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Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

The Long Suffering One

Well-Known Member
Mar 13, 2014
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3,973
There was some ITK alleging Kane was not keen on the idea of Dybala coming in last summer.

Anyone worried about the knock-on effect of Bale's enormous wages should consider that the only players who could, after last season, ask for a wage rise with a straight face are Son and Kane. Levy's response would likely be "sure, you can have your rise. All you have to do is sign this 6 year deal". Win-win in my book.

There was? Who from? Interested to read it.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
Not what I’m saying at all. If you had followed his career at Madrid at all you would know that he never found the consistency there that he reached under AVB at Spurs. If he had, he would have been in contention for the Ballon d’or each year. That’s his level, but he only reached those heights in moments.

There’s a reason he found himself in and out the team, and ultimately sidelined completely after the first couple of years, and it certainly wasn’t because ’he found a new level’.

That’s not to say that he was a failure at Madrid- he wasn’t. Just that he never reached the same levels of virtuoso consistency that we were lucky enough to see at Spurs.
Think you need to take the Ronaldo factor into account there. Ronaldos ego didnt like Bale coming in at all. Not even a little bit. And he had a lot of pull in that dressing room. I dont think Bale was ever going to be popular there. Ronaldo wouldn't have it.
 

whitesocks

The past means nothing. This is a message for life
Jan 16, 2014
4,652
5,738
Bale did indeed play on the right for us, especially in the AVB era. Which at the time led to chants of "Gareth Bale, he plays on the left" from tactical experts in the stands!
As I remember he'd effectively play right down the middle in transition under avb, and everyone better get out his way. This suited adebayor as he'd hang out wide. Bale has that selfish striker instinct to score. He is not looking to pass, which will not go down well with Kane.

Of course that was Bale then. He is not going to be able to make time stand still like he did. He will be caught. But he'll create chaos and Kane might be able to poach a fair few from loose balls.

Defensively it is hard to think he has changed much. He'd expect others to do that for him just like the rest of the attacking players do. (xpt Lamela). He is tall though, so helped out at corners as I remember.

His freekicks were amazing, but he did seem to look for a flaw in the ball to strike. The latest ball might not fly so well, or the whole thing was psychological. When he gets his confidence back, perhaps the knack will return. He would be better than any other option we have regardless.

Bale is surely looking for a club where he can restore his reputation. He'll not do that in the europa league. If he has an option to join a CL club, he'd take it. But if he goes to a top cl club, RM will demand a top transfer fee.
We would need to convince RM that Bale is never coming back to haunt them and at the same time convince Bale that he'll have opportunities to excel in the CL next year.
What kind of snake tongued double talker could pull that off.
 

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,136
14,177
If a no fee loan is available with RM funding half his wages the outlay for us will be roughly £15-20 million a season or something like that? That's a lot but I wouldn't have thought beyond our reach.
 

Dr Benson

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2013
465
569
Even though the most tabloid tabloids ain’t the most reliable when it comes to transfer rumours, it kind of worrys me that they don’t write about Bale coming home.. This is negotiations only Trix and us here at S.C. know about. A top secret deal purely for the underground to know about..???
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,131
146,025
If a no fee loan is available with RM funding half his wages the outlay for us will be roughly £15-20 million a season or something like that? That's a lot but I wouldn't have thought beyond our reach.

I’d imagine if it were that cheap it would have been done by now. I’m guessing it’s going to cost much more to do this than that.

Personally think Levy should bite the bullet and take a gamble. This would be a massive statement signing and strike fear into our rivals.
 

HNIM

Well-Known Member
Aug 12, 2020
1,809
4,611
Even though the most tabloid tabloids ain’t the most reliable when it comes to transfer rumours, it kind of worrys me that they don’t write about Bale coming home.. This is negotiations only Trix and us here at S.C. know about. A top secret deal purely for the underground to know about..???

The tabloids know that although their readers will readily believe that aliens created the 5G network to brainwash us into installing solar panels, suggesting that DL would spend huge amounts of money on an aging attacker would get them laughed off the newsstand.
 

Dillspur

Well-Known Member
May 18, 2004
3,747
9,926
That some people will always try to find the negative

It's not about being negative, more realistic. He's 31 and according to ITK it's going to be painful (financially), he's averaged about 31 games (per season) in all comps over the last 5 years, I couldn't be bothered to check how many minutes he's played but that's in a league that's not as physical as the PL, there's a lot to consider. Do I want him back hell yeah! But not if it could hamper us down the line.
 

St José Dominguez

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,592
11,648
I’d imagine if it were that cheap it would have been done by now. I’m guessing it’s going to cost much more to do this than that.

Personally think Levy should bite the bullet and take a gamble. This would be a massive statement signing and strike fear into our rivals.

I think opposite, I think if it was more expensive than that Levy wouldn’t even bother considering it. I think the issue is it could be a two year loan and we won’t get a single penny from a resale. You’re basically giving away £40m across two years knowing you won’t get a penny back on that investment.
If Levy thinks it guarantees CL then financially it can make sense, he seems very much all about the brand at the minute too so that probably comes into it. Lastly does he think now we really do need to win something, with Jose here and Kane now 27, as this signing makes that more likely too.
 

mdharris

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2005
1,771
3,033
Mixed feelings about this one. Bale when was with us was unstoppable. But He’s 31 now. And if we’re are going to spend a large sum of money on wages, I feel there maybe better uses for that. Nostalgia may be affecting our perspective here :)

but at the same time, fuck it, why not. It would be so exciting to have him back.
 

worcestersauce

"I'm no optimist I'm just a prisoner of hope
Jan 23, 2006
26,894
45,042
Bale is a natural athlete but his speed isn't his only asset, he's quality with the ball holding, passing and shooting so he's got a lot of years left in him. If he comes back then I'd expect the move across the pond in two or three years, Inter Miami perhaps.
 

$hoguN

Well-Known Member
Jul 25, 2005
26,626
34,700
Bale is a natural athlete but his speed isn't his only asset, he's quality with the ball holding, passing and shooting so he's got a lot of years left in him. If he comes back then I'd expect the move across the pond in two or three years, Inter Miami perhaps.
More likely to play a few year at a high level us or someone else then go to Cardiff
 

bomberH

Well-Known Member
Jun 4, 2005
28,455
168,221
Not what I’m saying at all. If you had followed his career at Madrid at all you would know that he never found the consistency there that he reached under AVB at Spurs. If he had, he would have been in contention for the Ballon d’or each year. That’s his level, but he only reached those heights in moments.

There’s a reason he found himself in and out the team, and ultimately sidelined completely after the first couple of years, and it certainly wasn’t because ’he found a new level’.

That’s not to say that he was a failure at Madrid- he wasn’t. Just that he never reached the same levels of virtuoso consistency that we were lucky enough to see at Spurs.

This is correct in my opinion. And the reason is because he was constantly played out of position and never given the same trust he was afforded at Spurs. I watched every game of Bale’s first 2/3 seasons and another thing I noticed is there were so many times that his team mates chose the more difficult pass to Ronaldo when the easier option to Bale was on.

Think you need to take the Ronaldo factor into account there. Ronaldos ego didnt like Bale coming in at all. Not even a little bit. And he had a lot of pull in that dressing room. I dont think Bale was ever going to be popular there. Ronaldo wouldn't have it.

Actually when Ronaldo was going through a bit of a slump (which for him was probably no goals in 3 games) he blamed it on Bale’s injury and he said in interviews that no one else had the same qualities as Bale. I think he realised as time went on that Bale was actually crucial to him getting more goals.

On the flip side, Bale’s CL final overhead kick not winning the CL goal of the season sums up how everything is geared towards Ronaldo and Messi in Europe.

He’s definitely been poorer the last couple of seasons but Madrid have treated him like shit so there are mitigating factors. Their fans as a whole are ****s too and booing him at the first opportunity won’t have helped his confidence either.

I’d love a fully fit and ambitious Bale back here. If he can get back to anywhere near what he was then we’d have one of the best front 3’s in world football.
 
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