Defoe is currently mired in officially his worst ever barren run in the Prem. He's never gone so many consecutive games without scoring. In the past 13 months I think he has scored about 3 prem goals.
14 months ago in December 2009, he was TOP of the prem goal scoring charts. During that climb, Modric was actually out of action due to his broken leg. No Modirc = Defoe top of the scoring charts.
Modric came back from injury and since then, he has had 13 months of misery. Even when Modric and Defoe played together earlier that season and Defoe got a hat trick, Modirc not only didn't give him an assist, but he wasn't even involved in the build up to any of the goals.
If Modric is supposed to make us tick, why have Crouch, Keane, Pav and Defoe had their record breaking bad league form?
Over half a season played, and Modric barley has a goal and an assist to rub together.
IMO Modric isn't actually pulling the strings for us, but moving us sideways or backwards with the easy option. The easy pass.
With Bale out, I really think we need to put him back on the left. The middle of the pitch is vital, and if he is going to leave gaps defensively with ball watching, losing 50/50's and not being great/strong in the air, he really should be better in the attacking third than he has been.