Fair enough.
I think he underestimates the impact he has on the rest of the team. I think we have had a problem in recent months where no matter how good a position a player was in, their only thought was 'find Defoe'. Too often he has been moving back into deep positions, too often (IMO) he has been making it clear how pissed off he has been with lack of service and sulking. I think he has played a part in the lack of chances. Obviously the shiteness of his teammates is the bigger part. It's been quite reminiscent of Phillips in 2002-3.
I don't blame him getting frustrated with his useless, gutless team-mates, at all. Nor am I blaming him for us getting relegated. So it may not be lack of effort, or not caring. And I know for a fact he could have gone to West Ham in January but made clear he wanted to stay here. He's a good striker, and clearly a good professional.
But I won't shed a tear when he leaves - we need to move on. He's no saint, he has underperformed since Christmas, he's 35, is choosing to leave, and he's part of a team I want to forget ever existed.
The only player I'll be genuinely gutted to see leave will be Pickford. A bit sad about Watmore too if he left.
