The Bale Conundrum
Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 1:07PM 
A fairly comprehensive article on the Bale conundrum can be read here (via James Maw and Four Four Two). Steals plenty of thunder so I'll just add my own personal take on it here. There is no conundrum, if I'm perfectly honest. There doesn't appear to be that much management either concerning Gareth and his marauding into central positions.
I don't disagree that Gareth should not be looking towards developing his game and to be able to do that he has to have freedom of expression and more importantly the confidence and drive (not dive) to mix and match his play by not just being stuck out on the left flank. Except there is very little wrong with being stuck out on the left flank (unless he's man-marked by three defenders). If that's the case, he can swap wings with Lennon (if Aaron is playing on the opposite wing) or he can roam into central positions to pull defenders his way and free up room for someone else to attack the flank. It's basic tactics that a coach on the touchline would have his grey matter sparking with analysis to think of how best to work Bale into a game to be as effective as possible. Different opponents and varying class and quality of opponents will define how it plays out exactly. One game to the next, it will differ. It's obvious stuff. At least, from the comfort of this blog it is.
Much like one game to the next Bale should be managed accordingly. If remaining disciplined for the most part, then that's what he has to be told to do as part of the match preparation. I get the distinct feeling that his roaming is turning into a free pass for him to just play that way without any caveat other than 'keep doing it' regardless of what might work best against the back four he's facing.
Against Arsenal, width was one of the many qualities missing from our play. There is no doubt Bale is hungry and ambitious and wants to be the best player he can be. There is little argument he has the strength and skills to be that player. His focus though? It's a little foggy at this point in time. It's up to Redknapp and the coaches to make sure that he doesn't lose himself in the quest to become a complete attacking midfielder. Perhaps my mind is foggy, but I'm sure not that long ago (pre-Inter games) that Harry said his best position was left-back and his future would be there. That might be going back a fair while. But it's important to remember this is a young lad, a kid, that needs to be fathered as much as he need to be unleashed. He's evolved, there is no doubting that. But we all know hype can sometimes consume a player much like confidence can make or break one.
Spurs, as a collective and as individuals need to reclaim some of that back to basics work ethic. Stretch opponents with width and pace. Swap flank players to confuse and hassle the opposition further. Roam into the middle if the opportunity arises but remain disciplined that the role is one of a left-winger. Against lesser teams, weaker teams, experiment with that license to roam free.
Just think at the moment we're in need of a re-boot and a re-load. Best to start with our most prominent weapon.
Reader Comments (32)
He needs to stay out wide, unfortunately he hasn't got the ability to play through the middle (unless against Norwich who's defense parts like the Red sea), he seems to go missing and work rate goes out of the window.
Think he needs to up his game for the remainder of the season and realise it is a team game, i,e, pass to a teammate in a better position to make it 3-0 and kill the game off!!!!!!
Can't afford to lose this weekend
We need to remember what made us so solid and consistent in the first place. Like you said, team effort, a collective that allows for individualism rather than catering for ego.
Bale's comments of "not being able to help the team if he hasn't got the ball", really highlights his lack of maturity as a player. Someone needs to explain to him, even without the ball, being double marked on the wing makes space for the others. Sometimes it's worth him pulling out as wide as possible if it means defenders come with him because Ade, VDV and Modd will love the space afforded to them. Maybe there's no glory in staying out wide, but he needs to suck it up and take one for the team!
Spot on Spooky Bale needs to understand he is not Ronaldo!we messed up big time against the Woolwich,we made them look good by not sticking to the basics of team shape and discipline....if we do that against Utd they will destroy us! where the goons just got lucky,Harry probably felt sorry for them.
Been an advocator of the roaming and the freedom but there appears to be no control over the when and where.
I thought you were all up for letting him do what he liked, Spooky?
Redknapp needs to put his foot down with Bale, and stop this nonsense.
Back to basics, play the best players in their best positions.
None other than Bill Nicholson once famously said something along the lines of any idiot can play with the ball, it's what you do when you haven't got it that makes you a good or bad player. Do you move into space, looking for a pass, or move into an area where you know an opponent is going to track you, thus creating space for a team mate? At present, Gareth hasn't got the balance right - he should be concentrating on what is good for the team, not what is best for Gareth Bale.
Harry was clueless on Sunday, his admission that he knew they would win once they scored their first goal was shocking, his job is to change a game ala jose if it isn't going well. I bet his team talk was inspiring at half time!!!!!
Might have helped a little if he should he cared a little by getting off his arse during the match and barking instructions, obviously doesn't give two shits but while he is happy down in Bournemouth with one eye on England we are walking around with our heads down in shame after what can only be described as the most embarrassing tottenham performance I have ever seen and i have been a fan since 86!
TMWNN - that's my admittance. It's got far too messy and disorganised and is having negatives on the way we shape up. Too much too soon.
We play best when we make the opposition have to think about defending.
We play best when we have two out and out wingers and full-backs looking to go outside them.
When Bale moves inside it gives the opposition full-back a break and lets them push forward instead.
Bale has commented that it was his agent's suggestion to start looking for a free role.
Harry needs to string up the agent for that, and tell Bale to stay wide left.
So what if he's being doubled up on - that means someone else is not being watched/tracked.
This weekend we have to go back to the formation that took us up to third......
He needs to get his head sorted out. When he was wide against Arsen*l he could have killed the game off. In the 36 minute, minutes before their first goal, he was one-on-one with a defender, Saha was on his own in the middle with nobody near him, waiting for a cross for a tap-in for a certain goal to make it 0-3. Bale shot near post and it was easily saved. Three minutes later it was 1-2, five minutes later it was 2-2. Against Man City, he delayed and delayed crossing to Defoe and basically ruined the moment. My guess is he was going to shoot like he did against Arse, but they defended better and forced him wide so he had to cross Had he crossed when outside the box, Defoe would have had more of a chance and he probably would have scored. Against Liverpool he fluffed a one-on-one with Reina. There's no disputing he's a great player, but I think he's showing signs of being too greedy and believing the hype. Had he crossed to Saha, put Defoe in earlier and scored what was an easy chance for a 'world class player' (Would RVP, Rooney or Aguero have missed?) against Liverpool we'd be eight pts better off, 13 pts clear of Arse, that would put us one point clear at the top having taken 3 pts off City. These weren't difficult things to do either. Makes you think doesn't it...?
Ossie my man! You have a very short memory. There were several more embarrassing defeats to the Arsenal than that! Many during the Jol era - where the team was good enough to compete, but Jol didn't had Harry's go for it attitude. We capitulated...but better that then just losing 3-0 without even having a shot! As for Bale, my problem is balance and variation. There is nothing wrong with having Bale coming inside once in a while, as long as he keeps them guessing. That is the trick. Bale also needs to be patient. The games where his roaming worked were against non-established or weaker Premiership teams. But in a North London Derby? I should say Oi! Bale! Nooooo! Keep it tight, disciplined and you should be more effective in tough games.
Walkerboy - yep. The other thing is that the persistent running at a full back causes the defence to get ground down. With luck, the full back picks up early booking. Now you have him! Keep running at him! If Rafael is playing, then stay wide! That guy is a booking waiting to happen!
I'm not worried about what he does going forward. I'm more concerned about his positional discipline when defending. As a wide midfielder you have a defensive job to do. He lacks urgency when it comes to putting in the hard work required when getting back in position to help the team defend. When going forward he doesn't have to be nailed to the left touch line. He won the penalty against Arsenal running through the middle. If he does come inside then other players should look to exploit the space out wide.
It's a question of balance and knowing where to run and when. He's still learning and will only get better.
The pressure on Bale to perform to "Ronaldo-esque" comparisons must be immense. Not least in his own mind. It's up to Harry to lessen if not relieve that pressure without destroying the confidence that comes with such magnificent talent and ability. There are plenty of great footballers that started life out wide (Henry anyone?) and gradually made the transition to the center. Bale is attempting to do this in just over a year. It's OK to experiment now and then but this seems to have become the rule recently. If double teaming is stifling his ability then our numerous cabal of technical coaches can work with him, BAE and Modric developing and practicing escaping and taking advantage of such situations. That's what they are paid to do. His recent running away all over he field to escape defenders seems to me less like development and more like a cop out.
Kurtspur - yep. That is one thing that Lennon is still streets ahead. Tracking back and covering.
Lennon is brilliant at tracking back and nicking the ball off players.
Sam-I-Am: I think I posted somewhere on here after the Norwich game that Bale has the potential to become a striker in the future, much like how Henry was converted from a winger. The problem is that he seems to think that can happen when he's supposed to be playing wide. I'd have no problem with Harry letting him play off the striker if we had someone decent on left-wing, rather than a gaping hole.
Maybe if Hazard (or another quality winger) comes in the summer there is a plan to let Bale fit naturally in the middle. If that's the case then leave it until the pre-season friendlies - don't start pissing around with the tactics at the business end of the season!
I think it's very basic. Bale needs to stay left or right, and the only time he should come inside is when we are on the break and he bursting a gut going through the middle where he has the space to expliot his speed against the CB eg arsenal pen and the noriwch goal.....that's it! Simples
The question is if he also has the brains and the character to be a consistently well playing player!
Agree with Walkerboy. He leaves a big gap when he's on the left and comes inside. The team is also doubly unbalanced especially with VdV wandering around. He should only come inside when the team is properly on the break not against 10 behind the ball.
If he's not on the left there is noone there except BAE and noone of equal ability.
Seems as though Bale's hamstring might solve this problem, if only for a short while (hopefully). Seems like there always an injury concern when he goes off to play international.
How to contribute without the ball? Ladies and gents, I give you Huntelaar's run that made the England defence follow like sheep and opened the way for Robben. As he started as a left back defending duties ought to be a given. BAE gets a lot of stick about his defending at times, some of it deserved, but Bale has not been providing an outlet at times or not been the first line of defence. Defence starts from the front and while Azza may not appear to have Bale's crossing abilities he does the other less glitzy stuff selflessly. If Bale is truly not fit then the side for this weekend should be:
Hellboy / walker Kaboul King BAE /Lennon Livermore Sandro Modrić VdV/ Ade
Ive been going on about the Spurs medical backroom capability. Is it just me or is there something wrong?? Now its Bale's hamstring, lets add this to seveal other groins and hamstrings, soon we can open a shop. What the f### is going oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooon !!!!!!!
Are we fit or not?????????/
It's simple - He can roam all he likes when we play 3 in the middle to protect him especially against the smaller teams....not when we play 2 upfront in the NLD - what an utterly stupid, basic error by HR.
Totally agree. Harry needs to use him accordingly depending on our oponent. Arsenal with there style of play and weakness at the back should have been told by Harry to stay out left and work the wing. Lennon should of played too and told the same, we should of had three midfield men to match theres. Harry needs to take more control and be more specific in his instructions. The 'go out there and play your game' tatic dont work against the top teams away.
if true RE;: Bale: Grade 1 hamstring injury is the lowest of grades and takes 3 weeks.to recover .using R.I.C.E PROTOCOL...ie rest.ice, ,compression ,elevation...or 2-3 days if not put pressure upon .......
Bale cannot kick the ball with his right foot to save his life. How on earth does he think he can run the ball into the right corner with two defenders on him and succeed? He did that how many times in the second half Sunday?? Until he learns how to play in a team and how to defend, he must stay out on the left flank where we know he can survive. He is a very poor defender and lousy team-player anywhere else on the field. Either he stays put, or we sell him! Give me Piennar back - he is a better all round player, just never had the opportunity to gel with the team. We need more work-horses like him.
Harry's declared that Bale is fit to play this weekend......
I don't really have a problem with him moving around, but only if its done if it exploits a weakness. What worries me is that from the Barnes interview it seems it wasnt harry's idea, Bale credits his agent as the one who told him to move in field a bit. Am I the only one worried by that?
Bonse - Exactly what I said further up the chain...... Harry should be stringing the agent up by the nuts and then bringing Bale down a peg or two and tell him to stay wide.
bale....i am almost frightened to say this as imagine i will get slaughtered but got to be honest - as much as i love him when he is bang on fire - there have been several games this season where i feel his workrate has been disgusting when things aint going for him...he has all the skill in the world but needs to watch some vids of messi and dare i say it rooney who even if they having a bad game (ok messi and bad game is stretching a bit) continue to put the shift in.....that for me is where VDV comes up trumps - regardless of good or bad game the guy would knock down walls for our shirt......and then you look at teams like everton who have little skill compared to us but give 120% - i just cant help thinking what we would be like if harry could just install a bit more of the parker in them all - although saying that when spurs (i know very rarely this season) struggled i do think harry could be a bit more up and at them on the touchline instead of watching as if on a scouting missions - still what i am moaning about - bale is somewhat better than ruel fox who i grew up on and harry definiately has the edge over some of the clowns i have watched take us to 10th year on year.......come on spurs give us a game to remember sunday....for the right reasons...please....COYS