Written by James Kent for FootballFancast.com: Wales manager Gary Speed has made the unusual move of telling Gareth Bale to leave Tottenham in search of Champions League football. Speed said “I reckon it’s important for all the players to play as high as possible and Champions League football is the place where Gareth shone this year.”
It is true that Bale showcased his skills on the European stage this season, but is the fact that Tottenham failed to qualify for the Champions League this season really enough reason to demand a transfer? At 21 Bale is still growing and developing as a player and Tottenham is the ideal stage for him at the moment. Bale will be disappointed not to play in the Champions League next season but will be able to perform at the highest level in the Premier League and the Europa League (should Spurs qualify).
Moving to a club involved in the Champions League next season would be a big risk for Bale. It would be a case of either moving to one of the Premier League big four or moving abroad to somewhere like Italy or Spain. By moving abroad Bale would risk cultural shock or not be suited to the style of play in the league. A move to one of the Premier League big four may help his career but only if he can be sure of playing on a regular basis.
We know from previous interviews that Bale has done with the press that he can sometimes suffer from a lack of confidence in his own ability. At Tottenham he is given the opportunity to go and express himself and use his greatest attacking strengths. Given that role on the left side of the midfield that suits him perfectly. Bale may have started out as a left back, but going forward is a far greater strength than defending.
I fear that if Bale moved on he may not get the same respect at a different club by asking him to play roles he isn’t so comfortable with or being in and out of the side too much. So thank you for the advice Mr Speed but I think Bale is best off staying at Spurs at least for now. Besides in 12 months time Spurs may have qualified for the Champions League again and Bale can excel.
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I remember Mr Trappatoni saying something very similar about 3 years ago about Mr Keane and the advice was followed exactly by Robbie moving to Liverpool for £20m. I don’t believe that worked out too well for the former hero of the lane and he was back shortly after, tail between his legs and not the same player he was previously. Sometimes a move away from a club you have an afinity with destroys you as a player and I believe this would be the case with Bale. Without the support of the fans who love him and the manager who placed his trust in him, he could very well falter and become an also-ran at another club. I believe it is vital for Bale to stay put and fight for the club and manager who placed trust in him when it would have been easier to sign a left sided player rather than play a player in that position who until last season, had never finished on the winning side of a Spurs team… The ball is in Gareth’s court now and I believe he is a smart young man with good values and won’t throw his career away by moving to early as so many have done before him.
I honestly think the best place for Bale now is at Tottenham. Should he move to Barcelona, Madrid etc, he would be forced to play left back, a position where he is wasted, and not at his best. Apparently he is a main transfer target for Man City, which would also be a stupid move. Man City is filled with money grabbing, mercenary rats like Tevez and Toure, who would throw their own mother under a train for a bigger salary. I don’t think Bale is like that, he seems a down to earth lad, and a good bloke. He’s quite shy, and very modest. He needs to be adored, which he is at Spurs. At Spurs he has everything he needs. He won’t be on a small wage by a long shot, and he is allowed to play in his favourite position, in front of fans who worship him. He has the makings to become a Spurs legend, and I think he should take his opportunity.
I agree with Speed, just not the timing. If Bale was 26+ I would whole heartidly agree. However, at 21 the best advice Speed could have given to him is to stay where he is happy and comfortable. If next season Spurs fail and he is still turning out the performances I would say he needs to move on, but this year is just a 6month good spell that needs to be grown and nutured, not put under £40m worth of pressure in a team that EXPECTS perfection every game because they can afford it.