Tim Sherwood told Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports (20/02/21 at 1:25 pm) that Gareth Bale should have followed Jesse Lingard’s actions in regards to ensuring his game time was guaranteed when he re-joined Tottenham.
On Thursday night, Bale had one of his better days since his return to North London, when he scored and assisted during Tottenham’s win against Wolfsberger in the Europa League – but he hasn’t had that overall impact that he would have wanted.
The same cannot be said for Manchester United loanee Lingard, who has thrived since taking his first touch for West Ham at Villa Park at the start of this month.
Sherwood thinks Lingard spoke to Moyes about his playing time before he moved to the London Stadium and the ex-Spurs boss thinks Bale should have done the same with Jose Mourinho.
“The reason why he’s not playing is that he’s not prepared to do the defensive job the manager wants him to do,” said Sherwood.
“If you are going to play on the front foot and let him play in them half cheap positions, where he can pick the ball up and drive at the opposition then I still think he has the desire and will to do that.
“If you give him a run of games he’s capable of doing it (performing). But is he going to get a run of games? I don’t think he is because Jose’s going to be very pragmatic.
“He’s (Moyes) brought Jesse Lingard in and everyone thought he was going to take time because Fornal’s has massively improved. But straight in (and doing the job). I think Jesse spoke to him (Moyes).
“Gareth should have said to Jose before he came in there ‘I am not coming here to sit on the bench. I am not coming here to play right-back. If you want me to come to the football club. I will come but I need to play’. I think he should have had a guarantee that he would have played.”
Given that Bale just put on his best showing in a Tottenham shirt since his return, it will be interesting to see if he starts today.
In the Premier League, Bale needs that lift off again and he needs to show the club that they were right in bringing him back.
Well, there isn’t a better time to correct those wrongs in what will be a pretty feisty all-London affair today.
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