Bale isn't all about pace, though. Players who're that one-dimensional get found out very quickly - David Bellion was no slouch, but neither was he a very good footballer. Although pace is Bale's strongest asset, his delivery and shooting abilities are not to be scoffed at. As has already been said, 11 goals and 9 assists is a very good return, especially when you consider that he doesn't have the freedom to neglect defending that the likes of Ronaldo had.
Is he the best left-sided attacker on the planet? No - perhaps the best exclusively left-sded player, but a lack of versatility isn't something which should be celebrated. He is, however, an extremely capable player who poses a real threat when he's playing against your team. Very few right-backs can keep him out of a game (Rafael, for all of his injuries, is one of the few exceptions).
My concern for Bale is that he may end up following the Gerrard ignorance of failing to adapt his game (a la Giggs) once his physicality starts to fail him. If he can, he has a phenomenal career ahead of him.
