da betsul： Sighs of relief could be heard all round the England camp on Thursday morning when it was announced that Wales’s rising star, Gareth Bale, was set to miss the crucial Euro 2012 Qualifying Group G clash with England this weekend. Glen Johnson, in particular, will be glad to be spared from a potent attacker who could, yet again, have exposed his defensive frailties at the highest level.
da brdice： And what a season it has been so far for the Cardiff-born 21-year old. Not only has he terrorised defences throughout Europe with his direct running style and dangerous crossing, but he has also scored eleven goals in thirty-three appearances including a stunning hat-trick against Inter Milan at the San Siro. A memorable evening, especially for much-vaunted Inter and Brazil right-back Maicon. Not a bad return for a player once seen as a curse after he went on to make twenty-four appearances before playing on a winning Tottenham side.
However, it is important to remember that this is still Bale’s first season as a first-team regular at Tottenham. Whilst he has ghosted past defences with the ease of one of the best players in Europe, only time will tell if he has the class to reproduce this form year upon year. Bale, along with the likes of Rafael Van der Vaart, Aaron Lennon and Luka Modric, has benefitted from manager Harry Redknapp’s attack-minded approach and tendency to allow fast, creative players the freedom to express themselves.
With his rising profile it was only a matter of time before the English press started to speculate about his future. Big money transfers from anywhere between £30 to £50 million to Spain and Italy were cited and Real Madrid allegedly made an approach in January; phenomenal for a player still growing and learning who has played half a season at the top level of club football and made his first Premier League start only in January of last year.
And what if any of this speculation was to bear fruit? Although a somewhat modest individual, such a huge price tag would put unenviable pressure on any young player. Just ask Bale’s ex-roommate at Southampton, Theo Walcott, about his experience of the 2006 World Cup. Whilst the opportunity to play at the Nou Camp or Santiago Bernabeu week-in week-out would be appealing to any player, Bale would never be allowed the freedom from defensive duties allowed at White Hart Lane, particularly playing behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel di Maria or Leo Messi and Pedro. He would surely be much wiser continuing his development under a great man manager who has already done wonders for his development in Harry Redknapp. And, in signing a contract extension this month until 2015, the young Welshman obviously recognises the talent of the Tottenham Manager.
However, despite Tottenham reaching the quarter finals of this year’s Champions League, there is no guarantee of regular Champions League football at White Hart Lane next season. Currently four points from that coveted fourth place with nine games left to play, Spurs face difficult trips to Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool whilst they are still to welcome Arsenal in the North London Derby.
That is not to say that the talented Welshman should look to move on in the summer in the hunt for Champions League football as he is part of an exciting Tottenham team that have become one of the most exciting attacking forces in the Premiership and one feels that the best is still to come. However, surely the trip to Madrid and the chance to play in front of 80,000 fans on April 5th will put much into perspective for the explosive winger. And, when the right time arrives for that step up and journey to pastures new, one hopes the prodigious talent makes the right choice.
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