Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale: The World's Best Left sided Midfielder?
Fresh from an impressive performance at the weekend in the Merseyside derby, David Moyes will try to keep it simple at the White Hart Lane this coming weekend. The plan would be “stop Gareth Bale”. This statement these days is as common as “what’s going
on between Sir Alex and Wayne Rooney?” or “What’s wrong with Fernando torres?”
It’s the immeasurable transformation of Bale from a Tottenham outcast to a European superstar, which would be a cause of concern for Moyes’s men. Even the man, who was left at the fringes of the first team squad at the end of last year, could not have imagined
a progress like this.
An absolutely stunning hatrick last night in Milan was exactly what the former Southampton Boy needed in order to make his mark in Europe. Not many players can stake a claim of scoring a hatrick at San Siro, but Gareth Bale can hold his head up high even
in the 4-3 defeat at the hands of the reigning champions.
Tottenham had signed Bale in the summer of 2007 for a fee of 5m pounds, rising up to 10m depending on appearances, which was considered by many as a coup. The Spurs' career kicked off in a perfect manner with a stunning free kick against arch rivals, Arsenal
early on in the season. However, he suffered a setback when he damaged his ankle ligaments and was ruled out for 8 months. Upon his return, he failed to break into Harry Redknapp’s first team.
Doubts were casted on him as to whether he would be able to fulfil the potential he had shown as a young prodigy at Southampton. He had joined the club as a 9 year old and made his first team debut at only 16 years and 269 days, the second youngest debutant
after Theo Walcott in the club's history.
Huw Jennings, the former Southampton and current Fulham academy director, has seen Bale’s rise to stardom and can relate to the struggles of the young Cardiff born star.
“What was hard for him was he changed clubs but then the manager who signed him left soon afterwards. You can’t underestimate the impact that can have on a young player,” explained Jennings. “A boy from Whitchurch, a provincial part of Cardiff, who had been
around one club (Southampton) for a long time as a youngster had moved to a club in the big smoke where he carried a lot of expectation. These types of things are tough to deal with for young players."
Jennings added, “Gareth has an extrovert’s streak but he is also a quiet boy. It was a culture shock for him to be away from the traditional building blocks of family and friends. It never fails to amaze me how much emphasis the clubs place on the technical
and physical side but how little support players get on their lifestyle management. Fortunately, Gareth has a really supportive family around him. His parents Frank and Debbie helped him through the difficult time.”
Gareth Bale only managed 13 appearances in his debut season in North London, scoring 3 goals. Injury wasn't the only stumbling block in his path; it was his own jinx which was a problem too. In his first 24 appearances for the club, Bale had failed to win
a single game.
“It was a great move by Harry to get the monkey off Gareth’s back by bringing him on when they were 4-0 up at home,” Jennings observed. “That’s the type of man-management that doesn’t always get noticed but is really appreciated by the player. It probably
did take Gareth a little bit longer to settle than I thought but Gareth knows he had to come through that little period. Players can go one of two ways – either sink through weight of expectation or show real self-belief and make their mark.”
Spurs are now reaping the rewards for showing patience and faith in the Welshman’s ability. His move from left back to left winger has done a world of good to the player and has given him the freedom to showcase the heaps of talents that he possesses. His
surging runs down the left and awareness of his team mates around him has made him a special player.
He is no Lionel Messi but he is well aware of his strengths, a strong left foot, searing pace and great physical presence, and at this point in time, he is using them to a devastating effect. He is a genuine talent, but combine that with his game intelligence,
one gets a top drawer footballer.
He knows when to run at people, when to cross or when to cut inside. Gareth Bale in many ways is an old fashioned winger with few flicks and tricks and little showboating but it’s the impact he makes during the game, is what has won him plaudits from world
over.
With potential to be the world’s best winger, to many he already is the best in the business. However, the rate at which he is making his progress and at only 21, the Welshman has time on his side, to go on and develop into one of the best wingers of all
times.
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