Ben Barba ... was seen betting in Goulburn prior to last weekend's trial match.Source:News Limited
Gambling took such a grip on Ben Barba's life that he would argue with his ex-partner over money and borrow cash from Canterbury-Bankstown teammates.
A day after the Bulldogs suspended the reigning Dally M medallist, finer details about the extent of his behavioural demons started to emerge, including:
- Being forced to apologise to a Mackay publican last October, when he and older brother Aaron were involved in an altercation. The pair also exchanged abuse with Josh Hannay on the street, branding the former Maroons centre a "has-been".
- Bulldogs officials monitoring Barba's membership of Cronulla-based party group, the Epic Bender Crew (EBC), since Christmas.
- Borrowing cash from Canterbury teammates at Sydney pubs while gambling on the TAB or poker machines. Witnesses have also told of arguments on the phone Barba had with his former partner, Ainslie Currie, about money.
- Weeks of uncharacteristic behaviour at training that led to prop Tim Browne challenging Barba about his attitude. The fullback responded angrily, but there was no physical altercation.
- Barba playing poker machines on three separate occasions during last weekend's visit to Goulburn, including an afternoon stint at The Exchange Hotel that did not conclude until three hours before the start of Canterbury's trial against Canberra.
Before Sunday's crisis meeting at Bulldogs HQ, Currie had kept the club informed about Barba's decline every day.
"Ben has asked for privacy from the Bulldogs and the media and I guess it's my turn to let people know that I am fine," Currie said.
"I am not physically hurt but dealing with a very personal situation that involves my children and myself."
There's no doubt that the lure of the punt drove Barba.
A source close to Barba said the 23-year-old bet on all three racing codes - trots, greyhounds and thoroughbreds - with the TAB.
"That was the disturbing thing; he would just bet on every single race available," the publican said.
"He'd also borrow money from his teammates when they were with him at the pub.
"There were also arguments over the phone with Ainslie about getting more money, because she would control his income to make sure they had enough."
Goulburn locals were given an insight into Barba's gambling last Friday and Saturday, when he visited the Empire and Exchange Hotels to play the pokies with teammates.
Exchange publican Rob Sullivan confirmed Barba and about six teammates gambled in his pub for most of Saturday afternoon, ahead of their 22-18 trial loss to the Raiders.
"Ben had a bit of a win and they were all perfectly behaved," Sullivan said.
"They were very polite to the customers. I couldn't fault them."
The windfall, however, did not improve Barba's mood.
Just hours later Barba told a Bulldogs trainer he didn't wish to play beyond half-time, the critical moment that triggered Canterbury's decision to hold the truth meeting the next morning.
Greenberg confirmed Barba's link to the EBC was raised at the meeting.
The link appears to be former under-20s teammate Daniel Folkes, the son of ex-Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes.
Efforts to gain a response through Daniel Folkes's lawyer were not returned.
"We were made aware of (the EBC) in late 2012," Greenberg said.
"There are always concerns about the type of personalities that contracted players align themselves with. It certainly heightened our awareness (of Barba's issues). We kept a close watching brief on it."
Mick Potter ... believes not being paid helped his career.Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
Mick Potter has taken over the reins at perennial underachievers the Wests Tigers, and believes his NRL players can learn valuable lessons from the Bradford boys he coached last year, who gave everything despite not getting paid.
Potter's final few months at Bradford were on a volunteer basis as the English Super League club plummeted into administration.
However, the attitude of his Bulls players, who didn't know when their next pay cheque was coming, reminded him that it's not money but a desperation to win which should motivate the game's stars.
Since 2005, the Tigers have struggled to match their enormous potential with results, despite having stars like Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah on their roster.
Potter says his team need to be accountable for their own performances and set an aim to retire with no regrets.
"Not taking anything for granted is a key message there," Potter said.
"These opportunities don't come along all the time.
"You're not going to be there at the top level for ever so you need to make every year count.
"Perhaps people have some regrets but you don't want to have any regrets about your performance."
Potter says his experience coaching for the love of it at Bradford, who have since been resurrected, made him a better coach.
The former Canterbury premiership winner says he's gained a unique insight into what really drives success at football clubs.
"When it went into administration, you realise that your motivating factor is you love the game," he said.
"You still did the same thing with your preparation.
"There were no shortcuts, just your drive and will to win is the motivation, whether you get paid a lot of money or you don't get paid.
"Our ability to achieve had been taken away from us because we were deducted points that put us out of contention for the semi-finals.
"But it was a learning experience for me that the players still want to win regardless that at the end there was going to be no prize for them."
Will Benji Marshall be in your NRL Supercoach team? Register now for your chance to win $30,000.
After six years coaching Catalans, St Helens and Bradford, Potter is feeling good about his Australian coaching debut.
Despite the step up in standards and the extra pressure and scrutiny involved, Potter is confident the NRL will in fact be easier to coach than the Super League.
"The players (in the NRL) are pretty intelligent... In England it's virtually yourself and an assistant coach," he said.
"Here you have staff to help you and you're more in a managing type role where your assistant coaches and performance guys are doing a lot of hands on, individual stuff."
Rock star reception ... the Wanderers' success is beyond wild dreams.Source: Simon Chillingworth / News Limited
As we countdown to one of the most anticipated clashes in recent A-League memory, Fox Sports football host chats with Western Sydney Wanderers No.1 Ante Covic in an absorbing instalment of Football Journeys.
YOUNGER DAYS
You come from a Croatian family - when did they come to Australia, and was football always a part of their life too?
They came in the late 60's, my dad was from Split, a Hajduk fan - so it was natural for me to start playing with Hurstville Zagreb, as it was a Croatian social event for my parents as well. I've got an older brother - he followed my dad’s footsteps into plumbing, and I have a younger sister who works in childcare. My brother loves football too - he plays over-35s for Hurstville Zagreb, and he comes to watch my games in Parramatta.
Were you always a goalkeeper?
For most of my time at Hurstville, I played outfield, normally up front. There was only one year when I was 13, (when I went to Sydney Croatia) that I played as a keeper. I had a bit of talent as an outfield player, but my endurance has never been the best - I couldn't last the full 90 minutes! Becoming a keeper happened a bit by accident. We were playing Division 3 State League at Hurstville, and the coach put me in goal. A year later, I got spotted by APIA Leichhardt Tigers. It was a bit unexpected.
Who were your goalkeeping heroes and influences?
One of my best friends was an Inter fan, so I looked up to Walter Zenga a lot. Also players like Peter Schmeichel, Oliver Kahn - they were on top of their game when I was growing up. In a coaching sense my biggest influence was Tony Pezzano. He was the coach at APIA, but he also did drills with me because there was no specific keeper coach. He saw something in me, and believed that there was potential - he helped me take the next step into the NSL.
Did you have a club you followed as a fan?
My family were Hajduk - so I grew up knowing more about them - but the other one for me was Liverpool. Part of the reason was Craig Johnston - that caught my attention. These days, I still have a soft spot for Liverpool - I'd love to see them go back to the days when they were successful.
Covic was the penalty-save hero when the Wanderers met the Heart earlier this. Re-live the exploits in the video at the top of the page!
MAKING THE GRADE
How did the move to APIA Leichhardt come about?
I was so comfortable playing for Hurstville with all my mates - training twice a week and having a good time. I almost didn't want to go and trial! I was a bit daunted - I'd never been brought up through an elite system, never played rep football because my dad wasn't the sort of person who pushed me - so all of a sudden to jump into the state league seemed massive. The first year I was with the juniors, but Tony gave me my senior chance - and in the second year, I had the spot to myself.
The next move up - to NSL club Marconi Stallions - came very quickly. Who initiated that?
I had a very successful second year at APIA, winning the goalkeeper of the year award, and Tony (Pezzano) had a name in Sydney as a very successful goalkeeper during his playing days. I had interest from Sydney United and Wollongong too - but Tony took me to Marconi, and introduced me to a few people. Zoran Matic was the coach then - he offered me a contract. It was still semi-pro - I had a job five days a week in imports and exports in the city. It was a bit stressful - travelling from work to training in Fairfield. Within six months, I had to make a decision as to whether to put all my energy behind it...I couldn't do both. It was an easy choice to give football a shot.
Do you remember your debut?
It was against UTS Olympic at the SFS, and I was man of the match - but Nick Carle, who was only 15 then, scored the winner! Brett Emerton played and I had a blinder - but in the last minute, Nick hit the top corner. I remember the pitch was terrible - but playing at the SFS was massive for me at the time. It was a dream. There was a wealth of talent at the club. Brad Maloney was the captain and a real leader. There was Vlado Zoric, who was so skilful - and we had a Korean import Kim Pan-Keun, an international defender, in his 30's then, but really classy.
HARD YARDS AS AN AUSSIE ABROAD
At the end of your second season, you moved overseas - to Greece with PAOK - how did that come about?
I had two very good seasons at Marconi - and Peter Kokolis, who'd coached me at APIA, said he could get me to Greece if I was interested. I trialled for a week at PAOK under Arie Haan, who was the coach at the time, and he was happy with what he saw, so he signed me up.
You didn't really establish yourself in Greece - what went wrong?
I probably wasn't ready for it to be honest. Everything happened so quickly at the start of my career - and, with hindsight, it wasn't the best first move into Europe. The keeper who was ahead of me had been there for ten years. He had a lot of friends, and I didn't feel welcome to be honest. Arie then got sacked, Dusan Bajevic came in - and that was pretty much it. He put me back in the reserves, and towards the end of the first season, I got loaned out to Kavala - that's where I played most of my football in Greece.
Football in Greece can be a challenging environment - how did you cope?
You hit the nail on the head! The training sessions were very intense. Plus, the way the fans reacted to a loss. Sometimes we couldn't leave the stadium for hours, because the fans were waiting for us! Then, in the second year, the owner had financial problems, and I didn't get paid for five months. As a foreigner, it really tests you - I had to take the club to court. Then, I re-signed with them, (just until the end of the season because their regular keeper had an injury), and we won the Greek Cup for the first time in 32 years! It was the lowest of lows to the highest of highs ... and just as quickly the other way again, when they couldn't pay me for a second time. So back to court we went again! In Greece, contracts are just pieces of paper. Thankfully the PFA here - Brendan Schwab especially - helped me, and I won both court cases.
You then had a brief spell at Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia - but didn't play a game - what happened there?
Tomislav Butina, the national team keeper, was on the verge of being sold to Bruges, but his move fell through.
After that, realistically, I wasn't going to play, so I packed my bags and came home - that's when Bernie (Mandic) gave me a call to go to trial in Sweden.
Which is where you moved in 2002 with Hammarby - is it fair to say that's where you really made your name?
Yes, they were five of the most enjoyable years I've ever had - I loved Stockholm, although on the first day, I wanted to go home, because it was minus 10, and we were training on a gravel field! That feeling lasted for two weeks - but in the end, I had to bite the bullet and ask myself if I really wanted it. I'm very grateful that I signed - their fans were second to none. If I can compare - the fans were like the Wanderers fans now, from a working class area of Stockholm. A great bunch of lads, and I was a regular starter too. I haven't got a bad word to say about Hammarby, especially as I met my wife while I was there.
WORLD CUP DREAM
And then came your international debut v Bahrain in 2006 under Guus Hiddink...was that a surprise?
A bit - I thought I was playing well enough to warrant a call earlier, but it never came. But for his first training camp in Holland, I got the call from (FFA staffer) Gary Moretti - I remember it as clear as day! I was 30 then, but better late than never. I think I set myself up in that camp - I was on fire! Probably the best two weeks I've trained in my career I think. I was a regular for a few years after that.
All of which led to a spot in the World Cup squad in Germany 2006, as third choice keeper behind Mark Schwarzer and Zeljko Kalac. Was that your proudest moment in football?
Without question. I don't think anything can top going to a World Cup, even though I was third choice, and had buckleys of getting on the field! Just to be in that environment, and to say you are going to a World Cup after you have watched it on TV. The buzz that was around the team and the nation - definitely the highlight of my career. You dream of that stuff. I even got Buffon's jersey after the Italy game.
Any stories from that World Cup you'd like to share?
Well, after we'd been knocked out by Italy, I was the only one left in the hotel at Ohringen. My wife had returned to Sweden because she was eight months pregnant and the others had gone, so I was on my own. I invited one of my mates (Brett Ritchie) to stay for our last night in Germany. Let me tell you, whatever the other players left behind, he cleaned up! Moorey's shorts, Bresciano's training kit ...Brett took the lot!
What was so special about Hiddink?
He had this thing about him that every single player respected what he said - he was able to get the most out of them without having to yell. He had this aura. Guus was also extremely good tactically. He knew how to read each team individually, and work out a system for us to play against them. He simplified things to such an extent, that you'd just go "wow - why didn't I think that?"
HOMECOMING
You decided to come home in 2007 to Newcastle - why?
Post World Cup, Hammarby wanted me to stay on, and there were a few clubs from the Netherlands and elsewhere interested too. But the issue was my visa - I could never get one to go and play in some of these countries, including the UK. It all seemed a bit difficult - and that's when the Jets came in. I had a meeting with Remo Nogarotto, and we thought it could be a good thing for the family, as we had just had our first daughter. Sometimes I think that, at 31, maybe I should have stayed in Europe - but I won my first title with the Jets, so I can't look at it as a negative.
That Jets team was quickly broken up afterwards though - were you disappointed at how it all unravelled?
Yes. For whatever reason, that team was torn apart - we had some great players who should have stayed, we had a great bond. The year after we won it was very frustrating. There was a huge turnover of players, and, if I'm honest with myself about that year, I am disappointed at how I reacted. It was the worst year of my career. My focus was on off-field events when I should have taken it by the scruff of the neck and moved on - but it was a great learning curve. Things don't always goes smoothly.
So back off to Sweden you went with Elfsborg...where you played in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) - against some big clubs too?
I'd left Sweden with a good reputation - and I got the call from Elfsborg when we were playing in the Asian Champions League in China with the Jets. Within a week, I was on a plane going over there. We had a really good team at Elfsborg - and the UEFA Cup ties were great. I remember playing Braga the year after they reached the final of the UEFA Cup. Then we played Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico, which was a huge buzz! The next year we got Napoli - and what a daunting place that is! I've never heard a louder crowd than that.
CAVANI, KOLAROV, RIQUELME ...
In those ties you were beaten by goals from Edinson Cavani and Aleksander Kolarov - two big names in world football - who is the best you have faced in all your years as a pro?
Cavani was on fire the year we played them - but back when I was at Hammarby, we played Villarreal in 2003, and they had Riquelme. The guy barely moved, but he always had the ball, always had space. He was different class.
NOW ...
You came back home in 2011 to Melbourne Victory - and while the team had a season to forget, you had a blinder, winning the Victory medal.
Yeah - personally it was a fantastic year - but you don't want your keeper winning those type of awards. I enjoyed my year at Victory. The fans took to me, and the club has the best set-up in Australia. It was all fantastic apart from the results. At times it was an unhappy place - but not because there was bitching between the players. It was unhappy because it was a big club being unsuccessful. There were reports about Harry (Kewell) splitting the dressing room, but that's bollocks. The guy is class, he's a pro.
You weren't kept on by Ange Postecoglou - were you disappointed by that?
Surprised and disappointed. Even though they did have two keepers signed up, I thought I had done enough to get another deal. The family was settled in Melbourne, my daughter had started school. But contract extensions were never discussed. Ange clearly had his views, and he stuck to them, so I can't really point the finger at him. It was never personal with me - or about money - because we never actually had those discussions. As it turned out though, it's been a blessing in disguise.
Which brings us to your homecoming to Western Sydney - has it gone better than even you could have imagined?
When I first signed up, we had six players - and I thought it was going to be a tough year. But the more players signed, the more confident I became. Popa is a fantastic coach who has instilled a huge amount of belief. The more it has gone on, the more we have believed. People have labelled us "second chance off cuts" but we've got a good side. If anything, I'm more surprised at what has happened off the park with the number of fans we've got. You could feel from day one it was something special, and I knew there was a market here, but they've been awesome.
You've won only one more international cap since your debut in 2006 - does that frustrate you?
When I was young, I thought I had no chance of even playing NSL, so to go to a World Cup, I can't be too disappointed. But when you get a taste of something, you want more - and, as proud as I am, it’s also frustrating. I can't fault Schwarzy, who was my competition, although sometimes when those friendly games against smaller nations came around - and Schwarzy would always make himself available - I'd think "come on man - please!" But I look at him and see his drive - and that's why he is still playing EPL at 40, and I respect that about him. I'm 37 now, and I don't want to give anyone a game - as much as I like Jerrad Tyson and respect him, I don't want to give him a run! If anyone takes my spot, they're going to have to earn it. So that's why I respect Schwarzy.
Moving abroad ... Ryan Griffiths leaves the Jets for the Chinese Super League.Source: Liam Driver / News Limited
Striker Ryan Griffiths has left the Newcastle Jets to join Chinese Super League club Beijing Baxi FC.
The 32-year-old said it was a difficult decision to leave the club but was in the best interests of his family.
"This was a hard decision because I love this club and town but I needed to consider my young family and do what is best for them and, right now, that is going to play in China," Griffiths said in a statement.
"I will always appreciate the management of the Jets for supporting me at this point in my career.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond said he understood Griffiths' reasons for wanting to leave the A-League.
"While our preference was for Ryan to stay, we understand at 32 years of age, going over to China now secures his family financially," van Egmond said.
Newcastle chief executive Robbie Middleby paid tribute to Griffiths' efforts for the club.
"It is disappointing to lose a player like Ryan but we didn't want to stand in his way, when making this move was important for his family," Middleby said.
"Any transfer decision is case by case and, as Ryan has been weighing up a move to China for some time, we understand his decision.
"Ryan has been a great player for the club and we wish him well at Beijing Baxi."
Griffiths spent the 2010 season in China with Beijing Guoan.
Ben Barba ... remains in the new NRL campaign.Source:Fox Sports
The NRL says it is prepared to roll the dice and keep stricken superstar Ben Barba in its million-dollar advertising campaign - but purely on the advice of the Bulldogs.
Jessica Mauboy's pulsating dance anthem Something's Got a Hold on Me will be unleashed at tonight's season launch at The Star, with Barba's brilliant effort in setting up an unforgettable try against Melbourne one of the highlights in the television advertisement.
What has been left on the editing room floor is the part when Mauboy belts out the line: "I shake all over, but I feel all right."
In the original version, Barba - who has been stood down indefinitely after revelations of alcohol and gambling issues - mouths the same line in a close-up shot. "We amended that clip, given the circumstances of Monday and his state of health," NRL marketing director Paul Kind said.
While the NRL was prepared to make that call, there can be little dispute it has entrusted the Bulldogs with the credibility of its campaign. The decision to keep Barba in the advertisement, which sees some plays from the game's leading lights end up in the hands of young fans walking down the street or on the beach, was reached after Kind and NRL chief executive Dave Smith met with Bulldogs officials on Monday.
Smith then briefed the ARL Commission about the entire Barba issue.
Asked if the NRL was concerned it might be embarrassed down the track if more detail about Barba's suspension emerges, Kind said: "I have a simple answer to the Ben Barba situation. We asked the Bulldogs if it would be appropriate if we left him in, and they were comfortable with that decision.
"Any decision to not include Ben Barba would've brought more profile rather than less. Leaving him in based on what we know from the Bulldogs is the right thing to do."
NRL Preview Show: At 5.30pm (EDT) on Wednesday on Fox Sports News (Ch.513), Join Matt Russell and Mark Gasnier as they look ahead to another big season. They’ll examine all the big team changes for 2013, look back on last year’s season-defining moments, provide SuperCoach advice and much more. The show is repeated that night at 10:30pm and 7:30am on Thursday.
Despite the so-called curse on the face of the game, the NRL has only once been forced to amend its television campaign. That came in 2009 when Manly's Brett Stewart was charged with sexual assault. He was later acquitted.
The Barba controversy comes as the NRL attempts to make a broad engagement with the community, with $20 million in contra from the $1 billion broadcast deal helping spread the game's message. Mauboy herself is a vastly different tack, replacing Bon Jovi's Our House campaign.
A Cowboys fan still grumpy about her side's controversial finals exit against Manly last year, the 23-year-old played a large role in choosing the song, which is a remake of the classic Etta James song.
"As soon as I heard it, I knew it," she said. "I wanted to create a modern version of that song ... I'm stunned to be involved. I've always felt a connection with league."
Asked what Etta James would think about her song being used to promote rugby league, she laughed: "She would give me that momma look."
Dad Ferdy is also a massive league fan. Mauboy explained: "He rang me up the other day and went quiet, and then said: 'So, tickets eh?' "
Judd also confirmed the Blues had found ways to fit the remainder of his Visy ambassador deal in their salary cap, after the AFL tightened rules on what could be paid outside the cap.
"The AFL allowed us to put some of the money into last year's cap, where there was a bit of room, and some of it into injury payments," he said.
"With our point of view, we were really happy with how that went down."
Judd, who didn't play in the opening round of the pre-season, will also miss Saturday night's clash with Fremantle as he works his way back to fitness after a hamstring strain.
What a derby ... the North London rivals are set for an epic.Source: Ian Kington / AFP
They checked-in dreaming off UEFA Champions League Football; all that was required was a win on the final day of season 2005-2006.
They ate lasagna and 10 players went down with food poisoning and their dreams of Europe were shattered when they lost 2-1 to West Ham.
To make matter worse for Tottenham the club that sealed a place in Europe at their expense was Arsenal.
It had Spurs fans understandably crying foul play.
The Frenchmen in charge of Arsenal seemed an obvious suspect but he insisted he was not cooking that day at the Marriott Hotel.
Wenger said if he had been they would have felt even worse.
After an investigation by the Health Protection Agency the hotel was cleared of any blame, with tests on the players showing that one was suffering from norovirus, which may have spread to his teammates.
The conspiracy theory was left in tatters and the reality was that Champions League football was not coming to White Hart Lane.
Perhaps even more hurtful was the fact that Arsenal was still the dominant power in North London.
And so it has remained with Arsenal finishing above Tottenham in every season since.
You have to go back to the 1994-1995 season for last time Tottenham finished above Arsenal.
Watch all the action unfold live on Fox Sports 1 HD, 245am (EDT) Monday.
Ahead of this weekend’s North London derby Arsenal have never faced such a challenge from Tottenham.
Last season they finished just one point ahead of their bitter rivals.
This campaign sees Tottenham come into the second derby of the season four points ahead of Arsenal.
Interestingly it is the same margin they found themselves ahead of the Gunners at the same point last season only to surrender their lead and a place in the Champions League.
It could be suggested that history will repeat itself and Spurs will wilt when Arsenal make a late charge.
But this feels like a very different Tottenham.
It was not how most predicted the campaign would unfold under Andre Villa-Boas.
Most thought it was likely to end as it did at Chelsea when the young Portuguese was fired after overseeing a poor run of form.
This has proved to be misguided, with Villas-Boas improving an already formidable squad.
The Welshmen is still deployed to the left of a front three but he has been given licence to roam across the front and come inside at every opportunity.
By allowing Bale to come inside he has increased his involvement in the game and the result has been devastating with the 23-year-old scoring 15 times in the League so far this season.
His outstanding winner against West Ham on Monday was the fourth EPL game in a row in which he has scored, leading to Villas-Boas to describe him as ‘unbelievable.’
"Players like this take responsibility at key moments, he is tremendous," the Spurs Boss said after the win over West Ham and then added.
P
W
D
L
GD
Pts
1
Man United
27
22
2
3
33
68
2
Man City
27
16
8
3
26
56
3
Tottenham
27
15
6
6
15
51
4
Chelsea
27
14
7
6
25
49
5
Arsenal
27
13
8
6
22
47
6
Everton
27
10
12
5
7
42
7
West Brom
27
12
4
11
2
40
8
Liverpool
27
10
9
8
15
39
9
Swansea
27
9
10
8
4
37
10
Stoke
27
7
12
8
-6
33
11
Fulham
27
8
8
11
-5
32
12
Norwich
27
7
11
9
-14
32
13
Newcastle
27
8
6
13
-10
30
14
West Ham
27
8
6
13
-10
30
15
Sunderland
27
7
8
12
-7
29
16
Southampton
27
6
9
12
-11
27
17
Wigan
27
6
6
15
-18
24
18
Aston Villa
27
5
9
13
-26
24
19
Reading
27
5
8
14
-18
23
20
QPR
27
2
11
14
-24
17
"The player continues to make the difference and he was tremendous once again.”
It has not been all about Bale.
The players Villas-Boas has brought-in since he was appointed in the off-season have vastly improved the squad.
Jan Vertonghen, Lewis Holtby, Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey have all settled quickly and have instantly made an impact.
So to have the players promoted from the club’s youth academy with Steven Caulker in particularly impressing so far this season in the heart of the Spurs defence.
In the match against West Ham there were three academy products in the Tottenham squad underlying the sense that Villas-Boas is building something for the long-term.
This has been illustrated by a run of form that has seen Spurs win three and draw two of their last five games.
Their surge into the top three would suggest they are the form team ahead of the derby.
But this is not true when you look at results alone.
Despite their poor form in the FA Cup and Champions League first leg match against Bayern Munich Arsenal are in good form in the League.
In the past five matches the Gunners have won four and drawn one.
Despite winning, as they did against Aston Villa on the weekend, their performances have been far from convincing and have added to the sense that Tottenham is pulling ahead of their North London rivals.
Bale stated his belief that this is now the case when asked about the weekend’s derby.
"Over the past few seasons we have closed that gap and I think now we have overtaken them on the pitch. I think we have the stronger squad."
Arsenal fans are likely to disagree and many have been quick to point out that Spurs are having an excellent season and the Gunners are struggling but the gap is only four points.
This may indeed be the case but if Spurs finish above Arsenal at the end of the season few at White Hart Lane will be bothered by what the margin was.
Arsenal fans may point to 16 seasons of finishing above Spurs as proof of what it takes to be number one in North London.
But finishing below Spurs will hurt, the last manager at Arsenal who did so paid for it with his job.
Wenger appears unlikely to face the same consequences but a loss to Spurs will add to the sense that his club are on the wane and that their bitter rivals are very much on the up.
Either way there have been few more significant derbies.
