He's also been given the opportunity to play like...
I get you...but it's not all been injuries has it?
Gareth Bale
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I get you...but it's not all been injuries has it?
As soon as you mention golf it’s hard to take what you say seriously
Based solely on this thread, I'm developing a masochistic hankering for us to sign him.
You can't compare the 2, Ronaldo has never had chronic injury problems and has legendary mental strength/motivation to continue to hold himself and those around him to a certain standard.
Bale has shown to be the exact opposite in those regards as much Florentino Perez was hoping he'd be their new Ronaldo
I'd sign up a 35 y/o Cristiano permanently in a heartbeat before a 31 y/o Bale on loan in my opinion
I’d be happy enough with perisic (or bale)
I’m not convinced the others have the same potential as sancho
What happened to our scouting department ? In old days if we failed to sign Ronaldinho, United would conjure up Cristiano. Failed to sign Shearer ? No problem, Yorke came and conquered Europe.
The sign of United having shit window is going after Real Madrid rejects and not pursuing real gems. Hope I'm wrong and this time we'll make some fair deals finally... or just get Sancho, ffs.
The sign of United having shit window is going after Real Madrid rejects and not pursuing real gems. Hope I'm wrong and this time we'll make some fair deals finally... or just get Sancho, ffs.
This is pretty key.
Everyone here acts like we would offer Real 50% of his salary without ever speaking to Bale and the decision would be made irrespective of his motivation, fitness levels or desire to prove critics wrong.
That is obviously unlikely to happen. Ole is likely to speak to Bale extensively about his responsibilities in being a role model to younger players. He's likely to quiz him about his motivations for making the move (although if many people had the option of earning the exact same salary for not working as they would for working the very fact that the wanted to work would speak to their motivations). Likewise our professional expectations and him having to fight for his place; all of which he's also likely to speak to his International manager and colleagues about also.
If he's hungry to prove the doubters wrong and, at literally no financial benefit to himself, wants to fight for his reputation; as a short term, inexpensive and risk free option; then Christ I'm on board.
When you look at almost every other player we could or have signed they've done so, at least in part, because they will earn more money by moving to United. This transfer would be unique in that it's the antithesis of "mercenary"; he'd be working voluntarily and in a worse environment solely for his reputation and (presumed) love for the game.
If anything maybe some of our players who are likely to be demanding large pay rises over the next few years might see Bale challenging himself for zero personal financial benefit and realise that playing week in week out for United might be preferable.
This is all on the assumption that our due diligence comes back favourably of course.
We've always had the Larsson's, Sheringham's and Owen's mixed in with the Ronaldo's and the Yorke's (although the latter was a record signing from a Premier League team so not exactly a bastion of scouting prowess).
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Has this story come from Jamie Jackson (basically United PR person in broadsheets)? At the most it’s likely a piped story to scare the Sancho negotiators. No legs to this one at all.
How many of the people here who want him are Welsh 
Must be some.
Even half his wages would be 15 mil / per annum and considering his injury record he will be costing us 500.000 per game even if he somehow manages to play (only) 30 games. And this is not even taking into account a lack of professionalism and being out of form.
Must be some.
Even half his wages would be 15 mil / per annum and considering his injury record he will be costing us 500.000 per game even if he somehow manages to play (only) 30 games. And this is not even taking into account a lack of professionalism and being out of form.
Bale will have to make some personal adjustments before we can even consider signing him, though.
Ole has stated on numerous occasions throughout his tenure that we have no room for "man buns" in our squad. That shit is contagious thus it has to go.
Ole has stated on numerous occasions throughout his tenure that we have no room for "man buns" in our squad. That shit is contagious thus it has to go.
Scare them? They don't want to sell, so why they scared at us looking elsewhere?
To be fair that was more a Ronaldo praising comment than a Bale bashing one. It is amusing though that he’s managed in one season at 35 more than Bale during his 4 ‘peak’ years.
The “it’s all Madrid’s fault” argument falls down though when you look at his Wales output over the last two years which as I’ve mentioned is the same as Dan James who has managed it in fewer games.
I don’t know why some are struggling to grasp that a player who was hugely reliant on their physicality is no longer close to what they were after shed loads of injuries. Rooney relied far less on his explosiveness than Bale as he’s a much better footballer from a technical perspective and it still impacted him hugely. Bale now is what Torres was two years after Chelsea bought him.
This makes @golden_blunder point even stronger. Think about it!
Yeah, I wont be expecting him to play 50-55 games a season.
Blimey some are really hysterical over this 
People prefer to use useless statistics instead of actually watching football these days. “He’s scored 2 goals in 10 games for Wales, he must be shit, I havnt seen him play though” and “He plays golf in his spare time, he’s clearly a shit professional who doesn’t like football“.
Hes an experienced champions league winning player who plays in a position where we need a player. We can’t sign the player we want so we’re plugging a gap, that doesn’t mean we’re going out and making a different signing on someone shitter in panic.
The main concern for me is that he wouldn’t remain injury free, but splitting his game time with Greenwood would help that and be good for them both.
The biggest decision is whether it’s worth stumping up the cash for Sancho now or risk waiting.
Managed 83 club games over the last 3 years.
Not against the idea of getting Bale on loan for a season at the right price. For me it would be an Ighalo type signing. Providing an experienced option/back-up for our young attackers, anything beyond that would be a bonus.
If he's not willing to accept that as his initial role here, then it's not worth the risk.
If he's not willing to accept that as his initial role here, then it's not worth the risk.
Good one. What I actually did was use the statistics to back up my argument. Unlike the vast majority of this thread being Welsh I’ve watched him play over the last 2 years for Wales and at no point has he looked anything like what he was at his peak when he was absolutely brilliant for us and I don’t remember a single game where I thought he was the best player on the pitch unlike the much maligned Dan James who has been. You keep on living in lala land though thinking because Bale was good he must still be good. That’s exactly how football works.
The key person from scouting department retired in 2013.
So what would you prefer be done if we don’t sign Sancho this year, who else out there fits what we need
Redcafe is going to be fun if this happens. One year meltdown and a civil war between his welsh fans and the rest.
If Ole blocks James Rodriguez and Gareth Bale in same transfer window, I doubt it will please Glazers/Ed and Ole will be shown the door if he doesnt perform.
And we haven't replaced them?
It looks different with different factors.
1.) Are we paying 600 a week or are RM subsidizing and/or is Bale willing to cut wages and we pay 300 ish. First one he can stay where he is, second one ok he might be worth the risk.
2.) What happens after a year? Are we going to do the crazy sht we do and give him a 5 year contract at 500 a week or will we let him go back to RM. You just know if he scores a blinder against the scousers or a big club in the Champions league then everyone will be saying pay him what he wants. Then 2 months in hes injured and we are back to a high paid player that we cant get rid of. So we have to be clear on the longer term plan with him.
3.)Thirdly does he expect to be first choice or his he willing to step down and be a bench player. Does he think hes too big to be dropped? Will he sulk like he has done at Real Madrid? For me he has to be willing to let our permanent front 3 - Rashford/Martial/Greenwood be first choice. Sure they can and should be dropped to rest or if they are out of form but if they are fit and on form those three start important matches.
1.) Are we paying 600 a week or are RM subsidizing and/or is Bale willing to cut wages and we pay 300 ish. First one he can stay where he is, second one ok he might be worth the risk.
2.) What happens after a year? Are we going to do the crazy sht we do and give him a 5 year contract at 500 a week or will we let him go back to RM. You just know if he scores a blinder against the scousers or a big club in the Champions league then everyone will be saying pay him what he wants. Then 2 months in hes injured and we are back to a high paid player that we cant get rid of. So we have to be clear on the longer term plan with him.
3.)Thirdly does he expect to be first choice or his he willing to step down and be a bench player. Does he think hes too big to be dropped? Will he sulk like he has done at Real Madrid? For me he has to be willing to let our permanent front 3 - Rashford/Martial/Greenwood be first choice. Sure they can and should be dropped to rest or if they are out of form but if they are fit and on form those three start important matches.
Sometimes it looks like we still have no basic structure in place as foundations for bigger success, we mainly scooped Donny because VDS helped us get through it with speed. Imagine what would be if Madrid gets Van de Beek year ago like they planned... thinking we'd probably be negotiating Ramsey to the final stages of the window now.
You missed my point
Even Perisic would be a better short term option because at least he would most likely be fit when he's needed.
We tried to get a head scout on loan but he was past it and only wanted to sit around playing cards
Well, i've only seen us linked with Sancho and Bale, so... I guess he is coming
Well, let's say Bale comes in and takes Greenwood's place, Greenwood could end up like Angel Gomes asking to leave. Every situation has a risk vs reward thing. But on the reward side, competition could actually be good for Greenwood.
Actually William would have made much more sense for us than Bale because William has been playing regularly, but well, there's not much time to go until the window closes, so Ed better sign someone quick!
But yeah, sometimes I get lost on expecting youth players to be developed and getting us back to ''The United way''... maybe we have to accept that the game has changed and it's not like it used to be under Fergie when we could get a Carrick from Tottenham and a Ferdinand from Leeds every once in a while for a good price...
Yeah of course but they weren't plucked from other teams at 16 which is what I thought you were referring to.
I think it says a lot that he was happy to go to China for the money at 29 last season. Also tastes a bit bitter knowing he's rejected us a bench of times.
Hard to replace Sir Alex!
I honestly have no idea. Which is why I think we’ll cave and pay the asking price.
could be a smokescreen for Sancho, letting Dortmund know we have other irons in the fire if they continue to play hardball over the transfer fee.It doesn't fit in with the culture of new player Ole is targetting, plus even if Bale's wages are subsidized partly by Real, his presence on 600k per week could cause issues in the moral esp if he got injured or wasn't playing well.
Its been well documented that alot of Manchester United operating manual was in "SAF's head"; a system he developed and refined over 20+ years. Once he left, alot of it left with him, so it doesn't work without him at its centre.
To be fair, Woodward has done an excellent job of creating a real life youth scouting structure, which is really starting to pay dividends, especially now he has a pro youth coach in OGS.
Buying established players seems to be a much more specialised brief: we look for youngish players with already high technical ability who want to play for the club. That wont generate such a massive shortlist.
Rio's £30m and Carrick's £18m were massive amounts of £ in those days and raised many eye brows. Also, many were totally underwhelmed with Carrick as a signing.
But my point was it doesnt make sense for us to take punts on 17 year olds for the first team when we are stacking the underage teams with quality players just a little bit younger than that. Theyre the gems thats being unearthed.
Really can’t wrap my head around anybody thinking this is a good idea.
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