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| Tottenham Fans Serenade Their Hero While They Still Can | Tottenham Fans Serenade Their Hero While They Still Can |
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| LONDON | LONDON |
| Gareth Bale’s shots on goal have alternately been labeled laser beams, rockets or rips. His left foot has been described as sweet or magical or masterful. And his recent run of success has inspired heady comparisons to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or, in one particularly creative turn of phrase in a British newspaper, a “mild-mannered bank clerk who goes to war and returns a hero.” | Gareth Bale’s shots on goal have alternately been labeled laser beams, rockets or rips. His left foot has been described as sweet or magical or masterful. And his recent run of success has inspired heady comparisons to Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or, in one particularly creative turn of phrase in a British newspaper, a “mild-mannered bank clerk who goes to war and returns a hero.” |
| Hyperbole will never be an issue for English soccer observers, but this level of hysteria is relatively new for Bale, the Tottenham Hotspur wing whose dramatic finishes have captivated YouTube followers and elevated him from a garden-variety star to the most-talked-about player in the world. Suddenly, Bale is everywhere: on highlight shows, in continual rumors about big-money transfers and, hilariously, on a variety of graphic T-shirts sold near the club’s stadium, White Hart Lane, including one featuring a picture of Bale’s face above the words “He Scores When He Wants.” | Hyperbole will never be an issue for English soccer observers, but this level of hysteria is relatively new for Bale, the Tottenham Hotspur wing whose dramatic finishes have captivated YouTube followers and elevated him from a garden-variety star to the most-talked-about player in the world. Suddenly, Bale is everywhere: on highlight shows, in continual rumors about big-money transfers and, hilariously, on a variety of graphic T-shirts sold near the club’s stadium, White Hart Lane, including one featuring a picture of Bale’s face above the words “He Scores When He Wants.” |
| At this point, that sentiment does not seem so far-fetched. Bale scored again here Sunday, his 20th goal of the season in all competitions, and 9th in seven games, as Tottenham defeated Arsenal, 2-1, in the North London derby. The victory pushed Spurs into third place in the Premier League, 2 points behind second-place Manchester City, 2 ahead of fourth-place Chelsea and — most pointedly for Tottenham fans, who have endured nearly 20 years of looking up at Arsenal in the standings — 7 points clear of the flailing Gunners. | At this point, that sentiment does not seem so far-fetched. Bale scored again here Sunday, his 20th goal of the season in all competitions, and 9th in seven games, as Tottenham defeated Arsenal, 2-1, in the North London derby. The victory pushed Spurs into third place in the Premier League, 2 points behind second-place Manchester City, 2 ahead of fourth-place Chelsea and — most pointedly for Tottenham fans, who have endured nearly 20 years of looking up at Arsenal in the standings — 7 points clear of the flailing Gunners. |
| Life has rarely been better for Tottenham and its fans. But even as a return to the Champions League next season seems all but certain, the double-edged reality of being Tottenham — and not, say, Real Madrid or Manchester United — means there will always be a lingering question: how long can it last? | Life has rarely been better for Tottenham and its fans. But even as a return to the Champions League next season seems all but certain, the double-edged reality of being Tottenham — and not, say, Real Madrid or Manchester United — means there will always be a lingering question: how long can it last? |
| This is the reality of European soccer. Anytime a megastar like Bale emerges on a non-megasized club, speculation about the eventual sale of that star inevitably pops up with the frequency of rain clouds over Britain. Bale, 23, has been linked to Real Madrid — who are roughly the George Steinbrenner Yankees of Europe — and if Madrid offers a transfer fee of, say, £70 million (about $105 million), it may be difficult for Tottenham to refuse. | This is the reality of European soccer. Anytime a megastar like Bale emerges on a non-megasized club, speculation about the eventual sale of that star inevitably pops up with the frequency of rain clouds over Britain. Bale, 23, has been linked to Real Madrid — who are roughly the George Steinbrenner Yankees of Europe — and if Madrid offers a transfer fee of, say, £70 million (about $105 million), it may be difficult for Tottenham to refuse. |
| “He won’t spend his entire career at Tottenham,” said Stewart Robson, a former English league player who now works as an analyst for ESPN UK. “I think he will stay for another season. But it is difficult to see him playing forever with Tottenham. Tottenham will always be a club that has to sell its very best players.” | “He won’t spend his entire career at Tottenham,” said Stewart Robson, a former English league player who now works as an analyst for ESPN UK. “I think he will stay for another season. But it is difficult to see him playing forever with Tottenham. Tottenham will always be a club that has to sell its very best players.” |
| Certainly there are plenty at Tottenham who hope that will change. Manager André Villas-Boas reiterated Sunday how critical it was that Spurs hold on to a Champions League spot, in large part because it would be symbolic of how “this club is taking massive steps,” he said. Roughly translated, that means that while the club does not have the Monopoly money of league rivals like Chelsea or Manchester City, it still considers itself a major player; consistently competing in the Champions League, then, dovetails with Tottenham’s investment in a state-of-the-art training facility and, eventually, a new stadium. | Certainly there are plenty at Tottenham who hope that will change. Manager André Villas-Boas reiterated Sunday how critical it was that Spurs hold on to a Champions League spot, in large part because it would be symbolic of how “this club is taking massive steps,” he said. Roughly translated, that means that while the club does not have the Monopoly money of league rivals like Chelsea or Manchester City, it still considers itself a major player; consistently competing in the Champions League, then, dovetails with Tottenham’s investment in a state-of-the-art training facility and, eventually, a new stadium. |
| It also means the club will strive to keep players like Bale, who on Sunday transformed a pedestrian first half when he slipped through the porous Arsenal defense and artfully flicked a shot — with his favored left foot, of course — past the goalkeeper for the game’s first goal. | It also means the club will strive to keep players like Bale, who on Sunday transformed a pedestrian first half when he slipped through the porous Arsenal defense and artfully flicked a shot — with his favored left foot, of course — past the goalkeeper for the game’s first goal. |
| White Hart Lane exploded, and although Bale was not necessarily Tottenham’s best player Sunday (defender Jan Vertonghen was incredibly stout as Arsenal pressed late), he remains at the heart of the club’s resurgence. Despite Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger’s claim that “we don’t plan for anybody” — an assertion that seemed a bit dismissive considering Bale’s recent play — the truth is that opponents now have to account for Bale in a way that is especially challenging. | White Hart Lane exploded, and although Bale was not necessarily Tottenham’s best player Sunday (defender Jan Vertonghen was incredibly stout as Arsenal pressed late), he remains at the heart of the club’s resurgence. Despite Arsenal Manager Arsène Wenger’s claim that “we don’t plan for anybody” — an assertion that seemed a bit dismissive considering Bale’s recent play — the truth is that opponents now have to account for Bale in a way that is especially challenging. |
| According to Robson, a main attribute that separates Bale is his ability to move slickly with the ball. Bale is often compared to Arsenal’s young star Theo Walcott — who played with Bale when they were teenagers at Southampton — but Robson said the major difference was that “Walcott is quick without the ball; Bale is quick with it — that makes him a far superior player.” | According to Robson, a main attribute that separates Bale is his ability to move slickly with the ball. Bale is often compared to Arsenal’s young star Theo Walcott — who played with Bale when they were teenagers at Southampton — but Robson said the major difference was that “Walcott is quick without the ball; Bale is quick with it — that makes him a far superior player.” |
| Then there is Bale’s shot. As he displayed with a thunderous volley in the second half (an attempt that burrowed straight into the goalkeeper’s belly), Bale is adept at pairing power with precision, keeping his shots on goal as opposed to watching them fly over the crossbar. One of his best efforts came last week when he drilled a goal in the final minute to secure a victory over West Ham, then sprinted to the sideline to leap into the arms of his manager. Like many top players, including Ronaldo, he is most skilled with a still ball. In a Europa League leg last month, he beat Lyon with two free-kick goals, one in the final seconds. | |
| On Sunday, he capped the day by taking part in a rousing teamwide celebration in front of Spurs fans. | |
| “We want to be back in the Champions League, and that showed in our celebrations afterward,” Tottenham’s captain, Michael Dawson, said. | “We want to be back in the Champions League, and that showed in our celebrations afterward,” Tottenham’s captain, Michael Dawson, said. |
| They want Bale with them, too. Cliff Jones, a star wing for Tottenham in the 1960s, has forged a relationship with Bale because of their shared backgrounds. Like Jones, Bale is from Wales, and Jones sees a similarity in their optimistic personalities. “It’s the old saying — put two Welshmen on a desert island, and they’ll form a choir,” he said Sunday. | They want Bale with them, too. Cliff Jones, a star wing for Tottenham in the 1960s, has forged a relationship with Bale because of their shared backgrounds. Like Jones, Bale is from Wales, and Jones sees a similarity in their optimistic personalities. “It’s the old saying — put two Welshmen on a desert island, and they’ll form a choir,” he said Sunday. |
| Jones has joked with Bale that he has taken over the mantle of being the “new Welsh wizard,” and he says he admires Bale’s specificity when he stands over a free kick. | Jones has joked with Bale that he has taken over the mantle of being the “new Welsh wizard,” and he says he admires Bale’s specificity when he stands over a free kick. |
| “Watch what he does with the ball as he places it — he twists it and spins it, like he’s a golfer lining up a putt,” Jones said. “He’s looking for something, and judging by his results lately, I’d say he’s found it.” | “Watch what he does with the ball as he places it — he twists it and spins it, like he’s a golfer lining up a putt,” Jones said. “He’s looking for something, and judging by his results lately, I’d say he’s found it.” |
| A half-century after he played at White Hart Lane, Jones is still revered at Tottenham, and he was there for the Arsenal game, as he always is, serving as a pregame host. As with many Spurs fans, though, his praise for Bale came with a worrisome caveat. “Lots of big clubs will be looking for him now,” he said, frowning. “I think in some way it’s inevitable that he’ll be moved.” | A half-century after he played at White Hart Lane, Jones is still revered at Tottenham, and he was there for the Arsenal game, as he always is, serving as a pregame host. As with many Spurs fans, though, his praise for Bale came with a worrisome caveat. “Lots of big clubs will be looking for him now,” he said, frowning. “I think in some way it’s inevitable that he’ll be moved.” |
| Jones played 10 seasons with Spurs. But that was a different time and a different Welshman. Jones considered Bale’s plight for a moment, then brightened. | Jones played 10 seasons with Spurs. But that was a different time and a different Welshman. Jones considered Bale’s plight for a moment, then brightened. |
| “We’ll have to see about Gareth,” he said finally. “Right now, I think everyone is just happy to watch all that he can do.” | “We’ll have to see about Gareth,” he said finally. “Right now, I think everyone is just happy to watch all that he can do.” |
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