The system seems to be a red herring here because everything you've said applies to Robben and van Gaal's already shown he can work with a player like that. Fair enough if you don't rate him but there's no need to overcomplicate things by talking about the system. It's just fluff to make your opinion seem more considered than it really is (or needs to be). That applies to a lot of discussion in here since van Gaal joined, IMO.
Gareth Bale
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The system seems to be a red herring here because everything you've said applies to Robben and van Gaal's already shown he can work with a player like that. Fair enough if you don't rate him but there's no need to overcomplicate things by talking about the system. It's just fluff to make your opinion seem more considered than it really is (or needs to be). That applies to a lot of discussion in here since van Gaal joined, IMO.
Well I rate him but the fees being mentioned are laughable. He's simply not worth it.
Madrid will not make themselves a laughing stock for buying him at 90-100 milion and clapping their hands of joy for 40 milion. If ( and that's a big if) Bale somehow makes the move back home, be prepared to see atleast Di Maria numbers on the account of Madrid.
How much is he worth in comparison to other recent fees?
Right on, the figures being touted are absurd even for him. I'd rather, if we have such figures to spend, we spread our risk say by signing a couple of players o the verge of becoming world class for forty million each.
I disagree. He could be a catalyst to our future success and is a genuine superstar footballer. The guy would bring us goals galore and the entertainment value that made this club famous. What more do we want?
Really don't like all the noise about him and us. Just heard it on german news too that he wants to leave Real and Perez wants to make profit on him. They also mentioned that we are the only club who wants to pay the fee, 100-110 million euros, for any similiar fee please don't do it Woody, that's just way too much.
A midfield and defence would be fine. And people shouldn't act like he is Messi or Ronaldo. He will not win us the league alone. Arsenal can get a similiar player in Sanchez for half of the money. If Real sell him to us we will probably watch them signing Reus for half the money and he will show more than Bale this season. There is just no reason to pay that stupid money.
A midfield and defence would be fine. And people shouldn't act like he is Messi or Ronaldo. He will not win us the league alone. Arsenal can get a similiar player in Sanchez for half of the money. If Real sell him to us we will probably watch them signing Reus for half the money and he will show more than Bale this season. There is just no reason to pay that stupid money.
I'm unsure why you or I or anyone else on here should care very much about any potential fee though. Surely the only real concern for the fans is whether or not a prospective player is good enough to play at United. I'm fairly confident Bale would make light work of this current collective of extremely average Premier League defences.
Most people care about the fee because they fear it may limit the amount the club has to spend on addressing other significant weaknesses in the squad.
We probably would be overpaying, and world record fees do seem like far too much for a player who's stock hasn't really risen since he last broke the transfer record. That being said, if he ends up scoring bucket loads of goals and performing at the level most of us suspect he can, we'd probably all feel pretty comfortable about the fee, eye-watering as it may end up being.
Bale is not Robben, Robben can take players in close spaces, Bale can't. It is a huge difference. Bale and Robben aren't really simmilar players. The system is important as LVG wants us to press a lot, Robben can do it, Bale can't. Of course, it's just my opinion.
That's a reasonable position to take, but it's hard to argue that point too vociferously when none of us are really aware of the intricacies of United's transfer strategy this summer. It may well be that Woodward and United consider a player like Bale as separate from the ongoing process of addressing the weaknesses in the squad in midfield and defence, and would fund such a deal accordingly. I've no doubt Adidas would absolutely love the commencement of their mega-bucks shirt deal with United to coincide with the club signing one of the brand's flagship ambassadors in Bale.
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Can you give it a rest about closed spaces... Our whole game plan is designed in making the pitch as wide as possible trying to stretch the opposition. We create plenty of avenues to exploit space we just don't have the players in attack to exploit this. We are not going to lose alot in Bale's game because LVG is asking for him to receive the Bale stood still next to two players.
The reason it hasn't worked for Di Maria is because Di Maria has just been awful. He has had enough of the football with time and space around him and has been ineffective.
As for pressing alot.. What has this got to do with taking on players?
I just don't think it's necessary. If he is available for a fair fee, or a little bit above that, yeah why not. But in the end I also want us to identify with our club, I think we have a future world beater with Depay already, I still want us to develope Adnan in another one too. We were never a club who just spend the money careless. We all laughed about Real spending stupid fees on the flavor of the month every year, I really don't want us to do business like that and Real was for years the proof that it is really not the way to be successful. And yeah we have the money, but that doesn't mean we need to throw it out of the window. CB and CM are positions where we need a big signing much more imo and I still think a signing like Bale could affect those other signings. Other transfers will be more expensive, because everyone knows that we pay every fee anyway. The Bale deal will take a lot of time, probably all summer like most of those big signings, so Woody will be busy and Real will milk us as much as it is possible.
I am also not the opinion that he is the "100% going to be world class here" player. Some users here are right that he is not that great from a technical point and that he is not a great fit for our system either. I would even go as far and say that his last season in the PL was not that great at all. Don't get me wrong it was a very good season, but It got much more hype because he scored a lot of screamers who were game-deciding. He also was in the right form at the right time to won the POTY, I don't think he was that comfortable better than van Persie or Suarez. Especially RVPs contribution to our title was more important than Bale bringing Spurs to 5th. It was not a Messi or Ronaldo-like season, it wasn't even close to Suarez last year. According to some comments here you could believe that he scored 40 and helped Spurs to win the PL. Some comments like "3rd best player in the world." or "He would be the comfortable best in the PL." are also not understandable for me.
Around 40 million. Similar to what Arsenal paid for Sanchez.
Should Arsenal have paid 80 million for Sanchez? It's an absurd valuation. He's about a similar level as Hazard and Sanchez. He'd do very well for us but like I said he's not good enough for us to go bonkers for. I'd pay those sort of fees only for the likes of Ronaldo who Madrid bought for the correct price.
That's fair enough, you don't rate the player as highly as some others do and think he'd block the progress of existing players, a perfectly understandable objection to his transfer. I just don't really understand anyone thinking Bale would be a big hit at United, but not wanting the club to go through with the transfer because "it's too much money". It's not our money!
40 million pounds is way too low for a player of Bale's caliber in today's market. We shouldn't be basing it on Sanchez's transfer fee because even then, pretty much everyone was aware that Sanchez was a steal at that price. A lot of us wanted to sign Sanchez at the time because he was being sold for a very low price compared to what he was potentially worth. But Sanchez only wanted a move to London. That being said 80 million pounds or more would be an absurd price to pay for Bale. He hasn't exactly lived up to the hype merited from his world record transfer fee so it makes zero sense for us to pay that much or even more. I'd be prepared to pay Di Maria type money for (60 million pounds) which I think is a more than fair valuation. Real have to accept that Bale hasn't worked out that well for him, and his value has regressed (they overpaid for him in the first place). Real already ripped us off for Di Maria transfer because we were desperate, I'd prefer not to see it happen again.
No United fan should be against the idea of having Bale at Manchester United though (money considerations aside). He would be tremendous for us.
No United fan should be against the idea of having Bale at Manchester United though (money considerations aside). He would be tremendous for us.
In the right set up he'd be really destructive. As for what he can't do, we can balance that out with who we play on the other side. That's what great offences are made of in this sport, a combination of a variety of qualities that leads to great attacking play. Without this variety, we're mucking about and won't develop a great side anytime soon.
I've said before that I'd love to see a Nani, Rooney and bale front line for our club and imo that will elevate us to our former glory with great combination play and a big direct threat. All are all round players that can contribute wide and through the middle so inter changing will be relatively easy. If our build up is good enough then rooney holding the play up won't be as important and those other two can just use him as a wall to bounce plays off, we know he can do that. We also just need to have these players have offensive freedom in our system. The best games mata has is when he moves about and gets himself on the ball, him hanging about the touchline takes us nowhere. Great movement is pivotal in the final third and all these players are mobile enough to take us somewhere.
We've got some good players here but after a season we haven't implemented a system that can get the best out of them. We don't have players who give us something different of absolutely high quality. Players like bale can do that, and we know that because he's done it before. Have no idea why he wouldn't be able to do it again.
Obviously putting together a midfield that'll compete at the very highest level is pivotal to getting the best out of our attackers. We can't continue with mediocre players as we've seen where it gets us as a club. A ball playing defender will also serve us well.
---------Nani-----Rooney-----Bale------
-------------Herera-----DiMaria---------
-----------------Schneiderlin-------------
--------Shaw-Smalling-Stones-Clyne
-----------------------Valdes---------------
Would be a great start in terms of moving this team forward. Nani being the deepest of our forward line with his creativity and ball retention would be a nice touch. Rooney and Bale would bare most of the goal scoring responsibility and we all know they score goals in this league.
I fear that we'll go crazy in the market and change too much. We just need to raise the quality of the team so no mediocre players are starting 11 and we all know what happens when you put together players of great ability together in the same team.
I've said before that I'd love to see a Nani, Rooney and bale front line for our club and imo that will elevate us to our former glory with great combination play and a big direct threat. All are all round players that can contribute wide and through the middle so inter changing will be relatively easy. If our build up is good enough then rooney holding the play up won't be as important and those other two can just use him as a wall to bounce plays off, we know he can do that. We also just need to have these players have offensive freedom in our system. The best games mata has is when he moves about and gets himself on the ball, him hanging about the touchline takes us nowhere. Great movement is pivotal in the final third and all these players are mobile enough to take us somewhere.
We've got some good players here but after a season we haven't implemented a system that can get the best out of them. We don't have players who give us something different of absolutely high quality. Players like bale can do that, and we know that because he's done it before. Have no idea why he wouldn't be able to do it again.
Obviously putting together a midfield that'll compete at the very highest level is pivotal to getting the best out of our attackers. We can't continue with mediocre players as we've seen where it gets us as a club. A ball playing defender will also serve us well.
---------Nani-----Rooney-----Bale------
-------------Herera-----DiMaria---------
-----------------Schneiderlin-------------
--------Shaw-Smalling-Stones-Clyne
-----------------------Valdes---------------
Would be a great start in terms of moving this team forward. Nani being the deepest of our forward line with his creativity and ball retention would be a nice touch. Rooney and Bale would bare most of the goal scoring responsibility and we all know they score goals in this league.
I fear that we'll go crazy in the market and change too much. We just need to raise the quality of the team so no mediocre players are starting 11 and we all know what happens when you put together players of great ability together in the same team.
I mean press the opponents so they defend deep (that's what they do against us), so people like Bale have problems with that, as they can't attack the players to their strengths (It' like you didn't watch him, or what, everybody can see that he has problems with that). For God's sake, in his best season at Tottenham he had big spells in games when he was invisible, but after 5-6 shots would score and everybody was happy, while actually if he played better they wouldn't need that goal at all.
But fine, it's probably me expecting more from 80mil player who is a winger/attaker, especially when there are better players than him and not just Messi. In my opinion he is overhyped and not a little bit, but....
That's an interesting thing to consider, especially of course because fees themselves don't always represent fair value of a player and his ability, they are usually influenced by aspects like age, contracts, marketability or Britishness.
Bale might be put somewhere between Ozil and Di Maria as things stand - he's not as good as either, but being British and being so hyped, added to the stupid fee Real paid for him, with years left on his contract, that might add up to about £50m, and then Real will have done well.
Nobody is signing Bale based on his performances at Madrid, you'd buy him based on his performances at Spurs. Clearly things don't work out for him there with Ronaldo canabalizing his chances and the Madrid fans giving him a very hard time for no reason at all except the fact he didn't prove out to be the next Ronaldo.
In that lign of thought you'd have to say Di Maria would be worth £10m right now based on his season with us...
I think if Real would sell it be for no less than £70m
Saw a video today about this fella talking about a meeting today from the suits and ties at Madrid to discuss the potential future of Bale and the De Gea saga. Could be a load of rubbish but it is clear now that the season is ending that the parties will have to come with official statements (soon) about atleast one of the two.
I don't see how he will work with LvG's philosophy. He's not technical like those small Spanish players, he can't dribble or keep or pass the ball properly. Reason he did good at Spurs was beacuse no team parks the bus against Spurs. He found it hard in Real beacuse teams don't attack Real, like it was the case with Spurs. He had less free space to run to.
Though, his shooting and free kicks will be useful.
His goal against Barca last season is symbolic of his strength. He has tremendous pace, but will not help against teams who don't allow you these space. If he gets to play for United, he will never be afforded that amount of space, ever. He has been completely anonymous in all the tough games this season. Couldn't do a single thing against Barca, Athletico Madrid etc.,
And blaming only Ronaldo for his failure isn't fair. Why do then players like James doing better than him?
Though, his shooting and free kicks will be useful.
His goal against Barca last season is symbolic of his strength. He has tremendous pace, but will not help against teams who don't allow you these space. If he gets to play for United, he will never be afforded that amount of space, ever. He has been completely anonymous in all the tough games this season. Couldn't do a single thing against Barca, Athletico Madrid etc.,
And blaming only Ronaldo for his failure isn't fair. Why do then players like James doing better than him?
Your post is spot on. Totally agree. I have a bad feeling if United go for him it's going to be a big expensive mess. Moreover they're trying to get De Gea on the cheap and we are planning to pay crazy money for one of their rejects?????! What kind of logic is that? Plus he's turned us down twice before, don't think he really cares for United tbh.
Any marquee signing for United is going to be an expensive mess. If Bale isn't worth 80m -- and I agree that Bale shouldn't be the most expensive footballer in the history of the universe -- what is he "worth"? 65m? 50m?
We need a game changer. Maybe that's Pogba or someone else. But we're not going to go from fourth place in England to the CL semifinals without at least one signing of the quality of Bale. We've seen what he can do in the English prem and in the CL. I'm not sure that even Di Maria at his very best was as lethal as Bale at his very best.
We need a game changer. Maybe that's Pogba or someone else. But we're not going to go from fourth place in England to the CL semifinals without at least one signing of the quality of Bale. We've seen what he can do in the English prem and in the CL. I'm not sure that even Di Maria at his very best was as lethal as Bale at his very best.
50m sounds about right.
Perez wouldn't sell Varane for 50m. Bale would cost at least 70m.
Let them have some bonuses over the years and they should just accept it rather than just let him be blamed for everything Real fecked up.
Tomorrow's press: Bale wants out. Giggs tries to talk him into United.
Offtopic: Monaco wants Falcao Mandzukic exchange.
Sun and The Mirror reporting he had a meeting with Madrid board and they said he is part of longterm plans.
Sky say sources at United said he is not on LVGs list but if he is made available by Real they would go for him.
Sky say sources at United said he is not on LVGs list but if he is made available by Real they would go for him.
Back to Sterling lol
Was Bale a success in his first season at Madrid? Even this season, he's scored over 15 goals. IF Madrid want to keep him? We should just tap him up all summer long. LVG should drop his name after every game if we don't get him in the summer, see how clever they think it is then knowing that Bale isn't Spanish and MIGHT actually be tempted by constant bullshit fed to the media
Cause great attacks need variety and him and Ronaldo are too similar and basically provide the same thing to the team. Its no surprise the best football madrid has played since galactico part 2 is earlier this season when they had the best variety in the team with plenty of players giving the team something different. This is how great attacks are made.
Basically James is much more comfortable in the 'hole' than James as he's technically superior. Earlier this season he played as a 10 starting wide with the two forwards ahead. When there's a clash of roles in a team someone's form is bound to suffer.
Couldnt have put it better.
due to his form this season maybe his price has dropped a bit..to ermm £60-70 million. he was never a £100 million player and even now 60million is still over the top. but on other recent fees i guess that's the number. any PL club needs to break the british record transfer fee to get him.
A lot of that does worry me. At the same time I feel he could be a huge success.
The main thing that worries me is that this could be another club purchase. We've wanted him for awhile and that shouldn't be the reason for getting him. Lvg should want him and feel the need for him in our system rather than it being a Real Madrid type purchase where the manager is given a great player to make fit in and a success.
I don't get the 80 million figures. Why is everyone using the fee Madrid paid which was clearly a bad mistake as the standard here? Suarez was 70-75 million and he's a notch or two above bale.
Don't think that is worry. VG signed off on every signing last summer and has stated multiple times that he identifies targets, gives ED a list with 2-3 options and then Woodie goes ahead and tries to negotiate for them.
I think it's a myth that di Maria and Falcao were not his signings. He name checked di Maria in his press conference and I am sure he wanted another goal scorer.
I think they both were his signings but bale has been wanted by us for good while so he's been a club target before lvg. So I don't think bale can be his target from the get go. He probably will be the one approving it and having the final say, but like I said, these players that the clubs desire can be risky at times.
For example, so many say bale belongs at United. What's the reason for that? He's British, he's Welsh and giggs' successor, he's the ideal man in the Fergie system etc. so much of it seems to do with old United rather than what lvg is doing.
Obviously much of this is random paranoia I guess but like I said, hope lvg really wants him for this system. Would be a bit funny though if our two most expensive signings - Di Maria and bale - aren't possession players.
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