Bale LB, LM.... how about

[MendD3]

Second Striker, has everything, wasted on the wing when he has Crouch to aim for!

Can't believe its not been given a go mg:

 

[Eric_s]

It worth a try. Since Pav is outcast, crouch and defoe are hopeless in getting goals, why not play Bale and VDV as our strikers? Bale is better in the air than crouch and can go wide to bring other players into attack.

 

[Beni]

No, Van Der Vaarts position.

Bale, needs to be in a position where he has the whole pitch to run at and facing the opposition.
His strength isnt playing with his back to goal, which he would be doing a considerable amount more, and having the inteligence to drop in the hole.

Left back or Left mid for him.

 

[we_all_loved_freund]

I would quite like to see him given just a run out up front. His pace and power would terrify defenders, he can finish very well to. I would play him as a number 9 though rather than in the hole. I don't think he is clever enough yet with his passes to play the VDV role.

 

[Mr-T]

Doesnt he sometimes play up front for Wales?

 

[stevenqoz]

Ideally he is neither a LB or LM. Bale is a left wing back but our default system does not use such a position.

 

[t7ny]

True, he is a classic left wing back by definition, maybe we can adopt 3-5-2 to make it work, with the wing back dropping back in when defending.
This system is only suspect to counter attack, Hutton and Bale should have no problem getting back with regards to energy levels, and the wing back on the opposite side of the active attacking one could sit level with the ball to create a four at the back in the case of counter attack.

Sorted, now just to ring Arry and let him know.

 

[DogsOfWar]

Playing Bale at LB, Modric at LM, and Corluka at RB effectively gives us a 3-5-2 when going forward.

Bale just pushes on, Modric tucks in, and Corluka stays back with the other 2 CBs.
It's my preferred formation as it keeps all our 'expansive' players in the side but allows us to have two stronger CMs to fight in the middle.

It's also bloody harsh on BAE but then that's what management's all about.

 

[MendD3]

I just think we haven't much to lose by trying it considering we have Pienaar and Kranjcar, battling for the left wing role. Its not like we would be sacrificing a top striker......

 

[CosmicHotspur]

Those scintillating runs he makes down the wing to put in effective crosses in front of goal are brilliant and he does run up front himself and score too, as the stats obviously prove.

I think playing him as a wing half is ideal for him, both as a playmaker and a goalscorer.

 

[AngerManagement]

He is a very composed finisher, I am sure he could play an Henry top striker role if required to.

What I will say is look no further than the type of runs he made against Inter and how he destroyed them down the wing also the type of amazing crosses and passes into the box he is capable of and I would say we would be wasting his major assets by playing him too far up top.

What we need is a clinical striker who can make the most of what he offers us.

 

[worcestersauce]

He is our best striker and would get buckets of goals given the service he provides but the problem is he wouldn't get that service.
Best striker we have but better where he is which doesn't really say much for our strikers does it.
I think he sometimes playes a more central role going forward for Wales but actually he just switches positions all through their games, I guess he's just a phenomenon and we should just enjoy him.

 

[stevenurse]

play him left wing and striker. he can ease his way past defenders then cross for himself to tap home

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

We've got one of the top left wingers in world football.... so yeah, let's turn him into a striker so we're struggling at left wing!

I said it when he was the height of his top form back in September/October that he could play striker, there's no two ways about that, but why would we want to?

We could, feasibly, play VDV off Bale up top (like United did with Rooney playing off C. Ronaldo) but I just don't see it ever happening.

 

[WhiteHart4Ever]

He is a very composed finisher, I am sure he could play an Henry top striker role if required to.

What I will say is look no further than the type of runs he made against Inter and how he destroyed them down the wing also the type of amazing crosses and passes into the box he is capable of and I would say we would be wasting his major assets by playing him too far up top.

What we need is a clinical striker who can make the most of what he offers us.

Maybe, yes and correct, Sir. Let's play him in his best position, not our weakest. I do also question whether he's got a striker's mind and the ability to play with his back to the goal, but we won't know before we've tried I guess..I'm sure they've had a look a this option in training though.

 

[Flatters]

Gomes

Corluka -- Gallas -- Dawson -- Assou-Ekotto

Lennon -- Huddlestone -- Modric -- Pienaar

Van der Vaart -- Bale​

 

[THOWIG]

Buy a striker and play Bale as the left forward in a 3

 

[minimike]

4-3-3 formation:

------------------Gomes------------------
Corluka----Gallas-----Dawson-----Ekotto
----------VDV----Hudd---Modric-----------
--------Lennon-----Pav----Bale--------

 

[OpenHeartZoo]

Buy a striker and play Bale as the left forward in a 3

This. I also wish we'd bought Suarez who could've done a job leading the line but would be devestating as the other wing forward in a 4-3-3. VDV could play as either a wing forward or as one of the three in midfield as he's done successfully for Holland. Niko likewise. Someone like Marin could also work as the other wing forward.

I don't know if we're anywhere near organised enough to make the 4-3-3 work for us in the Prem yet, but long term that would be the dream for me. A sort of poor (but not too poor) mans Barcelona setup.