A detailed look at what would have happened to Spurs if Gareth Bale had left last summer

By admin on May 25, 2013

One debate that has reached almost clichéd proportions in recent months is the characterisation of Tottenham as a one-man team – that one man, of course, being Gareth Bale. Spurs tasted the ultimate disappointment on the last day of the season, being beaten to fourth place by Arsenal, but it was only Bale’s last minute winner against Sunderland that left Arsenal needing those three points at Newcastle. So how much lower than fifth would they have finished without Gareth Bale’s 26 goals?

Goal 1 – This was in a 3-1 win at Reading, and had no real bearing on the result.

Goal 2 – The 3-2 victory at Man United was the game in which Andre Villas-Boas really started to stamp his mark on the side, but without Bale’s goal to put Spurs 2-0 up we would have a 2-2 draw.

Goal 3 – In a 2-1 win at Southampton, removing Bale’s goal would be another two points dropped.

Goal 4 – This was in a 2-1 League Cup defeat to Norwich.

Goal 5 – In a 5-2 hammering at Arsenal, Bale’s goal was an irrelevance to the big picture.

Goal 6 – Spurs beat West Ham 3-1, with the Welsh wizard’s contribution only one goal.

Goal 7 – This was an interesting game for the statistics, as he also scored an own-goal in a 2-1 win to go along with his intended Spurs strike. In the interests of fairness, removing both goals gives a 1-0 win to his side.

Goals 8, 9, and 10 – A hat-trick may seem like a match-winning contribution, but Spurs were already a goal up in their 4-0 win at Aston Villa.

Goal 11 – Bale scored the second goal in the 3-0 FA Cup third round victory over Coventry.

Goal 12 – A spectacular equaliser at Norwich prevented a 1-0 defeat.

Goal 13 – Another key goal gave Spurs a 1-0 win at West Brom.

Goals 14 and 15 – Newcastle would have had all three points were it not for Bale’s brilliance.

Goals 16 and 17 – Spurs would have gone out at the hands of Lyon in the Europa League last 32 without Bale’s brace in the home leg.

Goals 18 and 19 – January and February would seemingly have been long months for AVB as these goals prevented what would have been a 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

Goal 20 – This came in the key North London derby at home to Arsenal, and was the difference between stalemate and victory.

Goal 22 – Bale’s 22^nd goal (his 21^st came against in Europe) accounted for two extra points in the 2-1 win at Swansea.

Goal 23 – The third goal in a 3-1 win over Man City was game-sealing, but not landscape-changing.

Goal 24 – This goal earnt a 2-2 draw at Wigan, saving a point.

Goal 25 – Bale weaved his magic wand in the 86^th minute to see off a stubborn Southampton.

Goal 26 – that last-minute-of-the-last-game winner against Sunderland was futile, but earnt another two extra points for his side.

So if anyone asks you where Spurs would have finished without Gareth Bale, you can tell them they would be 22 points worse off in seventh, with 50 points. That would mean no European football at all. Also, they would have failed to progress beyond the first Europa League knock-out round. Even with the coveted winger they failed to secure the Champions League football many believe is a necessity for him to stay. Here’s how the table would have looked without Bale’s goals, and one own-goal.

1. Man United 90

2. Man City 78

3. Chelsea 75

4. Arsenal 74

5. Everton 63

6. Liverpool 61

7. Tottenham 50

8. West Brom 50

9. West Ham 49

10 Swansea 47

11 Norwich 46

12 Newcastle 44