. The polar opposite of the man who just left by mutual consent.

If you are meaning Lafferty then I have to disagree. Lafferty no doubt gets it. But just doesn't have the ability to be a Regular starter for us. 

A bit like me. I would run all day and all night for the team. But sadly I'm far too shite 

[magic8ball 27,901]

Been a great signing. Lost count of the amount of strikers that have come up here over the years at their latter stage of career and been awful. 

I can only think of 1 who I would give pass marks to. Trevor Francis and that was 30 years ago and even then he was just getting pass marks. 

[Bobby Hume 13,092]

 

24 minutes ago, Blueteeth said:

great positive interview, if you get the fans on your side then it's easy to give and receive energy to the support, feels like it's been like that from the very start with Defoe, so it's easy to see why he's loving it here.

remember an interview about mols and i think it was ex players saying that once he had a smile on his face he was really enjoying his football and that made him unstoppable. he had been in places where that didn't happen and of course he didn't perform as well. a lot of players go right up a full level when in a good place

👍

..... Mentally and physically spot on mate .....  and JD is in a  right good place ......  as Ibrox is one of the best places to be ..... can see him doing really well this season coming ..... his attitude speaks volumes and he is a winner both on and off the field.

 

[Blueteeth 2,185]

57 minutes ago, Bobby Hume said:

 

 👍

..... Mentally and physically spot on mate .....  and JD is in a  right good place ......  as Ibrox is one of the best places to be ..... can see him doing really well this season coming ..... his attitude speaks volumes and he is a winner both on and off the field.



 

must be amazing for a young striker to have someone like him as a mentor