Bale as a striker?

[Spurger King]

Your thoughts...

Obviously if Adebayor is fit he'd be the first choice, and as long as Defoe is banging in the goals he should always be in contention..but as a contingency plan I don't think Bale is a bad option at all for the striker role.

He's played there for Wales, and I'm pretty sure he's mentioned wanting to play there for Spurs. Good in the air, strong, great finish, great instinct, lots of pace...he has all the attributes to be a top striker.

The main objection I can see would be his crossing ablity, which would apparently be lost if playing as a striker. However if he played in a similar role to Adebayor...dropping deep on occasions, or drifting out wide, I think he'd still be able to utilise that aspect of his game.

We'd also miss his rampaging runs if he was playing as a striker. However I honestly think that given the chance, he'd score more goals than he usually creates if played there.

 

[Kendall]

NO

But, when people were discussing a team for Stoke, it was mentioned that Modric could be pushed higher up the pitch if VDV wasn't fit.

For me, I wouldn't mind seeing Bale in the hole, or behind a striker if it's required. He has shown the ability to not only get into the box, but to come in and make things tick from the middle as well, occasionally drifting over towards the right if he's not having luck on the left.

Friedel

Walker Kaboul King Assou-Ekotto

Sandro Parker

Lennon Bale Modric

Adebayor​

 

[Spurger King]

I think he could do wonders in that role. Unlike VDV or Lennon he has the natural abilities to be a striker.

I think too many (not you 'nen..nin..nanarl? ninanenarl?') Wrote off the idea of Bale as a striker too quickly.

For me he is more of a goal scorer than a creator. He has all the skills required, but is hamprered by the rarity of that left-foot. It's not exactly a bad problem to have, but I think it is worth taking the occasional risk on.

 

[Dr Know]

To be honest I would rather just buy a striker. We don't have the luxury to "try" anything if we want top 4 again. I think we need to get a striker and a CB in Jan, possibly a right winger to give Lennon a push

 

[dontcallme]

If we have a major injury crisis up front. You know one so bad we might actually have to play Pav then we can consider Bale upfront as a last resort. I'd rather see Bale upfront to a youngster who isn't ready for the Prem.

Bale seems to thrive on having a free role. I remember watching him against West Ham and he was turning up all over the pitch. I know it was only West Ham but they couldn't handle him. Bale has so much energy but he isn't using it to help BAE as much as he should so maybe he needs more of a free role to get the best out of him.

 

[diegooners]

He's too one footed to be a top class forward. He's also a complete pussy despite being a big unit. Not physical enough for the lone role. On the left or right of a front three? Sure. But through the middle his best attributes are wasted.

 

[Donki]

I would say no, I think he is more effective wide and cutting in. Yes he is still young and could learn but to be honest learning to time runs, dealing with being offside (see Defoe), positional awareness in the middle of the park is something they try to teach early on.

Just because he is quick and a pretty good finisher doesn't mean he will play well as a striker. Look at his past performances, Bale can be quite easily marked out of a game when teams do it, he is going to have a lot more bodies around him in the middle of the park than he ever did out wide. Would like to see howhe got on on the left or right of an attacking 3 but not in a striking role, sorry.

 

[sharky127]

Not as a main striker but something along the lines of Ronaldo at Real Madrid is definately an option.

As part of a 433 with Bale on the left, Ade centrally and Lennon on the right with Modric, VdV and Parker/Sandro behind him could be devestating and tbh its not too far from how we are playing at the moment!

 

[Mr Pink]

Not as a main striker but something along the lines of Ronaldo at Real Madrid is definately an option.

As part of a 433 with Bale on the left, Ade centrally and Lennon on the right with Modric, VdV and Parker/Sandro behind him could be devestating and tbh its not too far from how we are playing at the moment!

Agreed. Not a CF for me but in a 4-3-3 as wide forward, certainly.

Lets be honest though if he went to Spain it would be as a proper wing forward.

 

[dav3j]

This one again eh?

I agree, wouldn't work as an out and out striker up front. I reckon putting him on the right of a 4-3-3 could work, but that really won't work to the strengths of the rest of the team.

 

[THOWIG]

On the left or right in a front 3 for me. He needs to watch Alexis at Barca or Di Maria at Real.

 

[AW?]

At the end of last season I was saying to a mate how we should stick him up front and see how he gets on. Don't need to this season though with Ade in the team. If Ade gets injured though, why not? Or just have him in a very attacking trio with Defoe and Lennon.

 

[fortworthspur]

I think Bale could play anywhere he wants, 'cept keeper.

 

[beats1]

Fuck it, I want kaboul as a striker he could be the new Drogba lol

 

[coldasice199]

As Fortworthspur said, he's good enough to play anywhere.

But for me, Left Wing Back or Left Wing. He's equally class at both.

 

[Spurger King]

Bumping this. Both Bale's goals today came from central positions. For his first he was pretty much positioned as a striker, and for his second he went straight through the middle and finished beautifully.

I genuinely think he could score 20+ by playing as a striker. He has a great finish, and plenty of pace. I love his runs down the left, and those stunning crosses he can put in, but put it this way, I'd prefer to see him up front instead of Pav.

 

[Kendall]

Perhaps not as a striker, but on the left or right of a 4-3-3? Our forwards interchange so much that it wouldn't be byeond the realms and we were almost playing like that tonight anyway.

I felt Bale was playing like Ronaldo for United tonight.

 

[mil1lion]

The reason he got into those positions, particularly the 2nd was due to the movement of Adebayor though. He doesn't need to be a centre forward because he can do so much from out wide yet still get into goalscoring situations.

 

[Mr Pink]

Perhaps not as a striker, but on the left or right of a 4-3-3? Our forwards interchange so much that it wouldn't be byeond the realms and we were almost playing like that tonight anyway.

I felt Bale was playing like Ronaldo for United tonight.

Me to, I think he needs more licence like tonight to just drag defenders everywhere...support Adebayor and basically make more central runs beyond Ade...really stretching opponents.

A lot of the time he's doubled up on from the left but his crossing is still very dangerous. I think his position should be as fluid as possible and coming centrally, mixing up his game, could be a nightmare for the opposition.

 

[Spurger King]

The reason he got into those positions, particularly the 2nd was due to the movement of Adebayor though. He doesn't need to be a centre forward because he can do so much from out wide yet still get into goalscoring situations.

I'm not doubting his ability on the wing, but I can't help thinking of Henry at Juve, playing as a winger, then suddenly knocking them in for fun for Arsenal.

He could well be a better finisher than any of our strikers, which would become evident if he was getting as many chances as Ade, Pav and Defoe do.

Anyway, I'm hapy with him scoring from his roaming position, but would like to think it would be an option if we ever needed someone to fill in for a number 9 or 10 role.