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

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

13  Fulham 43

14  Southampton 43

15  Stoke 42

16  Aston Villa 41

17  Sunderland 40

18  Wigan 37

19  Reading 28

20  QPR 25

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Comments

[djp]

I can't believe that the author has nothing better to do then waste his life writing this sort of drivel.

[Riley]

Yep playing wih only 10 men would really have seen Spurs struggle.

Or possibly AVB would have been allowed to replace Bale with Damiao, Willian and Moutinho.

The 3 players he wanted last summer. Will you a run those figures too?

That's why stories like this are so stupid. AVB set Spurs up to get the best out if Bale, gave him a platform to excel.

Where would Barca be without Messi's goals? Or Madrid Ronaldo's?

Stupid story

[GazzaSpurs]

Sorry - but this really is an article of the utmost irrelevance. We might as well list all the games and points accrued through Van Persie at United , Suarez at Liverpool and Benteke at Villa. We would probably have different Champions, Villa would have been relegated and Liverpool would have been in the relegation mix.
Sure Bale was crucial but this article is simply banal.

[Mickeys1969]

What you have not done is take into account a replacement on the pitch for Bale. Lets say Gilfi for example. Gilfi weighed in with some important goals last year and any replacement in the positions Bale took up would have had some kind of goal return. Your calculations are effectively Spurs playing with 10 men and on this basis, the league position looks respectable ;0)

[seb]

Well considering you haven't accounted for a replacement 7th isnt that bad, I believe arsenal would have been relagated without van persie tbe last season, but they didn't go down this year without him (unfortunately) pointless A article that means absolutely nothing.

[Tommo]

What an absolute pile of Horsesh*t "
Obviously a gooner or chavski fan, bitter because Tottenham are on the up and still ( as always ) the most exciting team in London.

[scott]

what would of happened if I chose the right euro lottery tickets night I ould be a multi millionaire what a loads of bolocks

[Goonkad]

Utter useless drivel...