I was going to write an article about why Ekotto seems so uninterested all the time but I decided against that for our first real post. So, on a related subject, lets take a look at our last seasons problem area - Left back.

Starting with some stats: (From Soccernet)

Name - COMPETITION GS SB G A SH SG FC FS
Ekotto - English Premier League 16 0 0 1 6 3 24 15
Lee - English Premier League 51 1 0 1 17 6 37 73
Bale - English League Championship 39 0 5 8 115 40 33 79

GS: Games started, SB: Used as Substitute, G: Goals, A: Assists, SH: Shots, SG: Shots on goal, FC: Fouls Commited, FS: Fouls Suffered

From the above, it Bale looks great as an attacking prospect but obviously the stats needs to be read with the fact that he was playing in the Championship and was their main dead ball specialist. However 5 goals and 8 assists playing 39 games from left back is nothing to be sniffed at in any league. 115 shots!!?? not too shabby there too.

As for Ekotto and Lee, the goals and assist stats shows them to be pretty similar. However, Ekotto does seem to commit a lot of fouls averaging 1.5 every game. Bale and Lee also win with regards to having fouls awarded maybe suggesting the fact that they are more tricky against Ekotto’s more direct approach.

Anyways, enough about the stats, what about the general feel?

Well this is of course very objective so here goes;

I’ve always been a supporter of lee and i think he offers more than what a lot of fans give him credit for. Whether this is due to the Man Utd. - parks error or what I dunno but he bombs down that left flank tirelessly, provides our left wing option when we have none as well as making it back in time to defend (usually). Oh I forgot, he needs to cut back to his right and his crosses are crap - well - the stats seems to show that the other option Ekotto cant do much better even without having to cut back.

Its not that I don’t like Ekotto, I think its just that I think Ekotto doesn’t like me. Hes supposed to have claimed he doesn’t have passion for football, he hasn’t made the customary ‘I have always been a Spurs supporter’ that all new signings are required to make, in fact what does he like? Compare the attitude he portrays on the pitch with Dawson and you’ll see what I mean. I do think he has the potential to be a good player though if he asserts himself in the right way but I am just ‘not interested’.

Bale - to be honest the St.Patricks game is the only full game that I have seen him play and he didn’t play that well. (I am cheating here cos I feel asleep towards the end of the match.) The potential is evident though, sadly potential is not something I can comment too much on. Does anyone agree that his free kicks need more power though if they are going to test Premiership keepers?

Anyways, I’m out and with those 3, I am confident that our left back position is pretty much sorted for many years yet. However, I have a feeling that Ekotto won’t be with us for too long but then again, who cares.