Gareth Bale......

[ILS]

Will be the best left winger in the world and is wasted at left back... I could even see him play the false number 9 position.

I also predict Tim Sherwood will be our manager!

 

[Teemu]

Ya-huh. I must admit I was quite happy to see him play LM but after his performances in the last couple of games it's clear that as you say he does much better marauding forwards from deep. Plus BAE, I'm afraid, just isn't good enough. His marking for their goal today was once again shocking. Bale at LB with Gio LM.

 

[yanno]

is a left back and should always be a left back.

Will people on this board and other board's who suggest he should play left midfield get real. He does not have a trick or the electric pace to play out wide. He does his best work coming from deep on to a ball instead of having his back to play receiving it.

As for people who question his defensive ability he is 19 for godsake!!

He was so good for Wales he ended up playing as a Number 10, breaking into the box and setting up a goal with a right-footed cross.

Ramos hasn't worked out how best to use Bale yet. In fact, Juande hasn't worked out how best to use any of our technically outstanding players: Modric, Bale, Dos Santos, Bentley.

However, away from home it makes a lot of sense to use Bale in LM with a LB behind him, even if he didn't play that well tonight. In Gareth's defence, he did get a couple of nasty kicks from Butt et al.

 

[knilly]

is a left back and should always be a left back.

Will people on this board and other board's who suggest he should play left midfield get real. He does not have a trick or the electric pace to play out wide. He does his best work coming from deep on to a ball instead of having his back to play receiving it.

As for people who question his defensive ability he is 19 for godsake!!

you've just pointed out why he is often played LM.

If he is played in midfield he's used as a solid attacking player, like riise for liverpool when he was good. when he improves the defensive side of his game he'll be moved to LB permanently

 

[Teemu]

I didn't actually see that Wales game, was he playing LB and pretty much given a free role? Or playing LM and getting forwards? I'm just basing my opinion on the season so far, where he's played much better from LB.

I think for the moment I'd rather see him at LB, mainly because BAE's not good enough and apparently neither is Gilberto although we've hardly seen him!

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Much prefer him at left back but Ramos must really not rate Gilberto to continuously start the woeful BAE ahead of him.

 

[jamesc0le]

bale could play in any position. he is truelly class, just a bit crap tonight.

 

[nicdic]

Bale should play left back, but Assou-Ekotto is solid enough at left back as well.

 

[SpurSince57]

Distinctions have become so blurred nowadays that saying a player is better suited to one position than another is often pretty pointless. I've seen N'Zogbia described as an LW and an LM, yet he's frequently played at LB.

The main problem is that he simply hasn't been that good for the last two games. On Sunday his passing was actually worse than Bentley's.

Think you're a bit harsh on BAE, Teeeemuuuu. Losing Geremi was the one serious mistake he made, unfortunately, but we didn't have Sunday's Atouba impersonations and generally he was about as solid as I can ever remember him being (one great backheel and a cracking shot, too). He's had about 18 months out if you don't count that single game against Bolton, so he's pretty much starting from scratch.

 

[Bristol Coys]

LB or maybe LWB but no further up the pitch.
We have a great gem here, but we could ruin him by moving him about, instead of making him the best LB in the country.

 

[hughy]

Definitely a LB. Another relatively poor showing by Ekotto today(barring that wicked backheel), think it might be Bale at LB against Pompey.

 

[senseispab]

He'll end up as a DMC I reckon. He's got the build for a central position.

 

[ethanedwards]

He'll end up as a DMC I reckon. He's got the build for a central position.

This was what I was thinking, who knows?

 

[TopSpurMan]

wonderful game football - i thought BAE had a great game - again!

 

[sharky_marky]

I know it won't happen but I wouldn't mind seeing Assou-Ekotto given a go as a winger. The guy is quick, agile, can cross and has a decent shot. As he has played left-back his defensive capabilities would provide good cover in front of Bale, who is very much still learning the ropes at LB. Just a thought.

 

[Rackybear]

I think Bale is best at LB too, surprisingly.

 

[Bristol Coys]

He'll end up as a DMC I reckon. He's got the build for a central position.

Is that short for sensimilla by any chance? :duh:
HAS to be developed at Left Back.

 

[Krafty]

People have to remember that although both Bale and BAE have been with us for over a season they have played hardly any football with the first team. BAE has played as many games this season as the whole of last season I heard!

I think Bale works better as a LB at the moment because he can link up with the left winger. When he plays left wing he is trying to do things on his own, knock it and run, rather than combinations with BAE or midfield/strikers. I think the full backs on both sides could get forward a bit more.

BAE is slowly coming good. I think he is a very solid defending, he just needs more and more games. The errors that he is making are occuring later and later in games and I think with a half dozen more games he will be up and running at 100%.

I think no matter what Ramos goes with, he should avoid chopping and changing players positions every week. If he thinks Bale can play LW then thats where he should play most of the time.

 

[mil1lion]

Papers are having a laugh. They reckon Liverpool want him for £15m. I think they need to do their homework and they will see he signed a new contract in the summer.

I didn't actually see that Wales game, was he playing LB and pretty much given a free role? Or playing LM and getting forwards? I'm just basing my opinion on the season so far, where he's played much better from LB.

I think for the moment I'd rather see him at LB, mainly because BAE's not good enough and apparently neither is Gilberto although we've hardly seen him!

He started at left back and then went left wing in the 2nd half. Thats where he started to run the show for Wales.

Distinctions have become so blurred nowadays that saying a player is better suited to one position than another is often pretty pointless. I've seen N'Zogbia described as an LW and an LM, yet he's frequently played at LB.

The main problem is that he simply hasn't been that good for the last two games. On Sunday his passing was actually worse than Bentley's.

Thank you :clap: Why are people writing him off as a left midfielder? All our players are poor at the moment (aside from Gomes and Woodgate,) so does that mean that neither of them can play in their positions either? Bale is suffering from a lack of form, but theres no doubt that when he returns to form, he'll be great whether he plays left back or left midfield.

He looks to be lacking match sharpness aswell, which is no surprise with all the games he missed last season. Aswell is Ledley King at the moment. Judge him when his sharpness and form are back to normal. Afterall, he hasn't done great at left back so far either this season.

 

[Flatters]

This is what I keep saying. Bale is world class, or near enough world class, at left back. However, at left midfield I've yet to see him have a very good game. He seems to attack so much better when he's playing as a left back rather than a left midfielder/winger. It's probably worth more having Bale at left back and no one on the left wing in front of him, than having him on the left wing and someone else behind him at left back.