Fansided

3 things Tottenham must do to unlock Gareth Bale

By Rucker Haringey

Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh striker Gareth Bale gestures during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2020. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh striker Gareth Bale gestures during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2020. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JULIAN FINNEY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Gareth Bale, Tottenham
Tottenham Hotspurs Welsh midfielder Gareth Bale (R) looks on in front of Tottenham Hotspur’s English striker Harry Kane (L) during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton and Hove Albion at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on November 1, 2020. (Photo by Julian Finney / POOL / AFP) /

1. Play Bale with the stars

One unfortunate byproduct of giving Bale the majority of his minutes in Europa League action is that it’s prevented him from playing with the club’s best-attacking talent. Bale needs to play alongside stars like Kane, Son, and Tanguy Ndombele if he’s going to play his best football.

That can happen with Bale on the wing or through the middle. The priority must be surrounding him with the most talent possible. That will prevent opposing defences from focusing their full attention on him the moment he touches the ball. It also opens up valuable passing lanes for a player with elite quality to create scoring chances for others.

Bale’s need to play with stars doesn’t make him a luxury player, but it does make him a star that now depends on others to play his best football. That wasn’t the case during his first spell with Spurs, but it is the reality for a player that’s entering his 30s and has clearly lost a step or two out on the pitch.

Next. Paul Pogba's agent claims he's done at United. dark

If Tottenham really want to find out what Bale can do they need to play him in their strongest possible starting XIs. Slowly integrating him into the squad with reserves and youngsters was a sound strategy, but it’s time to really throw him into the fire. Whether Bale burns out or lights the Premier League aflame may determine whether or not Tottenham can achieve their goals this season.

Home/Premier League