Gareth Bale; a Real Conundrum

The 1^st of September will go down in history as the day that a Welshman became the world’s most expensive player, a snip at £85.3 Million.  Since the transfer has been completed there have been plenty of rumours of unrest within the Real camp, as Ozil’s departure has deeply shocked his former team-mates.  Bale will have plenty to do to convince his new colleagues that he is a capable replacement for the creative Ozil whilst adjusting to a new league, a new language, and a new life in Spain.

You only need to look at Bale’s record last season to see the impact he can have on a game.  In 2012-13 Bale scored 21 goals and created 7 assists, which led him to win PFA Players' Player of the Year, the Young Player of the Year and the FWA (Football Writer's Association) Player of the Year Award.  It is clear to see what attracted Real’s president Florentino Pérez, to the acquisition of such a prize, but there doesn't seem to have been much thought in how Gareth would fit into the system and work in unison with Ronaldo.  Ancelotti has quite a task on his hands; fitting a wealth of talent into a fully functioning system and unifying a dressing room clearly upset with Ozil’s departure.  Gareth Bale has done his best to sooth Ronaldo’s ego by referring to him as the boss, and it will be interesting to see how the two can work in tandem and how Ronaldo will react on and off the pitch to Bale’s heftier price tag and higher wages. 

One of Bale’s great strengths is his ability to cross the ball which could prove fruitful for Ronaldo due his prowess in the air, though Bale may find it difficult to deliver as well from the right than from his preferred role on the left.  Bale was used in a variety of positions by Villas Boas last year, on the left and the right and the free-roaming role, though you may doubt he will be allowed the same level of freedom with the depth of attacking talent on display at Madrid.  Real did experiment by playing Ronaldo upfront in pre-season though he did not seem comfortable with the switch and you don’t want to mess with anything that affects such a dependable goal scorer.  Benzema looks nailed on to retain his place as the main striker, as does Khedira at the base of the midfield and Xabi Alonso alongside when fit.  Isco the other expensive summer addition will be filling the attacking midfielder spot vacated by Ozil which leaves Gareth on the right of the front three.  Bale will have to prove his versatility as he can only cut inside on to his favoured left boot so many times before defenders will start to lead him down the flank to deliver a cross with his weaker right.  Robben at Bayern is a master of evading this tactic; he somehow manages to cut in on his stronger left and get a shot off when all defenders try and lead him down the line and Gareth may be able to learn a thing or 2 from this wily customer.

Bale will hope that he can hit the ground running and put these misgivings to one side, though this may be difficult as he was unable to complete a pre-season and his fitness may be in question.  Madrid have purchased one of the best players in the world, only behind Messi and Ronaldo in the pecking order.  He is a special player and I have no doubt that he can adapt to his new position and it’s more of a question of when and not if.  Bale will have to get used to playing second fiddle to Ronaldo, though if these 2 can create a good partnership the speed and incisiveness on the counter-attack will be a terrifying weapon in the Madrid armoury and a sight to behold for any football fan.  Like many of his predecessors Ancelotti now faces the enviable task of fitting the wonderful array of talent into the jigsaw of a fully functional balanced team.  Still, I’m sure it is a conundrum that many a manager would love to face.