Can Gareth Bale become the new Ryan Giggs?
Posted by Sport.co.uk on: 19 March 2010 - 09:29
Author: Nick Gill
Gareth Bale’s transformation from hoodoo to talisman has been nothing short of spectacular. The Welsh full-back signed for Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2007 and failed to feature on the winning side in the league during his first two years at the club. Even when ‘the curse of Gareth Bale’, as it became known, was lifted in September 2009, it came courtesy of a five minute substitute appearance with Spurs already 4-0 up against Burnley.
Change of fortunes
Yet, when the 20-year-old finally banished the demons for good, the timing coincided with another change of fortunes. Bale’s first league win as a starter in a Spurs shirt arrived in a 2-0 win against Fulham in January, after a month spent producing the type of performances that had probably persuaded the north Londoners to part with a fair few million for him two and half years earlier.
With the monkey firmly off his back - well, depending on how you take that of course - the Southampton trainee continued to excel for Spurs while first-choice left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto was out injured. Bale has had plenty of cause for celebration too as, when featuring in televised games, he has invariably picked up the bubbly in post-match interviews.
The young Welshman was also selected by the public as the FA Cup player of the round when Harry Redknapp’s side faced Bolton Wanderers twice in the last 16. Now, even with Assou-Ekotto’s return, Bale is still being chosen to start although currently this is by occupying an attacking left-midfield berth.
Obvious natural ability
As yet this move up the pitch has not been met with any goals, but it is surely only a matter of time. So far, Bale’s three strikes came in his first four starts for the club and included a free-kick against archrivals Arsenal in a north London derby.
Following a succession of injuries and a loss of confidence and form during his first two seasons, Bale was unlikely to find himself on the team-sheet never mind amongst the goals. His many assists and fearless running at the opposition since January though suggests he may have rediscovered the obvious natural ability he possesses and at just the right time, as Tottenham push for the fourth Champions League spot and FA Cup glory.
Left-footed, and Welsh
So, to summarise, Bale is Welsh and he’s playing as a left winger. He’s even quite good at set pieces. Cue comparisons to that trophy laden Welsh wizard, Ryan Giggs. Perhaps, despite such a compliment, this is a little unfair on the Spurs man considering the type of reputation that his elder has in the game.
The Manchester United legend is the most celebrated player in English football history and has won 11 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and has amassed two Champions League winners’ medals in his 19 Premier League seasons to date. Just when you thought Giggs couldn’t possibly win anything else, he even bagged the PFA Player of the Year and BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2009. For a little perspective, Bale’s greatest domestic ‘honour’ is a League Cup runners-up medal which he picked up while facing Giggs in last year’s final, or maybe a Championship play-off semi-final for Southampton. Right.
Similarities…and differences
But then he is only 20 and, at least when it comes to his international career, there are already similarities between the two. Giggs’ debut at 17 made him the youngest Welsh international, and 15 years later Bale replicated the feat too and currently holds the record of youngest debutant appearing at just 16 years and 315 days old. Bale is also likely to feel a similar weight of responsibility for his country as Giggs endured, having already established himself as a vital member of the squad.
Back in the top tier though, Bale has yet to make the kind of impact that United’s record appearance holder did in the early 90s. Ligament damage to Bale’s right ankle in late 2007 has no doubt hampered his potential progress, and only now are fans starting see why Spurs decided to purchase the then Southampton teenager for a fee which could rise to £10 million. The first-time half-volley cross to set up Roman Pavlyuchenko against Blackburn last weekend demonstrates Bale has the quality to live up to this hefty price tag.
The real reason that comparisons between Bale and Giggs seem a little forced though is due to the different positions they tend to play. The Welsh youngster has spent the majority of his professional career so far at left-back, with his attacking instincts meaning he often forages forward from deep. Giggs, on the other hand, has always started higher up the pitch and has a real eye for goal – occasionally manager Sir Alex Ferguson has acknowledged this by playing him as a second striker.
Midfielder or defender?
In his brief spell in a more ‘Giggs-like’ role, Bale hasn’t disappointed though and terrorised former Real Madrid man Michel Salgado last week. In one instance the Cardiff-born player showed some great trickery to beat the Blackburn right-back and bore down on goal only to skew his shot (cross?) wide of the far post. If Bale is to become anything like the player Giggs was in his prime - please excuse me, Ryan - then composure in front of goal needs to be added to his game.
That said, maybe this isn’t quite Bale’s game and he is more suited to starting further back. Inevitably, this leads to the question of whether the Welshman has sufficient defensive qualities, but throughout January and February the left-back comfortable held his own while still offering plenty going the other way.
From whatever position Bale does ply his trade, provided he continues with his recent form the compliments and nods to a past Welsh wizard are never likely to be far away. Gareth Bale has the potential to be a great player, and, like Giggs did, he now just has to fulfil it. If the 20-year-old can, then, considering Manchester United were also repeatedly linked with Bale before Tottenham secured his signature, it is likely to lead to another curse – although this time it will be Fergie cursing his luck.