Let’s sign Gareth Bale

My niece went to school with Bale and I would just like to clear up the false impression that he did not learn Spanish because he is unprofessional. Gareth did not learn Spanish because he is thick.

Leaving his intellect aside I have to agree, even as a passionate Welshman, that he would be the wrong signing for the rebuild we need. I would however agree that if it was a loan, with Real swallowing a large chunk of his wages, he would be a good player to have around for a season or two because he is class and as Spurs fans and Harry Redknapp can tell you, he works hard at his game and is a dedicated trainer who could set an example for the younger lads.
 
Gandalf said:
My niece went to school with Bale and I would just like to clear up the false impression that he did not learn Spanish because he is unprofessional. Gareth did not learn Spanish because he is thick.
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:lol: Blunt assessment. I like it.
 
Gandalf said:
My niece went to school with Bale and I would just like to clear up the false impression that he did not learn Spanish because he is unprofessional. Gareth did not learn Spanish because he is thick.

Leaving his intellect aside I have to agree, even as a passionate Welshman, that he would be the wrong signing for the rebuild we need. I would however agree that if it was a loan, with Real swallowing a large chunk of his wages, he would be a good player to have around for a season or two because he is class and as Spurs fans and Harry Redknapp can tell you, he works hard at his game and is a dedicated trainer who could set an example for the younger lads.
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Bloody hell!
Thought this was a defence of him, then you go hard :lol:

Learning a language as an adult isn't a cake walk. There's a reason why it's much easier the younger you are, and culturally in the UK we're used to others learning ours, so I wouldn't be harsh on him.

I'd save the harsh thoughts for the way he misses a lot of the season injured, and the ridiculous wad he's on.

A small fee loan with us paying some of his wages not all, is the only possible way it'd work. Even then It'd be like we've learn nothing from the past few years.
 
Sandikan said:
Bloody hell!
Thought this was a defence of him, then you go hard :lol:

Learning a language as an adult isn't a cake walk. There's a reason why it's much easier the younger you are, and culturally in the UK we're used to others learning ours, so I wouldn't be harsh on him.

I'd save the harsh thoughts for the way he misses a lot of the season injured, and the ridiculous wad he's on.

A small fee loan with us paying some of his wages not all, is the only possible way it'd work. Even then It'd be like we've learn nothing from the past few years.
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Except he a) has unlimited resources and ample time every day b) is surrounded by Spanish speakers, in Spain and c) has had five years.
 
settembrini said:
Bale blatantly is not a 'top quality player' anymore and hasn't been for some time. He used to be a lightening quick goal scorer and fairly good creative force. Now he's lost his pace, has an average scoring record and creates little. If you don't watch the games then just look at his stats on whoscored.com or check out the lowlight video compilations that Madrid fans make of his performances. Here's a recent one:



And as for the whole 'he's struggling because the fans boo him/he's unhappy in Madrid' argument... that's just baloney. He gets booed because he's a ludicrously highly paid player who has been rubbish for ages, his own bad performances caused the boos, not the other way around. Madrid is Bale's dream club that he fought to move to and has stated over and over that he wants to stay at. If he can't perform well for them how is he going to do it for United, a team he has repeatedly rejected the chance to sign for.

United would be mental to sign Bale, even on a loan it doesn't make any sense as right wing is our weakest position and needs the most investment. The last thing we need is yet another fading star looking to United to boost his pension.
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Watching this is an eye opener. Lord please can we avoid him. If we win him I'd wager Ed is on a club finances/personal bonus scheme.
 
Murder on Zidane's Floor said:
Except he a) has unlimited resources and ample time every day b) is surrounded by Spanish speakers, in Spain and c) has had five years.
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He'll know some, he probably just isn't so great at it he wants to be mocked on "RealMadridcafe" for how non great he is.
 
Call me a bitter old fecker but I'm so happy to see Bale suffering the ignominy of being told that Madrid don't want him and nobody else wanting him either (admittedly largely down to his massive wages). It's not just the fact that he turned us down on several occasions, but it's the dismissive manner that those approaches were dealt with - publically - by his agent. He made it sound like United were Tranmere Rovers compared to Madrid and that Bale would never deign to lower himself to join us. I hope he's starting to regret that stance slightly now, because up until we had our fingers burnt signing Sanchez we would have been all over him like a rash this summer. Even in our current state we can offer glamour, status and money that few other clubs can match - perfect for an ageing, injury plagued flair player like Bale - I'm just glad that on this occasion we're not going to be taken in.
 
Murder on Zidane's Floor said:
Except he a) has unlimited resources and ample time every day b) is surrounded by Spanish speakers, in Spain and c) has had five years.
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This exactly. It's a mentality problem. How can you expect to get on with your teammates if you can't even communicate with them. Same with Valencia: How the F can you play in England for 10 years and not speak English? The moment Frenkie de Jong signed for Barca he started Spanish lessons. That shows the mentality a player has: he wants to do everything he can to succeed, to remove the language barrier is the least you can do.
 
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future2future said:
This exactly. It's a mentality problem. How can you expect to get on with your teammates if you can't even communicate with them. Same with Valencia: How the F can you play in England for 10 years and not speak English? The moment Frenkie de Jong signed for Barca he started Spanish lessons. That shows the mentality a player has: he wants to so everything he can to succeed, to remove the language barrier is the least you can do.
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To be fair Valencia can speak to his team mates - he just didn't like speaking English in public.
 
Rusholme Ruffian said:
Call me a bitter old fecker but I'm so happy to see Bale suffering the ignominy of being told that Madrid don't want him and nobody else wanting him either (admittedly largely down to his massive wages). It's not just the fact that he turned us down on several occasions, but it's the dismissive manner that those approaches were dealt with - publically - by his agent. He made it sound like United were Tranmere Rovers compared to Madrid and that Bale would never deign to lower himself to join us. I hope he's starting to regret that stance slightly now, because up until we had our fingers burnt signing Sanchez we would have been all over him like a rash this summer. Even in our current state we can offer glamour, status and money that few other clubs can match - perfect for an ageing, injury plagued flair player like Bale - I'm just glad that on this occasion we're not going to be taken in.
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He’s a total prat. Always has been. He and his man purse are right where he deserves to be at the moment and Madrid deserve him as well. I’m loving every minute of it.
 
Rusholme Ruffian said:
Call me a bitter old fecker but I'm so happy to see Bale suffering the ignominy of being told that Madrid don't want him and nobody else wanting him either (admittedly largely down to his massive wages). It's not just the fact that he turned us down on several occasions, but it's the dismissive manner that those approaches were dealt with - publically - by his agent. He made it sound like United were Tranmere Rovers compared to Madrid and that Bale would never deign to lower himself to join us. I hope he's starting to regret that stance slightly now, because up until we had our fingers burnt signing Sanchez we would have been all over him like a rash this summer. Even in our current state we can offer glamour, status and money that few other clubs can match - perfect for an ageing, injury plagued flair player like Bale - I'm just glad that on this occasion we're not going to be taken in.
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My thoughts exactly
 
Rusholme Ruffian said:
Call me a bitter old fecker but I'm so happy to see Bale suffering the ignominy of being told that Madrid don't want him and nobody else wanting him either (admittedly largely down to his massive wages). It's not just the fact that he turned us down on several occasions, but it's the dismissive manner that those approaches were dealt with - publically - by his agent. He made it sound like United were Tranmere Rovers compared to Madrid and that Bale would never deign to lower himself to join us. I hope he's starting to regret that stance slightly now, because up until we had our fingers burnt signing Sanchez we would have been all over him like a rash this summer. Even in our current state we can offer glamour, status and money that few other clubs can match - perfect for an ageing, injury plagued flair player like Bale - I'm just glad that on this occasion we're not going to be taken in.
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:nervous: I hope so.
 
DO NOT WANT.

Feel like a bit of a DailyMail reader there. :eek:

  • Bale has turned us down plenty of times.
  • He definitely doesn't want to be here.
  • He's injury prone and getting older.
  • He'd still be very expensive
  • It's like Sanchez Mk 2.
 
Rusholme Ruffian said:
Call me a bitter old fecker but I'm so happy to see Bale suffering the ignominy of being told that Madrid don't want him and nobody else wanting him either (admittedly largely down to his massive wages). It's not just the fact that he turned us down on several occasions, but it's the dismissive manner that those approaches were dealt with - publically - by his agent. He made it sound like United were Tranmere Rovers compared to Madrid and that Bale would never deign to lower himself to join us. I hope he's starting to regret that stance slightly now, because up until we had our fingers burnt signing Sanchez we would have been all over him like a rash this summer. Even in our current state we can offer glamour, status and money that few other clubs can match - perfect for an ageing, injury plagued flair player like Bale - I'm just glad that on this occasion we're not going to be taken in.
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I doubt Bale himself is regretting anything. 100+ goals for Madrid, all he has won, and an excellent career. I'd say he has been the most successful British football export of all time.

Injuries aside, if we signed him, he would be our best player by a country mile, making the likes of Pogba look like an amateur, although we won't sign him.
 
I definately see a loan deal for Bale to Utd happening in the last week of the transfer window.

I can't see anyone buying him outright, but Madrid will just want rid when they can't find a buyer. Utd will probay have a frustrating summer, not being able to our targets, and so revert back to our old ways at the end of the summer. It's a match made in heaven.
 
Steven-UK said:
I doubt Bale himself is regretting anything. 100+ goals for Madrid, all he has won, and an excellent career. I'd say he has been the most successful British football export of all time.
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You misunderstand me. I don't mean that he has anything to regret in terms of staying with Madrid these last few years - I mean more whether his agent might regret taking such a dismissive tone when discussing United in the past...given that we would now be a very good option for him.
 
Rusholme Ruffian said:
You misunderstand me. I don't mean that he has anything to regret in terms of staying with Madrid these last few years - I mean more whether his agent might regret taking such a dismissive tone when discussing United in the past...given that we would now be a very good option for him.
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I do wonder whether sometimes this particular agent was speaking more from himself and not Gareth. He certainly seems to have his head stuck in sand the money grabbing git
 
ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
I definitely see a loan deal for Bale to Utd happening in the last week of the transfer window.

I can't see anyone buying him outright, but Madrid will just want rid when they can't find a buyer. Utd will probay have a frustrating summer, not being able to our targets, and so revert back to our old ways at the end of the summer. It's a match made in heaven.
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Still difficult.

Real Madrid would have to subsidise part of his salary, or he would have to take a hefty pay cut. The salaries of footballers are generally unverified but there's some sort of unanimity among the various sources that Bale is still one of the top 5-6 earners in world football and ahead of our own mistake, Sanchez.

We've seen how damaging having someone in the books at Sanchez's salary bracket can be, even if he's a free-ish transfer, a trade or a loan. It can have a huge impact on your wage structure and the demands of other players so you incur another, hidden cost and risk player discontent to boot. Ed might lack football knowledge but he's not an idiot and he'll have learned from the Sanchez debacle.

The only way I can see it happen is if we pay RM a nominal loan fee of like £5-10 million on top of them picking up half the player's salary, to bring the salary level to around £200k-£250k range, as opposed the alleged £400-£500k he is on at the moment. But then the question is, do Madrid want to see the back of him so much that they are willing to accept such a low-ball deal instead of keeping him as an option?
 
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ClaytonBlackmoorLeftPeg said:
I definately see a loan deal for Bale to Utd happening in the last week of the transfer window.

I can't see anyone buying him outright, but Madrid will just want rid when they can't find a buyer. Utd will probay have a frustrating summer, not being able to our targets, and so revert back to our old ways at the end of the summer. It's a match made in heaven.
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Don't see it happening. Whatever Ole's faults, he wouldn't sanction it. Bale is not the profile of player Ole would fancy at all.
 
MadMike said:
Why do you feel Ole has that much say and power of veto? Mourinho didn't.
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I think Woodward only vetoed Mourinho's targets but didn't purchase players Mourinho didn't like. Completely different things.

Woodward is a pain but he either buys the manager's targets for the most part or vetoes them. Yes, he suggests some marquee signings but those are likely given the green light by the manager. Di Maria was name-dropped by LvG and sold immediately when LvG didn't like him. Jose likely agreed to Sanchez before Woodward bought him.
 
Kapardin said:
Don't see it happening. Whatever Ole's faults, he wouldn't sanction it. Bale is not the profile of player Ole would fancy at all.
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If it is loan deal, i would definitely get him..If we can somehow keep him healthy, he can atleast get us goals
 
Kapardin said:
I think Woodward only vetoed Mourinho's targets but didn't purchase players Mourinho didn't like. Completely different things.

Woodward is a pain but he either buys the manager's targets for the most part or vetoes them. Yes, he suggests some marquee signings but those are likely given the green light by the manager. Di Maria was name-dropped by LvG and sold immediately when LvG didn't like him. Jose likely agreed to Sanchez before Woodward bought him.
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I don't know. We have no clue one way or another. Personally, I didn't feel that Sanchez was a deal Mourinho particularly wanted and it was driven by Ed's desire for a marquee signing and to one-up City.

Perhaps he didn't oppose it either, it's a player acquisition after all. But you have to accept that when you're at a club where the Chairman proposes transfer targets based on his own (commercial or otherwise) reasoning, then it takes a certain level of both authority and feeling of safety in one's job as manager to oppose him.

You feel Ole is in a strong position to tell Woodward "no, I'm not having it", if Woody wants his marquee signing and gets a good deal on it? No chance. Ole probably feels slightly lucky to still be on the job, based on the end of the season he's just had. He's in no position to dictate much and he knows it. If the Chairman says we're getting Bale he'll have to swallow it and work with it, if it means he gets some of the players he wants. Ole's done nothing to prove he should command absolute authority over transfers.
 
MadMike said:
I don't know. We have no clue one way or another. Personally, I didn't feel that Sanchez was a deal Mourinho particularly wanted and it was driven by Ed's desire for a marquee signing and to one-up City.

Perhaps he didn't oppose it either, it's a player acquisition after all. But you have to accept that when you're at a club where the Chairman proposes transfer targets based on his own (commercial or otherwise) reasoning, then it takes a certain level of both authority and feeling of safety in one's job as manager to oppose him.

You feel Ole is in a strong position to tell Woodward "no, I'm not having it", if Woody wants his marquee signing and gets a good deal on it? No chance. Ole probably feels slightly lucky to still be on the job, based on the end of the season he's had. He's in no position to dictate much and he knows it. If the Chairman says we're getting Bale he'll have to swallow it and work with it, if it means he gets some of the players he wants. Ole's done nothing to prove he should command absolute authority over transfers.
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Wouldn't you argue peak Sanchez is a typical Mourinho player? Works hard, world class scorer who doesn't need coaxing, rarely gets injured. I can't see Mourinho not liking him for what he was, if he didn't see his decline.
 
Kapardin said:
Wouldn't you argue peak Sanchez is a typical Mourinho player? Works hard, world class scorer who doesn't need coaxing, rarely gets injured. I can't see Mourinho not liking him for what he was, if he didn't see his decline.
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During his peak at Arsenal Sanchez showed a bit of a selfish nature and diva-like behaviour with strong hints of petulance. Mourinho wants player-soldiers that are strong mentally and do everything he asks of them, above all. So I have my doubts as to whether Sanchez fits that bill as a character.

Also Mourinho was pre-occupied with sorting his defence CB/FB situation at the time and didn't seem to be looking for a forward which is what makes it an Ed signing for me.
 
MadMike said:
Still difficult.

Real Madrid would have to subsidise part of his salary, or he would have to take a hefty pay cut. The salaries of footballers are generally unverified but there's some sort of unanimity among the various sources that Bale is still one of the top 5-6 earners in world football and ahead of our own mistake, Sanchez.

We've seen how damaging having someone in the books at Sanchez's salary bracket can be, even if he's a free-ish transfer, a trade or a loan. It can have a huge impact on your wage structure and the demands of other players so you incur another, hidden cost and risk player discontent to boot. Ed might lack football knowledge but he's not an idiot and he'll have learned from the Sanchez debacle.

The only way I can see it happen is if we pay RM a nominal loan fee of like £5-10 million on top of them picking up half the player's salary, to bring the salary level to around £200k-£250k range, as opposed the alleged £400-£500k he is on at the moment. But then the question is, do Madrid want to see the back of him so much that they are willing to accept such a low-ball deal instead of keeping him as an option?
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I think what you say in your last para is what will happen. We aren't as desperate to sign him as we once were, and so not prepared to break the bank for him, but Inthink Utd may be the only destination open to Bale. It will be a small (relativley) loan fee with Real having to stump up a proportion of his wages. I think they want rid of him by any means possible.
 
Bale would be a hindrance in the very issues we have at the club with Sanchez. Overpaid past it individual who offers nothing long term. He's had repetitive chances to join and has always declined, let Tottenham / Chelsea be the suckers to give him a retirement home. Achieved many things at Madrid but never appreciated by the fans. I will never understand footballers desires to join that club, fair enough it's Spain but the culture of fans is disgraceful.

If Pogba thinks a minority (less than 30) of fans giving him abuse here is bad, he shod try being boo' by thousands even when he's doing decent :lol:
 
To be honest, at this point I'd try anything and he plays on the right side of the front three which is where we need someone new so sod it. All in. Ship off Sanchez and replace his wages with Bale. If that doesn't work ship him off too.

Just fecking do something United. If Ed wants his marquee signing then sod it, Bale will do. Let Ole focus on the rest of the squad and hopefully if he stays fit then RW is at least sorted, if not then we get someone next season.
 
I'm a fan of Bale and I probably would have been happy had he came here during Jose's time here, but that ship has sailed now. We need to get away from overpaying wages for players no longer in their prime and injury prone. The Sanchez coming for the money and the Di Maria coming here when he didn't want to, need to be lessons we've learned, and I 'd see both those issues apply to bale if he ever did come here. I honestly don't think he's an Ole type player/signing anyway. I think we will start to move away from this type of "galatico" signing to getting more younger, hungry type players, hopefully.
 
Steven-UK said:
I doubt Bale himself is regretting anything. 100+ goals for Madrid, all he has won, and an excellent career. I'd say he has been the most successful British football export of all time.

Injuries aside, if we signed him, he would be our best player by a country mile, making the likes of Pogba look like an amateur, although we won't sign him.
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Yes he won't be regretting much but he even after winning 4 CL, he would never be remembered as a Real Madrid great. He should have left last season if not 2 seasons ago and created a legacy elsewhere. Now the ship has sailed and not many top clubs would take a risk on him.
 
If we get rid of Sanchez & Lukaku, I'd take him on loan.

Could be deadly through the middle. If it doesn't work out it's only a loan.
 
bond19821982 said:
No one is buying him and Zidane doesn't have him in his plans. We offer a way to take the wages off them.
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He'd still be their problem the season after and, being a year older, be even harder to shift. Doesn't really make sense for them unless they've just given up on selling him, in which case they may as well let him go on a free.
 
SS said:
He'd still be their problem the season after and, being a year older, be even harder to shift. Doesn't really make sense unless they've just given up on selling him, in which case they may as well let him go on a free.
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Offer him on loan with an option to buy at an agreed price. Rinse, repeat each season until he moves to another club or his contract runs out. You might have to pay 20% of his wages year 1 and increase it by 20% each year to make it attractive but you're recouping some money on a player the world knows is not wanted and he's not an issue in the dressing room.
 
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