Bale, Tottenham do What Spurs Needed to do in Europa Romp

José Mourinho left Harry Kane at home, trusting Gareth Bale and Heung-Min Son to do the job for Tottenham on the road against Wolfsberger AC in Europa League. Fortunately, for a Tottenham team and fanbase in need of some success, Mourinho’s choice paid off as the Gareth Bale Spurs need showed up. Together Bale and Son helped Tottenham take a commanding lead in the Round of 32 match-up, with a 1-4 victory over Wolfsberger.

Tottenham Answered the Call

In some of our pre-match coverage we asked if Tottenham had the resiliency to pick themselves up after dropping five of the last six in all competitions. Today in Hungary we received an emphatic answer that yes, Spurs can still get up and have fight left in them this season.

Yes, there were periods in the match where Wolfsberger were on the ball, but Tottenham had more than 60% possession. Spurs also more than doubled the shot attempts with 20 to nine for Wolfsberger. The point is Tottenham was not perfect but Spurs fought hard across the pitch and never looked to sit back.

Spurs still shot themselves in the foot

Is that five or six games running now where Tottenham have conceded a penalty? Manchester United must be licking their lips at Spurs tendency to commit bad challenges/fouls in the box. Like United we knew coming in Wolfsberger got penalties having scored four of their seven goals in the Group Stage from the spot.

Despite this knowledge, the ipads for study, the individual and team drills, there was Moussa Sissoko committing a stupid foul. Was it a hard tackle? No. Was it dangerous? No. Was it the contact in the box every team Spurs are playing is looking for at this point? Yes, yes it was.

Until Tottenham stop making mistakes and putting themselves in bad positions or people not named Son or Alli are carded for simulation expect players to keep going down. I know this, you know this, Mourinho knows this, now, can the players do something about it?

Gareth Bale showed his loan is not over

In a loan that has not gone to form, Tottenham fans have been waiting for a match like this were the best player on the pitch was one Gareth Frank Bale. Thursday was that first time we have seen where Bale could do something special every time he touched the ball.

Two shots, both on target and one was a goal. Bale only attempted 16 passes in his 64 minutes, but completed all 16, with 4 being key passes and one an assist on Spurs first goal by Son.

Sure the competition is not world class but seeing burst, change of pace, a goal and an assist is the kind of hour Spurs fans have been dying to see from Bale. With the Welshman coming off just past the hour mark, maybe he is line to do it again at the weekend versus West Ham.

Spurs set-up for advancement

Seeing Gareth Bale play well and the team as a whole respond to some adversity with positive play was fantastic. Just as important is what Spurs have done for themselves in terms of working to advance to the Round of 16. With four away goals and a three goal lead, Tottenham are in good shape to advance and can play a relatively pressure free match next week at home in north London.

Just as importantly, seeing Spurs do so well and have a lead going into the home fixture without the services of Harry Kane, could mean the talisman gets another day off next Wednesday as Tottenham look to secure advancement. Alternatively, Son may sit out and Kane gets to play a half.

Maybe, just maybe BOTH Kane and Son get to miss the match and rest. Such is the good question Mourinho and company get to wrestle with over the next week given Tottenham did their job Thursday night. With a nice bounce back win, a solid performance from Gareth Bale, and a night off for Harry Kane, things went about as well as they possibly could have but for that penalty.

Cannot forget that penalty, other teams will not.