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Our 2012/13 starting 2nd Striker

6 min read
by The Fighting Cock
As I watched the 2011-12 Spurs campaign unfold, a curious thing happened. The one-time LWB and current left midfielder Gareth Bale, started to roam across to the central part of the pitch. The most feared left midfielder in the Premiership (Sorry Juan Mata) is all of sudden occupying land in unforeseen territory. Was this by […]

As I watched the 2011-12 Spurs campaign unfold, a curious thing happened. The one-time LWB and current left midfielder Gareth Bale, started to roam across to the central part of the pitch. The most feared left midfielder in the Premiership (Sorry Juan Mata) is all of sudden occupying land in unforeseen territory.

Was this by accident? Why is our most potent attacking force playing out of position when he’s arguably the strongest player in your league at that very same position? This curious aberration soon became an every game reality. It was against Norwich when he terrorised down the middle, bagging a lovely brace. His second a lovely worked goal as he marauded down the pitch, in possession, and sent a majestic dink over the keeper to secure a three points. From there, this new central role grew, and so did the Welshman’s game. Moving seamlessly to open spots and playing a confident possession and passing game with the likes of VDV and Modric.

[linequote]Name any spot on the pitch and Bale can find a shot that can be lethal in power or equally encompass a touch of finesse. His game continued to evolve.[/linequote]

Retaining possession: attacking via 1-2s: Bale was showing a very sound technical ability. Here’s me thinking he was simply all about pace and strength. Wasn’t all about his technical ability, he continued to have an eye for goal. Cue his lovely left foot shot at the Eastlands standing exactly in front of the box in the central part of the pitch. Name any spot on the pitch and Bale can find a shot that can be lethal in power or equally encompass a touch of finesse. His game continued to evolve. Spraying passes to the wings, his technical game exponentially grew, and with it, a whole new dimension within the side was born.

Of course, at around that time, things began to fall apart in terms of consistency and belief. We witnessed some damaging results with a fair share of games that didn’t go our way (away to City, home to United, away to Everton). This was compounded by some questionable formational strategies by Arry (at Liverpool, Arsenal, Sunderland). It was time to “Mind the gap” and protect this massive 3rd place points lead. Time to dig deep. To focus. Any distractions then? Ask Arry, England’s future manager all but a formality. Not to mention that our target striker couldn’t find the back of the net other than from the penalty spot. As this unfolded, the whispers began to incite infighting amongst fans. Finger pointing.

Who else is to blame? Who is playing out of position? Who is spending too much time in the centre and not enough on the left in his more natural position? Was it a valid argument? With how the season began to transpire, it has some merit. Then again, did our opponents not play a role in this as well, focusing their defensive attention entirely to the left side of the pitch? If you’re going beat us, it’s not going to happen from the left side of the pitch. In the end, why have one of your most skilled players and arguably our most dynamic player isolated on the left? Allowing him to roam wasn’t stopping him from being effective on the left because he would be isolated there if double marked. Let his game grow and evolve, allowing him to be more elusive. Bale clearly welcomed this scenario. Was it a little bit selfish? Probably, but who’s to deny such a talented players development. The problem, or the reason why it might appear to have been so erratic is because the strategic thinking behind him roaming wasn’t exactly great from Redknapp.

[linequote]Plant Bale as a 2nd striker. Leverage that pace and strength in possession, but in a different part of the pitch. He clearly has the technical ability to thrive there.[/linequote]

Bale needs to continue to mix and match, play on the left and roam down the middle. But what if this is simply a bridge to another more controlled role in the side? This brings me to Bale’s future. IMO where he belongs is in the central part of the pitch. Let his game evolve further in order to maximize his total ability; dare I say in a Messi-type role for the club. Get past the actual Messi comparison. I’m not comparing the two players. This has more to do with his actual role. Plant Bale as a 2nd striker. Leverage that pace and strength in possession, but in a different part of the pitch. He clearly has the technical ability to thrive there.

Can he score?

I think its safe to say that the answer is yes.

From his foot or his head, he has a nose for it and the opportunities will come for him to succeed from a goal productivity standpoint. With consistent minutes upfront (or directly behind the leading forward) what is the long-term potential? He succeeded in becoming a world class left midfielder. Who’s to say he can’t accomplish that exact feat in an expanded role as a 2nd striker that clearly offers more opportunities of involvement to Bale on the pitch? In watching him this past year, it’s pretty obvious its exactly where he wants to play. He has a hunger to be more than just someone that provides crosses from the flank, even though he’s very good at doing just that. Which leads onto the obvious downside being the threat you lose from the left. He will need to be replaced. Plenty of candidates exist. Junior Hoilett would have been an obvious target (but no longer an option).

Another possible fix would be to look in-house to a few names like Gio dos Santos or even Steven Pienaar who never really got their fair shake at consistent minutes with the club to even know if they could thrive. If you look at their contributions with Mexico and Everton respectively and I’m personally sold on their future potential to the club. Why isn’t Harry? Let’s see what each player is made of and give them a legitimate shot at game time. Rather than bench them and lose them (like Niko, completely under-used and wasted).

Most importantly, and this might fly under the radar from some, moving Bale could further motivate the Welshman to stick around and stay at Spurs. Do you think if he goes to Spain he’ll be kept on the left? Or would be be allowed to blossom into a more all-round player? He seems to be enjoying his time at the Lane and playing this centralised role, so why not offer up this opportunity to bag some goals and let his game continue to evolve. Won’t happen over night which is why it might appear to be frustrating at the moment. The more the confidence grows the better the player becomes. I see a 20 goal season in the mix at the very least with this. We can truly maximize Gareth Bale’s potential as a Tottenham Hotspur footballer. As long as we are patient and forward-thinking with when and how its implemented.

[author name=”Philly Hotspur” avatar=”http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1684000795/IMG00056-20110430-1913.jpg” twitter=”PhillyHotspur” tag=”phillyhotspur[/linequote]

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19 Comments

  1. Adam Nathan
    07/06/2012 @ 7:30 pm

    Sorry, but I can’t agree with this at all.

    1) I don’t buy the argument that he was being double marked, and out of the game on the left hand side. If anyone can pinpoint a game where this actually happened, I’d love to know about it, because I think that reason was used by Harry as a theoretical response to questions over Bale’s positioning, as opposed to anything that actually happened.

    2) I’m not sure where you’ve been for the past two years, but we already have a second striker, and a pretty good one at that. Rafael Van Der Vaart, our talisman and comfortably best attacking player last season. Whilst Bale has pace and a good shot, his close control and ability to play quick one-twos don’t hold a candle to that of the Dutchman. Having Van Der Vaart and not using him as a number ten would be a waste of our best goalscoring and making attribute.

  2. akshayaalase
    07/06/2012 @ 7:35 pm

    Tottenham hotspure need 2012-2013 season formation 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-1-3 position comfertable sign 1.gk- loris or handanovic 2.cb-vertoghen 3.- diarra or casmiro or sakho 4. Wing-kransic or hoilet 5.-gatson ramaraiz 6, adabayor or higuin or lorriente or remy 7.- toinovinon or berbatov or kone or saha my tottenham hotspure future squad 4-2-3-1 loris- -4-walker,kaboul.p,vertoghen,assou ekoto,-2- sandro , diarra -3- lennon modric bale higuin sub , parker,gatson ramaraiz. Defoe, kransic dawson

    • robbie
      07/06/2012 @ 7:44 pm

      i agree about the 4-2-3-1 and have been saying it for a while now but why would you sign another CDM when we have…. parker, sandro and hudd to come back?

    • aedy
      08/06/2012 @ 4:18 am

      i agree with the 4-2-3-1 formation..or even a 4-1-3-1-1…and i totally agree in getting loris, vertoghen and higuain..higuain would be a great addition as he can function as an all-out striker, a supporting forward and a right winger as well (good cover for lennon). I will also like to see damiao or even kaka or both, as we seemed to be destined to lose modric next season…

      but first of all, levy has to bring up the wage scale for our players, to bring in the stars..the goons are finally doing it..and i’m sfraid that’s the only way for us to secure prolific players like higuain, kaka and others…

      However i think we have enough holding midfielders in sandro, parker, livermore and huddie…don’t need anymore of those…use the money to beef up the attack and defense..

  3. Simon Judge
    07/06/2012 @ 7:36 pm

    No no no and no! Bale is at his most effective coming in from the left, all this wanting to come inside and develop as a more ‘involved’ player was to the teams detriment last season. He terrifies defenders when running at them, but not on the edge of the box or just outside, I have to agree with Adam, that’s Rafa’s territory. Anyone think Barca would play him in the middle?

    • aedy
      08/06/2012 @ 4:25 am

      totally agree with you Simon…his non-presence on the left was pretty much the cause of our lack-lethal attacking…and he seemed lost in the game after he was told to play a free role…well, he does make an impact when he starts to roam out of his normal left at times during the first half of the season..but as the season goes on, our left side of the pitch was left void for much of the games…Bale has to primarily stick on to the left!!!

  4. The TP
    07/06/2012 @ 7:39 pm

    What is this blabber about a 2nd Striker???? The 2011-12 Spurs had a nice run, but simply ran into a younger, hungrier Thunder Squad. If you mean by 2nd striker that the Spurs need to move on from an aging Tim Duncan, I concur. Tony Parker also wore down as the series progressed and was unable to keep up with the sprightly play of Russell Westbrook. Ginobli is still the best 6th man in the league, but the gap is closing between him and James Harden. The Spurs will be good again next season, just need some minor tweeks. Thunder over the Heat in 7…….
    -Watch a real sport

  5. robbie
    07/06/2012 @ 7:40 pm

    great article i think it would be a very good idea and also believe he is capable of that position and would thrive on it! but i can’t see harry playing him there unfortunately!

  6. Matt J
    07/06/2012 @ 7:44 pm

    sorry mate. Bale scored only scored one goal in the league since january.

    He is not a creative player with the vision of silva or modric. he struggled greatly against stevenage in this role, where we failed to beat them at their place.

    I blame his agent who has told him to score goals by cutting inside and harry for allowing it. In reality bale is an electrifiying left winger, and although his role model is cristiano ronaldo he would be better off looking up to antonio valencia – a winger who consistently beats his full back and creates time and time again for his team mates.

  7. MacFrie
    07/06/2012 @ 7:48 pm

    I must concur with The TP. This year’s Spurs team looked as though their legs began to slow quite a bit. Must say that what we saw last night was the Finals in a nutshell. Those aging C’s will not be able keep up with the much younger and skilled team from Oklahoma City. The Big 3 from Miami are finished…they would have much rather participated in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
    God Save the Queen and our Spurs.

  8. J to the B
    07/06/2012 @ 7:57 pm

    VDV, while talented, lacks zero mobility and gives the club little flexibility from a formation perspective. Bale would be an upgrade since he is similar to VDV in a lot of ways, but offers much more pace and strength as well.

    Plus, bale can do a better job roaming since he actually fit for the position.

    BAM!

  9. Brad Friedal
    07/06/2012 @ 8:46 pm

    Is this guy having a laugh?

  10. ped
    07/06/2012 @ 9:06 pm

    it’s when bale started to come inside that the problems started… it upset the shape & balance of the side & players like modric became less effective by dropping deep as their normal playing space was being occupied by another midfielder.
    bale should be able to play with discipline & play where he is most destructive…. wide left..

    • aedy
      08/06/2012 @ 4:28 am

      totally agree!!!

  11. RhinoNeal
    07/06/2012 @ 9:23 pm

    Personally I think Bale should stay on the left as he can be devasting from that positon. I think it’s a case of finding the right balance for him in which I mean when to come in from the left. I want him to mainly stay on the left and offer that threat but if he sees space coming inside by all means. I think our real problem is the lack of an out an out striker. Adebayor is a good player but not the front man we need. We need a clinical finisher in the mould of Dalmiao or Huntelaar. Milito would have been excellent a few years ago. I don’t understand in Levy’s reluctance to bring in a quality striker. He was supposedly bidding for Aguero a couple of years ago for over £32 million so what’s happened, why is he not bringing a striker in. We have supposedly been bidding for Dalmiao but Levy never offers enough money. Before long some other club will snap him up for £18 – £20 million and we will once again miss out. Someone please tell me why Levy has not brought in a striker of significance.

  12. DGR
    08/06/2012 @ 4:32 pm

    I would keep playing Bale the same way. The one point I thought was missing from this piece was the other factor behind the annual Spur spring collapse. This happens every spring for Spurs and the deep domestic cup runs didn’t help. The squad was not very deep and Wetnapp didn’t rotate enough. A couple of bad results and overnight Spurs went from playing with supreme confindence, to playing with little confidence. Fatigue and confidence did in the Spurs again.

    I like to think the Arsenal result had something to do with that…

  13. Dannyboy
    08/06/2012 @ 5:29 pm

    A player should only be given the freedom to develop his game if it is required or when it is possible. Neither of these situations occurred last season and I fail to see how they will this.

    Players should play where most effective.

  14. @PhillyHotspur
    04/02/2013 @ 4:48 pm

    Looks like this author was dead-on w/ this assessment………..Who was that again ? LOL

  15. NotoriousTurk
    26/02/2013 @ 1:06 am

    I am an Arda Turan fan

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