Why Bale hasn't sparkled

When Gareth Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur amid jubilation in the summer, it is safe to say, more was expected.

So what has gone wrong?

Has he simply lost it through age, injuries and a lack of playing time?

Well, Bale is 31 (32 in July).

Age isn't the issue.

Injuries have played their part, but I'm afraid so has fear.

As I have said for 7 years and as Mourinho said in one of his interviews surrounding the Wycombe Wanderers, mentality is the most important factor in football.

To produce your best your mind must have no worries, no anxieties but unfortunately, Gareth is not in that position.

He has had many an injury, no pre-season and was always going to be a project.

Bale injuries

It is safe to say he is behind schedule though.

What is holding him back?

It isn't fitness.

It isn't because he has lost it, as he produces in training.

Bale has scored 4 goals in 713 minutes of football, a goal every 178 minutes.

Steven Bergwijn hasn't scored a goal in 1,210 minutes of football (has 5 assists).

Lucas Moura has scored 6 goals in 1,273 minutes of football, a goal every 212 minutes (also has 4 assists).

Érik Lamela has scored 2 goals in 607 minutes of football, a goal every 304 minutes.

Heung-min Son has scored 16 goals in 2,082 minutes of football, a goal every 130 minutes (also has 10 assists).

No, the problem is mental.

Bale is one injury away from ending his career and that thought is inhibiting the Welshman.

Gareth is performing within himself, to protect himself.

At least that is what his subconscious and perhaps an element of his conscious mind is thinking.

He is lacking the confidence in his body, not his ability.

José Mourinho has challenged him to produce or go back to Real Madrid and play no football.

He is trying to push him through that mental block, using fear of loss as a motivating factor.

It is one the two most powerful motivators.

The key here though, is how big a fear is that fear of loss?

If the fear inside Bale isn't big enough, then it is questionable whether the ploy will work.

Bale needs to play mentally free from fear and there were glimpses in the Wycombe Wanderers game of Bale going past defenders like they weren't there.

There was a crumb of confidence to build upon, but confidence is a fragile thing.

Only Bale himself can determine his mental attitude and Spurs should be giving him all the help they can, including using a psychologist.

Time is ticking.

Four months left.

COYS

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