Thread by @pythaginboots

Many young players become memes despite their overwhelming talent being quite obvious but it just seems nothing is going for them and they are on the verge of being written off…

Probably the best example of zero to hero is the rise of Gareth ‘Fail’ into Gareth Bale.

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I watched a young Bale feature for Saints vs WBA at the Hawthorns and was instantly bewitched. Magical left foot, so cultured… felt like an alien, a left back who just didn’t fit the mould of a British full back. I remember signing him on football manager that night 😂

Having joined Tottenham as a gangly 17-year old, there were expectations aplenty placed upon his young shoulders and they certainly weighed him down in his early years. Patience is so important in bringing through young players, they need to feel like they can make mistakes…

But Bale was becoming a laughing stock - unfairly seen as the albatross of Tottenham’s failure to win 24 league games with him in the side. It looked like there was now no way back with rumours of moves to Birmingham and Nottingham Forest, too. Redknapp had called him too ‘soft’.

What’s important however during times like this is a player’s reaction. Does he look like he’s given up or is he still trying his hardest even though the world wants to swallow him up hole and write him off…

In a manner somewhat reminiscent of Andy Murray, an immense talent plagued by fragility and memes.. Bale had transformed his physique in the gym. As Alex Ferguson put it: "He had been a six-foot, gangly, slim boy; then all of a sudden he was built like a light heavyweight boxer."

The physical transformation allied to Bale’s positional change to left wing meant it was a matter of time before Bale had that ‘unlocking’ moment where it all clicks and you don’t look back… that would obviously be that night at the San Siro against reigning UCL champions Inter!

Four goals behind at half-time and reduced to 10 men, Spurs were inspired by Bale to a couldn't-make-it-up comeback, with the player insta-retiring Maicon (voted best RB in the world in the same season) and scoring a hat-trick. The sheer pace and power blew us all away. So direct

It proved not to be a fluke. When Inter found themselves at White Hart Lane weeks later, they were met by a continuation of the Bale show. He slalomed down the left flank repeatedly, leaving Maicon floundering and trailing in his blaze. “Taxi for Maicon!” Roared White Hart Lane!

It would prove the catalyst behind Bales rise to one of the most devastating forces in the EPL. He would then earn a world record move to Real Madrid… but did the memes stop? No, there was still many doubts as to his worth and he earned a new set of haters in Spain…

He was also being played out of position as a right winger which rather like Leroy Sane now… meant he couldn’t use his pace and power down the left the same way and had to showcase a more technical side of his game which wasn’t quite there - he looked quite stilted and stiff.

It would take an injury to Ronaldo and Bale being restored to his favoured LW role for his first big moment for Madrid to happen. His famous goal vs Barca in the Copa Del Rey. Very reminiscent of his runs vs Maicon down the left…

It reminded Bale of his self worth. It gave the Madrid fans more confidence in him and he would then come up with strong performances against likes of Bayern and Atletico in the UCL as a RW - arguably outshining Ronaldo. He was once again adapting and then surpassing expectations

Injuries would eventually plague Bale but he had cemented himself as one of the top 3 RW in the game. Taking Wales to unparalleled heights, Madrid was no longer a focus but he still found time to score two spectacular goals in another UCL final and secure his status as Top 5 Brit

What a legacy for a player who was a laughing stock. Not every player will deserve this level of patience but there’s a few I can think of who seem like a joke at the moment due to the curse they seem to have over their heads but they just need that love and patience to ‘click’.