Last night Wales travelled to Wembley on the back of their 2-1 success over Montenegro – their first win in a competitive qualifier since 2009. Wales’ star player Gareth Bale was deployed at left wing for Friday night’s game but he failed to have much impact. In fact, in 2011, Bale has failed to rediscover the scintillating form he found in 2010.
This is partly down to injury. However it could also be down to where he is being played by Harry Redknapp at Spurs.
Therefore is it time for Gareth Bale to move back to his more natural position of left back?
He enjoyed his most high profile success with Spurs on the left wing in their two games against Inter Milan. What’s ignored is how he was allowed to do this.
For as much as he tore Brazilian full back Maicon to pieces, he was helped by the then manager of Inter, Rafa Benitez. Their defence pushed up so high meaning Bale had plenty of space to run into behind.
However, not every team was as generous as Benitez. Everton were praised for their tactics in nullifying Bale, just three days after the Inter Milan game. They marked him with up to three men at times and defended significantly deeper than Internazionale. Subsequently, the Welshman was severely limited in the space he could run into, meaning his trick of tap and run around the defender was futile.
Such nullification can be prevented, if Bale is moved to left back. Look at how Barcelona have created havoc with the likes of Dani Alves from full back. With defenders and midfielders already preoccupied with marking, teams generally can’t afford to mark full backs of the opposing side. If they did, they would risk entrenching themselves in their own half. Perhaps teams who play Barcelona need to realise that Alves is a special case.
Allowing Bale to bomb down the wing from deep as a full back could be the best option. This way, he’d have much more space to run into and consequently, give him the opportunity to rediscover his form from last year.
If he wants to play that far up the pitch then he needs more tricks than merely pushing it past the defender and running after the ball. That won’t work on the very best defenders.
There have been question marks over whether he could fulfil the defensive side of his duties at left back. He’s certainly quick enough to handle any winger in the Premier League but his positioning might let him down.
What should be remembered is that Bale is only 22 and won the PFA Player of the Year for the 2010-2011 season, if ever any confirmation was needed of his great talent.
Fabio Capello’s comparison of Bale to Roberto Carlos earlier this year could well have been a hint to Harry Redknapp of how to use him properly.
For if he is to become truly world class, Gareth Bale may well have to drop back down the left flank to full back.
Written by Archie Rhind Tutt for FootballFancast.com.
ThisisFutbol.com are seeking new writers to join the team! If you’re passionate about football, drop us a line at “thisisfutbol.com@snack-media.com” to learn more.
For an opportunity to win tickets to see Bolton take on Manchester United, click here!
Or have a look at the ten strikers that we think will lead the race for the Golden Boot next season
very shortsighted article,, and what do you suggest we do with the best left back weve had in yrs in benoit move him to striker. bale will just have to get use to playing aganist defenders who defend tight aganist him. its called outwitting your opponent coys
I would say yes, as he hasn’t been anything near his past performance. He has the speed to occasionally stray on the flanks but return to the defensive role quickly, so this does not compromise his adopted position at all.
NO, one only had to watch the england wales game to realise that arry redcunt has no idea how to use bale, push redknapp back down the road, leave bale where he is
The way some people refer to Harry is disrespectful given that he is the most successful manager we have have for decades. You don’t have to like the guy, and you are free to criticise. But if you were trapped on a desert island, haven’t eaten for days, and some guy arrives and feeds you. Then you would show some appreciation long before criticising that guy’s cooking! You certainly would not call him names!
Probably eventually. But not now, because it would be at the expense of Ekotto, who has proven to be one of our key players in the last 2 years. Bale would get nod above Ekotto on hype alone…. Despite Bale only really having 2 good halves of 2 seasons. When Bale attacks best starting from deep positions, catching opposition off guard.