Bale on the right?

[Kendall]

I know its largely a case of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it" but given the form of Lennon, would this be something we could try?

The idea comes from Johnson's performances on the right for City and England, whereby he runs at players and is often able to get a shot off or whip in a ball. In addition, our options on the left are currently very strong... on the right, not so much.

Is it possible that Bale could be even more dangerous on the right? is it an option we should maybe utilise in-game a la United's tactic a couple of seasons back of wing-swapping?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I'd thought about this as well. I'm sure he'd well on the right cutting in (the normal left footer's role in a 4-3-3 type formation). He's switched over there mid game for short periods during some matches (Stoke being one off the top of my head) and popped up in good positions.

I can't see it happening permanently though and I am sure Lennon will come good if he can get his confidence up.

 

[mil1lion]

I'd like to see him switch wings with Lennon. But I wouldn't make it a permanent position as such. He's such a good crosser from the left, so we benefit a lot from that. I think Adam Johnson is more suited to that role because he is quick in tight spaces, where Bale is great at going on the outside and stripping them for pace. It's really the difference between quickness and direct pace.

 

[Krafty]

He's been switching with van der Vaart (as much as you can switch) and found himself on the right wing a few times, before coming back to the left.

I think he can play as an inside winger. He has the pace and drive to get round the outside, as well as cut inside, so defenders couldnt just show him down the line. He obviously has a very good left foot, but his right foot isnt that bad. And with if someone like Hutton is behind him overlapping, it would open up even more space on the inside.

I wouldnt be surprised if its something our coaching staff are working on with him, but I wouldnt expect it to be a regular thing just yet.

 

[Maske2g]

Arjen Robben.

Probably in the best 3 players in the world over the last year, and he is a left footer playing right wing.

 

[PT]

I'd like to see him in goal.

 

[kaz Hirai]

he and lennon should do this naturally over the course of a game really instead of being so rigid, perhaps redknapp will allow this more often, switch during games to throw of their markers.

 

[$hoguN]

I'd like to see him in goal.

Me too. Can you imagine him stopping a shot, dropping the ball at his feet, charging 60 yards forward beating player before whipping in a cross. Ofcourse Pav/Crouch would fail to control it, and someone would just chip the ball over the top of Bale from distance, scoring more times than not. F**k me though, we would be entertaining!!!

 

[Mr Pink]

Its interesting actually but in terms of comparing him to Johnson, they play quite differently. Johnson has better skill with the ball at his feet, better in tight situations and generally thats great to have when your cutting in...his goal against Newcastle totally epitomises what he's all about - great with the ball at his feet and shifting it in a clever way.

I see Bale as much more direct beating players with his raw pace and stamina and using his ability with his left peg to whip in dangerous balls and crosses into the box. He has skill with the ball at his feet, but he's not as tricky as Johnson is in tight conjested areas.

But in terms of giving the opposition something to think about or if we arn't making head way with our attacking play, swapping wings could be useful for us.

 

[al_pacino]

He's good enough to play anywhere from LB, anywhere in midfield(although maybe still a bit brittle for the centre) or as a forward. Anywhere he can run forward from he can play.

 

[$hoguN]

He's good enough to play anywhere from LB, anywhere in midfield(although maybe still a bit brittle for the centre) or as a forward. Anywhere he can run forward from he can play.

He just doesn't have the skillset to play upfront. When playing as a forward you need to have the ability to time runs and move into clever positions. Bale's game is about using his pace, stamina and skill to get past the last defender and put in crosses, he has the abaility to score goals when he gets through too, but is no way suited to playing with his back to goal or off the shoulder of the last man.

 

[kcmei]

bale is most effective running down the flank because of this speed so i think he is better suited to the left

 

[dimiSpur]

You need to be intricate to play on the right whilst being left footed. He'd be good, but not as good as on the left. Messi is another that plays from the right whilst being left footed, although he's now employed alot up front in a 4-6-0 type formation

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Not sure I'd want to see us start a match that way, though it's fine during matches to play games with the opposition. I'm not saying he wouldn't do well there, he probably would, but I don't think he'd do as well. Forgetting the amount of crosses he puts in, there's also the fact that all of our other left sided choices are right footers, so Benoit would end up extremely exposed.

Also, Lennon came on v Villa and played pretty well, and definitely had a lot to do with Crouch and VDV's relationship, so I'm hoping that's a sign that his form is returning. Two weeks ago I wanted him dropped, but right now I think he has his spot back.

 

[mil1lion]

Arjen Robben.

Probably in the best 3 players in the world over the last year, and he is a left footer playing right wing.

Not to mention the best player Messi :wink:

I think these are tricky type players though, where Bale is more about blistering pace going round the outside and whipping crosses in. More in the Roberto Carlos mould.

 

[$hoguN]

Am I the only one who think Messi is a little over-rated? Thats not saying that he is not one of the best players in the world, just that people seem to get excited about things he does which they would not get excited about if anothe player did.

 

[mil1lion]

Messi is a God. The speed at which he dribbles, the strength, the balance, the vision, his workrate, his drive to keep playing on, the composure in front of goal... He's the ultimate player and he plays with a smile on his face.

But he's no Gareth Bale.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

$hogun, he does things about 8 or 9 times a game which 99.9% of players couldn't dream of doing, at any level, and the ones who are capable of doing them do them once or twice every few games at best, and I include C.Ronaldo in this. He is also a fighter, working his nuts off when out of possession, and he takes more kicks than any player I've seen barring Fat Buck Toothed Tranny Fucking God Ronaldo, but 9/10 rides them and tries to create something rather than go down.

If all that seems a bit superficial (don't see how he could), then there' the fact that in 221 club games so far in his carrer, he has 134 goals and 55 assists. He's not just benefitting from his side playing great football, he is the difference between them playing greatful and them playing completely untouchable, unrivalled, never before seen levels of magnificence football. On top of all of this, he's generally pretty humble and down to earth about it all, though in the past year he has let a little bit of 'I'm the man' creep into his game. To be fair though, he fucking is. All this, and you know how old he is? 23. All of this at the age of 23.

All of that said, he's really just the Argentinian Bale ;-)

 

[Spurger King]

Fat Buck Toothed Tranny Fucking God Ronaldo

Right...I'm off to get that put on the back of my Real Madrid shirt. Can anyone lend me a few hundred quid for the lettering?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

What, he's a Nazi ?