Defoe gets a start, although seems lucky to make the squad

No surprise to see Damien Duff on the bench, and think this may be the only way Jermain Defoe ever gets to start!

Should Defoe be starting? Somewhere, anywhere

Jermain Defoe loves scoring goals apparently. That's what the media always says. But show me a striker, or any footballer, that doesn't.

I've come to conclude that all he can do is score goals, which is fine, but it's not going to get him a start. He's scored goals for West Ham, Spurs, Portsmouth, England and now Spurs again, but can never really say he's been the number 1 guy anywhere apart from Portsmouth (don't tell Crouchy).

Is it because he's selfish (as a player, not just for handing in a transfer request while still in the dressing room after West ham were relegated in 2003)? Is it because he's too small? He can't pass? Doesn't link the play? Can't lead the line? Has too many 'celebrity' girlfriends?

Whatever it is, he can't blame the manager as no one, apart from maybe Harry Redknapp, has ever really trusted him to be the main man.

He's a goalscorer. Every team wants one, but Spurs can't seem to get him enough time on the pitch. But when he does play, he tends to score, or at least find himself (not by chance) in a position to score. He doesn't just make a 3-0 into a 4-0, he can get you an equalizer or a winner when you need it.

And here's where I question the ambition. At some point you have to play. He went to Portsmouth and played. He came back to Spurs and played a bit, but he turns 31 next week and averages about 28 games a season (half of which I would guess are substitute appearances) over a 14 year career.

A wasted talent in my opinion. Maybe he didn't do enough to develop his game, or didn't get the play in a team that was built for him. It's not hard to dislike him, and I have a feeling he may look back and dislike himself, as he could have been so much more.

Will Bale play in the Madrid derby? Does Jose miss Fergie?

Will Gareth Bale play in the Madrid derby this weekend? With help from referees, Real probably don't need him as they'll get another 95th minute penalty if the result isn't going their way anyway. Someone should let the officials know that General Franco died in 1975, so they don't need to fear being sent to a forced labor camp if they don't give Real all the decisions. Oh wait, there is money involved? Bribery and match fixing? Or you just want to be loved by millions of fans rather than the 50,000 that the smaller clubs have?

Anyway, getting off topic. Bale has already earned close to $1.5 million in his brief time with Real Madrid, and I'm sure he'll want to start showing he's worth the money. He's not fit, but he'll have to be on his game if Real are to beat Atletico. Diego Costa, Raul Garcia and David Villa have led Atletico to a perfect 6 wins form 6 to start La Liga, keeping them tied with Barcelona and 2 points ahead of their city rivals.

Should be a great game on Saturday night.

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The early game on Saturday in England pits Porto's best two managers of recent times against each other. Jose Mourinho takes his Chelsea team to White Hart Lane to face Andre Villas-Boas' much improved Spurs team. The two managers have been having a little spat ahead of the game, but most of that is probably due to the face Jose misses Alex Ferguson. He's got no-one to really duel with anymore, and he's tired of calling Arsene Wenger a 'voyeur'. 

Spurs seem to know their best XI, although Jermain Defoe must be pushing for a start as he keeps scoring whenever he gets a chance. Mourinho on the other hand has a lot of options, but can't seem to get his strikers to find their form yet. I'd go with Torres, but Eto'o is likely to play (and he's due a goal)/

Steer clear of the Sunday games, there's nothing to see there. Not too much else on the Saturday either, although it will be interesting to see if Manchester City can maintain some of their recent form, and wether United can win against West Brom without van Persie or any other creative players (as Kagawa still can't get a start).

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The pick of the other games in Europe for me is the Turin derby. Juventus against Torino should be a good game, and I'm interested to see Alessio Cerci who is the top scorer with 5 in Serie A so far.