Just swap him for Di Maria already, everyone would want it.
Gareth Bale
- Thread starter sun_tzu
- Start date
- Status
What if they played in the same team?
In 2010/11 he won the POTY I'm pretty sure (was a complete farce though, based on his games v Maicon and nothing else), but only had 7 goals. 2011/12 he scored 9 in the league, and then 2012/13 he scored 21. Now at Madrid he had 15 last season and 13 this season. People overrate him a lot and think he scores a lot more then he does. That one season before Madrid bought him is more of an exception rather then his consistent level, and even then, in those games the entire side was built around him to get him to score goals. He won't get that luxury at top sides because he's not a Ronaldo, Messi or someone like that who guarantees 50+ goals.
Tbf to him, after 7 years of playing as wide man he can't cross either which is probably even more fascinating.
His crossing from the left side with his left foot was very good when he played there at Spurs. He has what in the past would have been called an "educated" left foot. He's not so good from the right of course, which is where he's been mostly for Real Madrid. He would be a devastating left winger that has it all.
Serious question, how often do you watch him? He's nowhere near the very best players on a technical level, it's so obvious when you see him in games like the classico. The only thing that sticks out about him is his shooting and his pace and power. And his pace is relatively useless for teams that play a possession game and need more incisive passing to open up defences, rather then counter attacking down the whole pitch.
And he meant defensively speaking, bale does feck all. Madrid fans would like him a lot more if he worked hard defensively to make up for all the times he loses the ball needlessly, but he doesn't.
With the comments his agent is making maybe he is going to be available in the summer? Madrid will take us to the cleaners and make us pay over £75million for him and then go and buy Reus for even less than that.
Been a good 3 seasons since he's played there, given he was mostly in the hole as a 10 in his last season at Spurs. It was good, but nothing amazing I don't think. Put him on the left and most of his goal threat is gone as well, as he always like to cut in on his left. I just don't see him fitting in well in a Van Gaal team. He'd score goals of course, as he does everywhere because he has a great shot, but so many people would be underwhelmed because people have him on a level in their minds that he just isn't at and never was, apart from a few months of great form at Spurs at the end.
I think Spurs is the type of club that offers the perfect environment for an offensive player to shine. Enough quality to get a player like Bale on the ball in dangerous areas frequently but not a good enough team for opponents to close shop/park the bus/play negative against them and deny their forwards space at all cost. In that sense moving to a bigger club can also expose players instead of "playing in a better side = automatically more goals".
Thing is, is Reus really that effective in any position other than the left side, most of his game is about cutting inside and doing what Ronaldo does.
Signing someone like Hazard would make sense however, who can do a job anywhere in the forward positions; left, central or right.
I don´t understand what his agent said about his teammates not passing him the ball. Cristiano was also once the new player and had to win the dressing room and the respect of the rest. I don´t see Neymar complaining about Messi protagonism. The only day that he showed some character was after the whistles , when he celebrated the goal by hitting the flag in the corner. I agree with @bosnian_red , he should defend a bit more to be appreciated. Perhaps his best position is on the left but an elite player should adapt better to a change of position. After 2 seasons I doubt that he can keep a minor conversation in spanish. I think that Lineker already suggested 2 years ago that this would be important. I understand that for english speakers is difficult but how is he going to be the leader in the future if he can´t speak spanish.Modric speaks very well and probably Kroos will do next year
He's great as a #10 as well, but I don't think Madrid would go for him until Ronaldo really declines. No point for them.
Yep, saying "they don't pass him the ball" is pretty embarrassing really, and it reminds me of a deluded parent making excuses for their child just not being good enough and blaming everyone but themselves. The way you turn into a key player is by proving it consistently, if you consistently play pretty poorly and mess things up, of course team mates are going to start finding better routes to goal (as in Ronaldo/James/Isco). James has come in last summer, with arguably just as much pressure as Bale had after making a name for himself at the world cup and has been brilliant, and as far as I know the madrid fans all love him especially because he's a really hard worker. I think people in the UK just think Bale does work defensively because he started out as a left back so assume he's better then your average winger when it comes to work rate, but that's far from the truth whenever I watch Real.
Tbh, the writing was on the wall when he signed for Real. Graham Hunter pretty much confirmed early on that Bale wasn't looking at a long-term stay at Real, and would more than likely look to head back to the UK. My only hope is that it isn't Utd who will be the club to get suckered into buying him...
Spot on.
Agree 100%
Think his agents words have been blown well out of proportion, plus he said he'll definitely stay at Madrid. Thank God.
Well if he came here he'd get plenty of the ball as he'll be out on the right and every time Wayne gets it he can be sure it's heading his way.
Firstly, his agent needs to STFU.
As for him coming to us, we'd be crazy to pay anything over £40M for him, he's simply not worth it. Do we even really need him, even at £40M? We already have Di Maria, Depay, Young, Nani, Mata, Januzaj and Valencia who can all play in wide areas. That money is better invested else where.
As for him coming to us, we'd be crazy to pay anything over £40M for him, he's simply not worth it. Do we even really need him, even at £40M? We already have Di Maria, Depay, Young, Nani, Mata, Januzaj and Valencia who can all play in wide areas. That money is better invested else where.
I also read that Madrid board suspected that Bale was using Madrid for marketing interests,or maybe a club able to offer him an exit from Tottenham.A pity,I was happy with the club paying 100 million € and confident that he would be the next Madrid star
He was never that good, especially at the price Real had paid. Don't get me wrong, he's a very good player, but pretty limited in his attributes. If I had to sum him up, it would be that he is the left footed version of the player I had hoped Valencia would turn into, only more prolific. A player who is good enough to be one of the functional players in a top team, but he should never be one of the stars of the team...
I personally believe that the premier league's marketing division turned Gareth Bale into the most expensive player in the world, rather than his performances. And it looks like history will be repeating itself with Pogba too, both Bale and Pogba are the definition of highlights-reel players, but they don't actually have an impact on the game the way a Messi does, or a younger Ronaldo had.
I personally believe that the premier league's marketing division turned Gareth Bale into the most expensive player in the world, rather than his performances. And it looks like history will be repeating itself with Pogba too, both Bale and Pogba are the definition of highlights-reel players, but they don't actually have an impact on the game the way a Messi does, or a younger Ronaldo had.
Bale would make the biggest impact on a counter attacking side that plays with a lot of width. He would have been the ideal winger for Ferguson's old United teams. Which is why it is a bit of shame he never got a chance to pay for him.
Out of interest would people take a straight swap for Di Maria? I know the Madrid fans would.
In a New York minute.
Ancelotti wouldn't. The balance of the team would be ruined. Bale is one of the three forwards. Di Maria has been replaced by James. They're not like for like.
... without question. i think people have forgot just how good bale was in the premier league.
No chance.
Alot of pride would need to be swallowed for that to happen (especially by Perez) but yeah, in an ideal world, I probably would. Unless LvG intends on using AdM in CM, I doubt he's ever going to reach his "top level" with us.
And Bale is much better suited to the EPL, than La Liga, and vice versa AdM. (hopefully AdM proves me wrong in his second season though).
From what I remember, Bale wasn't that good in the first half of the season, but was excellent on the second half and especially in those couple of months when the voting was done. Thought back then that Suarez and RVP deserved it slightly more than him, but it was close.
The first one was pure favoritism though.
I don't think that there is much between Hazard and Bale at his best. Hazard has a superior all round play, Bale better end product, but I think is very close. Would say that Bale was slightly better, but then again, he hasn't played as good as that season in the las 2 seasons.
Bit like how many, especially on here have forgotten how good Angel di Maria is. I say give the lad one more season when he is settled in the area, used to the fast paced games and playing in a more settled squad before we judge.
I wouldnt swap him as I also think he's very overrated and that ADM will be brilliant next year
As for his agent, I mean, who would have thought that they speak Spanish at Real Madrid??
As for his agent, I mean, who would have thought that they speak Spanish at Real Madrid??
Good article by Graham Hunter on why it's not working out for Bale at the moment.
http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champion...reth-bale-must-stop-complaining-graham-hunter
http://www.espnfc.com/uefa-champion...reth-bale-must-stop-complaining-graham-hunter
No. We need to add Bale to a team with ADM already in it. He's one of the few world class players we have.
I would. Simply because he's a world class wide player. Di Maria is not. A world class attacking midfielder perhaps, on his day. I'd much rather see us sign a top class centre mid and not have to shoe horn Di Maria into it.
I just read in "el País" that Bale used to try talking spanish but not anymore.He only talks with english speakers.Out of the training he only meets with Modric and has never been in the team meals that Ramos uses to organize. I read as well that his agent is quite respected in England so I don't understand very well his reaction in the press acting like Mino Raiola(Ibra and Pogba agent).Some days before a semifinal in C.L is not the best moment to talk about that.My doubt is if all this is some kind of strategy to be sold or is a real complain that came from the agent without Bale's consent
Agreed. Having Depay and Bale on the wings in this league, is like having one hand on the league trophy already. And if LVG insists on Rooney as the main No. 9, this will be the best solution. One underwhelming season shouldn't erase Bale's other excellent ones. Although it might reduce the fee, though.
It's not even as if he's been that underwhelming tbh. Sure, not as good as he has been but how long has it been since United had 17 goals and 10 assists from the wing?
The only question marks for me are if he can fit into a Van Gaal side, and whether or not the price is right.
Not in a month of Sundays.
The fact that Madrid fans - a team that already has Ronaldo, James, Isco, Modric, Kroos - would want Di Maria back tells you everything. He's simply a better player than Bale.
He's not a better winger though. If Van Gaal is going to keep on putting Di Maria on the wing then a swap with Bale would be an incredible deal for us.
Why would Real replace one of their wide forwards with a player they considered a midfielder?
- Status