Classical Mechanic
Full Member
Quite a few Brits bagged 3 in the Liverpool side too, including King Kenneth.Phil Neal has 4 european cups.
Quite a few Brits bagged 3 in the Liverpool side too, including King Kenneth.Phil Neal has 4 european cups.
So you're not a fan then?Gareth Bale was an effective footballer because he had extraordinary speed. That is gone and his poor football IQ is more on display now. His first touch is poor, he has no awareness, his passing/weight of pass is poor and all these negative traits are amplified when he is playing with abusrdly technical players such as Isco, Modric, Kovacic, Marcelo and Kroos.
None of this surprises me though as he has been poor since he went to Madrid. He has been good for a total of 8 months since he joined them. In his first season he was subpar and none of his teammates passed to him because he just ran into culdesacs, made poor decisions and all he could do was kick and run after the ball. Even the game against Barcelona where he beat Bartra in that copa del rey final he was subpar but he outpaced an injured Bartra and everyone forgot.
In the Champions League final in 2014 he was poor again and missed several chaces created for him that made the game much tougher for Madrid but he scored a tap in after Di Maria did all the hard work and people again forgot. Madrid's best spell under Ancelotti occurred when Bale got injured and They played the 442 with James Rodriguez-Modric-Kroos-Isco as the Midfield 4 and Benzema and Ronaldo up front. That was still the best MAdrid side I have witnessed since 2003. Bale is a typical British player that relies on his athleticism and requires space to operate. Add to the fact that he is injury prone and he can't speak spanish despite being there for 4 years and no one should really be surprised.
Under Benitez he played well because he was allowed to do what he wanted and the team played more around him but he is not good enough to warrant such treatment as he is not an all time talent or even a generational talent. He is just another overhyped player that had the Premier league machine behind him.
An opinion based on observation. I don not particularly care for him personally.So you're not a fan then?
Classic LOLSo you're not a fan then?
You getting to watch him live is all well and good. But he's been average (by high standards) and disappointing for a good while now whether it's fitness or peformances and there's no getting around that. If he improved as a player, and he probably did, he's also been quite a let down during various parts of his Madrid career.He most definitely has improved as a player. I have first hand experience of that from watching him live for both clubs (including during last season which was his worst at Madrid). His fitness and defensive contributions are the only things to have declined overall since moving to Real. Fitness has been partially mismanaged at times but is a real concern. Defensive contribution is due to Real's playing style and the lack of requirement to do so given they batter most teams week in, week out without needing to track back.
After him not wishing to step down you mean?After rejecting us 3 times, feck him and his sticky out ears!
I have no interest in talking up a player that does not play for United, but have you watched him for Spurs and in his prime years at Madrid before those niggling injuries he got? Was top 4 or 5 in the world during that period of timeGareth Bale was an effective footballer because he had extraordinary speed. That is gone and his poor football IQ is more on display now. His first touch is poor, he has no awareness, his passing/weight of pass is poor and all these negative traits are amplified when he is playing with abusrdly technical players such as Isco, Modric, Kovacic, Marcelo and Kroos.
None of this surprises me though as he has been poor since he went to Madrid. He has been good for a total of 8 months since he joined them. In his first season he was subpar and none of his teammates passed to him because he just ran into culdesacs, made poor decisions and all he could do was kick and run after the ball. Even the game against Barcelona where he beat Bartra in that copa del rey final he was subpar but he outpaced an injured Bartra and everyone forgot.
In the Champions League final in 2014 he was poor again and missed several chaces created for him that made the game much tougher for Madrid but he scored a tap in after Di Maria did all the hard work and people again forgot. Madrid's best spell under Ancelotti occurred when Bale got injured and They played the 442 with James Rodriguez-Modric-Kroos-Isco as the Midfield 4 and Benzema and Ronaldo up front. That was still the best MAdrid side I have witnessed since 2003. Bale is a typical British player that relies on his athleticism and requires space to operate. Add to the fact that he is injury prone and he can't speak spanish despite being there for 4 years and no one should really be surprised.
Under Benitez he played well because he was allowed to do what he wanted and the team played more around him but he is not good enough to warrant such treatment as he is not an all time talent or even a generational talent. He is just another overhyped player that had the Premier league machine behind him.
Step down from Southampton, and Spurs? Cause we were in for him twice then.After him not wishing to step down you mean?
You can have the ears comment
Was he? I don't think it was for long if this was the case. Messi, Xavi, Ronaldo and Iniesta dominated the top 4 for a long while. Then Suarez and Neymar came in and were phenomenal. At Madrid the Modric outperforms him easily (and almost everyone else to be fair). When exactly was he in the top 4 or 5? I'd have him in the top 10 at his very best but I don't think he's been truly truly elite ever. He has too many weaknesses for that IMO. A Suarez or Neymar is an absolutely complete elite player. Bale never had that sort of ability. Terrific player at his best of course. Pace, strength and superb finishing.I have no interest in talking up a player that does not play for United, but have you watched him for Spurs and in his prime years at Madrid before those niggling injuries he got? Was top 4 or 5 in the world during that period of time
The premier League was very suited for him because of the spaces between the lines and the lack of tactics, particular at that time with team lacking any compactness so he was able to go on mazing runs. His best season irrc was when he essentially had a free role and played behind the striker and he was taking multiple shots from outside the box and he would generally play poorly then score a long distance shot then people would forget.I have no interest in talking up a player that does not play for United, but have you watched him for Spurs and in his prime years at Madrid before those niggling injuries he got? Was top 4 or 5 in the world during that period of time
?None of this surprises me though as he has been poor since he went to Madrid. He has been good for a total of 8 months since he joined them.
I don't know, to be honest.Yeah he put a great shift in I agree, and the tackle was brilliant. Don't you think he's lost his edge going forward though?
I'd say we saw prime Bale on a consistent level between Benitez's last games in late 2015 and the EURO 2016, so perhaps 8 months. He was something else during that time, but sadly his fitness issues have stopped him from keeping it up. He had his difficulties before and after, both with injuries and his role at Real. But during that particular period he had a shot on being in this category. Don't know about top 5 (that's always hard to judge objectively), but one of the very best offensive players in the world for sure.Was he? I don't think it was for long if this was the case. Messi, Xavi, Ronaldo and Iniesta dominated the top 4 for a long while. Then Suarez and Neymar came in and were phenomenal. At Madrid the Modric outperforms him easily (and almost everyone else to be fair). When exactly was he in the top 4 or 5? I'd have him in the top 10 at his very best but I don't think he's been truly truly elite ever. He has too many weaknesses for that IMO. A Suarez or Neymar is an absolutely complete elite player. Bale never had that sort of ability. Terrific player at his best of course. Pace, strength and superb finishing.
This is how I view him too.I'd say we saw prime Bale on a consistent level between Benitez's last games in late 2015 and the EURO 2016, so perhaps 8 months. He was something else during that time, but sadly his fitness issues have stopped him from keeping it up. He had his difficulties before and after, both with injuries and his role at Real. But during that particular period he had a shot on being in this category. Don't know about top 5 (that's always hard to judge objectively), but one of the very best offensive players in the world for sure.
And while he's certainly no genius on the ball, I also think his technical abilities are a bit underrated by some. He's more than power, pace and finishing, and he inherited some 'Spanish' traits at Real imo.
It would have to be a cut price deal and halved wages before Id consider it.Can I ask the ones who do want him at Utd, why? As I see it he'd cost a bomb and possibly be injured a lot. He's also not very good anymore.
The year Real Madrid won CL and he took his team to Euro Semi finals. He was easily Madrid's second best player and a top 5 player then.Was he? I don't think it was for long if this was the case. Messi, Xavi, Ronaldo and Iniesta dominated the top 4 for a long while. Then Suarez and Neymar came in and were phenomenal. At Madrid the Modric outperforms him easily (and almost everyone else to be fair). When exactly was he in the top 4 or 5? I'd have him in the top 10 at his very best but I don't think he's been truly truly elite ever. He has too many weaknesses for that IMO. A Suarez or Neymar is an absolutely complete elite player. Bale never had that sort of ability. Terrific player at his best of course. Pace, strength and superb finishing.
Eexxcellent!They're actually saying Boo-ale
So why arn't Valencia, Welbeck, Bellerin, Aaron Lennon world beaters? Of course Bale uses his athlecism to his advantage as every world class forward, but to say that speed is all to Bale's game is really insulting.Gareth Bale was an effective footballer because he had extraordinary speed. That is gone and his poor football IQ is more on display now.
I'm confused as to how you think someone who was involved in a goal every 76 minutes at Madrid had a "subpar" season. There was tension with his teammates and I admit that that was due to the fact that Bale had a tendacy to hog the ball in the final third instead of trusting his teammates, but this is understandable given that he was very much used to being the main man at Tottenham where all plays went through him.None of this surprises me though as he has been poor since he went to Madrid. He has been good for a total of 8 months since he joined them. In his first season he was subpar and none of his teammates passed to him because he just ran into culdesacs, made poor decisions and all he could do was kick and run after the ball.
He wasn't poor by any standards. He was Madrid's most dangerous player that game and got the winner. Why are you trying so hard to discredit him?Even the game against Barcelona where he beat Bartra in that copa del rey final he was subpar but he outpaced an injured Bartra and everyone forgot.
Where were the "several chances created" exactly? Most of the chances he had he played a very big part in the build up or where from his own interceptions. Nevertheless, He scored a crucial goal.In the Champions League final in 2014 he was poor again and missed several chaces created for him that made the game much tougher for Madrid but he scored a tap in after Di Maria did all the hard work and people again forgot.
I'd say we saw prime Bale on a consistent level between Benitez's last games in late 2015 and the EURO 2016, so perhaps 8 months. He was something else during that time, but sadly his fitness issues have stopped him from keeping it up. He had his difficulties before and after, both with injuries and his role at Real. But during that particular period he had a shot on being in this category. Don't know about top 5 (that's always hard to judge objectively), but one of the very best offensive players in the world for sure.
And while he's certainly no genius on the ball, I also think his technical abilities are a bit underrated by some. He's more than power, pace and finishing, and he inherited some 'Spanish' traits at Real imo.
It's a pretty short period, that. A player who is genuinely a top 5 player keeps up that quality. Bale seems to have been elevated by his team peformances and big moments in certain as opposed to playing at a complete level that's really elite. I mean, he never had a Suarez like season for Madrid. That's a player who could maintain his level across seasons. Bale was more a top ten to fifteen player who had a short purple patch spell where you could make an argument for him being top five.The year Real Madrid won CL and he took his team to Euro Semi finals. He was easily Madrid's second best player and a top 5 player then.
It was certainly only a brief period, but 'purple patch' is still selling him short a bit; it was Bale's genuine quality that put him there, not just temporary über-form or his team elevating him. It can't be proven, but imo the difference to a mere purple patch is this: If he'd been injury-free, we would have seen more of that.It's a pretty short period, that. A player who is genuinely a top 5 player keeps up that quality. Bale seems to have been elevated by his team peformances and big moments in certain as opposed to playing at a complete level that's really elite. I mean, he never had a Suarez like season for Madrid. That's a player who could maintain his level across seasons. Bale was more a top ten to fifteen player who had a short purple patch spell where you could make an argument for him being top five.
Was he better than Di Maria btw? I genuinely can't remember.
Also how good was he at the euros? Seem to remember a lot of discussion about his actual peformances not being that great and it being more of a team effort, like Ronaldo.
Nope, his IQ is pretty good overall, quite high off the ball. He was never all about paceGareth Bale was an effective footballer because he had extraordinary speed. That is gone and his poor football IQ is more on display now.
False-it's not great, but neither it is poor. False. False-he's no Messi but again, his crosses are good and he's not a bad passer. He's better at long passes than short ones, that's true, unless he's playing one-touch passes. Final point is true, but kinda circles around the point.His first touch is poor, he has no awareness, his passing/weight of pass is poor and all these negative traits are amplified when he is playing with abusrdly technical players such as Isco, Modric, Kovacic, Marcelo and Kroos.
False. He was excellent in his first season, in large part because Cristiano was a different player and our midfield allowed us to play more to his strenghts. He was fantastic in 15/16, probably our mosy consistent player throughout the season and certainly the best in the final months. Our best player in Milan along with the two CBs, tooNone of this surprises me though as he has been poor since he went to Madrid.
You're mixing up his first and second seasons mate. His first season was great and he was one of our main creative outletsIn his first season he was subpar and none of his teammates passed to him because he just ran into culdesacs, made poor decisions and all he could do was kick and run after the ball.
Wasteful =/= subpar. But i agree he wasn't great in that game overall.Even the game against Barcelona where he beat Bartra in that copa del rey final he was subpar but he outpaced an injured Bartra and everyone forgot.
Agree with every word here, except for "poor". "Apocalyptically terrible" should've been used insteadIn the Champions League final in 2014 he was poor again and missed several chaces created for him that made the game much tougher for Madrid but he scored a tap in after Di Maria did all the hard work and people again forgot. Madrid's best spell under Ancelotti occurred when Bale got injured and They played the 442 with James Rodriguez-Modric-Kroos-Isco as the Midfield 4 and Benzema and Ronaldo up front. That was still the best MAdrid side I have witnessed since 2003.
Agree with most of this. Bale however was injured for half the time benitez was in charge, and he clearly was one of the 6-7 best players in the world in the year 2016Bale is a typical British player that relies on his athleticism and requires space to operate. Add to the fact that he is injury prone and he can't speak spanish despite being there for 4 years and no one should really be surprised.
Under Benitez he played well because he was allowed to do what he wanted and the team played more around him but he is not good enough to warrant such treatment as he is not an all time talent or even a generational talent. He is just another overhyped player that had the Premier league machine behind him.
You mean for us? In 13/14? No, not even close. Di Maria was our second best player and the best player on the pitch by far in both finals(copa, cl)Was he better than Di Maria btw? I genuinely can't remember.
Had a feeling this was the case. Thanks.You mean for us? In 13/14? No, not even close. Di Maria was our second best player and the best player on the pitch by far in both finals(copa, cl)
When Cris was out that season, we were very much Di Maria's team. Says it allHad a feeling this was the case. Thanks.
Yes he was. Di Maria's final performance glossed over what was a pretty inconsistent season. Of course we fell for it and bought him.It's a pretty short period, that. A player who is genuinely a top 5 player keeps up that quality. Bale seems to have been elevated by his team peformances and big moments in certain as opposed to playing at a complete level that's really elite. I mean, he never had a Suarez like season for Madrid. That's a player who could maintain his level across seasons. Bale was more a top ten to fifteen player who had a short purple patch spell where you could make an argument for him being top five.
Was he better than Di Maria btw? I genuinely can't remember.
Also how good was he at the euros? Seem to remember a lot of discussion about his actual peformances not being that great and it being more of a team effort, like Ronaldo.
I continue to believe that had we not lost to Lester in that game when Di Maria score a beauty, he would have gone on to prove himself. It may sound weak, but to my mind that deflated him completely and he let it get to him. All down to one of the worst bits of referring in recent memoryYes he was. Di Maria's final performance glossed over what was a pretty inconsistent season. Of course we fell for it and bought him.
IIRC he was by far the best out of BBC, at least he provided the assist (even though it looked offside) and looked lively. The whole game was labored, Carrasco provided the spark at half time but apart from him it was a lot closer to a mid-table game than a CL final. I'm guessing the stress of another derby CL final got to them.On the topic of Bale in CL finals, wasn't he poor in the 2016 final too?
I vaguely remember him and Ronaldo competing to see who could do the least amount of running without getting subbed.
No, he was one of the best players on the pitch in milanOn the topic of Bale in CL finals, wasn't he poor in the 2016 final too?
I vaguely remember him and Ronaldo competing to see who could do the least amount of running without getting subbed.
What, no. Read my previous posts on it. Di Maria was spectacular in the second half of the season, but he was pretty good in the first half of the season too. People actually remember a couple bad games he had to say he was inconsistent. He wasn't. He was clearly our second best playerYes he was. Di Maria's final performance glossed over what was a pretty inconsistent season. Of course we fell for it and bought him.