Gareth Bale | Linked with United again
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He's so much more than an in-the-box player, don't think he gets enough credit for his ability to be a fluid forward, that game against Leicester shows he's so much more than just a Target Man. In general, he's usually all over that right flank, he comes deep at times and he's got a wicked cross on him. He's at his best when he's running at players like a train, he's so bloody fast. A lot of the times his runs have gone to waste, it's only the odd few passes from Lingard that can really unlock him otherwise it's crosses he's heading in. Feels like the team doesn't really know Lukaku's strengths yet or they just lack creativity.
Loan deal for the rest of the season: each paying half wages but only when he’s fit to play. Agreed option to buy at a reasonable price. If he can stay fit for the rest of the season get him in.
Otherwise, feck off.
Otherwise, feck off.
It's so cold and wet in the North of England that it will be like he is constantly icing his broken down legs!
Don't get me wrong. I really do rate Luke and there's few that would be happier than me if he goes on to have a legendary impact in a red shirt. To get the best out oh him, as you rightly mentioned, you need accurate crossers of the ball and lots of creativity that he can feed on. I also observed that he is working really hard and improving his all round game, not least his defensive contribution.
My point though from a tactical stand point though is that a 4-4-2 naturally would be a more lethal attacking option given that there are 4 attacking players albeit with less cover in the middle without a second pivot, compared to a front 3. And so most times when you see a 4-3-3 type attacking line that produces goals for fun, there is a common denominator from Madrid's trio with Benzema often going wide and Ronaldo coming inside, to Barca's fluid front 3 to City's present attack and even to a lesser extent the dynamism in Liverpool's attack with Firmino flanked by pacy and technically gifted players in Salah and Mane.
I've always argued that people's criticism about his first touch is over the top but I still think he can do a lot more in areas like thriving in tight spaces then there's the issue of holding on to the ball as he tries to find teammates when a defender is tight on him with his back to the goal.
If Bale sorts his fitness issues there's no other player I'd rather have on the left or right of attack. You obviously do not remember when he tore Maicon a new one vs Inter Milan bombing up and down from the left as a left sided midfielder in Redknapp's 4-4-1-1. He was very unpredictable because he could cut inside and shoot or stay wide using his pace and deliver crosses into the box. Before he moved to RM, he made a name for himself on the left side of a 4-2-3-1, he could also play as a number 10 where he could dictate proceedings better or even on the right. His versatility and world class output are the reason why I find it hard to give up on him. He'd be the perfect wide attacker for us if he could stay fit. And knowing that Jose has a pretty good record of keeping his players fit, I feel that there might just be a fit player in Bale somewhere.
As for Martial I don't think being good aerially I'd such a big factor. More important is his ability to link up well with his wide attackers combined with trickery, pace, exposiveness, coolness in front of goal (he's got this in spades), movement (he needs to do more in this area), etc. I also understand that Luke is showing willingness to learn and improve and I thought he had a very good all round performance against Leicester and if he continues this way he may hit the heights of a dynamic forward but let's not get carried away as bigger tests than Leicester will come.
For what it's worth I do think a 3-5-2 would be the best way to maximize the abilities of both Pogba and Luke especially if the wing backs in the system are good crossers of the ball.
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I'd be made up if we signed him but realistically he has constant injury problems in Spain, what's he going to be like here where the defenders are more physical and the weather is less favourable? We can't spend huge money on an attacking version of Phil Jones who can only play half a season.
Bailing out Madrid again, picking up his form.
Hes a great player who would tear up the prem. It's just his fitness is a gamble.
His ability is never in doubt. Problem is he'll be injured again in a couple of weeks.
The ability is certainly not an issue. But the value of a big-money move for a player who is injured bi-monthly is minimal.
I hope we aren't going all in for Bale.
I hope we aren't going all in for Bale.
Couple week?!?! Let me break out the Dom Perignon!
Feel we're going to sign him in the Summer tbh.
Please Mr Woodward dont be so fecking stupid, pleeeeaaase!
I know the lad has suffered injuries, and it's a concern, but he would make a world of difference in this team. Sure, you can probably get a guy like Malcom or Lucas Moura for much cheaper, but they can get injured as well and they won't have nearly the immediate impact of a Gareth Bale. I would risk it and hope for the best. There aren't a ton of great options.
I want him, which is always a bad sign.
I'm so torn about this one.
The talent is a couple of levels above any attacker we have, but his injury record is a joke. It's a gamble, but so was RVP with his injury record and that turned out great.
The talent is a couple of levels above any attacker we have, but his injury record is a joke. It's a gamble, but so was RVP with his injury record and that turned out great.
Its just not worth the risk at the money and wages he would cost, if it was like the Ibra transfer then yes, it may be worth giving him a performance and appearance related wage anything other than that and we would be complete mugs.
It won't happen but in today's market a 40m transfer would probably be worth the risk.
RVP got fit for most of The previous season before joining us. Bale injury problem got worse with time. Barely stay fit for a sustained period at the moment. And most importantly, doesn't look like motivated to move away from Madrid, unlike RVP.
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Yeah that's the worry, especially with his physical attributes being one of his strongest at his peak. Still there aren't many options for our right side and he'd be great there if we could keep him fit.
Maybe 3 years ago
Madrid can feck off, have fun recouping whatever money from another club
Madrid can feck off, have fun recouping whatever money from another club
Woodward has wanted him for years, so I've got this feeling of inevitability over this transfer. We would be fools to make him our marquee player, pay for his extortionate wages, and deal with that cretin Perez.
If he was 25, usually fit and coming from somewhere like Inter I'd be all over this.
But he's 28, a sicknote and on 600k. I sort of don't want to give Madrid the easy way out. If we sign him they've had all 5 of his peak years and likely made a profit. But I want to see him earning big money on their bench at 30.
But he's 28, a sicknote and on 600k. I sort of don't want to give Madrid the easy way out. If we sign him they've had all 5 of his peak years and likely made a profit. But I want to see him earning big money on their bench at 30.
Like you say, it wont happen, but 40m is too much for him and im pretty sure Real will want a lot more than that, hasn’t he got a long contract too?
RVP was EPL top scorer in previous season , 24M and 200k wage
Bale is crook in previous season till today , will cost us stupid money and stupid wage
they were playing hardball for their benchwarmer moratta , why should we help them with their financial issues ?
only a fool will buy him , i am sure Ed isn't that foolish
i'd say we better save our money and try our luck with harry kane next season
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A loan with a non obligatory option to buy or mandatory purchase loan based on total appearances would suit United the most as it would allow us to ascertain whether Bale has the fitness or the desire to succeed in the pl once more and before everyone shoot down the idea it may be the only realistic option available for Madrid to get rid of Bale come summer as well.
He's the only positive for Real Madrid right now.
I hope someone takes him away from them.
I hope someone takes him away from them.
This.. Makes sense for us.. If Madrid can make a two year loan with a sale option for Bayern incase of James,then they can certainly do one for us..
But after the whole Morata saga,Perez might just be looking for a huge pay day from us,with Bale getting a similar loan deal to some other club..
I think that 80 million for him would be throwing money away now. He is injury prone and would maybe get half a season from him if we were lucky. I would sooner spend that kind of money on someone younger like Malcom with a sell on value.
I think in terms of gambles this one is closer to Falcao than RvP. RVN as a middle point. But RvP had displayed fitness and sublime form before we bought him, Ruud was coming off that injury (sustained a season before? we were due to go for him then iirc) but he was only 24 or 25. So in terms of wages/fee it would be Falcao and the only way I'd go for it is on the same loan/option to buy basis. Minimize risk.
There's a feeling of inevitability about this one.
Both that it will happen and that it will be a disaster. We can't stay far enough away from him.
Both that it will happen and that it will be a disaster. We can't stay far enough away from him.
Was he at RM when Mou was manager?
Nope. Signed under Ancelotti.
Real screwed us over Morata and sold him to Chelsea for less. You think they will agree to loan us Bale with appearance clauses? Might as well ask them to throw in Ramos too.
^^Agreed^^
I fear that our transfer policy is heavily influenced by the desire for "marketable marquee" signings, which is possibly why we have no apparent interest in players such as Mahrez.
Wouldn't a return to Spurs be more logical given his history there, and the fact that they've got a better squad than when he left and are building a much bigger stadium?
Indeed – Woodward is constantly going on about us being in for the very best and showing our strength.
Bale ticks all the boxes but there are just so many red flags. To be getting that number of injuries playing in a far less physically demanding league is bad enough – Then you add that they’re generally muscle issues and he’s a 28 year old player who’s incredibly reliant in his physical dominance. If he loses a yard or two of pace he loses what makes him great.
The sad thing is a fit, prime Bale would be absolutely perfect for this team – You could argue he would complete it – But Real Madrid also wouldn’t sell that player. He’s far too much of a gamble.
While I see why the owners and the money men would want marketable marquee signings, to focus only on them would be incredibly short sighted even just from a business point of view. Firstly, if they don't fit into the team and if you don't supplement the team with "less attractive" players who would actually work in the team then the team and brand as a whole suffers. If the team and the brand suffers to the point where you're not Champions League regulars anymore then signing Marquee players will either become much much harder or much more expensive, or both.
I never liked the Director of Football model but that's probably because we had Fergie, who was the manager of the club as opposed to the first team coach. He ran the club. But at the moment, I'm starting to see the benefits. Someone from the football world who has the club's best interest at heart who has a plan for the club, regardless of who's manager or first team coach. Some managers may not like this, but giving Mourinho free reign with €500 million of the clubs money, when he could be at PSG in a couple of years is hardly the smartest option.
This is the problem with having no football people on the board. They are likely to see the transfer of Bale as a great marquee signing that will be great for commercial reasons.
I just hope Jose gets the final say in transfers, if he is happy with it, then I'm happy enough I guess.
I just hope Jose gets the final say in transfers, if he is happy with it, then I'm happy enough I guess.
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