Gareth Bale

[THFCSPURS19]

Love that we have ITK on a player of his stature, but I'd much rather we focus on our attention on a similar caliber player that:
- plays CM
- demands less wages
- is much younger than 29
- less injury prone
- hasn't already left us for big money.

If Bale falls on our lap on the cheap a la VDV at the end of the window then I'm all for it. If this is our big signing then it just feels a bit... West Hammy.

Ok firstly, he can't be criticised for leaving for Real Madrid. He didn't leave 'us for big money', he left a Europa League team (at the time) for perhaps the biggest team in the world, for a world record fee.

And how is signing one of the best players in the world 'West Hammy'? r u mad?

 

[StockSpur]

i love that video, he really pinned his ears back didnt he!

 

[crokey]

Love that we have ITK on a player of his stature, but I'd much rather we focus on our attention on a similar caliber player that:
- plays CM
- demands less wages
- is much younger than 29
- less injury prone
- hasn't already left us for big money.

If Bale falls on our lap on the cheap a la VDV at the end of the window then I'm all for it. If this is our big signing then it just feels a bit... West Hammy.

I don't think signing a Top 10 player in the world is very "West Hammy". Seems to me that it is rather "Real Madridy"

 

[TropicalYid]

I have been skeptical to all this "Bale talk".
But if there really is something to these rumours im all for it. Just thinking of having Bake back fills me with joy.
It would be a statement signing. A message to all others that we are going for the title.

 

[the watson]

Ok firstly, he can't be criticised for leaving for Real Madrid. He didn't leave 'us for big money', he left a Europa League team (at the time) for perhaps the biggest team in the world, for a world record fee.

And how is signing one of the best players in the world 'West Hammy'? r u mad?

I agree he can't be criticised for leaving - I'd just rather we brought in someone else who hadn't left us before. Not in a petty way, I just think we need to move on. Bring on the 'next Bale'.

I'll probably get a lot of stick for the' West Hammy' comment - but ultimately I think that it's extremely uninspiring scouting, and is more about bringing in a big name than addressing key issues in the team.

 

[robertgoulet]

I agree he can't be criticised for leaving - I'd just rather we brought in someone else who hadn't left us before. Not in a petty way, I just think we need to move on. Bring on the 'next Bale'.

I'll probably get a lot of stick for the' West Hammy' comment - but ultimately I think that it's extremely uninspiring scouting, and is more about bringing in a big name than addressing key issues in the team.

I generally agree, but I think this situation is different. This isn't going and buying a guy back who made a lateral move and blew up...this is a guy who went to one of the best clubs in the world and has continued to play lights-out. We aren't buying him back after a good run at Galatasaray or Sevilla.

 

[Hotspurious]

I agree he can't be criticised for leaving - I'd just rather we brought in someone else who hadn't left us before. Not in a petty way, I just think we need to move on. Bring on the 'next Bale'.

I'll probably get a lot of stick for the' West Hammy' comment - but ultimately I think that it's extremely uninspiring scouting, and is more about bringing in a big name than addressing key issues in the team.

Counterpoint: We did look a little stale at times this season and had difficulty breaking down teams that sat back. Eriksen can score from outside the area but he needs space and he rarely makes it for himself. Bale can do that and is several degrees of quality better than Eriksen (as good as he is) at free kicks. Bale also has the dribbling ability, pace, and crossing ability that few possess. If he could stay healthy, the offense improves dramatically with Bale in the lineup.

 

[MattyP]

I don't think signing a Top 10 player in the world is very "West Hammy". Seems to me that it is rather "Real Madridy"

Is he really in the Top 10 players of the world though? He was once, but is he now? I’d imagine most of us could name 10 players better than Bale, all/most of whom could improve us more than Bale.

Not suggesting they are attainable, we could afford either the transfer fee or wages. Bale is a very good player and if fit would improve us. But I wouldn’t class him as top 10 in the world. He isn’t the Bale we sold.

 

[Lighty64]

Great player but I just can’t see it because of wages

how do you know what Bale would want as wages?

he has played for us before and knows we don't pay top dollar

and as has been mentioned RM pay him his wages, involved in those wages are his image rights. if we don't take that % he will make up a good amount of extra a week through his image rights.

Another factor is the lack of sell on fee. When was the last time we sanctioned a deal worth tens of millions of pounds for a player approaching 30?

Dembele is our best midfielder and we’re going to let him go this summer rather than give him a new contract. He’s two years older than Bale.

Sissoko

 

[robertgoulet]

This whole argument of "no way he will come here, he's not going to take a pay-cut"...

No one is going to pay him what RM pays him. If RM wants him out then he's taking a pay-cut, whether it with Spurs or someone else.

 

[Lighty64]

I’ve bolded all the bits I strongly disagree with. If you think he’s been effective for Madrid in the last couple of seasons then I can only come to the conclusion you haven’t watched many of the games live. The fact he’s been fully fit for months but can’t get into the team over some kids who replaced him suggests that Zidane has had enough too. It’s only been the last few weeks he’s returned to some kind of form.

i’d be amazed if this season was his best statistically like you say. Until the last few weeks he’s been so poor to average. If a player does fuck all for 89 minutes and scores a tap in every other game, then the stats may look decent but he’s not contributing like he should be in his position and he’s not playing like an £85m player.

I think you’re getting confused between being successful trophy wise, which he has been massively, and being successful playing/form wise, which he hasn’t at all. The last couple of years he’s been like Wes Brown/Jonny Evans at Utd - bang average players playing their part in a massively successful team. They’ll have shitloads of trophies to show off when they’re older but won’t be particularly fondly remembered by their fans.

It pains me to say all this because I love him but I agree he can flourish once he leaves. You can see when he plays for Wales he has a smile on his face and plays much better and more freely. It’s Madrid’s fault entirely but it’s true. He needs to show the world again that he’s one of the best players.

yet when he plays for Wales, he is heavily involved. might be he is following different orders from the different managers, playing different styles.

 

[JDP]

I’ve just joined on here after lurking for about a year so bear with me. Forgive me if I’m wrong but I’m sure DL was in Madrid last August to get the ball rolling with the homecoming deal for GB. That being said also JJ posted something on twitter regarding “Hale & Pace” not long after Levy returned from his Madrid meeting. I think GB does return to the new WHL as the marquee signing and begins the wage rise at the club, taking us to that new level. I am ever the optimist. Up the Spurs!

 

[dagraham]

I agree he can't be criticised for leaving - I'd just rather we brought in someone else who hadn't left us before. Not in a petty way, I just think we need to move on. Bring on the 'next Bale'.

I'll probably get a lot of stick for the' West Hammy' comment - but ultimately I think that it's extremely uninspiring scouting, and is more about bringing in a big name than addressing key issues in the team.

I think with all the talk of players leaving, we aren’t going to just blow all of our budget on Bale if we sign him.

Besides, isn’t having a special player who can produce something out of nothing one of the things we could do with?

How many times have we as fans seen performances where we play well, control the game, but ultimately can’t break a team down or aren’t ruthless or clinical enough.

I don’t see how more match winners is a bad thing?

 

[wadewill]

I think with all the talk of players leaving, we aren’t going to just blow all of our budget on Bale if we sign him.

Besides, isn’t having a special player who can produce something out of nothing one of the things we could do with?

How many times have we as fans seen performances where we play well, control the game, but ultimately can’t break a team down or aren’t ruthless or clinical enough.

I don’t see how more match winners is a bad thing?

Which is exactly what he was for us first time around, in a (much) worse team. He pops up with goals from nothing in those tight games.

I really think if we added just him and did not sell a single player we would push City extremely close.

But we won’t get him and we will sell people

 

[Spurrific]

I’ve just joined on here after lurking for about a year so bear with me. Forgive me if I’m wrong but I’m sure DL was in Madrid last August to get the ball rolling with the homecoming deal for GB. That being said also JJ posted something on twitter regarding “Hale & Pace” not long after Levy returned from his Madrid meeting. I think GB does return to the new WHL as the marquee signing and begins the wage rise at the club, taking us to that new level. I am ever the optimist. Up the Spurs!

Welcome, firstly. I like your optimism, after a few years on here you become dogged like me - a hunk of my formerly vibrant self.

The last time JJ spoke on the subject of Bale, I think about a month ago - he laughed it off, IIRC. Things can change of course, just can’t see it ever happening for us.

 

[DJS]

I agree he can't be criticised for leaving - I'd just rather we brought in someone else who hadn't left us before. Not in a petty way, I just think we need to move on. Bring on the 'next Bale'.

I'll probably get a lot of stick for the' West Hammy' comment - but ultimately I think that it's extremely uninspiring scouting, and is more about bringing in a big name than addressing key issues in the team.

Ian Rush and Mark Hughes did okay going back to their old sides following uninspired scouting... ??

 

[JDP]

Welcome, firstly. I like your optimism, after a few years on here you become dogged like me - a hunk of my formerly vibrant self.

The last time JJ spoke on the subject of Bale, I think about a month ago - he laughed it off, IIRC. Things can change of course, just can’t see it ever happening for us.

Thanks much appreciated,

I hope your wrong and dangerous Daniel gets the deal done

 

[klacey]

His experience of playing for one of the best teams in the world would be huge for us. A signing of his caliber would help bring in other big names too.

 

[Indisguise]

His experience of playing for one of the best teams in the world would be huge for us. A signing of his caliber would help bring in other big names too.

Or make them want to play for RM too!

 

[Lighty64]

Ian Rush and Mark Hughes did okay going back to their old sides following uninspired scouting... ??

Defoe and Sherringham didn't do to bad on their returns either

Bale would be coming back to us a better player, he left us to win things, he succeeded and hopefully he will get us over the line.

the only thing that does worry me though is his last season he would collect the ball and shoot on site. yes it will be great v bus parkers creating the extra space, and scoring an absolute screamer, but what effect would it have on Kane?

the season before his last, before he was given his free role, he would murder sides down the left, and produce goals for himself, or assist. his last season with us he had more goals, but less assist, and kind of made Adebayor look useless, yet the season before they looked a lethal partnership.