Lamela and Bale's reputations are made of glass, just like their bodies

They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder. In football this is particularly true. It’s much easier to focus on a player’s flaws than it is respect what they bring to the table.

However, should that said player pick up a long-term injury and the team struggle for a week or two, the perception changes.

Sometimes you can be valued higher simply for not being available.

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Bale is the returning hero

This past week saw Gareth Bale return to the Real Madrid squad for the Copa del Rey tie against Fuenlabrada. The initial response to Bale’s latest setback was that he needed to be sold as soon as possible. He is unreliable, a drain on resources and some even went as far as suggesting he is overrated.

Fast forward to Real Madrid’s poor run of form and those said fans were desperate for Bale to spice up their languid, unimaginative attack. “We need pace, power and explosiveness!” It wasn’t a strong Madrid side by any means but they were struggling up until Bale’s introduction. The prospect of yet more woe – and embarrassment – looked a very real possibility. Bale changed everything.

Without Bale, Madrid appeared lost

The Welsh wizard’s first contribution was to cut inside from the right before unleashing a fantastic, outside of the boot cross for Borja Mayoral to head home. Madrid’s attack immediately had a boost in quality with Bale on the pitch. And all this despite him needing to continually stretch out his muscles during breaks of play. Bale made the difference, he was the leading example.

In the newspapers the following day, all of the headlines were about Bale and how he had ‘saved’ Real Madrid. The same said publications which, on the whole, were pushing this anti-Bale movement not so long ago. Perhaps even they now realise what the former Spurs man brings to the team. In his absence, the side has played much worse. In fact, you can make the argument that they’re already out of the title race. Would that be the case if Bale had avoided injury?

Lamela makes his long-awaited return for Spurs

The reaction to Bale’s return and change of opinion is similar to what happened to his replacement at Tottenham, Erik Lamela, on the same night. Now no one is suggesting the two players are similar in style or even comparable in terms of quality. They are distinctly different, but there are some similarities in how they are viewed by their respective team’s fans.

It’s never easy to replace a departing superstar. Through no fault of your own, people expect you to fit in straight away and contribute from the get go. A settling in period? No chance. And whether you want it, or whether it’s fair or not, you are immediately compared to the person you are replacing.

Lamela’s start to life at Spurs was met with mixed reviews and largely disappointment. The club itself was in a state of turmoil but that didn’t save the Argentine from criticism. He looked too lightweight, too frail and was nothing like Bale. “What a waste of money!” And then, to further compound Lamela’s misery, he missed the second half of the season because of a back injury.

Until Pochettino arrived, Lamela was struggling to make an impact

The conspiracy theorists believed this wasn’t true, that the injury was all in his head, and that he wanted to leave. Some even suggested that it was a conscious decision by Spurs not to play him as to not trigger any further payments to Roma.

The arrival of Mauricio Pochettino made a huge difference to Lamela’s confidence and role in the squad. In his second season we saw that famous ‘rabona’ finish and a marked improvement. There were still some detractors as to what he actually brought to the team but his greatest crime was not being Bale.

Injuries to blame for Bale and Lamela’s mixed opinions from fans

For Bale, his greatest crime is not being fit enough. The problem at Real Madrid is that when you lose your place, the potential replacements are of the highest quality. There isn’t a crisis but instead a glimpse at an alternative. Suddenly, if you are missing for a while, the team adapts to your absence. And if that translates to success, why change it back?

In Lamela’s third season at Spurs his progress continued to grow under Pochettino. His energetic, high-pressing approach was exactly what the manager’s system required. Lamela didn’t have the explosiveness of Bale, or the same goal contribution, but he played a key role in how the team attacked – and defended. The fans saw this too.

For Bale there was a similar reaction. In between the injuries, the Welshman was proving himself to be a key contributor. 19 goals and 11 assists in just 23 LaLiga appearances made fans appreciative of Bale. In the Champions League, he assisted the solitary goal against Manchester City in the semi-finals. In the final, it was his flick-on which Sergio Ramos guided home. El Principe de Gales.

Last chance saloon for both to stay fit on a regular basis?

This should’ve seen both men kick on last season and become permanent fixtures in the starting XI of their respective sides. Yet it ended up being a season of frustration. Injuries struck and limited the role either could play.

It was particularly frustrating for Lamela as he endured a long battle with the coaching staff after complaining about pain in his hips. With Spurs medical team being unable to locate an injury, it took too long for the decision to go under the knife to be made. It meant that he would miss half of this season as well. Far from ideal.

Fans don’t want to see key players missing large chunks of playing time

Bale is embroiled in a never-ending battle to earn the trust of some Madrid supporters. A section of them are firmly behind Isco and his claim for a first team spot. Others are understandably upset at the regularity in which Bale finds himself on the treatment table. No is more frustrated by that than Bale himself.

Lamela made his first appearance of the season as a second half substitute against Leicester City. With Spurs already being two-nil down, there wasn’t much pressure on Lamela to deliver but he did almost immediately. A quick pass into Harry Kane resulted in Spurs pulling one back. His energy and workrate in the final third is something the team has greatly missed. Especially with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen struggling for form.

On the same night at the Bernabeu it was a brief glimpse, again, into what the Welshman can bring to the side which no one else can. No, Bale isn’t as skillful as Isco but he offers a directness that Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t capable of.

It’s important Bale and Lamela kick on from here

At the conclusion of both matches, Lamela and Bale were showered with plaudits and compliments. However neither of them can, or should, take anything for granted when it comes to recognition. Their reputations constantly yoyo between being a star man and a needless drain on wages. Another injury or a poor performance and the narrative changes immediately.

In the aftermath of Bale’s heroic performance in the cup it soon became clear that he wasn’t feeling 100% fit. Bale will now sit out the match against Athletic Club this weekend as a precaution. Last night a national radio station asked Madrid fans what they should do with Bale. As it stands, 52% say he should leave in July. Well, that didn’t last long now, did it?

With Lamela, he faces a similar battle with Spurs’ fans to prove that he’s worth backing in the long-term. As is the case with Bale, he has no defence when it comes to time spent out injured but some fans aren’t sure he brings anything to the table anyway. Even when he was playing well at the back end of last season, a certain section had already made their decision.

It’s impossible to please everyone, but being available is a nice start

Those detractors will probably never change their minds, the damage is already irreparable. Lamela and Bale can still have bright futures at their respective clubs but another lengthy spell on the sidelines and they will certainly be looking for pastures new.

The longer they spend on the pitch, the stronger their case is for staying. But both players have seen their reputations harmed due to how much football they’ve already missed.

Is either player capable of staying injury-free until the end of the season?