Are We Getting The Best Out Of Bale?

[playboypaul]

I have been worried about Bale recently, he seems to be only playing at 60% for some reason. I think that there is a lot more to come from him. We all know what he is capable of, so why are we not seeing it? How can we get the best out of him?

Something that I dont like about modern players is their need to have their ego stroked. I think Bale is one of these players. If we are to see the best out of him, we need to appeal to his vanity. I can very well imagine that he see's himself as our best player.

With this in mind, I think it might be an idea to play him as a centre forward. We all know that he wants to play a more central role and with his undoubted pace, it could prove to be a real weapon. We are more than anything, a counter attacking side. Its how we score a majority of our goals. Imagine Bale chasing the ball over the top rather that Defoe? He is certainly faster, can finish with both feet, so why not?

I think that a lot of defenders are cottoning on to what he is all about so imagine games where the opposition sets up a certain way thinking Bale is going to play LW/LF and then see him take up the role as our CF! I reckon it could work and would cause quite a stir. Also I think that he would be capable of scoring quite a few goals from that position.

I am not saying that this is the right thing to do, I just want to stimulate a debate about the best use of Bales talents and how to get him playing the way we know he is capable of.

 

[Montasura]

No, we aren't getting the best out of him. Various reasons imo - No BAE with who he has a fairly good understanding, he's not able to run from as deep as he is used to because of AVB's desired style of play (this is one of the big reasons for me and answers your questions as to why he isn't running faster to a certain extent), and he is surrounded by some fairly clueless players recently

 

[markiespurs]

No we are not getting the best out of Bale, but then again, I don't think AVB is getting the best out of many of our players, especially the attacking ones.

I've been thinking that perhaps AVB is too rigid in his tactics. I'm not saying i want to go back to the gun ho Redknapp days, but I do think that AVB needs to find the right balance tactically to get the best from the likes of Bale.

 

[jondesouza]

No, we aren't getting the best out of him. Various reasons imo - No BAE with who he has a fairly good understanding, he's not able to run from as deep as he is used to because of AVB's desired style of play (this is one of the big reasons for me and answers your questions as to why he isn't running faster to a certain extent), and he is surrounded by some fairly clueless players recently

The running from deep is something I've picked up as well. In fact I started a thread about it here: http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?threads/our-wide-players-and-formations.92147/

 

[tobi]

No, we aren't getting the best out of him. Various reasons imo - No BAE with who he has a fairly good understanding, he's not able to run from as deep as he is used to because of AVB's desired style of play (this is one of the big reasons for me and answers your questions as to why he isn't running faster to a certain extent), and he is surrounded by some fairly clueless players recently

Bale is also clueless, he hasn't improved as a player in recent seasons.

Instead of plotting his next move with his agent and trying to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo he should concentrate on becoming a better footballer.

He'd be wasted as a striker because he doesn't have the brain for it.

 

[SugarRay]

As Markie says, we aren't seeing the best of any of our players, bar Defoe at the beginning of the campaign.

 

[The Apprentice]

While Bale may be lazy and selfish at times, I do get the impression sometimes that he isn't really sure which role he should be playing. Whether this is his fault or the coach's is tough to say, unless we eavesdrop on the tactics meetings. Gary Neville highlighted it well on Monday Night Football this week. With the right sort of forward (Ade) in the box I would like to see him getting down the outside a bit more than he is doing. We've definitely missed his link up play with Benny.

I really think under a top class coach like Fergie or Jose that Bale would develop further than he currently is with us.

 

[YiddoBirdy]

I don't think bale can play as a forward. The only time he will be good as a forward is against weaker teams when we are winning and they are pushing players forward so we can use him on the break. His best position is on the left wing. Maybe its not AVB who isn't getting the best out of him, it could be Bale not getting the best out of Bale .

 

[jondesouza]

I don't think bale can play as a forward. The only time he will be good as a forward is against weaker teams when we are winning and they are pushing players forward so we can use him on the break. His best position is on the left wing. Maybe its not AVB who isn't getting the best out of him, it's Bale not getting the best out of Bale .

I think there's some truth in that. Bale has said himself that he wants to play in a more Ronaldoesque role and really I don't see that suiting him. However, I think we've also got to look at the formations we've been playing which have forced Bale to play differently to how he did when he was at his most potent.

 

[chinaman]

The reason a lot of times he's not at his best is because he roams about all over the place. He relies more on pace then silky skills and in the middle, he doesn't have much room to outrun defenders. He is at his deadliest hugging the line and occasionally cutting inside to shoot.

 

[aRTy]

I don't know why wingers nowadays want to move upfront. As you've said he wants to be like Ronaldo and you've even got Walnutt wanting it too, but if i was as good as Gareth at running at people down the line I'd love it. Rather excell down the sides than be mediocre upfront.

 

[dontcallme]

I think he should be emulating Beckham more than C.Ronaldo. Bale has the pace and stamina to run down that left hand side all day long. He is more dangerous when running from deep than he is at intricate play.

He could be a real left-sided mid rather than an inside-forward but fear the move towards making him a glory man isn't getting the best out of him.

 

[spurs4europe]

Well of course we're not getting the best out of him. I think it is because of the following:

1. He has been one of our only, and sometimes our only, creative outlet recently. Therefore it is far easier for opposition players to crowd him out of the game. He is therefore having to try even harder and it's probably more tiring for the guy;
2. Bale is now a forward rather than a left winger, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as he is our most potent threat. However, one of things we have had to sacrifice through this change is that he is now easier to pick up than previously. Before he would make runs from deeper than he is doing now and so I think that made it harder for opposition players to pick him up; and
3. During the last couple of seasons we had intelligent, creative players in Modric and Van der Vaart, who were both not only fantastic on the ball and could pick out almost any pass (when Bale made his runs from deep) but were also incredible at drawing players to them, beating these players, and then creating space for others, such as Bale.

I'm almost certain we'll see an improvement in his performances now that Dembele is back. He would improve further still if we succeed in bringing in a player in the Moutinho mould that has fantastic vision, passing and that is intelligent at creating space for others. Similarly we will get even more out of him if we manage to upgrade our attacking options with a player like Willian to reduce the burden on Bale.

We're a work in progress and if the correct acquisitions are made, I am sure we will see an even better Bale than the one we saw previously.

 

[YiddoInPoland]

As much as i love Bale and think he is a great player (potential to be amazing if he sticks to what he does best), his agent (and whoever else) needs to stop filling his head with the nonsense of being like Cristiano Ronaldo.

CR is a poser, but he is an amazing football player, second in the world simply because Messi is kicking around at the same time, and has always been a forward, who can operate in those top three positions, not an out an out winger like Bale seems better suited at being as people have said.

 

[idontgetit]

He gets so much attention from the other side that he gets marked out of games and this season we haven't had the classy ball players to pick him out amongst his markers . What we should really be asking is why don't we take more advantage of the space he creates. We should drill to have midfielders running in to the inside left pocket that opens when the CB drops deep and across to cover the fullback in a 1 on 1. Teams have picked up on defending in this style because it prevent Bale pushing the ball past the full back and blitzing him with pace. It must leave a gap so lets learn to use it. And if the other CB moves across to cover the space left by the right sided cb then we should have bale working on getting his head up and switching it to Lennon. We didn't make use of this space last year either because Sandro, Modric and Parker (even VDV in a way) are not players who attack the box from deep. Someone like Dembele could really do it for us now though

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

We need to get the ball out wide to him, one on one with his full back, and run at them. More often. Same with Lennon. We aren't seeing the best out of either of them because we can never get the ball to them. Fuck knows why! I dunno.

 

[CJMurray]

The best performance we've seen from Bale this season was against Maribor at home. Mostly because every time Carroll got the ball he was looking to release him. Play Carroll and Bale gets more service.

 

[HotspurFC1950]

I think Bale, to be on a par with RVP, Ronaldo even Rooney, has to prove he can play both wings and up front.

 

[alamo]

As Markie says, we aren't seeing the best of any of our players, bar Defoe at the beginning of the campaign.

It hasn't been the best of seasons so far but I think you need to give some credit where it is due.

Sandro has been a beast. Verts has settled well and been our best defender. Caulker has looked very promising. Lloris looks a steal at ten million if he can regularly replicate the Lazio display. The moose looks like he could be a boss in midfield for many a year........

In general you are right, but there have been some silver linings. And I like to think we are a couple of injuries and signings away from having something special.

Unrealistic dreaming? Yep. Optimistic? Probably.

 

[double0]

I think Bale has to work more on his final ball and support play we're expecting Bale to do better defensively (really he should as were not a Barcelona) especially so being a former defender himself, we expect Bale to understand that role but he's been appalling with those duties.

Looking though at the best attackers in world football and Bale now comes into that frame, non really are fantastic with their defensive discipline so maybe we are a little hard on Bale, in favour to others they normal have a better team defence and pressing game which we sorely/painfully/shockingly lack.

It is a joy and worry to watch Bale in full flow his running power is amazing but worryingly annoying that when Bale does have the ball not one of our player ever support him with the option of a one two, there all expecting him to get to the byline and cross the same thing goes with Lennon. I'd like to see more support play around our attacking player-thats were intelligent players like Adebayor flourish and improve the quality of the player.