Better player? Bale in his prime or Salah in his?
Both exceptional players at their best but who would you pick?
Both exceptional players at their best but who would you pick?
Prime Bale or Prime Salah?
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Bale for the 4 minutes he was fit and could be arsed.
Bale.
Salah. Bale was a freak of an athlete but Salah is the better all-rounder.
Prime Bale > Prime Salah, but the Bale's primacy was incredibly brief compared to Salah's, so Salah career >>> Bale career.
It's a slightly unfair question against Salah because one of the things he deserves huge credit for is his consistency.
With that said if you were going into 1 off game with both at their best Bale is a better. I'd actually argue that it's by a pretty reasonable margin too.
With that said if you were going into 1 off game with both at their best Bale is a better. I'd actually argue that it's by a pretty reasonable margin too.
For consistency over a full season, it’s Salah but if we’re talking about the absolute apex of their potential, it’s Bale - primarily because he was such a freak of nature physically. Technically, there isn’t that much between them with Salah being the better finisher and goalscorer. Bale’s finishing was also superb (and he was excellent in the air) but he wasn’t fit long enough to display it. I think Bale was a better crosser and creator than Salah though: especially the Madrid version that facilitated Ronaldo.
Nonetheless, Bale’s physical feats and prowess is unmatched.
Nonetheless, Bale’s physical feats and prowess is unmatched.
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Bale produced in some big moments and built his reputation to a great extent on the back of that but Salah is clearly the better footballer in most aspects.
+1
Bale was frightening to play against, at his prime. There is nothing terrifying about Salah, he is just very consistently good winger with high work ratio.
if I’m picking one for one game in their prime then Bale
career Salah
career Salah
Bale. Not close either.
One off match, obviously Bale. Whole season, probably Salah as he’s always fit.
One off match, obviously Bale. Whole season, probably Salah as he’s always fit.
Same as other posters.
If you could have spurs bale for a career it would be frightening
If you could have spurs bale for a career it would be frightening
Salah. Bale was close to unstoppable on his day with his freaky athleticism and penchant for the spectacular, but Salah has been a consistent match-winner for an annoyingly long time now.
One game: Bale
One season: tie
Multiple seasons: Salah.
One season: tie
Multiple seasons: Salah.
Honestly I can’t stand this new obsession with PRIME. Every comparison seems to want to ignore the incredibly hard ability to maintain a high level across multiple years.
Bale despite having some brilliant moments and a good career was never quite technically at home at Madrid - he always stuck out as lacking a bit. That wouldn’t happen to Salah as he’s clearly a better footballer. Will go down along the greats as far wide players go. Bale a level below.
Bale despite having some brilliant moments and a good career was never quite technically at home at Madrid - he always stuck out as lacking a bit. That wouldn’t happen to Salah as he’s clearly a better footballer. Will go down along the greats as far wide players go. Bale a level below.
Salah and for me it's not close either. He is consistent and always a goal threat. His playmaking ability is very underrated.
I would say the 2012/13 version of Bale was better than the best of Salah. It's not a slight on Salah: Bale was basically unplayable that season. The number of goals he scored that were individually brilliant in that season was more than say in Ronaldo's best season with us.
The pace, the explosiveness, and the power of prime Gazza Bazza was scary. It's a shame about his injuries because his top level was exceptional.
Also important to note that he has five Champions League titles to his name. It's not a bad record.
The pace, the explosiveness, and the power of prime Gazza Bazza was scary. It's a shame about his injuries because his top level was exceptional.
Also important to note that he has five Champions League titles to his name. It's not a bad record.
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Prime Hazard.
Salah, it's not even a competition,
Salah is better to me. Far greater consistency and no injury woes to worry about.
I also think he's a more optimal fit for the better teams of the past decade or so.
I also think he's a more optimal fit for the better teams of the past decade or so.
Prime Bale was his first season with us. He was basically Ronaldo on the other side of the field. I’d take him over any version of Salah. Easy.
Salah is yet to make the scousers cry, so until he does it's definitely Bale.
Optimus
Wasn't Bale golfing in his prime 
Bale
Bale, but why do you even care?
Bale is what Cristiano would be if not obsessed with goals, had injury problems, wasn't as good in the air, and wasn't as hard working but a little faster.
Salah is a poor man's Messi.
Salah is a poor man's Messi.
Salah..
Maybe unpopular but I never was greatly impressed by Bale outside of some moments
Maybe unpopular but I never was greatly impressed by Bale outside of some moments
Bale. His games had the raw beauty of passion , strength and skills that remind me why I love football at the first place. He had many classic moments that could not be replicated by any other player . Salah of course is also great but Bale is one level higher.
Salah, he's so consistent, almost Messi and Ronaldo consistent and I think his prime is almost equal to Bale's prime.
We need to stop focusing on whether you would want players at their best but when they are at their worst.
Shit Bale v Shit Hazard for example.
Shit Bale v Shit Hazard for example.
Interesting thread.
Bale is a bigger match-winner, has more X Factor, is far more clutch and is a more complete player with all the attributes.
Long Shots, Free Kicks, Crossing, Dribbling, Defending, Heading: Bale can do it all. Also, Prime Gareth Bale is arguably the best natural athlete the sport has ever seen if you forget about resistance to injuries.
But Salah is more consistent and less injury prone. If you want a player to deliver for an entire season then it's Salah.
How does Arjen Robben, another left footed RW fit into this conversation? I think the thread should have been: Salah vs Bale vs Robben with a poll.
Top 5 RWs of this generation are: Messi, these 3 players and then Di Maria.
Bale is a bigger match-winner, has more X Factor, is far more clutch and is a more complete player with all the attributes.
Long Shots, Free Kicks, Crossing, Dribbling, Defending, Heading: Bale can do it all. Also, Prime Gareth Bale is arguably the best natural athlete the sport has ever seen if you forget about resistance to injuries.
But Salah is more consistent and less injury prone. If you want a player to deliver for an entire season then it's Salah.
How does Arjen Robben, another left footed RW fit into this conversation? I think the thread should have been: Salah vs Bale vs Robben with a poll.
Top 5 RWs of this generation are: Messi, these 3 players and then Di Maria.
Depends of if we're going to play golf or drink beers.
People going on about Bale as some sort of player with unfulfilled potential. He won 5 Champions Leagues and had a big say in at least 2 of the finals.
One's fat and one's golfing, so I could see Bale coming out on top by virtue of being able to make it onto some kind of grass.
Salah for me and it's not close, his all-round game was significantly better.
Salah is/was a better footballer. Bale did, however, seem to have some magic in him when his teams most needed it and has far more of a propensity for a 'big moment' in his locker.
I might take Bale for a one-off cup final but Salah over the course of a season.
I might take Bale for a one-off cup final but Salah over the course of a season.
Bale.
Salah has had more longevity but Bale had a higher peak.
Salah has had more longevity but Bale had a higher peak.
Salah. not even debatable to me.