Source: Team_Talk
Redknapp salutes Bale progress
Harry Redknapp has hailed the progress made by Gareth Bale during his time at White Hart Lane - and feels a change in attitude has been key.[LNB] Left-back Bale joined Spurs as a teenager in a deal worth up to £10million from Southampton back in May 2007.[LNB]He failed to make an immediate impact and to make matters worse Spurs failed to win any of the first 24 league games he played in.[LNB]The emergence of Benoit Assou-Ekotto limited Bale's left-back chances even further, although he was given a chance on the wing.[LNB]He has grasped his opportunity with both hands and illustrated his growing confidence with a weekend brace in their 2-1 win over Stoke.[LNB]Redknapp insists Bale needed to mature at White Hart Lane and needed to focus on building his strength rather than spending hours on his hair.[LNB]"Bale has grown up," said Redknapp. "When I first came to Spurs, Bale was still a baby, he always seemed to be limping off the training ground every time he got touched.[LNB]"He realised he had to be tougher if he was going to make it in the Premier League and he has done that.[LNB]"Have I had to talk to Bale about mental toughness? A bit, yeah. I just said, 'Stop messing about with your barnet'.[LNB]"I said, 'C'mon Gareth, stop messing about with your hair'. He was always at it.[LNB]"I can't think of a better left-sided player than Bale.[LNB]"That left foot of his is amazing, he can run all day, he can head it, he's 6ft 2in. He has got everything.[LNB]"You couldn't even put a value on him now. Almost any club would want him."
