Bale is a winger, no he is a full back etc. blah blah blah

Ole Gibbsy in 06-09-2008, 03:24 PM

"I hate to say it. I HATE to say it but he should be groomed for the wing.

I hate playing people out of position but..."

In the same thread:

"Yep. He is crazy good getting forward. We need Modric to be on the left center midfield to take advantage of bale beating players past the gain line."

Bale is a striker isn't he?

I have to say Im glad I missed this........Debate...is that the right word?

Does it really need so many words to discuss the definitive statement for Bales positional classification?

Having said that, i would be over the moon, if Bale keeps providing both sides with the ammunition for their point of view on this, We (Spurs) then would have, A fast tricky attacking winger who can cross a great ball, whilst equally give great help to his LB and defensive duties...PLUS an attacking Left back, who can support the attack and has a great cross, and defends well....PLUS (which ever position) is good at dead ball (free kick. corners)...Now as a player like that, that would be.......priceless (or 80 mill) So please Mr Bale keep growing as a LB and a LW,,,,Spurs community will love you for it:wink:

I think BAEs injuries over the next 10 years will dictate where Bale plays.

Spurger King said:

Bale is a striker isn't he?

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Well, he's scored two goals, ain't he:shrug:

God this is boring. You don't need pages of prose to solve this debate:


He can play both positions.

At the moment he is better at LW because he still shows naivety when defending.

His defending will improve with experience.

Whether he settles on the wing or fullback will depend on the shape of our side, and what offers us the best option.

danielneeds said:

God this is boring. You don't need pages of prose to solve this debate:


He can play both positions.

At the moment he is better at LW because he still shows naivety when defending.

His defending will improve with experience.

Whether he settles on the wing or fullback will depend on the shape of our side, and what offers us the best option.

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God THIS is boring.
The issue isn't opinion, which is what you have given above...whether I agree with it or not...it is what his primary categorisation is, and, obviously it does need pages of prose.

StartingPrice said:

Think you've read too much into too little, there, actually.
I have stated several times that I understand that he is a player who can play on the wing as well as at full-back. I have stated several times that I have no problem with describing him as a left-sided player who can play on either wing or defence.
Keeping it in strictly academic terms the phenomenon being discussed IS how he is designated by himself, his manager and his club. I have explained all of this in the lengthy post you have (uncritically) quoted: Each player has one primary position, they be able to cover/play in other positions, but they have one primary position. Bale's primary position according to himself, his manager and his club, is full-back. Therefore, to go back to the original argument, when a poster said "Bale IS a winger" (at a time when , since retuurning to the club he had only played at full-back), I responded that he is actually a full-back who (and this is an important bit, as it seems to be the only real content to your post, and I have already countered it in the post you quote) can also play on the wing. So, from the outset I have been acknowledging that he can also play on the wing, whilst stating that his primary position, as delineated by himself, his manager and his club, is at full-back. The most accurate descriptor for him, therefor, as I have given several times, is a full-back who can also play on the wing. indeed, and I hope Adam at least will be honest enough to conced this, I have stated several times that i believe he can be a very good winger. I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is that when his primary designation is full-back (are you disputing that?), anyone should state "Bale IS a winger". Not, 'Bale can play on the wing' - which I, myself, have said several times, or 'bale would make a better winger than full-back' - which is a matter of opinion, and therefore, debate - I don't have a problem with any of this.
I have explained all of this in the thread you are quoting, seems to me the onyl way you could have missed it is if you skim read the post, with one eye, at least, in trying (for your own edification) to decipher which academic discipline I attained qualifcations in (on which, nby the way, you are way out).
TBH (and I don't mean this in an antaganistic way), it may help if you read the whole post again...because it seems to me that you have read the intro and then determined that you were going to sho that it was possible to argue academically against it, and then skim-read the rest. I'm guessing you are a philosopher?

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At least you made me laugh (and I'm not having a go). I guess I find it weird to spend so much time on a (academic) discussion about Bale's position that was centred on what he nominally is (not what he should/can be) and as such found the basic premise of the argument flawed. And, yes, I haven't read all your posts - not even the one I (un?)critically posted.

But if we wanna discuss what he should be instead I've always said LB (and still mean it) but he's been extremely convincing as a winger and the BAE/Bale combo has worked out really really well. Something for away games, with Bale/Modric for the Lane, maybe? I'm not sure, but he's a superhero going forward and a full-back position is a bit limiting (especially as he has proved doubters wrong that he can take on people from an advanced position9..

StartingPrice said:

God THIS is boring.
The issue isn't opinion, which is what you have given above...whether I agree with it or not...it is what his primary categorisation is, and, obviously it does need pages of prose.

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OK, I will leave you to your riveting "categorisation" debate, i prefer to look at what he does on the pitch, and what it means to the team. :wink:

Blimey, some of these posts rival mine for waffle... I MEAN expansive amounts of content :lol:






He's a winger, by the way, and whilst he's pairing up so well with Disco Benny behind him, i'd not try and spoil that pair by breaking it up. He's playing well on the wing, leave him there.

Gareth Bale = winger

tommyt said:

For an academic SP there are a terrible amount of typos in your above rant, and your use of spacing is shocking. However, the content of your post is good and for that reason i'll give you a C+.

Could do better.

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I've noticed he waved his academia rapier at me a few times. I haven't had the heart to point out some basic shockers when he is in "lah de dah" mode.

I mean if he insists on waving his intelligence dick, at least back it up by writing properly :grin: I can't avoid the balloon of irony that floats over his busted paragraphs when he plays the "I am smarter than you so I must be right" card.

I am anti spelling Natzis (because I can't write for shite), but when someone goes out of their way to tell you they are superior, it is really is hard not to see the funny side when it looks his paragraphs are glued together by David Beckham.

WhiteHart4Ever said:

At least you made me laugh (and I'm not having a go). I guess I find it weird to spend so much time on a (academic) discussion about Bale's position that was centred on what he nominally is (not what he should/can be) and as such found the basic premise of the argument flawed. And, yes, I haven't read all your posts - not even the one I (un?)critically posted.

But if we wanna discuss what he should be instead I've always said LB (and still mean it) but he's been extremely convincing as a winger and the BAE/Bale combo has worked out really really well. Something for away games, with Bale/Modric for the Lane, maybe? I'm not sure, but he's a superhero going forward and a full-back position is a bit limiting (especially as he has proved doubters wrong that he can take on people from an advanced position9..

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Glad to make you laugh.
I think the main problem is that viewed my argument first, and not the one it was responding to.
This has all arisen because 'posters' were posting 'Bale IS a winger', when what they should rightly have posted was 'I would like Bale to be converted into a winger'. And remember, this was in the context of posts like 'anyone who can't see that Bale IS a winger is stupid'. On those grounds, I think it is quite reasonable to establish first what his primary position, de facto, is. That is all I sought to do. Then the debate about where it would be best to play him could have merrily run on and on...and that is what some many people who have had a go at me have failed to recognise.
As to what he should be: I actually voted for BAE/Bale against Citeh, and I can see why you should want it to be a permanent feature (and on this Ol' Gibbsy is basically right, I think we will see Bale fulfilling both roles depending on the fitness/form of BAE and who and where we are playing). My feeling is still, lont term, however, that 'Arry seeshim primarily as a full-back.

In the original debate as to where he should play, as opposed to what his categorisation actually is, my main concern was that Modric is clearly one of our best players but didn't seem capable of playingin the middle. I have happily conceded that I was mistaken in this after the Goons and Chav games (being intellectually secure I don't mind adamitting when I have been wrong) - though I still worry about his ability to do this against the more robust teams. So, Luka, best in left of midfield, and creating space for Bale, especially at home/against weaker oppos. - but there is scope for a lot of flexibility in there IMHO (so, nothing inherently against Bale appearing on the wing, when required).
But the major tenetof the disagreement has been mirrored by the idea that because Bale's last few games have been on the wing and he has been exceptional, that that fully converts him. It doesn't. Firstly, this has been due to the fact that we have had an injury crisis that saw us reduced to 1 central midfielder, and, to help matters, Kranksjar being injured. So Bale hasn't being playing on the wing 'cos 'Arry suddenly saw the light - but because he had to shuffle his pack; secondly, Bale was fantastic against ArseScum and (particularly) the Chavs on the wing - but the main feature, here, was that they didn't actually try to cater for him (again, in their arrogance, most notably the Chavs). In the other games where he has played on the wing, teams who were more aware of their frailties, especially Fulham, doubled up on Bale, and though he by no means had poor games, and still provided lenty of energy and enthusiasm, he visibly wasn't as effective (interestingly, we scored in neither the Fulham nor the Pomey games - while Bale was on the wing). And the 'Bale the winger' people have airstroked the many superb performances he produced, from full-back (where he looked defensively decent, as well as attackingly phenomenal) out of history.

danielneeds said:

OK, I will leave you to your riveting "categorisation" debate, i prefer to look at what he does on the pitch, and what it means to the team. :wink:

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See above, and debate away:grin:

Rocksuperstar said:

Blimey, some of these posts rival mine for waffle... I MEAN expansive amounts of content :lol:






He's a winger, by the way, and whilst he's pairing up so well with Disco Benny behind him, i'd not try and spoil that pair by breaking it up. He's playing well on the wing, leave him there.

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RSS - expected better of you. He is a full-back who can also pay on the wing - fact. From their state your opinion...which, if you read my response to WhiteHart4Ever, above.

Ol' Gibbsy, you really are tiresome. It is legitimate to point out that on some issues acvademic ability is relevant. But this is a Football Forum FFS...do you really demand that I produce every post as though it were an academic paper (failure to do so, somehow, disproving academic ability:shrug.
I think fast and I type fast, you tediously little man razz, and my time is at least as precious as your. Do you actually ralise that most academic work is retyped and revised 4 or 5 times, being constantly checked for spelling, etc. Do you really expect me to do that for you:shrug:
Ol' Gobbsy, once again, shows his true (spiteful, vindictive) quality - well done you.

Gareth Bale = Wing Back

However, we don't play wing backs. So we have to fit him in at left back or left wing. He is great in both roles, because like a wing back, he covers much ground down the left.

If Carlos had played in the EPL, I reckon he would often play left wing aswell. Simply because he was so good going forward, there are times when you want a solid fullback behind, so he can purely focus on getting forward.

A lot of players are versatile anyway now. Which is why there isn't really a definitive position for Bale. He can play anywhere down the left side. It really doesn't matter.

mil1lion said:

Gareth Bale = Wing Back

However, we don't play wing backs. So we have to fit him in at left back or left wing. He is great in both roles, because like a wing back, he covers much ground down the left.

If Carlos had played in the EPL, I reckon he would often play left wing aswell. Simply because he was so good going forward, there are times when you want a solid fullback behind, so he can purely focus on getting forward.

A lot of players are versatile anyway now. Which is why there isn't really a definitive position for Bale. He can play anywhere down the left side. It really doesn't matter.

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+1 :up:

Now can we lock this thread please? Spurs Chat is sooo boring when we're winning...

Bale is a left back and most people understood that untill Nani scored that brilliant chip, since then he has apparently become a shit defender and a liability.

I have scanned over this riveting debate and have come to the conclusion that Bale is best on the left bing or the left wack.

Or is the whole thing just right wank?

He's a bonking marvellous player all round. Whatever position he plays. Lets just leave it at that eh?

JerryGarcia said:

Bale is a left back and most people understood that untill Nani scored that brilliant chip, since then he has apparently become a shit defender and a liability.

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Yet Bale wasn't the left back for that goal, Ekotto was :grin:

When Spurs did crossbar challenge Bale said his position is 'Left Side'.

About 1:10 in this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqhoK0QWAXs

That to me says he is both a fullback and a winger, a bit like John Arne-Riise was for Pool. Now can everyone stop arguing like petulant, pedantic bitches and accept that Bale has more than one position and that he is great in both.