Where do you stand on the “is Gareth Bale world class” debate?

Nobody can deny Gareth Bale’s recent form for club and even country has been nothing less than outstanding.

The 23 year old winger has for the past two season’s been Tottenham’s main man and such is his recent form, he has emerged as not only one of the best players in the Premier League but in Europe.

The question is has he done enough to be regarded as one of the world’s best players, or is it too soon? Also, can you really regard a player as one of the best in the world if he is not tested in the Champions League on a regular basis?

I watched Bale’s superb last minute winner in a room with a Liverpool, Arsenal and a Spurs fan. Coming from such a diverse area, these occasions are normal to me but as the Spurs fan declared “Bale is one of the best players in the world” it was greeted by scoffs of laughter and a roll of the eyes.

This was not because Bale’s talent is in doubt; it was more due to the fact that even though his form has been out of this world of late, literally carrying Tottenham on his back scoring 8 in his last 6 games.

As the age old saying goes “form is temporary, class is permanent”.

First and foremost, to be regarded as one of the world’s best, this type of form has to at least be maintained for the rest of the season.

He still has a platform in Europe, credited it is not the Champions league but it still is decent European opposition.

In the Champions League a few years ago, he did show a flash of brilliance against Inter Milan. Thing is, many players have shown flashes of brilliance home and abroad, this is nothing new.

But if this form leads Spurs to a Europa League trophy and a place in the Champions league, then at 23, you can make a case for him to be one of the world’s best.

Make no mistake, he is FAR from the likes of Messi and Ronaldo in my book, but again at 23 he still has time to get there.

You can however, make a case for him to be in the talent pool that comes after these two mercurial talents.

That pool contains the likes of Xavi, Inesta, Van Persie, Ibrahimovic, Ramos, Falcao,  Drogba, Pirlo, Neymer, Puyol, Yaya Toure, Xabi Alonso, Rooney Aguero and Pique.

These are players that has produced it for a number of years, picked up trophies and have won individual accolades.

Although I can see Bale rubbing shoulders with this group of players, his lack of appearances in Europe’s elite competition is what others may use to dismiss his possible world class label.

In all honesty, I don’t feel you have to play in the Champions League to be regarded as a world class footballer.

However, without testing yourself and proving you can maintain those same high standards in Europe’s elite competition, while performing heroics in your own domestic league week in week out. In my opinion, you cannot say you are truly world class.

Yes his form has been outstanding, but to be regarded as world class, you cannot just have a great or even amazing extended run of form.

You have to produce greatness on a regular basis, over a number of years,  and when it matters at the highest level.

Gareth Bale has certainly put himself in the mix, but 2013 and beyond will be the real test. First to get Tottenham  into the Champions League and second to try and win a trophy.

Ultimately, his biggest test will be now we all know what he is capable of, more and more teams will target him and try to stop him from playing.

With these tactics deployed every game, will he be able maintain his incredible form and continue to produce the goods? This is what makes a player world class!