Gareth Bale

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Guy's this is the bale thread. Go to general football if you want to talk about rooney.

Blame the bugger who brought him up in the first place, because it wasn't me

But I am sorry

 

[Hans Gruber]

I brought him up initially because I said he was the only player I could think of who'd made a step down to a former club for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere, which is what Bale would be doing for us, and even then Rooney was firmly in his twilight years. If anyone can point me to another example I'm all ears.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

I brought him up initially because I said he was the only player I could think of who'd made a step down to a former club for less money than he could have gotten elsewhere, which is what Bale would be doing for us, and even then Rooney was firmly in his twilight years. If anyone can point me to another example I'm all ears.

Yeah but we need to find somewhere else to play first buddy.

 

[SandroClegane]

Also the commercial value of Bale cannot be underestimated. And even if we get two seasons out of him he still would fetch a huge price tag from the MLS or the Chinese Super League.

China's not spending like they did a few years ago anymore and MLS would never stump up a transfer fee higher than $15mil. The record transfer in is $12mil.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Yeah but we need to find somewhere else to play first buddy.

The problem isn't mentioning Rooney, it's discussing his playing record.

If Bale comes back it'll be the first instance of an in-demand player that has willingly decided to take less money to join a former club. The fact that nobody can point me to another one is definitely relevant.

 

[Lighty64]

That's like saying Rooney wouldn't flop at Everton, he was proven in the PL, CL, International, blah blah.

"But Rooney was on the decline." So is Bale. Or at least there's no guarrantee he's not and a lot of evidence to suggest he is.

"Bale wouldn't flop." Yeh, nor would Kaka at Real. Or Torres at Chelsea. Or Falcao at United. Or Pato. Or Schevchenko. Or Sergei Rebrov. Anyone can flop anywhere, regardless of whether you've played there before or what experience you've got. And its particularly ominious if you've been flopping for the past 2 years already.

"If you mean his injuries and that he could break down, that's a possibility for all players." Perhaps, but who is it more a possibility for, a guy who's perma-crocked or never been injured? There's a reason we're offloading Dembele and Wilshere's not going to the World Cup, and it's not because they're no good, it's because they're injury prone as fuck.

Look I'd love the Bale of 6 years ago back as much as the next guy, the only difference is that I've got my head out of the clouds and am seeing this potential transfer for what it is; a big risk with a lot of our money on a potentially-class-but-injury-prone guy that's been on the decline for the past 2 years.

Rooney was become less and less effective for Man U in his last few seasons, and is in the headlines for the wrong reasons more than good.

we know we wouldn't be getting the Bale of 6years ago, but if we get the Bale that performs as good as he does for Wales we would be getting a player that will add points. I love Eriksen, but with Bale standing over a free kick, I'd expect him to work the keeper more at least, if not score 3+ free kicks, and even if his pace isn't the same, he has enough turn of pace and trickery that will win those free kicks.

there is no guarantee that any player might struggle "FLOP", every single transfer we can afford could go that way. I watch a lot of football every weekend, and to be honest with you, I don't think Martial is anything special. yes on his day he is special, but those days are not consistent

 

[Hans Gruber]

Rooney was become less and less effective for Man U in his last few seasons, and is in the headlines for the wrong reasons more than good.

we know we wouldn't be getting the Bale of 6years ago, but if we get the Bale that performs as good as he does for Wales we would be getting a player that will add points. I love Eriksen, but with Bale standing over a free kick, I'd expect him to work the keeper more at least, if not score 3+ free kicks, and even if his pace isn't the same, he has enough turn of pace and trickery that will win those free kicks.

there is no guarantee that any player might struggle "FLOP", every single transfer we can afford could go that way. I watch a lot of football every weekend, and to be honest with you, I don't think Martial is anything special. yes on his day he is special, but those days are not consistent

I'd agree with most of that. And in a scenario where I have to choose one of them for one-off match next week I'd definitely pick Bale. But that's not the deal, it's who do we dig into our transfer kitty to buy and give a 5 year contract to. The total outlay for Bale over that period will probably be an absolute minimum £105m (40 wages + 65 fee) with Martial's more likely around £70m (20+50). At the end of that period Martial will be 27 and entering his prime, potentially one of the top players in the world but even if not then his value will barely have declined if at all, and assuming no major injury issues should fetch at least 50 given age and prior potential. Bale on the other hand will be a week off 34, and unless you're a freak of nature like Ronaldo that usually means things are rapidly winding down, particularly if you're a guy that relies heavily on pace and athleticism like Gareth. His injury problems could have gotten worse, but even if not we're not getting much back from that £65m.

That makes the financial decision a lot starker, ~90 on Bale vs 20 on Martial, which is a big deal when you've got 3 other positions to fill and a stadium to pay off. Basically if you're going with the former you better be damn sure he's worth it, and it was the Bale of 6 years ago he probably would be, but he's not, he's injury riddled and off form which probably explains why the club is more actively pursuing the latter.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Where can I discuss Gareth Bale?

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

The problem isn't mentioning Rooney, it's discussing his playing record.

If Bale comes back it'll be the first instance of an in-demand player that has willingly decided to take less money to join a former club. The fact that nobody can point me to another one is definitely relevant.

Pretty much every player who left Real Madrid or Barcelona from the 1990's to current times has taken a pay cut, anyone leaving Monaco has taken a real term pay cut as they pay 0 income tax there, players take pay cuts all the time

 

[Lighty64]

I'd agree with most of that. And in a scenario where I have to choose one of them for one-off match next week I'd definitely pick Bale. But that's not the deal, it's who do we dig into our transfer kitty to buy and give a 5 year contract to. The total outlay for Bale over that period will probably be an absolute minimum £105m (40 wages + 65 fee) with Martial's more likely around £70m (20+50). At the end of that period Martial will be 27 and entering his prime, potentially one of the top players in the world but even if not then his value will barely have declined if at all, and assuming no major injury issues should fetch at least 50 given age and prior potential. Bale on the other hand will be a week off 34, and unless you're a freak of nature like Ronaldo that usually means things are rapidly winding down, particularly if you're a guy that relies heavily on pace and athleticism like Gareth. His injury problems could have gotten worse, but even if not we're not getting much back from that £65m.

That makes the financial decision a lot starker, ~90 on Bale vs 20 on Martial, which is a big deal when you've got 3 other positions to fill and a stadium to pay off. Basically if you're going with the former you better be damn sure he's worth it, and it was the Bale of 6 years ago he probably would be, but he's not, he's injury riddled and off form which probably explains why the club is more actively pursuing the latter.

as I mentioned in another post to you, we don't exactly know what Bale would receive in wages. I know it sounds like madness to think he would come for so much less, but he will more likely get double compared to what he left us on.

he has had fitness issues with RM, and 1, even though the PL is more physical, Le Liga is a lot dirtier.

the amount of merchandise we would sell through buying Bale will destroy the sales we would make signing Martial, and could even land us with a bigger naming rights which would offset the sell on value.

don't remember where I saw it posted but apparently Martial is not 1 of the strongest in putting the effort into training, and he definitely has a problem with being rotated or being used as a sub. to me he is a player that does show a bit more consistency when he has a regular spot, but if that slips so does his performances.

 

[Hans Gruber]

Pretty much every player who left Real Madrid or Barcelona from the 1990's to current times has taken a pay cut, anyone leaving Monaco has taken a real term pay cut as they pay 0 income tax there, players take pay cuts all the time

Real actually have a pretty tight wage structure. Until recently players like Isco and Marcelo were on about 60k apiece, which speaks to fact that the draw of Real is often enough in itself to convince players to join without the the offer of a higher wage. Barca did too before their wage structure ballooned in recent years. In any case, often players that leave actually don't see a drop in wages. Iniesta will probably be earning more in Japan, God only knows what Xavi's been getting in Qatar. And even the ones that take a step down generally see an increase in wages, unless they really flop in which case they tend to see out their contract and leave on a free. Fabregas doubled his wages when he was sold to Chelsea, likewise with Ozil when he went to Arsenal, and that's pretty much par for the course so I don't buy that anyone who's left those clubs since the 90s has seen a massive pay drop, quite the opposite in fact. If you can find me anyone that's taken a large wage cut I'd be interested to hear, and even then it won't be nearly in the vicinity of the % reduction that Bale will experience if he comes to us. (As for Monaco, people leaving there are usually taking a step up, so I'm not sure that really applies).

Regardless, that's not really what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about a choice by a player, taking a step down, to pick to a club where he would be offered less wages (because of emotional ties or whatever, so, Spurs) over another club where he'll be offered a lot more (United). Because you know that if Real do look like selling and word gets out that we're offering him 150k, United, Chelsea or whoever will come in for 250k, and as far as I'm aware there isn't a precedent for a player choosing us in that scenario.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

BALE is under contract at Madrid. If he maintains that he doesn't want to leave and they want to sell him, Madrid would have to pay his contract up, or at least some of it.
We wouldn't need to pay him the same as Madrid would still be paying him.

Think Adebayor but with someone who can play football.

@Hans Gruber.
JUST to throw an earlier point in on Bale's wages and why he would potentially come back for less...

 

[topper]

Where can I discuss Gareth Bale?

In either the Lighty 64 or Hans Gruber threads (no idea of their positions)

 

[Hans Gruber]

also you might be shocked but not everyone might play just for the money. the money he has earnt over the last 5 seasons have set him up for life

Yeh people keep saying this but nobody can point me to an instance of where it's actually happened.

 

[Hans Gruber]

@Hans Gruber.
JUST to throw an earlier point in on Bale's wages and why he would potentially come back for less...

Real arent gonna pay us 450k per week to take him.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

450? Thought it was 350.

But anyhow, they won't be paying us, they'd be paying Bale

 

[Hans Gruber]

450? Thought it was 350.

But anyhow, they won't be paying us, they'd be paying Bale

Bale is being paid 600k at Real. 350 post tax.

They won't be paying 450k to us, him, or anyone to take him off their books.

 

[Hans Gruber]

In either the Lighty 64 or Hans Gruber threads (no idea of their positions)

Sorry, it's been my mission today to end this nonsense lunacy wankfest.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

Bale is being paid 600k at Real. 350 post tax.

They won't be paying 450k to us, him, or anyone to take him off their books.

Depends on the terms of his contract and the sale. And fortunately for Bale, your not his agent or Lawyer.

 

[Spurs' Pipe Dreams]

Sorry, it's been my mission today to end this nonsense lunacy wankfest.

And you failed