

27 Apr 2026 · 7m · 3 chapters

Jermain Defoe discusses elite striker finishing timing, how he learned it from Ian Wright, and how he applies the same ideas in coaching/management.
Jermain Defoe (former England and Premier League striker; now Tottenham academy coach completing coaching badges; still trains and joins finishing drills).
For young forwards, getting into the box too early is “over eagerness” that reduces scoring chances; delaying movement improves percentages. Defoe says Ian Wright corrected his timing by physically holding his baggy training kit, then pushing him across near post so the finish comes at the right moment.
Defoe compares the concept to Erling Haaland’s calm, perfectly timed arrivals in the box; he also recalls Big Sam forcing him back to play Soccer Aid via contract threats, and a team bus “Egiboff” game where players had to commit to getting off the bus on cue.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes.
Jermain Defoe shares how Ian Wright influenced his playing style and goal scoring techniques.
Discussion on the critical timing needed for effective goal scoring and how to improve it.
“mate still training still hitting the side net yeah if you still got it but is that the problem if you join in as a coach and then fuck it up that's a horrible place to be in isn't it?”
Defoe discusses his transition from player to coach and the experiences that shape his management style.

Get the gist, explore an idea or ask about something said.
On That Peter Crouch Podcast, what are the key points of this episode?
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.
0:00When I look at your game, I see so much of Ian Wright, even with your celebrations, you know, like the way you strike the ball sometimes. Like I see so much of Ian Wright in your game. Like how much of an influence was he? He was massive because I was lucky, obviously. When I signed for West Ham, he was still there just before. I think he went to Night in the Forest after that. But obviously at that stage, I knew that it's the back end of his career. He's not going to be there long. So I was going to try and take as much from him as possible. Obviously, as well as like, obviously, Lamps was there, Rio, all that lot.
0:28but like the canyone was there was brilliant with the young players but right it was just like spoke about finishing movement it was sort of like holding me during training so I'll tie my movement in a box so loads of stuff that I took from right when I was 16 years old what specifically did he do Jermaine what kind of like give us an insight like on when you say what would he do hold you back in the box what like specifically do you remember so we do like we do crossing and finishing he always just say to me he said you're getting into you're getting into the box too early your movement's got your timing's got to be better because obviously you're so eager to score goals you're getting into the box and sometimes the ball's coming behind you or like so it's all about timing so he used to sort of like just hold on to my training kit especially back then when training kits were so baggy and you'd be wanting to move right so he'd be holding on to my training kit and then he'll push me across the near post and then I'll get my finish and stuff like that but just timing and I think when you do all these things as young kids it stays with you do you know what I mean?
1:21so like it's mad like for me hearing the idea of Ian Wright holding the back of your your bed and you're wanting to move and it feels unnatural and then you release it's so weird because that was the exact same I think it's so common in young forwards that you want to get into the box early but if you delay it you've got more chance of scoring if you've gone past the near post there's absolutely zero chance if you look at it percentage wise if you're arriving in the middle of the goal as the ball's delivered 50, 60, 70 % it just increases your percentages of scoring you've got no chance if you're past the near post by the time the ball comes in and it's just over eagerness I remember coaches and managers holding me back you keep doing it you practice it in training and stuff like that and then you know the more games you play the more comfortable and then you look at Haaland you see him like in a box his timing's perfect everything's just so relaxed you know it just delays his movement and it just goes bang whether it goes near post or far post and it comes and it just finishes but it's all about timing I think do you think with him as well it's about his change of speed oh yeah well the change that's I mean that's all that's natural to have that sort of change of speed and have that sort of intelligence as well where to be in a box and and on top of all that just be so calm in front of goal frightening you were always across like the latest thing like cryotherapy like yeah all that stuff like yeah you still involved you still what are you doing now keeping yourself fit because I'm obviously coaching at the academy but I still train most days I'll just join I'll just join in because I feel like see if you're coaching sometimes when you just demonstrate it's better for the boys then you end up demonstrating and all of a sudden you might have other than a possession and you might just join and be a floater and then they do like a finishing drill actually I'll join in so still got it?
3:06mate still training still hitting the side net yeah if you still got it but is that the problem if you join in as a coach and then fuck it up that's a horrible place to be in isn't it? remember I only retired last season yeah you still got it so in a sense I think while you're still youngish but didn't you do soccer did you do soccer aid? Yeah, because I thought I was cheating. I had to do it. Never had a choice. Yeah, because you were... Big Sam said to me... Big Sam was at Sundan. He phoned me. I was in St. Lucia. He said, you need to get back here. I said, Gaffer, I'm on holiday. I ain't coming back and playing soccer raid.
3:34And plus, I'm still playing. He said, is it? He said, if you don't come back and play, see that new contract you're meant to be getting? You're not getting it, right? Big Sam. He goes to me, see that new contract you're getting? And all those goals you scored and that? You're not getting it. Get back here now and play for me. I was like, okay, Gaffer. and that it's mad because it was so unfair the whole situation I think I came on second half I think I came on you banged a few in banged in two pissed wasn't it jet lagged and that some real technical stuff in this podcast so far I've got to sort of bring you out of that a little bit just to discuss Crouchy introduced to me the game Iggy Boff do you have happy memories of that that was the best yeah under 21s maybe a platinum manager Is this the coach one?
4:20The coach one. We were in... Where were we? Lemango somewhere. I can't remember where we were. Egiboff is basically... If I said Egiboff now, I'd say Egiboff, the first one to go downstairs. So that means what I'm saying is no one can go downstairs unless I take it back. So obviously, we were on a coach in that. I don't know who said it. I don't know who said it. I can't remember. Maybe... I'd always take it back at the right time. Some people are so rogue with it. when the manager's screaming at you someone said it and you think no one's moving you're just sitting on the bus and you can't move but would you commit to it the same way then you were with any of these games you couldn't you you have to because imagine you can't be the only player that gets up and then like do you know what I mean and the thing is as well to be fair obviously David Platt's been there he's done it he understands the sort of like the lads and stuff like that but it was funny and that group of players we had good spirit as well good team spirit you know there's some good good group of lads in there but I can't remember who said it but when he said it I was like literally we wouldn't get off the bus we sat on the bus for ages they give the bibs out on the bus and we're sitting there thinking like this is getting silly now it sort of haunts me a little bit yeah but like nah just fun days man wow is there anything you want to achieve now Jay like you know now you've retired do you want to manage or do you want do you know what do you know what it's only like you know when you're playing you don't really think about managing you're so focused on playing the next game I've got ages I don't need to think about and then since I've been into the academy at Tottenham and you're doing your badges and you're sort of like you're learning every day and then and you're seeing players that you've played with become managers whether they're successful or not and you think do you know what I fancy that even if you just just give it a go just try so at the minute obviously I'm completing my badges and I think for me because I've played for so long so it's almost like I've seen both sides I know it's like before when we used to like I don't know goal kick and just kick it long or you know 4-4-2 or the way it was in that compared to like now how the game's changed completely like you've got goalkeepers that a lot of times your goalkeeper has more touch than number 9 so I've seen how the game's evolved and like so I just feel just complete your badges and see where it takes you I've got so much newfound respect for coaches now and managers yeah like the amount that goes into it like we just take it for granted and if one thing goes wrong you're on them you know like yeah do you feel like you're learning it or do you know kind of what your management style would be like or is there a past manager that you'd kind of I think there's a few I think I think you probably take a bit from everyone like in terms of like I don't man manage I like the way Harry man manage players and Sam Allardyce I loved how ABB was so organised with his sessions Eddie Howe I like the intensity of him or so I think you'll take a bit from everyone this is Kat and Nat from Kat and Nat Unfiltered and this episode is sponsored by Michael's your destination for all things 2026 graduation if you've got a graduation coming up the party shop at Michael's is your new best friend it's your one-stop shop for everything graduation balloons party decor tableware DIY gifting and more literally everything you need all starting at just$1.99.
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FROM THE VAULT: In this classic clip, former England international and Premier League striker Jermain Defoe joins the lads to break down the fine margins that define elite goal scorers.
Widely regarded as one of the most natural finishers of his generation, Defoe reflects on his early days at West Ham, where he learned crucial lessons from club legend Ian Wright.
Defoe reveals the specific training ground drills that shaped his movement in the box, including a brutal but effective method Wright used to improve his timing and composure.
He explains why most young forwards make the same costly mistake—arriving too early—and how mastering movement and patience can dramatically increase goal-scoring chances.
The conversation also touches on modern strikers like Erling Haaland, the evolution of the game, and how Defoe began transitioning into coaching at Tottenham’s academy.
Since this episode was recorded, Defoe has taken the next step in his journey and is now the manager of Woking—making this a fascinating look back at the early ideas and influences shaping his approach to management today.
If you like this clip, you can catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/YI4YecuoXP8
Chumbawamba
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