ARE Manchester United and Barcelona one-man teams?
I only ask because that is the tag that is being thrown at Tottenham because of Gareth Bale's sensational form of late.
But when you look at it, Robin Van Persie and Lionel Messi's goals have secured more points for their teams than Bale has for Spurs this season.
I am a Spurs fan and love watching Mr Bale week in and week out and if people want to call my team a one-man team that's fine, I just don't agree with the tag, and it's taken me a while to realise there's no such thing.
Everyone waxes lyrical about what a beautiful team the Catalan giants are, and granted we put Messi on another planter footballing wise from the rest of us, but have Barca ever been labelled a one-man team?
I don't think so, but he has earned a whopping 22 points for his side with his goals this season.
Ronaldo is the only player to be placed in the same bracket as Messi, but he has not been quite so influential for Real Madrid - his goals have earned nine points.
RVP is having another superb season, this time at Manchester United. Some say he carried Arsenal last year and he appears to be doing the same at Old Trafford. Like Messi he is responsible for securing 22 of the Red Devils' points this season.
Without van Persie's finishing prowess, United would be fifth in the Barclays Premier League this season. Barcelona would be third in La Liga. Both would be just ten points off top, such has been their dominance this campaign.
Gareth Bale, meanwhile, and his goals, have helped Spurs to accrue 15 points this season that they might not already have acquired. They would drop to ninth place.
So which is the one-man team?
In all honesty, none of them.
Ask any manager at any level and they will tell you that top goalscorers are like gold dust. Finding someone to put the ball in the back of the net is the most difficult task there is out there.
Bale, Messi and van Persie are putting the ball in the net, something they have been charged with doing, and they're doing it well.
Were Newcastle or Blackburn a one-man team when Alan Shearer scored all those goals? What about Thierry Henry at Arsenal? I'm sure there are a few Invincibles out there who would beg to differ.
I have been guilty of describing rivals as one-man teams before, I'll happily hold my hands up and admit it. It's only when that is thrown at your team that you suddenly analyse it all.
I called Liverpool a one-man band when Steven Gerrard pulled them through the mire a few years ago, and that was not just because of his goals.
I described Arsenal as such last year when van Persie was banging in the goals. But the truth is it's not right.
Tottenham are probably described thus because of the standard of strikes that Bale has been netting. You could argue that without the goals he has scored, where would Spurs get them?
Well in other ways of course.
Against West Ham on Monday night, Steven Caulker had three headers from corners brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Gylfi Sigurdsson hit the post and Emmanuel Adebayor also put a header at the keeper. had they gone in, Bale's brilliance would not have been needed.
Then look at Hugo Llloris' save just before Sigurdsson amde it 2-2. What a signing he has been.
Against Lyon in the Europa League, it was Mousa Dembele striking from range to secure safe passage into the last 16, not Bale.
I have always been an advocate of playing to your strengths. People dislike the way that Stoke play, and I moaned when, after 26 minutes against West ham, the Hammers got a free-kick in their own half and there was not a single player between the taker and the Spurs penalty area some 50 yards away.
Stoke, West Ham et al play to their strengths, it might not be the way we all want to see football played, but you have got to play the way that suits you. If that's their best, that's what they're going to do and I've got no problem with that.
Undoubtedly Gareth Bale is a real strength for Tottenham. So they play to him. They let him do what he does best and the fans love it.
Without him, there would be someone else, probably not as good, but the team would play in a different way.
Who cares that he's scoring so many glorious goals? As a Spurs fan I certainly don't. Let's just embrace him, for, soon enough, he will leave for pastures new, probably abroad, and then we would not see him in his full flowing best as regularly.
Follow me on Twitter: @WilmotsWay
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