The Technical Area – 4-5-1 Suits Bale Just Fine

There came a point last winter where first-team injuries taught Harry Redknapp a valuable lesson; with Benoit Assou-Ekotto sidelined, the Spurs gaffer’s hand was somewhat forced as he fielded Gareth Bale in the club’s FA third-round tie with Peterborough. Whether at left-back or left wing, Bale has never looked back since, with a series of fantastic performances that have ensured his place as a nailed-on first-team starter at White Hart Lane.

This weekend saw injuries limit Redknapp’s choices once again and with Peter Crouch the club’s only fit forward following their midweek Champions League exertions, Spurs took to the field in a 4-5-1 formation for the first time this season. Once again, Bale was the beneficiary of his manager’s lack of options, scoring two goals and picking up three Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Bonus Points for his display.

With a plum home tie against Wigan up next, Bale – at £6.7m in FPL and, with 35% of managers, the top-owned player in the game at present- has already risen 0.2m in the first fortnight of the season, and there’s every chance he will jump again before the week is out. Here’s a look at his first two games…

Bale at home to Man City

Spurs played 4-4-2 on the opening day, with Luka Modric and Tom Huddlestone in central midfield and Jermain Defoe partnering Crouch up front; Man City played three in central midfield, and Spurs subsequently ended the match with just 39% possession.

There is more of a defensive element to Bale’s role in this system; he made 15 tackles, had just 3 of his side’s 20 goal attempts -two inside the penalty box- and although he sees more of the ball in comparison to a 4-5-1, it’s interesting that 14% of all passes he made were played in his own defensive third of the pitch.

Bale away to Stoke City

The 4-5-1 gave Spurs far more balance throughout the pitch, with Tom Huddlestone, Jermaine Jenas and Wilson Palacios as a central midfield three and Crouch up front alone, the visitors ended with the lion’s share of possession, 58%.

Bale saw less of the ball, but it calls the defensive side of his game into question less often, which given his natural offensive play, is perhaps a good thing. Just the 7 tackles were made, however he had an incredible 5 of his side’s 9 goal attempts -four inside the penalty box- and, as befitting of his more attacking role, none of his passes were played in the Spurs defensive third.

Clearly, this system seems to not only allow Redknapp’s midfield more control of the game, it perhaps may be the one to get the best out of Bale as an attacking threat, with the young Welshman seeming to improve with practically every performance these days. Given Redknapp’s penchant for 4-4-2, and, in particular, coming on the back of his side’s 3-2 Champions League defeat by Young Boys, will he be brave enough to have a tactical re-think?

Perhaps not, going by his recent broadsheet article where he questioned the significance of tactics in football, the Spurs boss saying:

You can argue about formations, tactics and systems for ever, but to me football is fundamentally about the players. Whether it is 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, the numbers game is not the beautiful game in my opinion…4-5-1? Or 4-3-3? Does it really matter? It’s 10 per cent about the formation and 90 per cent about the players.

Maybe Jonathan Wilson should have a word. After all, we’ve got Fantasy teams to consider here.