I couldn't believe it when Jermain Defoe scored five goals in Spurs' destruction of Wigan last weekend. I have always said that I love Defoe and he certainly has a nose for goal ¿ but he not only scored five goals in the 9-1 win but also a hat-trick within seven minutes! That is brilliant. Back in my day if we got beat 9-1 we still wouldn't be able to show our faces ¿ we would be hiding out.

If you have read my column enough times it is no secret that I really like Defoe ¿ always have ever since he came through West Ham as a youngster and took the opportunity of the club's great youth system.

People can sometimes get too caught up in winning and losing and when you are a young player the real important thing is to learn your trade ¿ to be coached properly. That is what we do at West Ham. We have people like Tony Carr who is now the Academy Director and has been at the club since my time back in the 1970s.

I always thought it was a mistake when then England manager Sven Goran Erikkson didn't take Defoe to the 2006 World Cup. Actually he took him to Germany before the tournament in preparation but then sent him home and brought in the kid Theo Walcott and never played him.

Then England had Michael Owen go out with that foot injury and Defoe would have been an ideal replacement. But he wasn't there. Who knows what would have happened had Erikkson included him the squad?

A striker like Defoe is worth his weight in gold. He is small but he is so confident in front of goal. The way he took his goals last weekend was superb. All I can say is that I hope Fabio Capello takes him to South Africa next summer.

Another player who really did well for Spurs last weekend and has been improving so much this season is Aaron Lennon. He is just so fast and you can't coach pace ¿ you either have it or don't. Lennon has come along well under Harry Redknapp and that is no mystery.

Harry was a great winger in his time when I played with him and Lennon is learning more and more under him ¿ things like when to get your crosses in and all the aspects a winger must know because pace is only a part of the position.

I love clubs that have great youth systems like West Ham. Another club that also has a wonderful youth academy is Barcelona. They may be one of the biggest clubs in the world but I guarantee you that they look to their youth system for new players. Yes they do buy expensive players but certainly not on the same level as their main rivals Real Madrid.

When I watched Barca beat Inter Milan 2-0 this week in the Champions League I counted about seven players who had come through Barca's youth system.

Inter had no chance against Barca ¿ the Spanish champions destroyed them and that is without Lionel Messi and new striker and ex-Inter player Zlatan Ibrahimovic on the pitch.

This weekend one of the best matches of the season ¿ at least of paper ¿ will be played when Real Madrid travel to Camp Nou for the "clasico" derby.

And it looks like two of the world's best players ¿ Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi ¿ will be back from injury. Ronaldo played 20 minutes this week in the Champions League 1-0 victory over Zurich and Messi was rested this week. It will be good to see the World Player of the Year back after being out of action for nearly two months with an ankle injury.

Right now Real hold a one-point lead over Barca ¿ last weekend Real beat Racing Santander 1-0 at home while Barca were held 1-1 at Athletic Bilbao.

While Barca's team are largely unchanged from last season, Real have added some big names ¿ the likes of Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema who will all be experiencing their first derby.

And don't forget Real want some revenge for the last derby ¿ at the end of last season Barca travelled to Santiago Bernabeu and embarrassed them 6-2.

There are also two big matches in England this weekend.

On Sunday Everton, who are struggling a bit having lost to Hull midweek, host Liverpool who certainly are having their own problems.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez will have to get his boys going after the disappointment of going out of the Champions League at this early stage. That is a real blow to Liverpool and their fans especially when you think of that club's magnificent record in Europe. Right now Liverpool are seventh in the league and 13 points behind leaders Chelsea so they have a lot of work to do. Later on Sunday there will be another match which I hope will be a cracker ¿ Chelsea travel to Arsenal.

It should be a fun weekend ¿ at least for some of the fans!