What is Bale's best position?

cpawfan · Sep 12, 2008

http://www.spurs.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=509760

John Toshack again opened the debate on which is Gareth Bale's best position for both Tottenham and Wales.

Bale who played at left back in the games against Azerbaijan and Russia and was his countries best player in both games, though he was encouraged to push forward at every opportunity, which he did to great effect.

'We changed it to push Gareth Bale further forward, he can cause more damage there and it worked well. He was outstanding and created a fine goal.

'He showed his all-round ability. He created a goal from an area of the field you would not expect him to be in coming down the right, but he can be a real handful when he is pushed forward like that.

'I wanted to get Gareth further forward, it is something that can really benefit us.

'Playing Gareth in that role depends on the opposition we are facing.

'Against weaker opposition, Chris Gunter and Bale can push on from full-back. And we have some very different left-sided players in Koumas, Bale and Joe Ledley.

'They all give us something different and are exciting, attacking players. They are different and give us a lot of options.

'If we do have our big defenders back, then we can use Bale in that role.'

I have always favoured Bale in the left back role, but I really have no real argument whit those who would play him in midfield as he really is capable of playing both roles with equal quality. I have even suggested that given time he has the ability to play a more central role where he can dictate play and use his passing to a different affect

I think Gareth is a superb prospect, already a very good player, he has the ability to become a genuine world-class player in the next couple of years, in any role he is used.

I have been suggesting that Bale offers great attacking width to allow Ramos to adopt a narrow midfield in a 4-3-3 formation (adapt as you wish) since early last summer, at the time, my thoughts were dismissed by many, who felt that 4-4-2 was the 'English way' but there is nothing I have seen from this boy which tells me I was wrong.

With a player of his ability and coupled with the other players we have who play the full back role, are all good runners with the ball and capable of pushing forward, something Ramos was very keen on when in charge of Sevilla, I still feel this will be the way forward for Spurs, but it still doesnt answer conclusively where Bale should be playing, what do you think??
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CelticKing · Sep 12, 2008

They should try everything with him and see what style fits him best.

La Bomba · Sep 12, 2008

I love this kid. So young too. He has an extremely bright future.

cpawfan · Sep 12, 2008

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1784_4131351,00.html

Found a news article with the quotes from Toshack

Wales chief Toshack hails star Bale

Wales boss John Toshack saluted Gareth Bale despite his penalty miss against Russia, saying he "showed his all-round ability" in Moscow.

In his country's two opening World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Russia, the 19-year-old from Cardiff has been outstanding.

Toshack knows he now has to wrestle with the problem of getting the best out of the Tottenham youngster.

Bale followed up a man-of-the-match display against Azerbaijan on Saturday with a compelling Group Four performance in Moscow against one of the best four countries in Europe.

But Toshack is choosing to use Bale as an orthodox left-back, when his talents must surely soon be utilised further forward as an attacking threat on the left of the Wales side.

In a remarkable, rain-drenched game in the Lokomotiv Stadium, Bale's eventual influence as an attacking option almost wrestled an unlikely point from the Euro 2008 semi-finalists.

Russia had all their glittering stars on show, including the mesmerising Andrei Arshavin as well as Bale's new Tottenham team-mate Roman Pavlyuchenko.

But with one surge into the box Bale won a penalty, which he then missed. Eventually pushed forward, Bale created Joe Ledley's late equaliser and had a storming game to match the torrential conditions.

That Wales eventually lost 2-1 just made the decisions about where to use Bale at his best more pointed.

There surely will come a time when Bale threatens the left-sided position of the gifted, but erratic, Jason Koumas. The Wales playmaker's form, availability and general contribution are frequently in the lap of the gods.

Toshack sees the problem, and with another trip to Germany next month, must produce a solution. In Moscow, Bale ended up playing an attacking midfield role with Sam Ricketts on at full-back.

The difference to Wales' whole approach was obvious and Bale relished the freedom.

Toshack said: "There are tough lessons learnt from this one. There were a lot of young lads out there and they showed character and a growing belief in what they can achieve.

"We changed it to push Gareth Bale further forward, he can cause more damage there and it worked well. He was outstanding and created a fine goal.

"He showed his all-round ability. He created a goal from an area of the field you would not expect him to be in coming down the right, but he can be a real handful when he is pushed forward like that.

"We have a lot of good young players coming through now. The under-21s have achieved a tremendous situation in their tournament by qualifying, and we had six more under-21s on the pitch in Moscow.

"It was no disgrace to lose narrowly to a side as good as Russia, but to come so close is really disappointing."

He added: "We are missing two talented forward players in Craig Bellamy and Koumas, but we have some good lads coming through.

"We are slowly acquiring a deeper squad and there are plenty of youngsters forcing their way through.

"I wanted to get Gareth further forward, it is something that can really benefit us.

"Playing Gareth in that role depends on the opposition we are facing.

"Against weaker opposition, Chris Gunter and Bale can push on from full-back. And we have some very different left-sided players in Koumas, Bale and Joe Ledley.

"They all give us something different and are exciting, attacking players. They are different and give us a lot of options.

"If we do have our big defenders back, then we can use Bale in that role."

Toshack would ideally like to use a three-man defence of James Collins, Danny Gabbidon and Lewin Nyatanga, to allow Bale licence to attack as a left wing-back. With all three injured, he claims his hands are tied.

Toshack added: "We have now played away in Germany (last season) and Russia and done very well. A draw in Frankfurt and then almost one in Moscow, the young lads have been involved in both and have shown what they can do. Maybe they have got belief from those matches.

"It was disappointing to lose the way we did. We were second best in the first period but we got a grip at half-time and showed a lot of character.

"We have lost a game that we could have got something from. It would have been a big, big point for us."
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M Two One · Sep 12, 2008

Left wingback.

cpawfan · Sep 12, 2008

M Two One said: ↑

Left wingback.
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Why left wingback over a midfield position?

GMJ · Sep 12, 2008

Bale was always best as Batman

M Two One · Sep 12, 2008

cpawfan said: ↑

Why left wingback over a midfield position?
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He's a natural defender and at Wingback he can play back far enough to play the defense successfully while still have great opportunities to bring the ball forward himself or make runs up the flank.

Colonel Ronan · Sep 13, 2008

I agree, M.

bbwchingy0007 · Sep 13, 2008

I don't think he's THAT great defensively. Obviously it's something he can work on, but his best moments (maybe think v Fulham last year) came when playing in a more advanced role, able to have a bit more freedom when going forward, cutting in from time to time and going to the byline as well as crossing from deep. As a left back, he is good but, to me, he seems to be a lot better when going forward, so maybe a wing back role is good for him in terms of development of his defensive ability but, right now, I would say his best position is left midfield.

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