So after a 7 year hiatus, Gareth Bale returns to Spurs. Forgive this blog, at times it may read like the rambling’s of a madman; a stream of consciousness from an overexcited fan, but here are some of the factors worth noting as he makes his long awaited return to North London.
Like A Kid At Christmas
“Never go back”, they say, but thank god that Bale has gone against this mantra and returned to North London. I’m a 33 year old father of two, but on Tuesday evening I was as giddy as a little kid on Christmas Eve, buzzing about the breaking news that it was looking like Bale was on his way back. I could barely get to sleep, thinking about how his return could herald a change of fortunes for the club. Being a Welsh Spurs fan, I’m not alone in holding Bale in such high regard. Over the years, when we inevitably were linked with him during every transfer window, I used to hope that he’d join – accepting the fact that it was a pipe dream and extremely unlikely to happen. This summer though, the feeling was different, the tide seemed to have changed. The fallout with Madrid and Zidane had been so toxic a move had to be on the cards. Where could he go? China? PSG? Manchester? Surely, a return back home made sense – for both club and player. Check my tweets, I suggested it was on for months, only to be scoffed at and to be told the usual ‘this ain’t Football Manager’. Well, look who’s laughing now…
Klinsmann and Bale
There’s always a special admiration for past players who return to the fold. Klinsmann. Sheringham. Keane. Defoe. All returned from varying spells away from the club, and all experienced different levels of ‘success’ on their return. As a kid – I was ecstatic when Klinsmann came back to rescue our season in 1997/8 – his four goals against Wimbledon being one of my abiding memories of Spurs growing up. Today, Spurs may be unrecognisable to Bale: a billion pound stadium, new coaches and new players alike (only Lloris and Kane remain from his first spell) – but Bale is still Tottenham through and through. On the eve of last year’s Champions League final, his comments regarding ‘us’ and ‘Spurs’ was his attempt to flutter his eyelids our way. United wanted him, but sources close to Bale say that Spurs is the only place he wanted to be. Regarding this week’s developments, I genuinely believe there’s an agenda against Spurs from some quarters of the sporting press. Some outlets have labelled the move anything from a “panic buy” to a transfer that is simply “papering over the cracks”. At 31 he’s been labelled “past it” – whereas new contracts for the likes of Aubameyang (31) and Willian (32) have been seen as decent business for Arsenal. The frenzy around Messi joining Man City was insane. He’s 33. If Liverpool were signing Bale, no doubt Sky Sports would have created a new channel for the unveiling and would have dedicated 24/7 coverage to all facets of the deal. But ‘cause it’s Spurs, there’s always some caveat or disclaimer with the deal. Incredulously, even some Spurs fans have argued that they don’t want him back as ‘he’s lost his love for the game’ and ‘injury prone’. Constantly, I’d ask them to study his Wales form. When playing with teammates who value him, for a manager who trusts him, for fans who adore him, he is still one hell of a player. Will he be the prime Bale we sold for that record fee back in 2013? No. Will he be a player that will unlock defences and provide goals and assists when given the chance? Certainly. Will he help us to pick up some much coveted silverware? Possibly. He’s won countless trophies at Madrid – and it seems to be an increasing requisite these days that Spurs signings have some experience winning trophies – something that has not been in our club’s DNA for so, so long.
The Details
Regarding Mourinho, his arrival – along with Reguilon – is much like a double edged sword. On one hand, the wealth of attacking talent at his disposal would dictate that he should get results. However, if the season stutters, choppy waters await. He’s been backed by Levy – and Levy will expect results, as will the fanbase. If he doesn’t get them, we may well see calls for a change at the top and a winter of discontent. From a simple cutthroat, business perspective, the loan deal makes sense. Subsidised wages, if the season doesn’t go to plan then we can walk away after the deal ends. It’s currently being reported that Spurs will pay 40% of his 500k-600k a week wages – in effect £15m-16m for the year. Even by Levy’s standards, that’s some deal. And if he’s a hit – as I predict he will be – he’ll be a much more affordable player next summer – with a year less left on his contract and the good times can continue.
A Front 3 for the Ages…
Hopefully, the arrival of Bale will be a much needed kick up the backside that some players need. Son and Lucas in particular have seemed to have been coasting of late – so some much needed competition should breed some form. It remains to be seen where he’ll play, but the options he brings to attacking stakes are clear to see. For the few Spurs fans who don’t want him, if the thought of Kane, Bale and Son doesn’t excite you, you may as well pack up your things and go home, this club (and game) is not for you. No hyperbole, it’ll be one of the best – if not the best – and most potent attacking forces in the league. After the abject performance against Everton on the weekend, his arrival is a much needed boost for the whole squad and fan base. He’ll need time to get up to match fitness, but with the glut of games over the next few weeks, hopefully it won’t be too long until he’s up to speed. Some have pointed to his injury record – but I’d see it as a positive. Stick with me: in some respects he’s rested and my impression is that after being mistreated by Madrid, any niggle that he had lead to his own, self imposed omission from the squad – niggles that he’d play through at Spurs. Also, as blasphemous as it may sound, I’d back him to play more games than Harry Kane in a full Premier League season.
The Homecoming
And finally, a word on the man himself. A couple of weeks ago, a fellow Welsh Spurs fan messaged me a thread about information he had on Bale from an acquaintance (it’s a well worn cliche that everyone in Wales knows everyone!) – about how he was trying to orchestrate a move back to Spurs, negotiating how owed wages could be offset by all parties involved. He didn’t make it public (neither did I) but he pointed to a range of close contacts to Bale who claimed negotiations were in motion and that he saw himself as a Spur. The thing about ITKs – is that most of the real ITKs (minus the big guns like ‘Here We Go’ Fabrizio Romano!) don’t publicise their knowledge to all and sundry – and this guy (you know who you are!) called the whole deal down to a tee – even messaging me to say the medical was taking place in Madrid to speed up the deal a full day before the medical news broke. With Bale, earning £600,000 a week must allow you to gain some sort of perspective. Set for life, it was not inconceivable that Bale would take a pay cut of sorts to return to Spurs and to get regular football under his belt. A lot was said about Bale sitting in the stands at Madrid, seemingly being churlish as he was ignored by Zidane. But as I’ve said numerous times before, at any other club in the world they’d be putting up statues of the man after some of the goals and exploits he’s delivered up over the years. They wanted him off their books – but so what? They gave him a contract worth £600,000 per week; it’s their decision if they didn’t want to play him or not but why should they expect him to give it up just ‘cause they changed their mind? As for his return, the move makes sense for Bale, Spurs – and Wales. Admittedly, and understandably, in this month’s games against Finland and Bulgaria, he did seem off the pace somewhat. I get the impression that next year’s Euro Championships has been a factor as Bale will want to be at peak sharpness for the championships. Playing for Spurs should facilitate this; staying at Madrid would not. I’ve got friends and family who aren’t Spurs fans but they too are excited by the transfer, acknowledging the benefit it could lend to Wales. Add in the fact that he’ll be closer to friends (it’s a well known fact that Bale still remains close with many school friends from his days at Whitchurch High) and family, and his return makes more and more sense.
What a day. What a bit of business.
Welcome home, Gareth.
Andy, South Wales/Dreamland, September 2020
Spurs of the Moment 