Why is Gareth Bale Not Starting For LAFC?
One of the biggest questions of the MLS season so far is why is Gareth Bale not starting for LAFC? With a career that has seen him score a number of goals for Real Madrid, it seems like it’s time for him to get back into the starting line-up. But is it possible for Los Angeles to win a title without him?
MLS Cup playoffs
The Los Angeles Football Club’s star player, Gareth Bale, has been a bit of a mystery this season. Despite signing with LAFC in the summer, he has made just two starts and has yet to score a goal. In fact, he has not scored in his last seven MLS matches.
So why is Gareth Bale playing little to no minutes in the MLS Cup playoffs? Obviously, his lack of playing time in the playoffs isn’t a good sign. But it’s also possible that Bale’s injury has prevented him from making an impact on the field. If so, it could hurt LAFC’s chances of a championship.
After a promising start to the season, Bale has seen his scoring rate slip. He hasn’t found the back of the net since early August. His only MLS goals came on a memorable solo effort against Real Salt Lake.
Leg injury
Gareth Bale has not started for Los Angeles FC in any of the past six games. In fact, he hasn’t played a full 90 minutes in a game for LAFC since September. He also hasn’t appeared in the playoffs.
Bale hasn’t played in the first half of the MLS Cup, either. His absence was due to injury. That said, Steve Cherundolo assured the media that Bale will be back in action soon.
In the last five days, Bale has been able to play just a few minutes. He didn’t appear in the second half of the MLS Cup and didn’t dress for the playoff quarterfinals.
But it wasn’t just the lack of minutes that was causing problems for Bale. As previously reported, the Welsh player has been plagued with injury. It has also hindered his progress.
World Cup trip
Gareth Bale hasn’t been able to start the Los Angeles FC matches that have come his way in recent months. His fitness has been an issue.
He has also had a lot of injury problems with the club. In fact, the 33-year-old hasn’t played a full 90 minutes for LAFC in three of the past four matches.
Before he signed with LAFC last summer, the team said that it wanted to establish a long-term partnership with Bale. They hoped to build on the attacking talent he brings to the table.
Since signing with LAFC, Bale hasn’t had the opportunity to make the full impact he had in Europe. While he’s had some flashes of brilliance, he’s also been a bit part player in the postseason.
Injuries in his career at Real Madrid
If Gareth Bale wants to make an impact in Major League Soccer, he needs to play first-team football. But he hasn’t yet. He’s had to build up his fitness after signing with LAFC.
Bale signed a one-year contract with LAFC in July. It’s a targeted allocation money deal, which means the club pays him a maximum of $1.7 million. There is no guarantee that he will play this season.
The club had been winning games and was near the top of the Western Conference. They were also in the Supporters’ Shield race. However, their race was tied with the Philadelphia Union and the two teams were both playing well.
On Decision Day, Bale didn’t make the squad. Instead, Isco was used as an extra midfielder. And in the 93rd minute, Arango scored a goal. Los Angeles FC advanced to the Western Conference finals.
Los Angeles’ chances of winning a title without him
Los Angeles FC have been in the news a lot lately, and Gareth Bale has been their poster boy. While he has made some great plays on the international stage, his impact in the Major League Soccer (MLS) has been minimal. In fact, he has made only a handful of starts for the club.
But it’s not all bad news. After all, Bale has proven his attacking prowess on loan at Tottenham and has even shown his ability on the international stage. And the Los Angeles FC coach and staff have worked together to devise a load-management plan that has Bale playing up to 25-30 minutes per game.
For a club that has spent the last two months scurrying around looking for the perfect fit for a star player, Bale’s arrival was a major boost. However, it’s also important to note that LAFC is a team that doesn’t need him.