8 Spurs Players Who Turned Around A Bad Start

1. Gareth Bale

The epitome of second chances. From the cusp of being sold to Nottingham Forest for a paltry £3 million, having trudged off the pitch without experiencing a win on 21 consecutive occasions, and being labelled as a 'curse' by the great Sir Alex Ferguson, the only direction Gareth Bale's career was heading was in a spiral. If one were to grab the exiled Spurs substitute with the horrendous haircut by the shoulders in the summer of 2009 and told him that within five years, he would have surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's world record transfer fee, and would have scored in a Champions League final for Real Madrid, he would have asked for the next joke. The trajectory of the young Welshman's career is something of folklore - from the depths of despair, stuck behind honest but ordinary Benoit Assou-Ekotto in the left-back pecking order, and within five years, he has commanded the most expensive investment in a player this sport has ever seen. Despite what Redknapp will have you believe, former Spurs coach Clive Allen has stated that it was Bale's own 'determination' which stopped the club from making their most costly error, as he stayed to 'fight' for his place rather than sign for Forest or Birmingham City in 2009. Bale signed for Spurs seven years ago, so it feels as though he has been around for eons, but the reality is that he is still only 25 years old. Bulking up his frame to match that of his Ballon d'Or team-mate, to arm with an arsenal of electric pace, fizzing shots and sumptuous free-kicks, the British Galactico's potential is vast. For our sake, let's just be thankful that we will be witnessing Bale tearing it up at the Nou Camp and the Bernabeu this season, rather than the City Ground or St. Andrews. 'Fighting' for his place looks to be one hell of a vindication right now. Your move, Erik. Which Spurs players do you remember flourishing after a terrible start? Share your thoughts below in the comments thread.