Man Utd Transfers: 7 Reasons Why Gareth Bale Will Join In The Summer
6. The Ultimate Confidence Player Lacks Confidence
After making a name for himself with Southampton, Bale joined Tottenham Hotspurs for a grand fee of £7m. A fun little fact that has largely been forgotten since his meteoric rise is that Gareth Bale was initially seen as a jinx. Whenever Bale played, Spurs failed to win. And this wasnt just a one off. There were suggestions that then-manager Harry Redknapp didnt trust him in important games. His development was hampered by a string of injuries. It was in his 25th appearance for Spurs, a substitute appearance where they went on to win 5-0 against Burnley, which eventually saw the Bale-hoodoo broken. Now this statistic doesnt prove much in itself, except for perhaps the importance of confidence in professional athletes. This much is a given. Whereas certain sportsmen are happy to play the role of pantomime villain, others need to feel loved and encouraged in order to produce their best form. And in spite of the necessary levels of self-confidence required to succeed in professional football, Bale has always come across as a shy and introverted guy. Been the target of fan opprobrium will surely be more of a hindrance than a help to Bales future performances.
