Gareth Bale has found his form in recent weeks, proving naysayers wrong while demonstrating why Tottenham should extend his loan.
The Welshman has endured more ups and downs this season than a swimmer competing in breaststroke. The early stages of his loan deal were tragic. Plagued by niggling injuries and an inability to gain full match fitness, Bale took on the role of spectator. He supported the lads from the touchline in his endemically Bale way, offering words of encouragement along with a complementary wry smile.
However supportive of his teammates, you could see Bale’s frustration foment. He finally gained full fitness and started showing signs of his former self, albeit fleetingly and entirely too sporadically.
But somebody of Bale’s inarguable class and ability cannot be forever suppressed. Playing with more freedom and confidence, Bale has come to life in recent weeks and, if he can find a way to stay healthy, is still a dynamic force to be reckoned with.
Here’s three reasons Tottenham need to extend Bale’s loan spell.
Forever a Match Winner
Form is temporary, class is permanent. You hear the cliche countless times per season, and nothing holds more true for Bale.
The Welshman has bagged eight goals in his last six Premier League starts, including three multi-goal games against Sheffield United, Burnley and Crystal Palace. He scored an impressive hat trick in his last outing against Sheffield, his first in the Premier League in over eight years.
Bale has quietly, based on his limited playing time, produced outstanding offensive numbers. He has scored nine goals in 16 appearances. Keep in mind the Welshman has only started eight Premier League matches since his return to Hotspur Way. A goal every two appearances is a staggering return even Harry Kane would be proud of.
He is, and always will be, a match winner. His conspicuous lack of match fitness was common knowledge upon signing with Spurs. Everyone knew it would take some time for Bale to resemble a semblance of his best. But everyone also knows what Bale is capable of. He’s got more talent and match-winning ability than most players could ever dream of.
While he hasn’t scored any goals against elite teams this season, that too will come with opportunity and time. He endured a miserable encounter against Arsenal in Tottenham’s 2-1 loss, but so did everyone — barring a magical moment from Erik Lamela.
Since that fateful loss at the Emirates, Bale has been in outstanding form. His confidence has returned. You can see that by the way he’s enjoying his football, and by the superb goals he is effortlessly collecting.
The more he plays, the fitter he gets. And a fit, confident Bale is almost impossible to stop.
The Worst is Behind Him
Tottenham risked a lot financially to bring Bale back into the fold. Levy and the cohort of decision makers knew about Bale’s fitness struggles and lack of confidence when they signed him. But they did it anyway, knowing the potential rewards outweighed the incumbent risks.
Now that Spurs, and Bale, have weathered the initial violent storm, it would be senseless to send the Welshman packing. Bale’s first six to eight months at Spurs were unquestionably underwhelming. But Bale came to Spurs a broken man, preferring a round of golf over suiting up for Zidane’s Real Madrid. Not only was his confidence at an all-time low, Bale was also lacking match time and, in correlation, fitness.
To add to the already perfect storm, Bale couldn’t shrug off the injury bug, which followed him like a dark shadow to north London.
That maelstrom was a couple of years in the making, but it looks now to be behind him. If he can avoid the injury bug and get consistent game action, Bale will resemble more and more the player who left Tottenham eight years ago after ascending to superstardom.
A new manager just the tonic for resurgent Bale
Life in the aftermath of Jose Mourinho has brought upon a newfound happiness for Bale and his teammates. Jose had an aversion, even when Bale was fighting fit and raring to go, to starting him.
Jose blamed Bale’s purported lack of match fitness for not starting him consistently. And while Bale, with a few listless performances, didn’t cover himself in glory — namely against Arsenal and Brighton — his lack of first team game time came down to Jose’s reluctance to start his three top scorers together.
And how was Bale supposed to get match fit when he wasn’t provided enough time on the pitch to do so?
It’s like a number of prospective employers turning you down for job opportunities because you don’t have enough experience. But how are you supposed to get experience if you’re never given an opportunity to shine?
Yes, Bale was handed starts in the Europa League, but a man of his ego and stature needs to play an influential role in the Premier League.
A new manager will provide precisely the tonic Bale requires to elevate his game further. As long as Daniel Levy doesn’t hire another sullen, morose manager, Bale, assuming he’s provided the freedom and autonomy he needs to thrive, will be buoyed by the new gaffer’s presence.
When Bale is happy, the rest of the team will feed off the experienced Welshman. That joy then has a chance to breed and spread amongst the rest of the team, which can only benefit the club. It might be wishful thinking but resigning Bale might also convince Harry Kane to stay at Tottenham for at least one more season.
Who knows what Spurs could achieve if Son Heung-min, Harry Kane, Bale, and potentially Dele Alli, all find their top form in the same starting team?