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Gareth Bale
- Thread starter sun_tzu
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I know which player I'd take.
Of course he's better than SilvaAmazed someone would say Silva's better. I'd have Bale in the same class as Aguero. I personally would prefer him to Sanchez/Hazard. Just think he has more in his locker. Different style of players though as the two above are more agile and technical like Messi, while Bale is like Ronaldo. I'd put him in the second tier along with Neymar, Suarez etc.
Bale needs to come back to the PL. He suits it a lot more, and he needs to be the top dog of the team to thrive - see Wales and Tottenham. He'll forever be in Ronaldo's shadow at Madrid.
Watching this again, I've decided from all the top players in the world, Bale is the best at using his pace. It actually looks as if he analyzes the defenders in front of him, checks out their pace and just believes that he'll get by them. You just know that for most of those solo goals, he knew that after a 2/3 touches he'd be through on goal against the keeper. Frightening how easy the PL was for him
He'd suit us perfectly too. Having him on the right side or even behind the forward, fecking lethal. Hopefully he'll have another medicore (for him, which is the type of season many top players would actually like to be honest) season and Madrid get bored of him.
Give up.
Bale at united would be a different kettle of fish to the bale who struggles at madrid. We dont run the way madrid do & there have been pleanty of players who have struggled there for even non-footballing reasons.
Our RW calls for a left footed forward; anyone who says anyone but messi is better than him is wrong. There's a reason we are selling di maria & thats not becauae he is rubbish. Its because he does'nt fit the system.
Like it or not; bale fits the system 10 out of 10.
Our RW calls for a left footed forward; anyone who says anyone but messi is better than him is wrong. There's a reason we are selling di maria & thats not becauae he is rubbish. Its because he does'nt fit the system.
Like it or not; bale fits the system 10 out of 10.
Some people just don't believe that he hasn't actually been good at Real Madrid I guess...
Incredible how people can overrate that season in the prem too. It was a world class year without a doubt, but no better then Suarez' last 2 years at Liverpool, Rooney's seasons in 2009/10 and 11/12 or RvP in 2011/12 or 2012/13 for both United and Arsenal.
If anything I have my doubts if he could get back to his 12/13 level anyway. He looks a lot bulkier now and a lot less agile these days then he was then. Can obviously be a top player still but for people to still think he is currently at that level is ridiculous, as he hasn't been for 2 years.
I'm sorry, I just don't agree. I've seen this "players need to be able to be great passers" argument in other threads and it doesnt hold any water for me. As far as Robben goes, he's a half decent passer but it is by no means metronomic. Van Gaal had him in there for his ability to attack teams with the ball at his feet. The Dutch gameplan was to get Robben in space, attack at pace and try to open teams up. That is precisely what we lack as a side.
For me the fact that he didn't have a great season last year for Madrid is irrelevant. There are other variables in Madrid - not least the fact that the side is set up around Ronaldo and frankly, while he didnt hit the heights he had with Spurs or play to the level he did the season before the criticism of him has been ridiculous. He's been made a scapegoat in a club that is frankly run like a circus. Onse average season doesnt make you a bad player and fans need to remember that.
His qualities are perfectly suited to the Premier League where pace and power are important. His time in Madrid, playing alongside quality players and under different pressures are likely to have improved his strength of character and improved him as a player. On that basis, the available evidence suggests he'd come back to the Premier League and do very well indeed. If he gets anywhere near the levels he got to in his last season at Spurs he'd be one of the very best players in the league.
Bottom line for me - Van Gaal is a vastly experienced manager who's developed teams at various levels and in various circumstances. I can't see any reason why he wouldn't want quality players like Bale and he's the kind of player the system would be developed for.
And frankly, the link with United and Bale seems to be a solid one as far as our interest is concerned and as such that answers the question as to whether Van Gaal wants him. if we are interested it very much suggests that he does.
I'm not sure what the argument is here? I think most fans would love to have a player in the form of those players you refer to - its something we currently don't have, and unless Rooney gets back to those levels I don't see it happening with anyone in the side this season.
And how exactly do you know it?
Robben and James Rodriguez are better than him. Di Maria was better in the last season they played together.
Have actually people watched Bale play football or are they simply commenting based on his last season for Spurs (2 years ago) and the fact he is British?
I agree, anyone that has watched Bale play over the last 2 years would see with their own eye's, what an absolutely fantastic footballer he is, and how perfect he would be for our club.
I'd love us to go all out and sign him to play as a #9.
He would be a dream signing. The key word being dream, no chance (this season at least) of us signing him.
I am not so sure. IMO there is certainly an argument to be had that it was better or just as good. Bale scored 21 league goals for Tottenham and grabbed 4 assists in 12/13 which is very impressive, especially when you take into account that United scored 86 goals in 09/10 and 89 goals in 11/12 compared to Tottenham's 66 in 12/13. United created a lot more chances and scored a lot more goals than Tottenham back then so his goals for them that year were much more difficult to score.
Here are their individual stats from those seasons and how much they contributed to their teams output.
Bale in 12/13 had 21 goals and 4 assists which is 37.88% of his teams goals (66) that season.
Rooney in 09/10 had 26 goals and 3 assists which is 33.72% of his teams goals (86) that season.
Rooney in 11/12 had 27 goals and 4 assists which is 34.83% of his teams goals (89) that season.
An argument can certainly be made that Bale's 12/13 season was as good as Rooney's 09/10 and 11/12 seasons, if not better. Bale played for an inferior team to Rooney and his stats are not far off and he also contributed more to his teams goal-scoring than Rooney did. I agree that Bale's 12/13 wasn't as good as the other players seasons that you mentioned though.
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You don't know it (neither I do). Maybe Van Gaal wouldn't want Bale even if he cost less than 60m.
And anyway, signing a player doesn't mean that it is the right decision. PSG signed Luiz for 50m which would have been enough to sign any defender they wanted. Doesn't make Luiz the best in the world. Or in Bal's own case, Madrid broke the world record for what has been so far - at best - an okay signing. Most of Madrid fans would say instead that it has been a flop though.
Louis and us, we both need a savior. Bale can be that player.
Bale, Memphis and Rooney would be one hell of a forward line.
I think a big "thing" wrt Bale that season was also the "sheer" quality/variety of goals he scored.
A ton of individual/free kicks/long ranges, with good variety finishes mixed in there as well.
He scored some absolute worldies, it must be said.
Obviously I'd love to have that in the team, and I wouldn't say no to bale at all. My point was just that people tend to overrate that season and act as if it was some unheard of season only bettered by Ronaldo and Messi in recent years, and that he's one of the very best players in the world just because of that one season he had 3 seasons ago, even though he hasn't been at that level since.
Agree, not a lot of easy tap ins there.
Yeah, I think that's what set him apart from most of the rest that season. his highlight reel that season alone would be something a very good player would be proud of as a career!
But yeah, since then he's not hit the same heights again. Whether it's the league, being in a star studded team etc. etc....it's not worked out (to that level again)....yet.
I feel you are asking for way too much of some there mate.
Judging from the general rating of players on here, half the posters on the Caf can't see past their nose. Never mind one bad season a couple of bad games and someone is past it in some peoples minds.
Many on here live in the here and now, how a player played last season is their level all previous great seasons are forgot about. It's how after after a few indian summer years in france Ibrhimovic could be the future of our attack even at 34.
How Rooney after 2 average years where he played in a team falling apart and another where he mostly played in midfield is now a pub player.
Same with Bale people forget his time at Spurs and what he is capable of in England.
Just watched some videos from his super season. The thing that strikes me is that nowadays he doesn't look like he enjoys his game as much as he did in England. Granted, playing well and scoring goals makes you happy, but he just seems a bit disillusioned at Madrid. Whenever he plays for Wales he suddenly looks a completely different player. Much more passion, whereas in Spain he constantly looks a bit... I don't know, worried? Nervous?
Take ADM for example, he's just come off the back of an awful season, but PSG are still prepared to pay big money to get him, they know he's a top player, for whatever reason it just hasn't worked for him at our club. The same can be said of Bale, we don't know why his form dipped last year, but at the end of the day, you can't argue the fact that Bale on his day is absolutely world class. It's clearly not working for Bale in Madrid, but for Utd it's less of a risk, because he's British and he's ripped it up in this league before.
After 100 pages of discussion we still haven't signed him. Maybe if we discuss for another 100 we might.
It's almost as if posts on an Internet forum are not related to the transfers of football clubs.
That I'd agree. My only issue is with people ranking him as one of the very best at the moment, when he clearly isn't based on his time at Madrid. At his best sure, but you can't judge somebody in terms of their best ever form a few years ago and ignore their most recent form.
Yeah i agree not surprised though he's under enormous pressure there, world record transfer fee, impatient fans, playing second fiddle to Ronaldo, singled out in the press, fans attacking his car, the clubs a circus.
But he seems determined to stick it out and prove himself, so he has a set of stones on him you have to give him that. If only ADM had a similar pair.
the last two years were worse than his last at Spurs. His level is below what it used to be.
Again I agree, but I do find it equally ridiculous that some posters are writing him off and saying they don't want him at the club, due to last seasons form.
He would be a sensation in my opinion, the fee needed to get him here is irrelevant due to the huge marketing potential and his tie in with our new sponsor.
As a season ticket holder, given the choice of Bale, Young or Pedro, I know which one I would like to see bombing down the wing.
Him being the most expensive player in the world is irrelevant. Bale has had one great season in his life, Suarez was better than him in the PL and shown already he is better than him in La Liga despite missing the start of the season and settling into a new team. Neymar last season scored 39 goals, Bale in his last two seasons at R.Madrid managed 39. So how exactly, apart from reputation, is he on their level?
Bale is a great player, R.Madrid aren't getting the best out of him but you are judged upon your performances and so far for R.Madrid he has not lived up to the price tag. Ancelotti lost his job for taking him off but I remember that game and if anything he was doing him a favour pulling him off.
With the additional £44M for Di Maria, we might be able to afford him?
Because no one apart from messi or robben; the latter who didnt have a great 15' either, is better than bale.
Why does it make sense to compare neymar or suarez to bale when he plays in none of those positions? The only time he did play at LW+CF he tore up the hardest league to stand out in.
If we wanted bale at LW, i'd say that someone like reus, griezmann even depay would be a better choice & considerably cheaper. However we are talking about a RW here & if you regard messi as a CF then few are better than bale, if any.
That's taking man-management to whole new levels..
I think bale could score 15+ goals and get 15+ assists if he signed for us. I'd love him at United.
Aye, we always support and help our big money signings. We'd never get on their back, drop them, or sell them.
Just look at Di Maria, oh wait...
We never slate them too much at OT tbh (maybe the odd "ffs" or sighs of annoyance & disappointment), but then we slag the f*ck out of them once we're out of the ground..
We were ready to splash huge sum already in summer 2013 for him. Money shouldn't be that of a problem.
Best thing about him is that he is capable providing goals from the wing without taking Rooney's place in attack.
With Di Maria's complications this idea more and more becoming some sort of solution.
With us selling DDG and Di Maria and basically getting our net spend this summer back down to zero, I fear we might pounce and pounce hard on him...
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