So how will Bale do in Madrid?

[gilzeantheking]

He'll do OK, but cannot see it being any better than that for him sadly.

 

[luka loopy]

I just can't see it working out. Before signing for them he has pissed of their best player because of the transfer fee. The standard has been set for a player of his fee, and he has to score a goal a game or he is a failure. Add to that the fact that he hasn't had any preseason because of his antics and that it is a huge move for someone his age (he comes across as young for his age too), I think it could be a disaster. My biggest fear is that he is back in the prem in a few seasons for about £40m playing for our rivals.

Good luck to him, shame about the last few months but I enjoyed having a genuine superstar at the club, I just think an extra season would have worked out better for all parties involved

 

[Misfit]

I think he'll cane it. The space and no touch rule in La Liga. It'll be carnage. It's the perfect league for him and he'll be playing for one of the 2 800 lbs monsters of the league.

How CRonaldo responds will be the interesting thing to watch.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

He'll be a huge flop and may only be able to come into his own when Ronaldo has gone. By then his progress will have been stunted and he'll have already been thrown by the way side.

This isn't a bitter post and I've explained many a time why he won't succeed at Real Madrid.

I actually want him to succeed that's the problem but I'm almost certain he won't.

Of course all depends on your 'benchmark' for success. A benchmark I'll provide is he won't better his goal tally in any season for Madrid than he racked up for us last season.

 

[14/04/91]

The lack of pre-season will really hurt him. That's probably why he's so pissed off.

Once fit he'll be immense.

Erm he could've had a full pre-season at his current club!!
No sympathy whatsoever if he's lacking fitness.

 

[easley91]

If he hits the ground running, scores on his debut or in his first few games then confidence is up and he'll go on from there.

 

[Legacy]

Ronaldo went for a fee of £80m and has returned that price tag with a phenomenal record of 201 goals in 201 games in all competitions in four seasons. Ronaldo scored 33 goals in 35 games in his debut season at Madrid, and represents by far his worst season in terms of goal tally (53, 60 and 55 goals afterwards).

He's going to constantly be compared with Ronaldo due to the price tag and similar styles of play, but he's not going to hit anywhere near close to the highs that Ronaldo has.

Bale scored 26 goals in 44 games for us last season, and that is by far his best ever goal return (up from 12 the year before). That was when he was the sole focal point of our attack. He was the main man. Give the ball to Bale and lets see what he can do.

At Madrid, he's only going to have a fraction of the possession when he's got Ronaldo, Ozil/Isco and Benzema to contend with. This also means he's going to have to spend more time out wide, as I highly doubt he's going to be given the luxury of the free role he has with us last season.

I think he's going to struggle to adapt, he's going to find himself on the bench for a while as he plays catch up on his fitness levels and when he does get onto the pitch, his lack of importance and influence on the team is going to make him look like a shadow of the player he was for us last season.

For a football player, I'm sure it must be an honour for Real Madrid to want to break the transfer world record to sign you. And the possibility of playing alongside your personal idol and one of the greatest players of all time has got to be an exciting prospect. But in terms of Bale himself, I think he's making career suicide.

Odds are, he's not going to win La Liga ahead of Barcelona and he's not going to win the Champions League. The personal accolades he's claimed in the last few years at Spurs aren't going to go to him ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. He might win the Copa Del Rey, I suppose.

He could've stayed at Spurs, had a very strong chance at winning three cups, playing his way into the Champions League and growing with a young squad that are on the verge of being genuine title challengers, all at a club with fans that worship him.

He's crazy, in my opinion.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I think he'll struggle technically.

He'll be expected to play in the tight areas between the defence and midfield and he's not had enough experience of that.
And with his price tag he will need to hit the ground running.
With the added pressure of a new country with a young family I think the odds are against him and I can see him doing a Modric.

Personally I think he should have looked at Man Utd as that would have been a better fit. In fact I can see him turning up there in a season or twos time for half his current fee.

Or maybe I'm just sad and bitter!

 

[ValenciaYid]

Lets hope Madrid are more successful with Bale than they were/are with Ronaldo....1 league title in a two team league and two cups since Ronny signed is hugely underwhelming.....

 

[Misfit]

Ronaldo went for a fee of £80m and has returned that price tag with a phenomenal record of 201 goals in 201 games in all competitions in four seasons. Ronaldo scored 33 goals in 35 games in his debut season at Madrid, and represents by far his worst season in terms of goal tally (53, 60 and 55 goals afterwards).

He's going to constantly be compared with Ronaldo due to the price tag and similar styles of play, but he's not going to hit anywhere near close to the highs that Ronaldo has.

Bale scored 26 goals in 44 games for us last season, and that is by far his best ever goal return (up from 12 the year before). That was when he was the sole focal point of our attack. He was the main man. Give the ball to Bale and lets see what he can do.

At Madrid, he's only going to have a fraction of the possession when he's got Ronaldo, Ozil/Isco and Benzema to contend with. This also means he's going to have to spend more time out wide, as I highly doubt he's going to be given the luxury of the free role he has with us last season.

I think he's going to struggle to adapt, he's going to find himself on the bench for a while as he plays catch up on his fitness levels and when he does get onto the pitch, his lack of importance and influence on the team is going to make him look like a shadow of the player he was for us last season.

For a football player, I'm sure it must be an honour for Real Madrid to want to break the transfer world record to sign you. And the possibility of playing alongside your personal idol and one of the greatest players of all time has got to be an exciting prospect. But in terms of Bale himself, I think he's making career suicide.

Odds are, he's not going to win La Liga ahead of Barcelona and he's not going to win the Champions League. The personal accolades he's claimed in the last few years at Spurs aren't going to go to him ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. He might win the Copa Del Rey, I suppose.

He could've stayed at Spurs, had a very strong chance at winning three cups, playing his way into the Champions League and growing with a young squad that are on the verge of being genuine title challengers, all at a club with fans that worship him.

He's crazy, in my opinion.

Kerist. You've almost got me convinced!

What you say about the added pressure and what Ronaldo has done is very accurate though. I suppose I am still judging him by the standards we'd expect. For the fee and the nature of RM I guess anything less than replicating a goal a game and all the other assorted tricks and flicks will be viewed as a disappointment.

Something to think about. His talent isn't in question and the signs are that he's got the right mentality. You don't improve at such a rapid rate as he has done these last 2 or 3 yrs without being fairly robust. But yeah, he's got high standards to live up to in order to be considered a success and all eyes will be on him and in a team that isn't built to his every whim, which suited us down to the ground.

But whatever, I'll not be keeping tabs on him outside of watching El Classico.

 

[Misfit]

Lets hope Madrid are more successful with Bale than they were/are with Ronaldo....1 league title in a two team league and two cups since Ronny signed is hugely underwhelming.....

RM still don't seem to have grasped the idea of building a team. Still just XI talented individuals, which is normally fine but not against a team filled with XI equal talents.

 

[Basil Brush]

Ronaldo went for a fee of £80m and has returned that price tag with a phenomenal record of 201 goals in 201 games in all competitions in four seasons. Ronaldo scored 33 goals in 35 games in his debut season at Madrid, and represents by far his worst season in terms of goal tally (53, 60 and 55 goals afterwards).

He's going to constantly be compared with Ronaldo due to the price tag and similar styles of play, but he's not going to hit anywhere near close to the highs that Ronaldo has.

Bale scored 26 goals in 44 games for us last season, and that is by far his best ever goal return (up from 12 the year before). That was when he was the sole focal point of our attack. He was the main man. Give the ball to Bale and lets see what he can do.

At Madrid, he's only going to have a fraction of the possession when he's got Ronaldo, Ozil/Isco and Benzema to contend with. This also means he's going to have to spend more time out wide, as I highly doubt he's going to be given the luxury of the free role he has with us last season.

I think he's going to struggle to adapt, he's going to find himself on the bench for a while as he plays catch up on his fitness levels and when he does get onto the pitch, his lack of importance and influence on the team is going to make him look like a shadow of the player he was for us last season.

For a football player, I'm sure it must be an honour for Real Madrid to want to break the transfer world record to sign you. And the possibility of playing alongside your personal idol and one of the greatest players of all time has got to be an exciting prospect. But in terms of Bale himself, I think he's making career suicide.

Odds are, he's not going to win La Liga ahead of Barcelona and he's not going to win the Champions League. The personal accolades he's claimed in the last few years at Spurs aren't going to go to him ahead of Messi and Ronaldo. He might win the Copa Del Rey, I suppose.

He could've stayed at Spurs, had a very strong chance at winning three cups, playing his way into the Champions League and growing with a young squad that are on the verge of being genuine title challengers, all at a club with fans that worship him.

He's crazy, in my opinion.

Sorry to quote whole post but I could not have said it any better.

I can only see this whole move ending up in tears for gareth and real.

However we have somehow pulled a rabbit out of the hat selling him for that price and getting who we have.

 

[ValenciaYid]

RM still don't seem to have grasped the idea of building a team. Still just XI talented individuals, which is normally fine but not against a team filled with XI equal talents.

Correct.

Also and imo whilst he is joining a top club, that competes at the very top in the CL, La Liga will disappoint him, notwithstanding the games against Barca and a couple of the others, the rest of the league is quite poor with teams like Elche, Granada, Levante, Vallecano and several others. It does not have the same intensity as the PL and is clearly not as competative.....

 

[Shea]

who fucking cares?

I do

If he is a failure he'll be back in the PL with Utd or someone and personally while it could be argued it wouldn't effect us directly it would piss me off a great deal - not least if it meant seeing him running round in a CHelsea shirt

 

[kaz Hirai]

gonna be tough for him. Has any British player succeeded in Spain? Didn't really work out that well for Beckham, Owen, Woodgate and Mcmanaman. Gary linker did well for one season I hear but eventually found himself out the team before being sold to us

look forward to watching Madrid games this season to see how it works with Ronaldo, Bale, Isco, and Ozil

 

[JimmyG2]

If he settles at the club. or rather is allowed to settle and is accepted by the fans;
If he adapts to life in Spain, perhaps difficult with a young family,
he is talented enough to succeed.
But the two ifs above are not givens.
Michael Owen had talent but never settled or was accepted at Real.
He was never given a fair chance.
Bale might face the same fate if he displaces Ronaldo.
He has power and strength but not the technical skill that Spanish fans are used to
or the flamboyance that they appreciate and expect.
He will be pushed to match Ronaldo's scoring record.

I predict that if he gets a good start they will quickly learn to love him.
and in four years time he will return to the top club in England
which by then will be THFC

 

[Misfit]

gonna be tough for him. Has any British player succeeded in Spain? Didn't really work out that well for Beckham, Owen, Woodgate and Mcmanaman. Gary linker did well for one season I hear but eventually found himself out the team before being sold to us

look forward to watching Madrid games this season to see how it works with Ronaldo, Bale, Isco, and Ozil

Yeah. Sir Gary of Lineker was punted out wide as a winger for some ridiculous reason. He adapted well to the role tbf. Ridiculous thinking. Thankfully we signed him and got to witness his striking brilliance for a short while.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Yeah. Sir Gary of Lineker was punted out wide as a winger for some ridiculous reason. He adapted well to the role tbf. Ridiculous thinking. Thankfully we signed him and got to witness his striking brilliance for a short while.

another poster made a joke of it but It wouldn't surprise me if Bale gets put left back some games to accommodate Isco and ozil if it doesn't work out for him

 

[Donki]

Guys, the majority of the team in Spain are utter shit, were talking Championship or Division 1 here. He is much more direct than Ronny, personally I think he will do well. He will score a bagful of goals BUT he won't give the Madrid fans what they want. It's weird, their fans want tricks, flamboyance, piss taking and with a record fee they will expect it. I don't think Bale is the player they are expecting!!

 

[Misfit]

another poster made a joke of it but It wouldn't surprise me if Bale gets put left back some games to accommodate Isco and ozil if it doesn't work out for him

SP will be happy anyway.

I'm personally backing him to dominate and quite quickly. That league is made for him but it could go horribly pear-shaped for him if any fuckwittery is done like plonking him as a LB or CRonaldo refuses point blank to pass to him.

It could be popcorn time.