Glenn Hoddle says Gareth Bale has to be disappointed at his performances for Tottenham so far.
The Welshman has hardly impressed for the club since he joined them on loan from Real Madrid in the summer.
His poor showings have seen him spend most of his time on the bench as Jose Mourinho fields only the players that he thinks can deliver for him.
The winger started Tottenham’s FA Cup game against Wycombe and gave a good account of himself.
Nevertheless, Hoddle thinks that he hasn’t done well enough on his return.
He said Bale was given time to get back to match fitness level, but he has still not been delivering.
Watching him against the Championship side, Hoddle said that he didn’t appear like he was interested in sprinting and that he looked “mentally fragile.”
He adds that Bale has to look at himself and tell himself that he hasn’t made a good enough contribution to Tottenham’s cause.
He told talkSPORT: “I’ve been very disappointed in him actually. I think he needed five or six weeks to get up to match fitness, but I was very disappointed in him because he didn’t look as if he was able to into a sprint and he looked a bit fragile mentally.
“Now, I think he’s looked in the mirror and said: ‘This isn’t good enough here.’
“To be fair to him, he could have had more goals [vs Wycombe] and if he can get close to that performance against Premier League sides, he’ll get himself in and around the starting XI and that will give Tottenham even more of a dimension.”
Do you think messi/Ronado could come compete in this league instantly at 31 without having played any competitive football for a year or so? I don’t. This ain’t no joke league man.
He’ll settle us up in the final straight. Important goals coming. Too much ability to be written off.
The old v8 will run smooth when she’s ready. 🌚
Bale must know his body by now. He knows if he tries to play his natural game too soon he’ll be out for ages. As I say he’s feeling his way back in I reckon.
No way round this, he’s disappointed.Ronaldo and Messi are four or five years older with a lot more miles on the clock yet Bale looks more like a player on the edge of retirement.
All hindsight now and big money was involved but he should have cleared out of Real Madrid years ago. Hope he can give us something in the League or Cups against top tier teams.
He has had …how long? 5 months to become fit? You are too kind. watch him dodge totally anything near a 50/50 and almost everyone else who plays up front (except ?Vinicius) has more of a go. Son’s work ethic makes Bale look woeful. We need 11 players having a go not just 10. I will be very happy to eat my words but I just cannot see it.
You can’t expect him to come in and flash it straight away in this high intensity league of ours having not really played for a year. He’s just feeling his body back in. Smart really. Last ten games he’ll be sharper, pre season then next season we’ll/he’ll be good.
He is being polite; considering his RM performances he has been a costly shadow of a once great. He really looks like he cannot be bothered risking an injury and so is not trying too hard. He himself has said that he has unfinished business with RM so he is off at the end of the loan. This seems IMO to be just a keep fit program away from the golf green. I am so disappointed in his apparent lack of effort.