Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[Cochise]

I always felt like he went a year too soon as he kind of became a proper star in that last season. Those goals against Southampton and Sunderland were absolute worldies and the West Ham one was one of my most favourite football memories.

Happy he won all he wanted to, I just hope he comes back here with a point to prove (but lets his body get up to the right level first).

 

[portgasz]

I really wish I could watch all of this saga recorded in Amazon..

 

[RikkiRocket]

Stolen from elsewhere, to the tune of Yankee Doodle.

Daniel Levy went to Spain
In his Lamborghini....

We need some more lines though!

But his little legs wouldn’t reach the pedal and his feet are teeny weeny.

Undeterred he carried on with his little plan
To Madrid he would go and whack one up Zidane.

Daniel levy went to spain, after watching the documentary

Alone he felt quite sullen
The little fella picked up his phone and drunk dialed Donna Cullen

 

[Davo99]

Bale and Reguilon, what a double announcement that would be!

 

[Univarn]

 

[Natorious]

Dragging myself to bed and only made it to page 290. Thank you SC for perking up 2020 ?

 

[Dirty Ewok]

I view it thus:

We don’t know how this will pan out once the deal is complete. (If!)

But. Even if it turns out to be a damp squib, as long as he does something special in a Spurs shirt again it’ll be worth it.
I’ve wanted to see him back since he left. He is my all time favourite Spurs player. Sorry, Harry. He was pure electric.

I just want to witness one more moment of sheer brilliance from him in our colours.

That’d make me happy.

I don’t care about the wages. I don’t care if it’s a loan.

I just want to see Gareth Bale play for us again and I want to get goosebumps when one of these moments happens. Even if it’s just one.

It’d be totally worth it, and I’d love it.

Ditto.

Been thinking the past day about this transfer and was saying to a friend that i sort of thought of it like when we got VdV, out of the blue we had this magician in our squad of misfits. We suddenly had someone who could produce magic and the best part was the hope it gave all the supporters. Just him signing with us gave us hope for our European adventure.

I know Bale is aging. I know he has had injury issues. I know he is on massive wages. I know he isn't the player that he was when he left....

I know all that and i just don't care. I will be happy for just one of those moments....one of those breathtaking moments of magic that made watching a miserable match completely worth it. That moment that we all got to experience of him cutting in off the wing. and in reaction you instinctively start moving to the edge of your seat for what might happen.

Bale gives me hope that i will get to see some magic again.

 

[Amo]

Seven fucking years. Time's so weird. I always thought Bale left midway through my time on SC and it turns out his move was announced two weeks after I joined here.

What a day that was. All the news outlets had live feeds on their website and stuff which was unusual for a football transfer.

 

[amathews3416]

It really does seem just like yesterday when he was banging in that last minute winner at West Ham. I remember the exact moment in time. Watched that goal on repeat.

I think I am most excited to watch him curl in balls from the right, right onto Harry’s head .

 

[jpascavitz]

It really does seem just like yesterday when he was banging in that last minute winner at West Ham. I remember the exact moment in time. Watched that goal on repeat.

I think I am most excited to watch him curl in balls from the right, right onto Harry’s head .

This. When watching goals of his last season I can tell you exactly where I was watching and doing. It was a rough year of university for me where I ended up transferring closer to home and the way Bale single handily carried the squad that year was unreal.

 

[Natorious]

QUOTE="Cinemattis, post: 6958938, member: 25775"]
It´s been seven years and fifteen days,

since they took my love away …

And ever since there are a handful of us that never gave up hope that he would one day come back to us. Obviously, we were deluded – it was simply unrealistic. But as the years passed, and the relationship to the fans, club and management soured in the Spanish capital – the glimmer of hope shone brighter. And in every single transfer window, there were always reports, rumours that there was a possibility. Always to be dismissed by all the ITKs. Sometimes friendly, softly, gently – sometimes abruptly – but always consistently.

I am deeply grateful for all the work the admins here are doing, and not at least for all the insight and snippets of fans´ gold the ITKs share with us. And I fully understand and respect that these same people can lose their patience when we mortal minions and underlings never stop nagging about “is he coming?” usually followed up with countless reuses of that Jim Carey gif “So you´re saying…There is a chance?!” It´s like having that annoying friend of your own annoying children sitting in the back of the car constantly repeating “Are we there yet?” – two minutes into the ride, every single bleedin´ time.

But, oh what glorious times these last couple of days have been! I was musing late last night, while just flowing with the perfect wave on the craziest and funniest day I´ve ever experienced in here (Bale avatars for everyone?!): what a development?! From a stone cold “no”, via “it´s not 0% chance” and “pull the fucking trigger, Levy!” to “I´m quietly confident”. And then, this morning´s “just medical and formalities”. Flabbergasting!

We football fans are dreamers, most of us. If you chose (or have been told to choose) Tottenham as your club, I would say even more so. If you didn´t experience the Nicholson era first hand, it´s not the overfilled trophy cabinets of constant success that lured you to this part of the footballing world. It´s more likely to be the romantic dream of the traditional cup team – the team that can outplay anyone anywhere on their day, and lose a game when we´re up three or four goals at halftime. We´re some of the last romantics in top football. So, we dream impossible dreams. Like Gareth Bale coming back to us – because we love him and thus he kind of have to like us too, right?

Luckily, we have in our midst some realists that can throw ice cold water in our faces and tell us that it “just isn´t going to happen”. It´s not because they don´t share the dream. But it´s more likely because they´re awake and can see the dream for what it is: a dream, and nothing more.

I immensely respect him and love him to bits the way one man can love another man he has never met. I´ve only read his comments on a website, given likes and stars to his words of wisdom. He probably doesn´t know I exist. I don´t even know if he´s a man, to be honest. So, please, this is not a dig at ITKs in general, or to Trix more specifically: if anything it´s a homage to his and their work! And it´s also an explanation to myself (and maybe others) on how the general mood on a website´s chat forum can change in an instant just because of a few words from the keyboard of someone we believe in and respect.

So, this is @Trix ´s timeline “From Not Doable to Baleiber”:

In this same thread Trix gave one single comment in the January window on the chances of Bale coming back. It simply and politely – as in a way you talk to people that have a hard time understanding the principle of spreading butter on a piece of bread – that the financial obstacles were impossible to work around. As he have said in the wondow before, and the window before that, and in - you get the picture.

Fast forward to August 15th:
View attachment 73683
We´re not getting him back. Yes, we know. And it´s because of the money:
View attachment 73684

Five days later, there´s not a ten thousand to one chance he´s coming back. Even if Levy would only have to pay 10K to get him:
View attachment 73685

A couple of days later, and the patience is wearing thin:
View attachment 73686

Then nothing. Absolute radio silence.

Almost a fortnight later, THAT Bale-interview hits the media. For the first time ever, on September 3rd, Gareth Bale gives an interview where he speaks about how he wants to play football and that Real Madrid stands in his way to do so. The ball is rolling, and the Bale-thread on SC slowly awakens from its slumber.

On the 7th, our man Trix is - as always - the realistic voice: it would take so much from all parties that it´s not realisitc. BUT: he gives the fanatic romantics something to chew on: we want him. And: he´s open for a possible return.
View attachment 73688
And, then: dialogue....! (even though it´s still not possible)
View attachment 73689

And, then on Thursday the 10th of September in the year of 2020, seven years and nine days since Bale signed for Real Madrid, Trix posts what we never thought he would ever do. And the thread goes ballistic:
View attachment 73690

THERE IS HOPE: HE MAY COME HOME!

We even have a special Bale-budget outside the normal transfer budget?..?!
View attachment 73692

Next day, Friday morning, in the ITK-thread - the hope is growing (but the blue is gone...?):
View attachment 73695

Later in the afternoon - reminding us all both that there is a clever businessman at the top, and that we actually were very, very close to get Dybala. And at the same time reminding us aswell that a deal can derail just when everyone think it´s done:
View attachment 73697

Quiet Saturday - we´re all just waiting for more info as the thread heats up. It´s happening isn´t it? Yes, this is the chance! He´s coming home - he has to!

Then Sunday.

Bloody, beautiful Sunday.

I love Sunday mornings! Sometimes, at least.

Trix were on form, online, and definitely not without hope. It´s now as good as it will ever get - it´s Levy´s decision now, only his. Trix gave us 24 minutes of gold that morning:
View attachment 73700

(to be continued)
[/QUOTE]

This is literary wonder, made me tear up lol

 

[glacierSpurs]

They said on Sky Sports it would be 1 month before the boy is fully match fit

At least under Mourinho it won't be another 1 month on top of that!

 

[jpascavitz]

 

[yankspurs]

I'm truly stunned that the day I see Bale in a Spurs shirt again is coming. I wanted it to come so, so bad that i convinced myself of it but i never truly thought it would happen. The dream was just a fun thing. Now that it is reality is unbelievable. I am absolutely elated.

 

[Griff001]

Bale. Our last superstar, returning to us when he could have his pick of clubs, means he still loves us. This is emotional!

Plus, he gets to play with our new superstar too in Kane, this never usually happens to us, we lose one and then another emerges.

This won't always be the case due to injuries and form, but can you imagine our front three of Son, Kane and Bale all fit and firing at once? Gotta be up there with any of the best front 3 in the league

 

[Bosher]

Bale. Our last superstar, returning to us when he could have his pick of clubs, means he still loves us. This is emotional!

Plus, he gets to play with our new superstar too in Kane, this never usually happens to us, we lose one and then another emerges.

This won't always be the case due to injuries and form, but can you imagine our front three of Son, Kane and Bale all fit and firing at once? Gotta be up there with any of the best front 3 in the league ❤

I'd put that front 3 as among the best in the World.

 

[robertgoulet]

Really am curious what squad number he takes. Has to be 3, right? Certainly can’t ask Lamela to give up 11 when Lamela has been at the club longer than Bale was?

 

[Griff001]

I'd put that front 3 as among the best in the World.

Yup. On form, that's 3 world class players that are all incredibly dangerous by themselves, but they also have the potential to work very well as a unit as well.

If they all keep fit, and mourinho manages to get his tactics right to get the best out of them, we'll have one of the best forward lines in world football for sure.

Crikey! How did that happen ?

 

[ilikeost]

Really am curious what squad number he takes. Has to be 3, right? Certainly can’t ask Lamela to give up 11 when Lamela has been at the club longer than Bale was?

Didn't he wear 9 in his last few pre-season games before he left?

 

[plashy]

Didn't he wear 9 in his last few pre-season games before he left?

It was actually preseason one year prior to him leaving. At that point think he knew he wanted to be rid of the #3 shirt but VDV still had 11 until leaving at the start of the season, at which point Bale snagged it.

Honestly think with the GB11 brand that Coco will be the one encouraged to pick a new number.