Others can berate the first guy to comment but your article clearly states “Not only do these average position diagrams highlight just how much narrower the Welshman is playing…”. They don’t show that at all, they show an average position, which would yield the same result if the two full backs swapped position during a game, and not indicative at all of coming inside.

The two further examples show games against Liverpool and Arsenal and then compare them to games against Bolton and West Brom. The dynamics of a game between vs a top side are completely different to games vs lower sides (especially considering how poor Bolton are at the back and how open West Brom tend to play). The West Brom game might actually have fewer central passes than the Liverpool game anyway.

I’d also want to analyse the line ups and opposing tactics much more to draw any further conclusions, and the only thing i draw from the Arsenal view is how badly he appears to have played.

In the Bolton game they had around 68% of the posession against a team that played most of the game with 10 men. That’s pretty important. Clearly he will have much more of the ball, particularly in the possession phase(which they would be looking to emphasise vs 10) and coming centrally than he would against an Arsenal side that has more possession than them and plays with 3 central midfield players blocking many of his passing options inside.

Have to agree with you that Ronaldo was a bit of a predictable winger in his early days at Old Trafford, but he has now developed in to an excellent all-round player. What can be forgotten is that Gareth Bale is still only 21 and still developing as a player, even though, just like Theo Walcott, it seems like he has been around for ages.

Now him and Lennon are playing as part of a versatile 3 man attacking midfield (4-2-3-1), swapping places, similar to Real Madrid with Di Maria, Ozil and Ronaldo. This is more productive and difficult to mark as such, therefore necessary in the modern game, where all 3 men (Lennon, Bale and VDV) are capable of playing across the line.

Personally I ithink Bale has the capability to play a similar role to Ronaldo, as he clearly has the core skills required. Early in his United days, Ronaldo was slightly predictable with various tricks etc, but then he developed into a more rounded, player. With this came an end prodcut of goals and assists, hence becoming a truly world class. This season he has started to make this change and with continued empthasis on movement could become as influential, in my opinion.