This. Louis' system places emphasis on the subtler stuff - working the pockets, weaving passes through the spaces and movement. This is why the real intelligent players like Herrera, Carrick, Blind and Mata are flourishing in midfield under him. Bastian would be a solid addition to that. Bale doesn't do well when he doesn't have space to attack; he will rarely have it if he comes here given our system of possession rather than hitting people on the break. Opponents are also less likely to keep a high line against us.
Gareth Bale
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This. Louis' system places emphasis on the subtler stuff - working the pockets, weaving passes through the spaces and movement. This is why the real intelligent players like Herrera, Carrick, Blind and Mata are flourishing in midfield under him. Bastian would be a solid addition to that. Bale doesn't do well when he doesn't have space to attack; he will rarely have it if he comes here given our system of possession rather than hitting people on the break. Opponents are also less likely to keep a high line against us.
The reason the club has desired him, if that is indeed true, is because he is one of the top wide players in the world. You'd be hard pressed to find many players with Bale's productivity; averaging a goal every two games playing is no mean task, most strikers would kill for those kind of numbers. If Van Gaal wants to play 433 as his predominant system with us then I could see very few reasons from him and the club to not be on the same page.
Forgive me for saying this, but half this system talk and the view that he would be useless in right spaces is ridiculous. The poster you quoted said, "no one parks the bus against Spurs"; it boggles my mind that someone who watched Spurs in Bale's final season can hold that view. Even Fergie parked the bus and played on the counter at WHL that season. Bale was regularly bailing Spurs out with his ability to run at defenses and scoring from the long range; he made defenders uncomfortable with his pace, strength and shooting ability. He is not a Messi or Hazard with low of center of gravity and guile in extremely tight spaces, but then very few players are. And actually, who doesn't struggle when space is limited? Are Robben or Ronaldo great in these "tight spaces"?
Despite all the "philosophy" talk, LVG has shown himself to be flexible enough to adapt to different systems. Bale would be extremely useful as a wide player in the 433/4231/433 or as one of the strikers in a 352. This season, we have struggled in games because of our lack of pace and ability to get behind opposition defense, Bale is an instant solution for those issues. He is very good at free-kicks and so is his long range shooting. With Bale we can have other options than hoofing it to Fellaini whenever we are struggling to break down teams. His pace would help us stretch games and push defenses back. At times this season, we have looked painfully slow on the counter except when di Maria was on the pitch. It has been surreal watching us struggle on counter with Mata and Fellaini running at the oppositions Goal.
The system would not work if we keep passing the ball uselessly between the defense and the midfield. Someone, somewhere would need to take a chance, and Bale is a player with skills to do that. The Bayern fan, Balu, has mentioned previously that the system was similarly slow and ponderous at Bayern and most of the time the onus was on Robben to produce something. Bale can be that player for us. We have been so easy to defend against this entire season, the opposition defense and midfield just sit back and enjoy us pass the ball from side to side without every threatening them; if anything the system would have make a leeway for Bale, as it should.
This forum would have you believe that Bale is some run-of-the-mill speed merchant who runs in straight lines and can only excel in an empty ground, when he is much more than that.
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Very good post.
As I've said a few times in this thread, the "system" as it stands has a glaring flaw - namely that we're so one paced and predictable, we're easy to play against.
Teams let us have the ball, accept it might be a draw but try and hit us on the break - as Everton did to perfection. We meanwhile spend most of the time shuffling the ball in triangles against a packed midfield and defence. The only chance of success is a bit of brilliance unlocking through the middle, or getting a cross in towards Fellaini - a tactic Moyes was derided for last year.
The best sides change the pace of their attack - by passing quickly but also by having quick and strong players who can run with the ball. Players like Bale create uncertainties in defenders - they don't know whether to try and close him down or back off and that creates space. He may not be a metronomic five yard passer but we have players like that. We do not have a player who can offer what Bale does along with as close as you can get to a guarantee he'll do we'll in the PL.
The fact some ignore is that we'll see if he fits LVG's system by whether the club makes a move. It's looking likely we would want him if he was available so that would suggest the manager feels he does fit whatever system he wants to rely on next year. Despite what people on here think.
Absolutely. However buying players is not as simple as "quality player. Let's buy." Otherwise there's no reason for bale to be struggling so much at Madrid. The "fit" does matter. Otherwise bale is simply not a top player given his performances aren't reflecting it.
With regards to the bolded bit, robben is great in tight spaces given he's one of the best dribblers in the game. Ronaldo isn't as good but he scores 50 goals a season so it doesnt matter. But he is technically far better than bale. His first touch is superb.
Look, I think he's a very good footballer. But his technical quality not being up there with the best is actually true. Anyone who watched Madrid can see it. That doesn't mean he isn't a top player. He can be more effective than players who are better than him technically because a) physically he's brilliant and b) his shooting is fantastic.
Having said that I think he's being made a scapegoat at Madrid to an extent. Even the good things he does don't get praise now anD it's become fashionable to deride him.
I think he should be really good for us because he's pretty perfect for the league. In many ways his explosiveness could be just what we need. At the same time I do have a small amount of doubt whether he'd suit our system. I don't think either stance makes a caricature of the footballer's abilities.
I'd hardly say Mata and Blind are flourishing I'd say they are producing the minimum we'd expect from them and both had a decent season at best. Flourishing they are not. If Bale is available we should move heaven and earth for him. Keep hearing people say he won't suit as we don't play the football that won't suit him. We don't counter attack just now as we don't have the players to do it simple as. Add Bale and he's an upgrade to any attacker in our team it beggars belief that we wouldn't sign him if he's available.
I think rather than going for big name players, the management should decide on targets which would give most benefit to the team. How the team can make better use of ADM, Mata should be of primary importance. I believe United needs a CM/CDM more than a Bale-type player. Depends alot also on how LVG decides to play next season, is it 4-2-3-1/4-3-3?
Well fair enough. Certainly doing a lot better than the rest of the team. Besides, I think they will produce more next season if we bring in proper quality on the right, when the team gels even more, and when we have added quality in midfield. I might be very wrong about Bale, but I just can't see him and Di Maria in the same team when they're both quite similar; direct attacking players who like to run at the opposition. If it came down to choosing between them though I'd pick Bale.
I'd love both them lefty Bale in the front three and Di Maria left of a midfield three. Feck me that would be good to watch.
They were both in the same team that won the Champions League last season, so that should really be good enough for us too imo.
How will we fit Di Maria, Bale and Depay in the team at the same time? Because all three should be starters.
Bale from all reports and friends behind the scenes apparently doesn't want to leave Madrid,
Madrid from reports see him as a longterm member of the squad and have no intention of selling him this summer,
Bale has turned us down twice before, so clearly would jump at the chance to come here this time.
Colour me negative, but I'm not optimistic.
Madrid from reports see him as a longterm member of the squad and have no intention of selling him this summer,
Bale has turned us down twice before, so clearly would jump at the chance to come here this time.
Colour me negative, but I'm not optimistic.
Is that why Bale looked madrids most dangerous attacker vs Juventus in the second leg despite them sitting deep and closing the spaces?
Think this one looks dead.
Yea but there's no way we would play him where Real did in that game. He was almost given a free role along the forward line.
We will sign a holding or midfielder regardless. That I'm sure of.
Depay doesn't necessarily need to play every single game. He's only 20 and will probably take time to adjust to the league. Plus Di Maria can play in midfield as well as attack.
Yeah the "noises" coming out of Madrid aren't looking great. Everyone involved seems to want to make it work for the long term, except Madrid fans who want to whistle and wave their white knickers.
Why not? That's exactly how we'd get the best out of him.
Oh I don't know. I might be really wrong. Just my opinion. I'm still not sure how Di Maria's going to fit in.
Somewhere in midfield.
There there are people who just WANT to believe he's unhappy but from all the paparazzi pictures he always looks very happy to me. And seeing as he is Perez's favorite id say there is little to no chance he leaves next season. He'll be there for a while.
Dropped from today's line up and not brought on
By selling Di Maria.
All the reports? Don't know what you've read but according to Ogden he wants out. Sunday Times also back this up http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sport/football/European_football/article1557197.ece
Reports in Spain over the last few days Bale's agent asked Madrid if he was up for sale, he's clearly looking at potential suitors.
Tempted to believe Balague though if he insists he wont be sold, if Perez doesn't want to dispose of Bale yet then there's nothing we can do.
What are you expecting, pictures of him frowning?
Well as you mentioned yourself Balague for one, and others like Brazil saying close friends of Bale telling him as recently as a week ago, of Bale's desire and determination to fight it out and make himself a success next season with Real.
It honestly feels like the British media stoking up the fire more-so than anything on Bale or Reals end right now.
Of course things can change quickly, particuarly where Real are concerned I suppose.
It's his dream club, he isn't going anywhere by his own volition.
He might talk the talk about wanting to stay and fight for his place, but I bet that privately he'd jump at the chance to get out. I get the same impression from Di Maria for us.
Balague is certainly sure of himself on Bale staying as he is about Ancelotti going, so he is obviously getting solid info.
I rate him. He gets a bad press on here, but for me he's usually spot on.
Well he's clearly been told this stuff, so the only way he'll be wrong is if there is a change or heart, this is Madrid we are talking about though so it could easily happen, and seemingly every season they sell a major asset...... Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema, Ramos? I know who my money would be on.
Sometimes dreams don't turn out to be quite as expected.
By all accounts his family have moved back to Blighty after being homesick. He is probably homesick too - he can't speak the language. This could sway him.
There is a very real chance he could leave this summer. Far from certain though.
And Real Madrid, like us, would jump at the opportunity to sell for a fee approaching what they paid for him.
100m Euros. Get it done.
We could buy 3 great players in positions we need more for that amount of money. Suarez went for less for christ's sake
Are you watching this shite, get the fecker bought.
"can't dribble, tight spaces" etc etc....
As long as he can kick a football, he will be an improvement over this lot.
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Number 1 target. Our strikers are useless.
To be fair to them, I think the team were playing in second gear today, they found it very difficult to get started. Think they'd started their holidays already.
Top post. We have to get some players who can run at the defense, get behind the defenders and have the ability to shoot from distance.
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