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Ian Wright has told his Wrighty’s House podcast that Tottenham Hotspur wide man Gareth Bale is making him “sad” after another poor performance that saw him hooked after an hour against Brighton last Sunday.
Bale, 31, was thrown into the starting line-up against the Seagulls after Harry Kane was ruled out with injuries to both ankles. But he failed to make any kind of difference as Brighton won 1-0. He was replaced by Carlos Vinicius on the hour mark.
This season, the 83-time Wales international has struggled. Bale was expected to show the kind of form that made him a superstar at Spurs before his move to Madrid, and then initially at Madrid where he matched Cristiano Ronaldo.
The former Southampton man is struggling to start – but has only scored four goals in 15 games, one of which has come in the Premier League. Wright commented on Bale’s lack of form and claims it is making him feel “sad”.
“Watching Gareth Bale play is said,” Wright said. “What a calibre of that player, playing like that – going out like that. He doesn’t seem to have the energy, if the fans are in the stadium it might give him something?
TBR’s view – What needs to change?
Not only is Bale far from the physical powerhouse he was initially at Real and at Spurs, but he also seems completely devoid of confidence. He is playing in a side that work hard and are defensively solid, lacking in attacking freedom.
Bale needs to be given the freedom he requires to shine. He also needs a bit of confidence, something that Mourinho is renowned for struggling to instill in his players – just ask Dele Alli. But perhaps most of all, a change in position.
Now a yard slower, Bale is no longer the lightning-quick winger that he was famed for. He needs to be given a position where he has no defensive responsibility, but can deploy his attacking capability. The number 10 role makes sense.
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