Glenn Hoddle has suggested Gareth Bale should be given a central role for Tottenham after another impressive display against Ludogorets.
Bale scored his first goal since returning to Spurs from Real Madrid on loan against Brighton in the Premier League last weekend, but was unable to add to his tally in the Europa League on Thursday.
He did, however, look sharp for 65 minutes before being substituted in Bulgaria – his best moment was a neat pirouette to get away from his man in the first half, which you can watch here.
The Welshman drifted inside often against Ludogorets – a tactic that resulted in his goal last week – and looked dangerous whenever he picked the ball up in central areas.
And Hoddle thinks Bale might be best served playing in the “pocket” behind Harry Kane for the remainder of the season.
“He is looking sharper, he’s had more minutes on the pitch,” Hoddle told BT Sport (as relayed by the Independent).
“We can’t judge him yet. He’s not gonna be the same Bale that left Tottenham [in 2013].
“What we saw from him tonight – drifting into that pocket, hurting the opposition – that’s where I see him. I don’t see him on the right or left.
“Son [Heung-min], Bale and Kane is as good as any forward line in the country.”
Bale had the best spell of his Tottenham career in a free role that often saw him do his best work around the penalty area, rather than on the flanks. With that in mind, Hoddle might be right.
Glen you and Waddle are my all time Spurs but come on. Don’t try to turn the winger into a #10. We already wreck Dele Alli’ career trying to make him into that. For the record, Alli needs to show more when given the chance. Am not asking anyone to agree with me on Alli, but that is for another day. The problem with putting Bale inside is crowding Harry for whatever reason has not learned to play with another striker or a #10 that is not the creator sharing the pochet with him. He just do not function well. The set up now is good because it holds the wingbacks in place and force the opposition to come higher up the pitch when Kane drops deep. Son more often then Lucas plays on the shoulders running in behind the backline especially those teams using three at the back. Those runs by Son are devastating and that is the reason Harry has all those assists. Now, when Bale starts you lose speed in Lucas but get more guile from Bale. At the end you play the same when Bales comes in leave the pocket vacant for Kane to do whatever he likes. When he goes deep the two outside players dart to the box while the wingbacks press up. Last week we did that and Bale snuck in almost unmarked from the right , header,net, see you later winner.