- Jul 21, 2005
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The prophecy was true. Bale must return to defeat Man City and return us to glory - Depicted here in his battle with IIkay Gundogan
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Be realistic, look at what he's achieved since he left us - he's 100% justified as far as I'm concerned.
Makes me laugh when fans speculate on whether players like Bale made the right move. He's won multiple CL's and a la liga title, playing with world class players every week as opposed to carrying an entire team. In a hot sunny country where they all have a nice little nap in the afternoon.
But is he happy in himself?
There is that and when he’s older he can look back at his medals and be proud. But no one talks about him positively anymore and that must hurt him. Gerrard didn’t win too much throughout his career but he was regarded as a true great every time he walked out on the pitch, even if it sometimes was for 30 seconds against Everton. I bet Bale would love to be spoken about as highly as the top players do but it’s not happening and unlikely to happen while he stays there.
Dare I say it but his last 2 seasons, he’s been more like Wes Brown in the sense that he’s a decent player who’s won lots of shit but more because he plays for a top team as opposed to earning it himself. Even his goals have been pretty straight forward bar literally one or two screamers. Yeah he still assists reasonably well (not yesterday, his crosses never got past the first man). When he was at Spurs, every other goal was a worldie, he was winning us games on his own. At Madrid, he’s just a decent player and nothing more. Their youngsters are coming in and taking his spot.
When he’s 50 and showing his kids his CL medals then I’m sure it would’ve all been worth it for him. But now, while he’s still playing, he really needs to sort himself out if he wants to be considered a true great. Does he have the guts or ambition to make a big move and prove himself all over again? Hopefully. But hopefully not to someone else in the PL!
I agree that he probably hasn't produced the kind of standout performances and goals that he did during his last year with us (much like Berbatov didn't during his time at Utd). But he's produced and performed on the biggest stage and in the biggest, most pressurised moments to directly contribute to winning trophies, which is a different kind of performance indicator.
I'm sure he would have liked to continue to star every week whilst doing all this, but the reality is when you go to these team you are inevitably going to go from club star to just one of many great players (Ronaldo and Messi are real exceptions in the modern game).
I think it's a romantic view that players value that more than trophies.
Decent article on Bale:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-manchester-united-city-chelsea-a8223816.html
Basically says he's made himself into a bit of a recluse in Spain. Despite being there for 5 years he can't speak the language, and it's impacting on his role in the squad. The Independent quote one of the Madrid journos:
“Bale plays matches how he lives; isolated in his own world, distant,” wrote Carlos Carpio in Thursday’s Marca during a fairly brutal deconstruction of the Welshman. Languages are a problem, sure, but it goes deeper than that. Off the field, Bale is seen by many around the club as almost reclusive who obsesses over golf and has given up serious efforts to integrate. Even on Wales duty teammates note he has become a little detached."
He does look very odd when he plays for Madrid. Just wanders around seemingly not part of any collective movement. What with the injuries I sadly think we should steer well clear.
If it was AVB level Bale, why would Madrid be looking to offload?
He could speak the language before he went, I've seen him speaking it in interviews. As for the rest it may be true, if a little overdone, but when it starts off badly I naturally question the truth of the article.Decent article on Bale:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-manchester-united-city-chelsea-a8223816.html
Basically says he's made himself into a bit of a recluse in Spain. Despite being there for 5 years he can't speak the language, and it's impacting on his role in the squad. The Independent quote one of the Madrid journos:
“Bale plays matches how he lives; isolated in his own world, distant,” wrote Carlos Carpio in Thursday’s Marca during a fairly brutal deconstruction of the Welshman. Languages are a problem, sure, but it goes deeper than that. Off the field, Bale is seen by many around the club as almost reclusive who obsesses over golf and has given up serious efforts to integrate. Even on Wales duty teammates note he has become a little detached."
He does look very odd when he plays for Madrid. Just wanders around seemingly not part of any collective movement. What with the injuries I sadly think we should steer well clear.
He speaks Spanish about as well as Sergio Augero speaks English. ie Not well.Not sure i'd buy the biased tale Marca is spinning here - they're a notoriously pro Real mouthpiece and this reads a bit like the paper trying to shift the player - possibly through instruction.
I do think elements of it ring true but i don't believe he doesn't speak the language after 5 years - he's not that kind of guy IMHO. But appreciate his efforts to maintain integration with a team which may not want him may have lessened this past year.
He could speak the language before he went, I've seen him speaking it in interviews. As for the rest it may be true, if a little overdone, but when it starts off badly I naturally question the truth of the article.
I suspect he doesn't involve himself in the cliques at the club or maybe he just wants to come home.
You don't sacrifice money you make sacrifices to get money so it's no sacrifice to give up money if you can take back the benefits that you gave up to get it, that's life and if you live it any other way you'll never be happy.Considering he's on £700K a week I doubt he wants to go anywhere, he'd be sacrificing an enormous amount of money
He speaks Spanish about as well as Sergio Augero speaks English. ie Not well.
You don't sacrifice money you make sacrifices to get money so it's no sacrifice to give up money if you can take back the benefits that you gave up to get it, that's life and if you live it any other way you'll never be happy.
You can quote me on that.
Considering he's on £700K a week I doubt he wants to go anywhere, he'd be sacrificing an enormous amount of money
He's on £350k a week.
He could speak the language before he went, I've seen him speaking it in interviews. As for the rest it may be true, if a little overdone, but when it starts off badly I naturally question the truth of the article.
I suspect he doesn't involve himself in the cliques at the club or maybe he just wants to come home.
I doubt he wants to surround himself with the Ronaldo circus, which has the look of "Michael Jackson" of the footballing world, especially with all those surrogate kids and statues everywhere.Decent article on Bale:
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-manchester-united-city-chelsea-a8223816.html
Basically says he's made himself into a bit of a recluse in Spain. Despite being there for 5 years he can't speak the language, and it's impacting on his role in the squad. The Independent quote one of the Madrid journos:
“Bale plays matches how he lives; isolated in his own world, distant,” wrote Carlos Carpio in Thursday’s Marca during a fairly brutal deconstruction of the Welshman. Languages are a problem, sure, but it goes deeper than that. Off the field, Bale is seen by many around the club as almost reclusive who obsesses over golf and has given up serious efforts to integrate. Even on Wales duty teammates note he has become a little detached."
He does look very odd when he plays for Madrid. Just wanders around seemingly not part of any collective movement. What with the injuries I sadly think we should steer well clear.
He didn't think he was too good for us, he was too good for us and he had the opportunity to go to Real Madrid which was an ambition of his.
You should try not to take it so personally.