Gareth Bale: stripping away the hype

Gareth Bale caused Maicon numerous problems, but teams have begun to neutralise him as the season's progressed (GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)

One assist in twenty-six appearances. For a man named the “second best player in the world” by one prominent journalist, and supported for Player of the Year by many inside the game, Gareth Bale’s Premier League assists record, as a left midfielder, makes for surprise reading.

Seven league goals perhaps compensates for this, but he has provided as many goals for his team mates this season as David Bentley and Wayne Routledge, players deemed surplus to requirements at Tottenham. It’s admittedly a crude comparison; Bale undoubtedly is a better footballer than many of his solitary-assist peers, but the hype that surrounded him during the earlier part of the season has proved to be in part unjustified.

Gareth Bale fits the Premier League brand perfectly; he’s British, strong, fast and down-to-earth, a thoroughly likeable footballer. He’s demonstrated an ability to beat defenders with fantastic dribbling technique, attributes admired in British football from as far back and even earlier than Sir Stanley Matthews in the 1950s. We’ve always loved quick footballers, and as we’ll see with Bale, it may have clouded our judgement of him.

Bale’s talent has been acknowledged across the Premier League for at least a year now, particularly after two outstanding displays against Chelsea and Arsenal in April last year. He carried that late season form into the current campaign, and launched himself into European recognition following that performance at home against Inter Milan. So good was he on the night, it led the Times’ Chief Football Commentator Patrick Barclay to proclaim

Gareth Bale is the best player in the world (except Xavi, of course). And really pleasant human being. Can he remain so? Messi good example…

Am just saying Bale is second best in world at this moment. That’s all. It keeps changing. Beauty of football.

Links to those tweets here and here. Barclay’s reaction redefines knee-jerk; Bale was fantastic on the night, but it was thanks in no small part to Rafael Benitez’s slightly bizarre tactics that left Maicon, one of the world’s best right backs, horribly exposed to Bale’s frightening pace.

Teams in the Premier League weren’t always sure how to deal with Bale at the start of the season. He put in two strong displays against Wolves and Blackburn, albeit with different crossing success:

Six successful crosses out of ten against Wolves represented a fantastic return as Bale caused Kevin Foley numerous problems running behind. Two months later at home to Blackburn, the Welshman put in a man-of-the-match performance with two goals and an assist.

The Blackburn chalkboard also shows Bale’s ability to get past defenders – this time poor old Michel Salgado – and deliver crosses into good areas. He eventually earned an assist by persisting with this tactic, even if initial crosses may not have been successful. Unsuccessful crosses aren’t necessarily a reflection of the cross, it can be a result of poor anticipation or movement on a strikers’ part.

It’s understandable why Bale was widely praised for his contribution against Blackburn, but I do feel members of the public and press can get carried away with a player who can consistently beat defenders. Fast, mazy dribbles excite fans, but can exaggerate the perceived quality of the final product.

It’s an example of sight-based prejudice; Matthew Jarvis at Wolves has demonstrated an ability to cross the ball into threatening areas, but because he’s not as likely to leave a defender on his backside, he’ll receive less recognition for his efforts. Indeed, Jarvis has seven assists to his name this season. That’s not to say Jarvis is a more talented footballer than Bale, nor that Bale had a bad match against Blackburn, more an observation of what excites fans, often resulting in hyperbole.

As the season’s progressed, teams have figured out ways to counter the threat of Bale, particularly at home to Everton and away at Aston Villa:

Against Everton, Seamus Coleman and Phil Neville doubled up on Bale to great effect, rarely letting him get in behind the defence, and even forcing him to look for spaces elsewhere on the pitch. At Villa Park, Mark Albrighton and Carlos Cuellar both helped out Eric Lichaj to stop Bale, as shown by the numerous lost tackles down Spurs’ left midfield. Of course, Spurs went on to win against Aston Villa, showing that focusing your efforts on an individual can leave you short in other areas of the pitch.

However the point remains; it is possible for organised teams to effectively neutralise Bale. He isn’t the unstoppable force Patrick Barclay suggested (think how many teams have tried and failed to counteract Lionel Messi), and grew quieter as the season progressed, even before the onset of injuries.

The hype around Bale’s early season form has left a legacy; he’s such a front-runner for the Young Player of the Year the Mail didn’t feel the need to rate his credentials. He’s also received Robbie Savage’s vote for Player of the Year. Whilst the latter award has no outstanding candidates, three months of good form, exaggerated by performances in Europe, should not overshadow the contributions of other players.

Gareth Bale is a prodigious talent, but one of the world’s best players he certainly is not. Nor has he been the outstanding performer of the season across the league, and many would argue both Modric and van der Vaart have outperformed him to earn Spurs’ player of the season.

Bale excites people; his pace and trickery creates a sense of anticipation every time he receives the ball, and rightly so. But this can lead people to exaggerate. I don’t think anyone is suggesting he’s a complete footballer yet, but many have been too quick to jump to conclusions without observing his development as a player over time, even over a season.

Can he consistently provide goals and assists for club and country?

Only time, and not snap-judgements, will tell us that.

Can Gareth Bale one day become one of the world’s best players? Or is he already there? What have you made of his season? Please provide your thoughts in the comments section below.