Bale on Football Focus this morning

[seanwhite1961]

Advice to players in Bale's position: Don't give an interview with 4 games left when your club is 5th and still easily(!) able to qualify for CL, in which you give any encouragement to speculation about leaving the club if you don't qualify.

Here is what you say: I'm not thinking about next season, there is still this season to finish. We're still in a great position, we have 4 winnable games, it's up to all the players to apply themselves and win those games. I've a long contract at [Spurs] and want to be successful with them

A few months ago we were imagining what more talents we could bring to the club. Now, we're once again talking about hanging on to the few outstanding ones we have.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

We still wouldn't be where we are today without Bale so let's get rid of this notion that we would be better off without him or with more money in the bank!

Welshies stick together, eh?

This was mentioned on another thread. I don't necessarily believe he thinks he's bigger than the club or hasn't been trying but for him this season probably feels like another big success; more money, more plaudits, more interest from other clubs.

It's kind of dispiriting how player's fortunes are increasingly divorced from that of their clubs.

First time I've read a post of yours and agreed.

 

[felmani26]

True.

He has been incredibly selfish, on occasions, however, and visibly looking for a grandstand goal, as well as the issue with his work-rate tracking back. Folk get frustrated adn vent that, occasionally.

For what it's worth, I think what he said in the interview is a bit of a molehill, that folk are turning into a mountain; I also believe, as said above and elsewhere, that if we take the worst case scenario of Modric, Bale and VdV being sold we would still be in a very good position, and, in any case, don't believe VdV will go, don't think Bale will, and don;t know if Modric will.

This implosion has been dispiriting, but I think folk need to calm down a bit.

Lack of work rate is a real bug bear with Bale but this is where expert coaching comes to the fore to try and implement this more Into Bale's game.

It does make me laugh when people get all uppity about the fact that Bale might be thinking about himself more than the club - hello?! This is a fact of life in football!

 

[felmani26]

Welshies stick together, eh?



Not intentionally JH I can assure you!

I really would be loathe to sell Bale whereas I can see the virtue in selling Modric, albeit I still think under the guise of a new manager that both would stay and start to replicate their best form again - whether that's wishful thinking on my part that remains to be seen.

 

[hybridsoldier]

Fuck him, he isn't the club - we have had some incredible players before Bale and we will have them after him.

You have to question the mentality of him saying this with 4 games left and a crowd who already feel like the players don't care they have let the season go down the swanny.

It's easy to see why so many people are becoming apathetic to modern footballers and football

 

[StartingPrice]

Fuck him, he isn't the club - we have had some incredible players before Bale and we will have them after him.

You have to question the mentality of him saying this with 4 games left and a crowd who already feel like the players don't care they have let the season go down the swanny.

It's easy to see why so many people are becoming apathetic to modern footballers and football

Apparently, the interview is from weeks ago, and not with 4 games to go (see above).

 

[hybridsoldier]

Apparently, the interview is from weeks ago, and not with 4 games to go (see above).

Ah ok fair enough, still during our run of poor form though - not the kind of message you want when the crowd has been so supportive all year round at WHL, during good and bad

 

[Misfit]

Apparently, the interview is from weeks ago, and not with 4 games to go (see above).

Crooks mentioned this interview when he was on the Spurs Show podcast last week. So probably a couple of weeks back at least. Interesting what he says in general anyway on the show.

 

[StartingPrice]

Ah ok fair enough, still during our run of poor form though - not the kind of message you want when the crowd has been so supportive all year round at WHL, during good and bad

I agree...but these journos (yeah, even Crooksy ), do ask leading questions.
Yeah, I know, it would have been better if he'd just said "absolutely not", but for all we know Dan Levy may decide to cash in without any reference to whether Bale wants to stay; or he could seel Modric, VdV, Walker and everyone else we have who is half decent, and hire Dave 'Harry' Bassett, Fat Sam and Joe Kinnear to manage us in a triumvirate of shame From his perspective, it was probably the right thing to say he didn't know what would happen.

I don't think he'll be sold in the Summer.

 

[Kingstheman]

Here is what you say: I'm not thinking about next season, there is still this season to finish. We're still in a great position, we have 4 winnable games, it's up to all the players to apply themselves and win those games. I've a long contract at [Spurs] and want to be successful with them.

It is as if no one knows what to say or how to conduct themselves as a Spurs' player or employee.

 

[Misfit]

It is as if no one knows what to say or how to conduct themselves as a Spurs' player or employee.

None of them think with anything approaching a Spurs hat on. We're just their current employer, that's it. Fergie, Maureen etc seem to be able to use that fact to their advantage. Maybe openly or they have an ability to actually make them forget that, to think of it more than just a job.

Most don't. The money is too much and becomes all powerful which is why most, in the cold analysis (hehe, I said anal), are failures. How many clubs win things regularly? Even some very big boys aren't guaranteed a trophy each season.

It's the reason I think "the one who shall not be named but we all hate him because he's black blah blah blah" draws such ire. He, in one example of human effluence, makes this point starkly.

 

[hybridsoldier]

I agree...but these journos (yeah, even Crooksy ), do ask leading questions.
Yeah, I know, it would have been better if he'd just said "absolutely not", but for all we know Dan Levy may decide to cash in without any reference to whether Bale wants to stay; or he could seel Modric, VdV, Walker and everyone else we have who is half decent, and hire Dave 'Harry' Bassett, Fat Sam and Joe Kinnear to manage us in a triumvirate of shame From his perspective, it was probably the right thing to say he didn't know what would happen.

I don't think he'll be sold in the Summer.

Yeah I understand that the players might be thinking that harry is off in the summer so they dunno whats happening with them. For me Bale's best answer is that he is going to do "everything in his power to get Spurs into the CL because the fans deserve it". Ok yeah its horse shit, but it at least makes us feel a bit better about ourselves lol.

I think if we do not make the CL it is going to be one depressing summer. But...deep down...I think maybe a change of manager and squad personnel would actually do some good. its just the press are such wankers in this country. If we sold Modric and Bale and replaced them with Vidal from Juve and Hazard from Lille or Gotze from Dortmund...we'd be a "selling club". They don't seem to understand cycles

 

[StartingPrice]

Yeah I understand that the players might be thinking that harry is off in the summer so they dunno whats happening with them. For me Bale's best answer is that he is going to do "everything in his power to get Spurs into the CL because the fans deserve it". Ok yeah its horse shit, but it at least makes us feel a bit better about ourselves lol.

I think if we do not make the CL it is going to be one depressing summer. But...deep down...I think maybe a change of manager and squad personnel would actually do some good. its just the press are such wankers in this country. If we sold Modric and Bale and replaced them with Vidal from Juve and Hazard from Lille or Gotze from Dortmund...we'd be a "selling club". They don't seem to understand cycles

That would have been the best thing for him to say.

I don't think he'll leave this Summer.
As I said above, even taking the worst case scenario of selling VdV, Bale and Modric, and I still think our prospects would be good.

 

[Misfit]

Well it should be his only answer. Without Spurs fans he wouldn't be earning of 10 of thousands a week for playing a child's game. It's become so accepted that nobody even questions it anymore.

No loyalty, fine. You earn a fucking fortune though so the minimum you hould do is bust a gut on the pitch. How about your contractual obligations Mr. I Am a Professionalist dontcha ya know *sniffs after every grownerised up word he says*.

These ****s aren't here doing us a favour, working for free.

It's a business yeah lads, right, get out there and earn your money like an adult. Worse than benefits cheats this fucking lot.

 

[ItsBoris]

Lack of work rate is a real bug bear with Bale but this is where expert coaching comes to the fore to try and implement this more Into Bale's game.

It does make me laugh when people get all uppity about the fact that Bale might be thinking about himself more than the club - hello?! This is a fact of life in football!

Yep Bale's wondering everywhere and not tracking back is, once again, 100% Redknapp's fault because as usual Harry doesn't recognize it as a problem and move to correct it.

I disagree with the second part though, yes people care about their own fortunes but he should also care about the team and his teammates, that is the nature of sport. In some ways sport is a replacement for war and in war you care more about your fellow soldiers than yourself. To me VDV kind of exemplifies that romanticism with love for the team and club, and I saw it in the emotions of the Bayern Munich players the other night. No team is going to be truly successful without that.

I was going to reserve my opinions until this interview but to me it looks like he's very narcissistic and cares only about his own future and not the success of the club he plays for or the teammates who are with him. That isn't how players at 'big teams' are, if that is what he wants to be. At big clubs it is ALL about the team and togetherness, and that 'me me me' attitude is not accepted. That is why Chelsea and Bayern are in the CL final. I can guarantee that in those victories those players were not thinking about their 'agents' or 'careers' or playing to impress scouts and other managers at the expense of their own team. There is nothing more dishonorable imo in any team sport than disrespecting your club and teammates. It is an attitude that I can't stand.

 

[Misfit]

Well, Barca are looking to sell Alves this summer apparently and they're also pimping one of their midfielders out. If they manage to rustle up enough dough they might come in for Bale. Take Afellay off their hands for a kick off.

 

[markdadude]

Well, Barca are looking to sell Alves this summer apparently and they're also pimping one of their midfielders out. If they manage to rustle up enough dough they might come in for Bale. Take Afellay off their hands for a kick off.

i just remembered afellay from when he rung rings roung us in the uefa cup and wondered what became of him....

 

[Misfit]

i just remembered afellay from when he rung rings roung us in the uefa cup and wondered what became of him....

Suffered a knee ligament job unfortunately. No bad news about his rehab though so far so fingers crossed.

 

[Kendall]

Kendall, someone untie you from the barbie while Bruce was away rustling sheep?

I live in KL now. Been up to my ears in rice and fish, just about managed to scramble out.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Lack of work rate is a real bug bear with Bale but this is where expert coaching comes to the fore to try and implement this more Into Bale's game.

It does make me laugh when people get all uppity about the fact that Bale might be thinking about himself more than the club - hello?! This is a fact of life in football!

Your first comments are spot on, under a top coach Bale will become one of the best in the world.

As for your second comments, its one thing to think about yourself more than the club,and another to actually talk about it at this crucial time on national TV, its abit like asking one of the nurses out as your wife lies in bed critically ill ,yes we think you can move on but wait till she dies first mate ffs.