Bale's Real badge kissing

[JerryGarcia]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you but football players have it all their own way these days. Financial security beyond their wildest dreams and the power to hold clubs virtual hostages to their whim and emotions. Almost the exact opposite to the way the clubs seemed the own the very souls of players a few decades ago.

Let's put it another way - say DL simply did not want to sell Bale under any circumstances? He says to GB, "no, you signed a contract with us and we've honoured our part and are paying you a hefty wedge. We'd like you to do the same."

That's hardly unreasonable is it? All very mundane and everyday. Obviously things like "notice" don't exist but then again, most employees aren't given upwards of a 100K a week as a salary in compensation.

The point is that any shenanigans we witnessed this summer with DL trying to accommodate the player's wishes but get as much for the club out of the deal as possible would have paled in comparison to what would have occurred in the above scenario. No Levying done, just one adult talking to another to behave in a professional manner. It's not like Bale was playing for free after all. He still got paid when injured etc. It would have been carnage.

That's not to say clubs are the bastions of integrity but even if a player turns out to be less than desirable on the pitch, the cubs simply can't go on strike and refuse to pay them their tens of thousands a week. An important difference.

That's the problem with football. All this money and still 90% run and operated in the laziest and most amateur fucking manner possible. It's embarrassing. A model professional in this game rarely gets called a model professional. No pat on the back for turning up on time or working their hardest in training and games. Honouring contracts. Instead they get the moniker - "legend" - so low are the standards. By doing the bare minimum, they're an "example to us all".

So I guess, like yourself, I don't hold it against them after they've left in less than amicable circumstances. None of them get my respect though.

I agree and it leaves a bad taste in the mouth, the taste of Madrid's salty balls to be presice. I don't feel sorry for footballers and their "problems", but I don't really feel much for any of them when they're not on the pitch wearing the shirt. Apart from Sandro obviously. But they are still people at the end of the day and if they decide they want to move, they normally make it happen.

If I played for Spurs and Madrid came in for me I'd tell them to get stuffed, but I'm a fan. If I played for a club beneath us in the pecking order like Liverpool and my dream club Spurs (I have a picture of myself aged 10 wearing the shirt) offered £80m for me, even though I had a contract I'd find it hard to know what to do. If I had agents and the whole media telling me it was the best thing for my career etc, it would be even harder. Hmmm, actually I would jump at the chance to play for Spurs but I support Spurs more than Bale supports Madrid.

We'll probably have the same conversation a few years down the line, it would be nice to see some kind of designated player system like the MLS, not the same but maybe just a way to encourage top players not to chase big money moves so early in their careers. I wish there was a solution but the money is already in the game and that won't change. Not that Bale went just for the money, but it could have been the difference between leaving now or in a years time. I'd do a lot of things for £300,000 per week, I wouldn't play for Arsenal though.

 

[JerryGarcia]

'I still love all the Tottenham fans and hopefully one day (you never know) I could be back there.' That's what he said on his BT sport interview tonight, he genuinely does seem to have an affection for the club, whether he would come back though is another matter altogether. http://sport.bt.com/sportfootball/f...could-return-to-spurs-one-day-S11363831184784

Levy should start drawing up plans for a bid right now, it's Madrid so you never know, he could be on the market in two years time. Maybe we can do a 'Robbie Keane' on them and buy him back at a reduced price. Or what about they give us Bale + £50m for Andros Townsend next summer?

 

[mrbrightside73]

I dont blame Bale for going and genuinely hope he does well, but i have to say, over the course of the summer he's developed a real Billy big bollocks demenour about him.I hope its temporary

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

I don't understand how anyone can make out that Bale's actions this summer weren't massively disrespectful. for me, the only difference between his situation and those of Modric and Berbatov was that they were at least man enough to come out and state their intentions to leave, knowing it would make them massively unpopular. Bale on the other hand was too cowardly for any of that, as he wanted to live up to and preserve the "shy well-grounded kid from the valleys" image that has been built up for him. instead of coming out himself, he hid behind his agent who constantly fed things to the press and Sky about how unhappy he was etc, pretended to be injured (which is effectively downing tools), and then finally refused to turn up for training as contractually obliged. even before this all started, all we heard in the media about him was that he wasn't the type to try and force his way out, blah blah blah, yet he did exactly that and people still fall for the BS. it just goes to show how great the media are at doing people's thinking and forming their opinions for them. had it been an established media (usually foreign) villain like Suarez or our very own Adebayor doing EXACTLY THE SAME THING, the narrative would've been completely different, as would the subsequent reaction.

for me, the thing that counts most against him is that after now securing his "dream move", I've not heard a single word of either thanks or acknowledgement from him to AVB, especially given AVB's role in his development last season, the excellent relationship they were reported to have had, and the fact that despite Bale being a massive twat this summer, AVB still congratulated him on his move and wished him luck. it's an utter lack of class on Bale's part IMO.

and this sudden and convenient back-story about him being a lifelong Real fan is a load of BS as far as I'm concerned. yes he wore a shirt and supposedly watched a couple of games, but that's not the same thing as being a diehard fan, which is what we're meant to believe now. he says as much himself:

When I was younger I had some close friends who always loved European football and Real Madrid at that time were the dominant force.

“I remember family holidays when we used to go to Spain and we’d bring back replica shirts of Real Madrid and pretend to be the players when we played in the park.
“I’ve followed them ever since and the football they played, the team they had, was amazing and it’s just great to be there.”

what part of that indicates this is a fan making a dream move? we mock foreigners when they come over here pretending they supported English Club X from childhood, but IMO this is pretty much the same thing. which true Real fan of Bale's age would mention Zidane but not Raul or Casillas who are the two club legends of Bale's generation? this whole "dream move", "boyhood dream" and Ronaldo-rimming since he's moved is embarrassing.

I've got no problem with his wanting to leave, and wouldn't abuse him if he ever came back to WHL to play against us, but I just can't get on board with this idea that he's different to other players who have done similar things and received heavy criticism, both from the media and the fans of their clubs, and even football fans in general.

 

[tttcowan]

I dont blame Bale for going and genuinely hope he does well, but i have to say, over the course of the summer he's developed a real Billy big bollocks demenour about him.I hope its temporary

I'm a selfish arse so I want him to try, fail and be completely under appreciated and slatted there... Then we pinch him back... Could happen...

 

[SteveH]

I don't understand how anyone can make out that Bale's actions this summer weren't massively disrespectful. for me, the only difference between his situation and those of Modric and Berbatov was that they were at least man enough to come out and state their intentions to leave, knowing it would make them massively unpopular. Bale on the other hand was too cowardly for any of that, as he wanted to live up to and preserve the "shy well-grounded kid from the valleys" image that has been built up for him. instead of coming out himself, he hid behind his agent who constantly fed things to the press and Sky about how unhappy he was etc, pretended to be injured (which is effectively downing tools), and then finally refused to turn up for training as contractually obliged. even before this all started, all we heard in the media about him was that he wasn't the type to try and force his way out, blah blah blah, yet he did exactly that and people still fall for the BS. it just goes to show how great the media are at doing people's thinking and forming their opinions for them. had it been an established media (usually foreign) villain like Suarez or our very own Adebayor doing EXACTLY THE SAME THING, the narrative would've been completely different, as would the subsequent reaction.

for me, the thing that counts most against him is that after now securing his "dream move", I've not heard a single word of either thanks or acknowledgement from him to AVB, especially given AVB's role in his development last season, the excellent relationship they were reported to have had, and the fact that despite Bale being a massive twat this summer, AVB still congratulated him on his move and wished him luck. it's an utter lack of class on Bale's part IMO.

and this sudden and convenient back-story about him being a lifelong Real fan is a load of BS as far as I'm concerned. yes he wore a shirt and supposedly watched a couple of games, but that's not the same thing as being a diehard fan, which is what we're meant to believe now. he says as much himself:


what part of that indicates this is a fan making a dream move? we mock foreigners when they come over here pretending they supported English Club X from childhood, but IMO this is pretty much the same thing. which true Real fan of Bale's age would mention Zidane but not Raul or Casillas who are the two club legends of Bale's generation?

I've got no problem with his wanting to leave, and wouldn't abuse him if he ever came back to WHL to play against us, but I just can't get on board with this idea that he's different to other players who have done similar things and received heavy criticism, both from the media and the fans of their clubs, and even football fans in general.

He's no different to other players. What is plain daft is the way we the fans in general and the bloody media, treat players moving. They are changing who they work for and as long as when they were playing they do right by the club, I don't see the fuss.

Time to move. Oh and GB has done very right by Spurs, lets not forget that.

 

[PeeEyeEmPee]

the fuss is to with the way they go about moving. I believe there's a right way and a wrong way....or a good and not so good way if you prefer.

Bale did right by us on the field. there's no disputing that whatsoever. but then so did Berbatov and Modric.

 

[sim0n]

Get over it. Bet he was told to do it anyway.

Contemporary players aren't kissing the badge,.... they're kissing their contract.... Bale's contract is currently with RM,... end of

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

What is the right way to move? Bale wanted to move. He let club know that and kept his mouth shut until we had sufficiently strengthened the squad in preparation for his move.

Stop wrapping your grief in losing a great player in anger towards him. He gave us 6 great seasons and deserves to play for one an elite club. He had outgrown us.

 

[spud]

But its pointless comparing modern day players to their counterparts from decades before. The game is no longer that, it's a business.
The culture of footballers revolves mainly around money and while that may seem distasteful to us mere mortals can you really blame them? One injury and that's it = scrapheap.

One injury, and that's it: best medical attention money can buy, fat contact paid out in full, insurance payout and - when he reaches the ripe old age of 35 - pension.

If you're going to be on a scrapheap, it's not a bad one.

 

[spud]

What is the right way to move? Bale wanted to move. He let club know that and kept his mouth shut until we had sufficiently strengthened the squad in preparation for his move.

Stop wrapping your grief in losing a great player in anger towards him. He gave us 6 great seasons and deserves to play for one an elite club. He had outgrown us.

He didn't keep his mouth shut: he authorised his agent to yap to the press and join in Madrid's media campaign. He didn't show for training, and I am in no doubt that if he had been fit then he would have refused to play for us. His attitude - after the club's major conribution to developing his talent and nursing him through two prolonged injuries - was 'fuck Spurs, fuck my teammates and fuck the fans'.

He's a very good player who gave us one stellar half-season and several very good performances, and he's gone. I couldn't give a flying fuck what he says or does in Madrid, but the way in which he engineered his departure has soured my memories of his play - and the way some fellow fans are kissing his arse (not you I hasten to add) makes me feel a little nauseous.

 

[ItsBoris]

It's amazing to see, it really was, the way he was acting - like I never knew him at all.


He was probably told to everything he did on that presentation.

I knew he was like that - always talking about his career and his agent in basically every interview. I also had the impression that he played very much for himself over the team but I didn't really care given how well he was doing for us.

Still not surprised at all that he forced a move. I knew if it wasn't this summer it would probably be next summer.

 

[NP4_Yid]

One injury, and that's it: best medical attention money can buy, fat contact paid out in full, insurance payout and - when he reaches the ripe old age of 35 - pension.

If you're going to be on a scrapheap, it's not a bad one.

Not a bad scrapheap but its still the end of your career!
Can't blame him for wanting to get as far as he can