Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[Trix]

Let's be honest, the only way he comes on is if we're losing. No way will Jose bring on Bale for Bergwijn if we're drawing or defending a lead, while Kane and Son will play the full 90 no matter what.

Don't know. After Jose's comments this week and the positive reaction from Bale I think it would be silly not to give him some minutes in the next game. It's the same with Winks. I didn't particularly think he had a great game yesterday, but Jose was clearly pleased, posibly more that he was trying to do what JM had asked of him, rather than just dropping deeper and deeper like we've seen in recent games. After his positive comments I'd expect him to play some part as well.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

Look how long it has taken Ndombele to get to where he is now and he was given a lot more games than Bale. I just think give him more games and we will see an even better Bale than last night where he showed a glimpse of what we were expecting from him. I still get excited at the prospect of Kane, Son, Ndombele and Bale going forward. The four of them at the top of their game would be formidable.

 

[spids]

He should start against the scousers, he won't but he should.

He's a big game player who clearly has needed some leeway to get back into the swing of regular matches, he could have done better against some of the lower level opposition he's been played against but to be honest I think he thrives on a bit of faith from the manager which he hasn't been getting (I also think he'd be doing better if there were crowds showing him the love).

I think he dictated the game last night and outside of some near misses could have had 3 or 4 goals. I think giving him the start against Liverpool gives him the opportunity to prove he is up for it and if a Son Kane Bale front three clicked then it could push us to the next level.

Start him. What's the worse that's going to happen? We always lose against these bastards anyway.

Robinson and Mane down their left flank .... we need a RWF who can and will defend.

 

[eViL]

Don't know. After Jose's comments this week and the positive reaction from Bale I think it would be silly not to give him some minutes in the next game. It's the same with Winks. I didn't particularly think he had a great game yesterday, but Jose was clearly pleased, posibly more that he was trying to do what JM had asked of him, rather than just dropping deeper and deeper like we've seen in recent games. After his positive comments I'd expect him to play some part as well.

I think it's the ball carrying (we can call it 'Modricing' or 'Dembeleing' if you want) Jose is after - I agree, I thought his passing was still wayward; but he beat his man several times and took the ball into the final 3rd which is where we've been struggling in general play.

 

[yido_number1]

Robinson and Mane down their left flank .... we need a RWF who can and will defend.

Who's Robinson?

 

[Shadydan]

Robinson and Mane down their left flank .... we need a RWF who can and will defend.

This is pretty much it, I can't actually believe that some people want him to play against Liverpool when you have the threat and pace of their two wide men, utterly bonkers idea

 

[Norgie]

He's has still got it in his head you can see it with his runs, he just needs to adjust to the team and the different pace of the PL. I can't see him starting this season against any of the top half of teams but he is very useful to come off the bench if we are losing. I'm hoping for steady progression as I still love to watch him play even if he has lost a little bit of pace.

 

[VegasII]

We’re waiting for a trademark longe range goal and/or free kick. I’m sure we’ll get one at some point.

 

[razzmaster]

Who's Robinson?

Robertson

 

[rossdapep]

Robinson and Mane down their left flank .... we need a RWF who can and will defend.

Well, Sissoko usually covers down that right side in the big games so we may not necessarily be so reliant upon a RWF who tracks back. Both Aurier and Sissoko had that side shut down for the majority of the game, no reason why we can't do that again.

Secondly, maybe it's time we told our RWF to look to exploit Robertson bombing forward. Lots of teams are exploiting Liverpool in transition now, perhaps we should follow suit and not be scared.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Robinson and Mane down their left flank .... we need a RWF who can and will defend.

Maybe we might do something mental and have the ball ourselves a bit rather than shitting ourselves about who the opposition have. Liverpool are horribly out of form and conceding goals and not scoring a great deal. I'd do something batshit crazy and pick a RWF who is a goal threat, which I know is completely insane.

 

[dontcallme]

If at their best Kane, Son and Bale rivals pretty much any front 3 in world football.

Last night was a very good sign for Bale. He looked fit and aggressive with signs of confidence coming back. If he can get back to near his best this could become a special season for us.

But if he can't get back up to level and last night is his level then he can still do a good job in games against weaker opposition and give a needed rest to our first team players.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

This is pretty much it, I can't actually believe that some people want him to play against Liverpool when you have the threat and pace of their two wide men, utterly bonkers idea

What better way to keep Robertson in his box than the threat that if he gets caught upfield when we regain possession, it just takes one ball over the top from Ndombele or Kane and Bale has a whole half of a pitch to run at.

 

[Shadydan]

What better way to keep Robertson in his box than the threat that if he gets caught upfield when we regain possession, it just takes one ball over the top from Ndombele or Kane and Bale has a whole half of a pitch to run at.

That's a very simplistic way of looking at things, I'm not entirely sure football works like that.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

That's a very simplistic way of looking at things, I'm not entirely sure football works like that.

Any more simplistic then saying ‘let’s stop their two very attacking players by going as solid as possible down that sides’?

or just a different way of looking at it?

Personally I think we’ll be getting the Højbjerg Sissoko axis with Bergwijn in front of Aurier and Ndombele playing of Kane. Deep down I hope he sacrifices Bergwijn’s or Sissoko, with Ndombele dropping into CM if it’s Sissoko and Bale taking the AM role, or Bale coming in straight for Bergwijn. I think both Sissoko and Bergwijn will be overkill.

 

[markdadude]

Your Jose hatred may be strong (and slightly blinding) but after a good performance like tonight, you're effing, blinding and insulting people on this forum who can actually manage to have a balanced and reasoned opinion, well, you come across as a bit of a dick to be honest.

Most people in here are pleased to have a bit of the old Bale back tonight, you seem to be using this as a bit of a platform for a rant about Jose?!
Shame that your opinion of the manager is taking away from your enjoyment of the performance.

Wrong - nobody enjoyed Bale's performance last night more than me.

I am sick and tired of the Ndombele off Sissoko on type substitution and the maximum 20% overall possession target (against all teams). People say we play counter-attacking football. Well that's just very deceptive spin. Afterall, to not try to attack when we do get the ball would be to have no ambition higher than a draw. It's more accurately just 11 players behind the ball shite. Musn't be dignified it by describing it as tactics.

So when our coach leaves the most talented player on the bench for half a season in the games that actually count: the games that could turn this most talented player into the best player, because there is someone else who is more reliable in his parked bus, I am rightly pissed off as all of you should be.

I don't think there is another coach/ team in the prem that would have got so little output from Bale by now. Responsibility lies with Mourinho. He should be worried about Bale being awesome again, because it is he who will look the fool. Saying that, in practice, he needn't worry because I don't think most of you can come to the correct conclusion on much of anything (alot of that going on nowadays). Peace out. Fuck.

 

[mil1lion]

We have a lot of games coming up now after a rare week off so a firing Bale is ideal. We need to have enough confidence in the attacking players to do some rotation. I thought Bale did great on the wing but we were on the front foot for much of the game. Will we get that much of the ball in many of our remaining league games? If Ndombele starts alongside Hojbjerg we could. I would certainly expect Bale to start in the Europa League.

If we can get control of games more then he'll play more. Jose isn't going to risk being too attacking. If the game is being largely played in the opposition half then Bale is going to score more than anyone outside of Kane and Son. If the game is more end to end or we're defending deep we'll play Bergwijn with Ndombele in front of Sissoko and Hojbjerg.

Then there's the possibility of Winks getting ahead of Sissoko which could shift the balance more. If he helps to get control of midfield it would allow Jose to play Ndombele further forward and Bale is more likely to start. It really comes down to whether we can be a bit more advanced up the pitch to allow for another attacker in Bale who only does so much tracking back.

I would love for us to play Ndombele, Son, Lo Celso and Bale but can't see Jose playing that attack minded. If he managed to do it though we may not be too far off the goalscoring Real Madrid side he managed.

 

[Shadydan]

Any more simplistic then saying ‘let’s stop their two very attacking players by going as solid as possible down that sides’?

or just a different way of looking at it?

Personally I think we’ll be getting the Højbjerg Sissoko axis with Bergwijn in front of Aurier and Ndombele playing of Kane. Deep down I hope he sacrifices Bergwijn’s or Sissoko, with Ndombele dropping into CM if it’s Sissoko and Bale taking the AM role, or Bale coming in straight for Bergwijn. I think both Sissoko and Bergwijn will be overkill.

That's not simplistic viewpoint that's literally how we've played against the big teams so far this season which has been more or less successful so the question is why would you change it? The starting eleven who he has picked and will pick - everyone knows their roles in the team, why would you want to sacrifice that just because Bale played for 90 fekin mins against Wycombe, it's such a redundant argument.

 

[dontcallme]

Wrong - nobody enjoyed Bale's performance last night more than me.

I am sick and tired of the Ndombele off Sissoko on type substitution and the maximum 20% overall possession target (against all teams). People say we play counter-attacking football. Well that's just very deceptive spin. Afterall, to not try to attack when we do get the ball would be to have no ambition higher than a draw. It's more accurately just 11 players behind the ball shite. Musn't be dignified it by describing it as tactics.

So when our coach leaves the most talented player on the bench for half a season in the games that actually count: the games that could turn this most talented player into the best player, because there is someone else who is more reliable in his parked bus, I am rightly pissed off as all of you should be.

I don't think there is another coach/ team in the prem that would have got so little output from Bale by now. Responsibility lies with Mourinho. He should be worried about Bale being awesome again, because it is he who will look the fool. Saying that, in practice, he needn't worry because I don't think most of you can come to the correct conclusion on much of anything (alot of that going on nowadays). Peace out. Fuck.

Genuine question, are you going through personal difficulties right now?

 

[ohtottenham!]

That's a very simplistic way of looking at things, I'm not entirely sure football works like that.

What better way to keep Robertson in his box than the threat that if he gets caught upfield when we regain possession, it just takes one ball over the top from Ndombele or Kane and Bale has a whole half of a pitch to run at.

Agree with both of you in a way. Football can work like that, and would if Bale had more PL game time in his recovery timeline up to now. But, football doesn’t work like that with the current reality of a Spurs/Liverpool game in a couple of days.

If the Liverpool game were a few weeks in to the future, and Bale continues his promising progress, it may very well be a no-brainer to start him for the reasons given. For Thursday, can only see Bergwijn starting and Bale only coming on depending on the development of the game; probably if we go behind and need a goal.