Getting the best out of Bale?

[Ribble]

I'm just wondering if people think that a more attacking full back, offering Bale an option on the overlap would help him to be more effective; because we seem to rely on players individual brilliance a bit much, as opposed to giving them simple options.

Bale plays right on the touchline much of the time, there's not enough space to have an overlapping runner when he's looking to run the exact same line as one would be.

 

[roosh]

Bale plays right on the touchline much of the time, there's not enough space to have an overlapping runner when he's looking to run the exact same line as one would be.

Bale does look to cut in at times, possible because he is forced to by full-backs; but the runner can always overlap on the inside. The main purpose is to give an option and/or drag the second marker away and leave Bale 1-on-1. We didn't seem to do this enough last season, and getting a full-back to do it means that our midfielders can take up other positions, as can our strikers.

As mentioned, it could leave us exposed at the back, but with 3 back defending and a DM it shouldn't be anything more than we can deal with.

 

[Donki]

I'm in agreement with regard to a decent striker, and with regard to pressing teams, and in theory Bale has the ability to pull players out of position, but in practice that wasn't necessarily the case in the latter half of the season.

I acknowledge that he got injured, and this likely affected his form, but I think this was happening prior to his back injury - teams were getting to grips with him.

Now, I would say that by all means the team in general needs to play better, offer more support, pressure opponents more and try to find space on the pitch, but they didn't do that consistently enough in the latter half of last season.

I'm just wondering if people think that a more attacking full back, offering Bale an option on the overlap would help him to be more effective; because we seem to rely on players individual brilliance a bit much, as opposed to giving them simple options.

I totally agree we depend alot on individuals. A good striker who could hold the ball, a bit like Gudjonson did on a number of occasions when he got a start (I know, I know hes over the hill but he could keep the ball). That would allow VdV, Bale, Lennon and Modders to an exstint to run on. The opposition cant track everyone. None of our current forwards can do this comfortably.

An attacking left back...... Baines? Even a possibility? Or put Pienaar out wide and have Bale gallop down the flank all day long. There are a number of possibilities and in preseason we should maybe try somthing different. Bale is at his best (at the momment) running onto the ball at pace.

 

[Ribble]

Bale does look to cut in at times, possible because he is forced to by full-backs; but the runner can always overlap on the inside. The main purpose is to give an option and/or drag the second marker away and leave Bale 1-on-1. We didn't seem to do this enough last season, and getting a full-back to do it means that our midfielders can take up other positions, as can our strikers.

As mentioned, it could leave us exposed at the back, but with 3 back defending and a DM it shouldn't be anything more than we can deal with.

It'd be far simpler to put Bale at LB and get someone who cuts in ahead (like, er, Niko maybe :bang: ). Any LB cutting in will still be on their wrong foot, making them a much less dangerous prospect than one coming on the outside. Better to have someone coming onto their strong foot and leave avenues free outside whilst drawing the opposition full-back.

 

[double0]

It's easy we have to stop those long diagonal cross field ball expecting Bale to control beat 4 players and get a pin point cross in.

What needs to happen and the same applies with Lennon we need intelligent strikers midfielders and full backs knowing when to support our wingers by offering the short pass instead of always running away expecting the perfect cross.

 

[roosh]

I totally agree we depend alot on individuals. A good striker who could hold the ball, a bit like Gudjonson did on a number of occasions when he got a start (I know, I know hes over the hill but he could keep the ball). That would allow VdV, Bale, Lennon and Modders to an exstint to run on. The opposition cant track everyone. None of our current forwards can do this comfortably.

An attacking left back...... Baines? Even a possibility? Or put Pienaar out wide and have Bale gallop down the flank all day long. There are a number of possibilities and in preseason we should maybe try somthing different. Bale is at his best (at the momment) running onto the ball at pace.

Indeed, we should've signed Gudjonson when we had the chance.

It's a pity we wouldn't think about holding onto Rose and giving him a go, because he did well enough in his few games at the end of this season. Even getting Benny to go forward a bit more would work.

 

[roosh]

It'd be far simpler to put Bale at LB and get someone who cuts in ahead (like, er, Niko maybe :bang: ). Any LB cutting in will still be on their wrong foot, making them a much less dangerous prospect than one coming on the outside. Better to have someone coming onto their strong foot and leave avenues free outside whilst drawing the opposition full-back.

It really is a pity that we are going to lose Niko; what a fantastic player. It is a pity we didn't try Bale at LB and Niko left mid - good shout

 

[roosh]

It's easy we have to stop those long diagonal cross field ball expecting Bale to control beat 4 players and get a pin point cross in.

What needs to happen and the same applies with Lennon we need intelligent strikers midfielders and full backs knowing when to support our wingers by offering the short pass instead of always running away expecting the perfect cross.

definitely. that is one criticism that Harry has to take; we never offer enough support to the man on the ball; every time we expect individual brilliance to create chances for us, instead of patient team build up.

Our movement off the ball is decidedly average.

 

[Ribble]

It really is a pity that we are going to lose Niko; what a fantastic player. It is a pity we didn't try Bale at LB and Niko left mid - good shout

I imagine that Pienaar has been brought in with Bale coming from LB in mind as well, but he's nowhere near the same kind of attacking threat that Niko is so the emphasis will still be on Bale to produce everything.

 

[wevegotledleyattheback]

Disagree if anything a more attacking LB will stifle Bale's attacking much like Glen Johnson or Hutton does with Azza. The teams that did well against Bale generally kicked lumps out of him I.e. P Neville for Everton at the Lane. Hate it how he got all the plaudits for being a sly filthbag.

Think his link up play with Benny is top notch and as everyone else on here has said we need to make the most of the space he creates when dragging 2 men down the wing!

 

[roosh]

Disagree if anything a more attacking LB will stifle Bale's attacking much like Glen Johnson or Hutton does with Azza. The teams that did well against Bale generally kicked lumps out of him I.e. P Neville for Everton at the Lane. Hate it how he got all the plaudits for being a sly filthbag.

Think his link up play with Benny is top notch and as everyone else on here has said we need to make the most of the space he creates when dragging 2 men down the wing!

I don't think the situation with Azza is comparable, because Azza doesn't take on his man anywhere near as much as Bale. I wouldn't blame Hutton for stifling Azza, because he does it to himself.

What's being suggested is pretty basic, it's simply a matter of giving Bale an option when he is on the Ball, but instead of drawing a striker or midfielder out wide to support him, that support comes form an attacking full-back, making us potentially more dangerous on the attack.

The notion of exploiting the space left, if teams double up is a nice one, but it is somewhat theoretical. The issue is that the space that is left to exploit is probably going to be around our back four, if teams get 10-11 men behind the ball. Even if we assume that we leave 3 defenders back (and not 4), if a team gets 9 men behind the ball, that means that the space left to exploit is in our half of the pitch.

As opposed to exploiting the space in our own half, it might make more sense to actually use one of the free men to support the man being doubled up on, making it 2-on-2 instead of 2-on-1.