Bale

[cwhite02]

What's up with Bale at the mo? Can't remember the last good game he's had, looks off the pace at the moment. I think he needs to stick wide left and come in less often, he always seemed at his most deadly then.

Anyone else join in or hear `He plays on the left, he plays on the left, Gareth Bale, he plays on the left` yesterday? I joined in as I think he needs to a little more. Don't get me wrong, I appriciate that he's trying to develop his game more but especially with this bad run he should be doing what he has done best and scare the sh1t out of the full backs.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

As somebody said in another thread, it's been a good year for the Bale brand. And maybe that's all that matters.

 

[punky]

I hate that song. I appreciate that it's aimed at Redknapp but I can understand hon being offended by it after all he has given us. Makes us look like ungrateful shits.

FWIW I do think he should roam more. He can be apply isolated on the wing sometimes. Especially when he double marked

 

[donny1013]

One of the best wingers in world football for me is Robben. He will happily play on the right or the left but the key thing is he stays out wide when he doesn't have the ball, it stretches teams. Bale is so one footed that it negates his ability when he comes central as if he can't shoot on his left he certainly can't don anything with his right foot. Please Bale, just stay out wide.

 

[beats1]

One of the best wingers in world football for me is Robben. He will happily play on the right or the left but the key thing is he stays out wide when he doesn't have the ball, it stretches teams. Bale is so one footed that it negates his ability when he comes central as if he can't shoot on his left he certainly can't don anything with his right foot. Please Bale, just stay out wide.

I disagree slightly I think he should just go where there is space when he isn't in possession, whether that is in the middle or the left I don't care but he needs stop going in to areas that are congested

 

[jonathanhotspur]

One of the best wingers in world football for me is Robben. He will happily play on the right or the left but the key thing is he stays out wide when he doesn't have the ball, it stretches teams. Bale is so one footed that it negates his ability when he comes central as if he can't shoot on his left he certainly can't don anything with his right foot. Please Bale, just stay out wide.

I agree that he's causing congestion. You look out to that left flank yesterday and you see Adebayor out there and a young man (often with acres of space in front of him) who can't deliver a cross. It's stupid.

There is also the issue of Bale playing with his back to goal when he takes up central positions and whether he's good enough to do it. Probably not.

 

[Spurrific]

I think he should experiment more at a less crucial time for us.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

I think he should experiment more at a less crucial time for us.

It's got to be the manager who's indulging him, right? If I were Redknapp, I'd bounce every teacup in the dressing room off of his head.

 

[rawhide]

It's not just Bale causing congestion to be fair. At least once (because I counted) there were 7 outfield players within 10 - 15 yards of the ball on the left wing. The only ones that weren't drawn to it like moths were Kaboul, Gallas and Walker. (and Friedel, obviously).

And we wonder why we have problems opening teams up and scoring.

 

[Spurrific]

It's got to be the manager who's indulging him, right? If I were Redknapp, I'd bounce every teacup in the dressing room off of his head.

Yeah, I think Bale's being a bit mismanaged by Harry to be honest.

 

[dav3j]

FWIW I do think he should roam more. He can be apply isolated on the wing sometimes. Especially when he double marked

It's just because he's getting all Billy big-bollocks. Why would it matter if he's getting double marked out left when there's players with more than enough quality on the inside and on the right to cause the opposition trouble? If he wasn't playing so selfishly we'd probably see the likes of VdV and Modric having much more impact.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

It's not just Bale causing congestion to be fair. At least once (because I counted) there were 7 outfield players within 10 - 15 yards of the ball on the left wing. The only ones that weren't drawn to it like moths were Kaboul, Gallas and Walker. (and Friedel, obviously).

And we wonder why we have problems opening teams up and scoring.

Team shape, eh? It doesn't get any better when we're on the back foot. It's such a basic requirement, when you think about it.

 

[rawhide]

Team shape, eh? It doesn't get any better when we're on the back foot. It's such a basic requirement, when you think about it.

Indeed.

It goes a long way to explaining both why we haven't turned over the smaller teams and been hammered by some of the bigger ones.

Keep your shape boys!

 

[mpickard2087]

It's got to be the manager who's indulging him, right? If I were Redknapp, I'd bounce every teacup in the dressing room off of his head.

I have got to say it would be interesting to see him managed by someone like Fergie, I think we would see a much more disciplined player.

 

[donny1013]

But if he is getting doubled up on the LW then that's allowing players like VdV and Modric more space surely?

 

[dimiSpur]

To be fair he did stick wide more than he has of late. Ironically, the best game he's played for us in recent weeks was Swansea at home, where he stuck to the wing the whole game almost, and tore them to shreds.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

But if he is getting doubled up on the LW then that's allowing players like VdV and Modric more space surely?

True. Mind you, there's so much going on in any particular moment in a game that it's probably not as straightforward as that. The big issue I have when Bale is being double or triple marked is that we don't get enough white shirts close enough to him to give options. And you will often see that our boys do nothing whatsoever to help him. He could have up to 5 opposition players in or around him and the rest of our lot are liable to stand back scratching themselves waiting for him to pull a rabbit out of a hat. We're back to basic stuff like shape and off the ball movement.

 

[mpickard2087]

But if he is getting doubled up on the LW then that's allowing players like VdV and Modric more space surely?

Precisely, he needs to understand that sometimes he needs to do a job for the team, stay wide and attract two or three defenders and this means more space for other players to exploit.

 

[donny1013]

When Bale is playing like an out and out winger on the left he is one of the players that you get off your seat for. There are very few rb's that can keep up with him and his crossing is exceptional. The game at Norwich seems to have created a monster.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

He's a brilliant left sided midfield player and an ordinary joe anywhere else

Not a difficult argument is it?