Gareth Bale is...The most expensive player ever?!

[Cling Bak]

That old chestnut. The reason he wasn't getting games will have been because he wasn't playing well. Does my head in that people constantly talk about young players having their development hindered by not getting enough games. The managers work with them all week on the training pitches and there'll be a very good reason if/when they don't pick them at the weekend. Bale clearly went through a period where he was struggling to put it altogether (down to a string of injuries, as much as anything else) but since he's got his shit together (and matured as a footballer) he's established himself as a first-team regular. Let's not put the cart before the horse, eh?

/rant

Stay calm. I used inverted commas on the stalled part because it wasn't me who'd claimed his development had stalled in the first place.

He wasn't playing regularly for Tottenham. This isn't disputable. He came with a reputation and showed promise playing for Wales and Southampton. He was young and people expected a lot from him, which he didn't deliver for some time.

I understand managers see more than we do and Harry chose his moment to give him regular games (though from memory didn't he have injuries/suspensions and his hand was forced with Bale and Bentley, who's careered looked to be going nowhere at Spurs?).

I also mentioned his injuries. But back-to-back games helps the confidence of any footballer.

 

[gaffs]

We should have bought him from Southampton - i know there was a lot of talk at the time. Giggs should have had a word on international duty.

 

[Cling Bak]

He's not a left back though. I don't think they'll play him there against anyone decent.

I thought the same, but funnily enough Redknapp came out and said that left-back is the position he sees Bale playing in the future and that the team wouldn't lose that attacking threat as he's capable of getting up and down, ala Cole.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Stay calm. I used inverted commas on the stalled part because it wasn't me who'd claimed his development had stalled in the first place.

He wasn't playing regularly for Tottenham. This isn't disputable. He came with a reputation and showed promised playing for Wales and Southampton. He was young and people expected a lot from him, which he didn't deliver for some time.

I understand managers see more than we do and Harry chose his moment to give him regular games (though from memory didn't he have injuries/suspensions and his hand was forced with Bale and Bentley, who's careered looked to be going nowhere at Spurs?).

I also mentioned his injuries. But back-to-back games helps the confidence of any footballer.

Correct. Which is why they need to show enough in training to actually get picked in back to back games (not playing shit in the games they do get picked for will also help)

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We should have bought him from Southampton - i know there was a lot of talk at the time. Giggs should have had a word on international duty.

At the time he was a full-back and we were asking him to join a team who already had (arguably) the best left-back in the world, who was only in his mid twenties. That's a tough sell.

Put it this way, if I was Bale's old man I wouldn't have hesitated telling him to to Spurs to prove himself and get PL experience so that he could do a Carrick/Saha/Berbatov and move to a club like United later on in his career (and I'm a United fan!)

 

[Cling Bak]

Correct. Which is why they need to show enough in training to actually get picked in back to back games (not playing shit in the games they do get picked for will also help)

Of course. But from memory, he was thrown into a game back in January (having not featured for a bit, iirc) and performed well in it. So it's taking his chances more than anything else. Off the back of that he got another game and he continued to perform.

Previously he'd get a game here and there and wouldn't perform as well.

I wonder what Bale's take on his best position is though. He seems more dangerous and effective at left midfield.

 

[peterstorey]

He's had some interstellar hype on here. Back April...

May as well just buy Jojo the Chimp from Chester Zoo:

Pros:
1. Cheap wages, just a few banana's a day.
2. Has lots of passion/anger/sexual deviancy
3. Hurls own feces at opposition players when the match isn't going our way
4. Hurls own feces at opposition players when the match is going our way
5. Hurls own feces at anyone in Jojo's vacinity
6. Can play anywhere, including the floodlights.

Cons:

1. Has lots of feces
2. Dreams of Madrid/Jungle
3. Chester Zoo aren't a selling zoo
4. Wears funny sized boots
5. Might climb the floodlights fall to death and never return.

Now compare Jojo to Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale Pros:

1. Hurls less feces than Jojo.
2. Chimp-like features without Chimp-like actions.

Gareth Bale Cons:

1. Being shit
2. More expensive than Jojo.
3. Gareth Bale

....and about six games later he's not quite as good as Messi.

 

[sincher]

I don't think he's THAT good. He's not a player I'm bothered about having at United for example. But he'll be a very good premiership player for years to come, and that didn't look too certain a year ago.

 

[gaffs]

At the time he was a full-back and we were asking him to join a team who already had (arguably) the best left-back in the world, who was only in his mid twenties. That's a tough sell.

Put it this way, if I was Bale's old man I wouldn't have hesitated telling him to to Spurs to prove himself and get PL experience so that he could do a Carrick/Saha/Berbatov and move to a club like United later on in his career (and I'm a United fan!)

He was always going to turn into a left mid. Suppose we bought Nani about that time.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

He was always going to turn into a left mid. Suppose we bought Nani about that time.

I dunno about that. Apparently Jack Rodwell was always going to turn into a central defender but I'd be very surprised if he doesn't spend his career in midfield.

Lot of unknowns in a young players eventual role but at the time we could have made him an offer he was getting his football as a LB and he would have seen Evra ahead of him in the pecking order, blocking him from getting games for the next several years.

 

[Brwned]

He was always going to turn into a left mid. Suppose we bought Nani about that time.

"His confidence is sky high – he's become an amazing player. I think he will be [as good as Ashley Cole]. Ashley is fantastic. He started as a left-winger at Arsenal and he's ended up at left-back, and this kid's the same. If he's going to be the best anywhere, I think it'll be from left-back. I've got Benoît [Assou-Ekotto], who does well for me there. But in the long term, it's all in front of [Bale at left-back]."

Harry Redknapp

 

[Jens' Face]

Bale constantly gets outpaced? Eh? Have you watched Spurs in the last 6months? He's fecking rapid.

He does get constantly out paced. Pace is not an attribute he possess. But why you chose to insult me than express your own opinion is beyond me, it's whats wrong with the football forums in my opinion. Unnecessary.

Where did I insult you

I read that first post like KP did, to be fair. After someone has just expressed a judgment on a player, asking them if they've even watched the player is insulting. Anyone can see that. And that is one of the things wrong with football forums.

(Another thing is the hyper-literalism, which messageboards enable, and which is used to try to win arguments rather than come to some understanding. Claiming not to have insulted KP is an example.)

 

[gaffs]

"His confidence is sky high – he's become an amazing player. I think he will be [as good as Ashley Cole]. Ashley is fantastic. He started as a left-winger at Arsenal and he's ended up at left-back, and this kid's the same. If he's going to be the best anywhere, I think it'll be from left-back. I've got Benoît [Assou-Ekotto], who does well for me there. But in the long term, it's all in front of [Bale at left-back]."

Harry Redknapp

Yeah, i heard Harry say that and i can see his point.

But Bale has found this amazing form, last few months of last season and early this season, while at left mid.

He played left back against us at the end of last season and left gaps as wide at the Panama Canal for our players to run through. He was at fault for 1, maybe two, of the goals we scored.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Gareth Bale is quick though.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yeah, i heard Harry say that and i can see his point.

But Bale has found this amazing form, last few months of last season and early this season, while at right back.

He played left back against us at the end of last season and left gaps as wide at the Panama Canal for our players to run through. He was at fault for 1, maybe two, of the goals we scored.

He was awful against us. Long may it continue.

One point about Bale that seems to have been forgotten is that he was absolutely sensational at taking free-kicks for So'ton. I remember thinking he struck the ball like a mirror-image of Beckham.

For some reason his radar's been a bit off for Spuds (I think he's only scored from a FK once?) but once he starts regularly pinging 25-30 yarders in to the top corner his stock will rise even further.

 

[sammsky1]

He reminds me alot of Lee Sharpe in the way he plays

 

[Salvation]

Of course Arshavin is and Nani and even bleedin' Park.

1/3. I'd put Nani and Bale at par, may be Bale's somewhat better. Arshavin's better than all four. Park isn't effective as a proper winger, feel his best position is behind the strikers.

Got called a spastic for saying we should've signed him a while ago. Go figure.

Um...it's the 'Caf, after all.

 

[Treble]

Bale has either scored or provided the assist in seven of the eight goals scored by Spurs so far this season.

 

[gaffs]

I would say he is as good as Valencia, if not better.

 

[Jens' Face]

I would say he is as good as Valencia, if not better.

and that tells you something, coming from a Utd supporter. He must be good!

(my guess is most people, who don't support Utd, would say that Bale is clearly better than Valencia)

 

[Cutch]

He's good but he constantly gets outpaced by every man and his dog which annoys me. For me to consider him on the level sky are rating him, I would have to see him prove he can play like he is for a full season, rather than just parts of last and the start of this.

This is soooo soooo wrong. Bale is a flyin machine. I would fancy him to win a race against just about anyone in the league

 

[finneh]

He is one of the most promising young Premier League players (if not the). At 21 he's already one of Spurs' key players. I can easily see him being worth £30+m in a year or 2, whether he turns into a left back or stays on the wing.

 

[gaffs]

and that tells you something, coming from a Utd supporter. He must be good!

(my guess is most people, who don't support Utd, would say that Bale is clearly better than Valencia)

To be honest, there are players in most possitions in the Premier league than what we have.

Were just the best team - or at least we were.

 

[Top]

Got called a spastic for saying we should've signed him a while ago. Go figure.

No one called you a spastic.

https://www.redcafe.net/f9/gareth-bale-222139/index4.html#post7939280

 

[Salvation]

and that tells you something, coming from a Utd supporter. He must be good!

(my guess is most people, who don't support Utd, would say that Bale is clearly better than Valencia)

Yes. Spurs easily have the best set of wingers in the league, better than City.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Yes. Spurs easily have the best set of wingers in the league, better than City.

Wow. You seem to be implying City have better wingers than "us". How absurd.

The comparison with Spurs' winger is at least debatable but I wouldn't swap, especially with Giggs and Park as back-up.

(using quotes around "us" in view of your recent comments about how you no longer consider yourself a United fan, after 7 or 8 whole years supporting them, through thick and... well... thick)

 

[GlastonSpur]

He's a talented player but he's not used at left back because his defending is crap. ...

It's more the case that Assou-Ekotto is decent (usually) at LB, so Bale is not especially needed there: much better for the moment to play Bale further up the pitch, where he and Ekotto have formed a good left-flank partnership, both defensively and attack-wise,

Bale in LW also allows Modric to play more centrally, from where he potentially has more chance of influencing play.

.... As an attacking midfielder I'd say he's had a few good moments but shown nowhere near the range of skills you'd want from a top class player in that position.

Bale has shown he's got pretty much every type of skill needed by a LW, all combined with lighting pace, drive, fighting spirit and determination, not to mention bags of energy.

Who are all these superior "top class" left-wingers you refer to?

 

[KingMinger22]

I think he is a brilliant prospect.

We should go all out for him next year. Rodwell too!

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I think he's outstanding. Pace, power, technique and goals. Everything you need in the premier league.

 

[Berlinknives]

I thought the same, but funnily enough Redknapp came out and said that left-back is the position he sees Bale playing in the future and that the team wouldn't lose that attacking threat as he's capable of getting up and down, ala Cole.

Yes this the man who started Rio Ferdinand in midfield ... Fergie should've known better before playing him there against Portsmouth.

 

[peterstorey]

Bale has shown he's got pretty much every type of skill needed by a LW, all combined with lighting pace, drive, fighting spirit and determination, not to mention bags of energy.

Who are all these superior "top class" left-wingers you refer to?

Knee jerk reactions with the emphasis on jerk. Bale fails to progeress at LB, his prime position as far as his manager is concerned. He's switched to LW has half a dozen decent games and now he's better than Malouda, Arshavin, Riberty et al. Do me a favour.

 

[Feed Me]

Knee jerk reactions with the emphasis on jerk. Bale fails to progeress at LB, his prime position as far as his manager is concerned. He's switched to LW has half a dozen decent games and now he's better than Malouda, Arshavin, Riberty et al. Do me a favour.

1) Whilst all the reaction is a tad knee-jerk, he's clearly been better than "decent".

2) Ribery is shit.

In all seriousness though, only a fool would deny this boy's talent. Yep, he may have been poor at left back, but he's a fecking revelation on the flank. As fine a talent in his position and age as I've seen of late.

You're wearing those Gooner-specs again.

 

[Hellboy]

Knee jerk reactions with the emphasis on jerk. Bale fails to progeress at LB, his prime position as far as his manager is concerned. He's switched to LW has half a dozen decent games and now he's better than Malouda, Arshavin, Riberty et al. Do me a favour.

Yes.

 

[davisjw]

Why fix something that isn't broke? He's the best left winger in the PL at the moment, why in a couple years shift him?

 

[Berlinknives]

I can't think of a better pure left winger tbh.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

Knee jerk reactions with the emphasis on jerk. Bale fails to progeress at LB, his prime position as far as his manager is concerned. He's switched to LW has half a dozen decent games and now he's better than Malouda, Arshavin, Riberty et al. Do me a favour.

He has been outstanding. Arshavin has been nowhere near his level since he hit his stride last season. Malouda and him are about equal ATM, but I'd rather have Bale anyday.

 

[sincher]

I wouldn't take Bale over Malouda. But Bale is very young.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Malouda was streets ahead of Bale last season, although he didn't really play as a traditional winger.

 

[Sw33t]

At least I'm not the only one who thinks thinks Malouda and Ribery are "better".

For Bale to be classed in the same bracket at those types of left sided players, let's see how he does in the Champions League against Inter, Werder and Twente.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

I wouldn't take Bale over Malouda. But Bale is very young.

Precisely why I'd take him over Malouda. Plus I think he's more of a 'genuine winger' that would fit in well at OT.