Image Credit: Tottenham Hotspur
By Lee Clow
20 September 2020 | Premier League
On September 19 2020, Welsh wizard Gareth Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur on loan, seven years after leaving the club for Spanish champions Real Madrid. Bale’s return surprised many, but it was certainly needed with the winger deteriorating on the Madrid bench. Now aged 31, Bale is reaching the Autumn of his career and he will want to revitalise himself and return to the form at Spurs which earned him his record breaking fee in 2013. It is clear from his first spell at the club what qualities Bale has, but what does he bring to this side following his hugely successful stint at Real Madrid?
Goals:
There is no doubt that Gareth Bale will provide Tottenham with goals. The Welshman regularly scored for Madrid, scoring 105 goals in 251 games, and he is already proven in the Premier League, most notably when he tallied up 21 goals in the 2012/13 season. Harry Kane and Son Heung-Min have been Spurs’ main scorers in recent years, but they have both suffered injuries in this time which has affected the team on the pitch. Bale’s inclusion in the squad should benefit massively, and don’t be surprised to see the Welshman reach double figures this season, especially with Son and Kane alongside him in attack.
Pace:
Despite having players such as Kyle Walker, Lucas Moura and Son since Bale’s departure, Tottenham have never felt like a ‘fast paced’ team as they once was. Spurs back in the day used to have Aaron Lennon and Bale on the wings as well as Walker bombing down the right flack from full back. This used to be a staple of Tottenham’s attack but now the team has gradually slowed down. Now with Bale back at the club, as well as new recruitment Sergio Reguilon at left back, Tottenham look to have pace back in the team. Bale’s impressive pace and dribbling should once again be a huge threat for Premier League defenders and with Son also running down the other flank, Spurs’ counterattacks should be very fast and dangerous.
A Winning Mentality:
Gareth Bale left Spurs in 2013 to win trophies at Real Madrid and it is safe to say he accomplished his dreams. In his seven years in the Spanish capital, Bale racked up a total of 13 trophies, including four Champions League’s and two La Liga titles. During the same period, Spurs failed to win any trophies and experienced four managers in the dugout. Tottenham’s current manager, Jose Mourinho, is a natural born winner and since his arrival in North London, he has tried to integrate a winning mentality into the dressing room. As well as digging his philosophy into the current group of players, Mourinho has brought in a number of players with trophy winning experience, including Joe Hart and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. The signing of Bale again reinforces Jose’s plan and he is going to be key for Tottenham in earning silverware.
A Superstar:
There is no doubt in his first spell at club, Bale was Tottenham’s superstar. When he left North London, Tottenham had to wait two years until they found their next superstar, being Harry Kane. Spurs have had to rely on Kane for a number of years and despite the addition of Son, the England captain has always remained the clubs number one player. Gareth Bale’s return changes all of this and releases huge pressure from Kane. Whenever Kane has the odd bad game or is injured, Bale will be there to hopefully provide the magic he so often does. Along with this, Bale’s inclusion with Kane and Son allows Tottenham to compete with the top clubs in the Premier League, notably Manchester City and Liverpool, who have an array of superstars in their squads.
Squad Depth/Versatility:
Throughout the past couple of seasons, Tottenham have had great squad depth in most positions, but the area they have struggled with the most, is the strikers position, as Kane’s understudy. Vincent Janssen and Fernando Llorente have tried but neither have succeed, meaning the pressure on Kane for goals continues to rise. Spurs have been lucky with Son who has consistently scored, as well as Lucas who has scored important goals, most famously scoring a hat-trick in the Champions League semi final against Ajax, however neither are the typical number 9 striker like Kane is. The signing of Bale is going to help Tottenham massively in attack, as despite naturally being a winger, the Welshman is no stranger to playing as a striker, having played there for his country. Along with Wales, Bale has started up top during his Madrid days and has found success in that position. Bale’s versatility is going to please Mourinho greatly and it will be very useful especially if Kane is to be injured during Spurs’ long season.
Conclusion:
Overall, the return of Gareth Bale is a massive one for Tottenham. To get back a player of his quality to a club which adores him is a fantastic piece of business by Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy. The Welshman could be the man who finally gets Tottenham a trophy after 12 long years. Bale’s winning mentality and trophy winning experience will be vital in Spurs’ trophy hunt but his pace, goals and versatility will also be key in Tottenham’s lethal attack. Huge times ahead for Tottenham Hotspur.
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