Gareth Bale: ‘Catch me if you can’
The question that most right backs must be discussing these days would be how to stop Gareth Bale; a common question when a player is quickly becoming unstoppable and Gareth Bale is certainly becoming one.
Currently, every right full back is dreading at the thought of facing the super talents of the Welshman. However, most of these right backs are failing to counter the threat posed by Gareth Bale, so the question to be asked is what is the solution? And how
to find this solution?
There are loads of other questions also that fans might ask their teams. Is it really the sole responsibility of the team management to inform their players about the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition players or should the individual players do
some of their own research and improve their own set of skills to come up with improved performances against the likes of Bale.
Over recent years, the increase in use of technology has really made a difference. Video analysis and utilisation of math DVD’s have proved to be of great help to team managers and analysts. The information they obtain can be easily transferred to the players
and thus help them fully prepare for the upcoming challenge.
Scouting reports are an essential ingredient to the game plan of any team. The reports contain information on the playing styles, set piece routines etc of the opposition. Detailed analysis of each individual player also forms part of the report.
If there is so much information available both on paper and in videos, the suggestion that modern day player can make excuses for lack of information, looks absurd. This leaves little room for excuse on a poor display by any individual.
The information gathered and the analysis that is carried out does not guarantee that the plan will work. It also depends on the plan of the opposition and what kind of day your own players have. A slight lack of concentration and fatigue are two of the
many factors that can cause the game plan to fail.
At times, players have to use their own insight and know what best suits them. They need to adjust and think on feet while on the pitch. A basic strategy against players, who are good at running at defenders and have pace to burn, is to make sure they don’t
get on the ball often. Try to make sure that you stay tight on him and not allow him to turn and run at you. However, there will be times when they find that bit of space to run at you, this is when plan B comes into play.
For a full back, stopping a player like Gareth bale is not his only game plan. It’s a famous old saying that ‘attack is the best form of defence’ and we have seen two great Brazilian legends, Roberto Carlos and Cafu, apply that to perfection over the years.
If a full back is making forward runs past the winger, it would make the winger come back into his own half to defend against him, which isn’t his primary job. But striking the balance is crucial. Some wingers like to come infield and full backs make use
of the space that is left behind by them to help build attacks from the flanks.
Defenders aren’t the only ones studying opposition attackers; it’s the other way round as well. Attacking players need to do exactly the same, study the attributes of opposition defenders and know who to run at, who isn’t a good header of the ball and who
lacks pace etc.
Finally, if this is the only form of preparation to stop the likes of Gareth Bale, one would expect teams to not only come up with plan A and B but also with a plan C and in some circumstances a Plan D.
Ask any defender, and he’ll tell you that he hates when players run at them. Currently Bale is an old fashioned winger who is running at the opposition full backs throughout 90 minutes and when required, he pops into the box to score goals.
A nightmare to defend against. Gareth bale has thus sent a message to all Premier League full backs i.e. ‘catch me if you can’.
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