13 goals in 26 games for club and country this season.
10 in 19 for Spurs. I think.
10 in 19 for Spurs. I think.
Gareth Bale is...The most expensive player ever?!
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Best winger in the league now, i guess 
I want him in a United shirt. Him and a CM for next season
I wonder how many he'd score in a team like Madrid. For us I think he'd get 20 per season in the league.
He's such a goal threat, but he's still a proper winger. If Tottenham had a stronger finisher than Adebayor, he'd have had a couple of assists today and against Stoke last week.
He's such a goal threat, but he's still a proper winger. If Tottenham had a stronger finisher than Adebayor, he'd have had a couple of assists today and against Stoke last week.
is / was my fantasy captain today.
Astute management.
Astute management.
Needs to add assists to his game. Can be far too selfish at times.
Very good player, though.
Very good player, though.
I don't get this argument. He can only be responsible for creating the chances. He made a couple of excellent chances toady for Adebayor who did nothing with them. It was the same against Stoke. If he was playing with RVP and Rooney he'd have as many assists as anyone in the league. Defoe is hardly a wide players dream and though a great target, Adebayor is a poor finisher.
If you watched the game today he pinged in cross after cross, only for a midget and a giant to buckle it every time. He does his fair share of assisting.
He has one this season.
Today his crossing was quite good but he tends to take the wrong option a fair amount of times. It's not even so much his crossing, more what he does when he drifts in-field.
I respect Bale for his 'Ronaldo like' work on his physique and improving of his game. The fact that he did it pretty much of his own accord and not under the guidance of someone like Sir Alex is equally impressive.
ronaldo comes home, bale to madrid.
Was at his best today. Although it was a dire villa side he was up against. Just bags of pace but his two goals he was just given acres of space in the box. Absolutely shocking from villa really.
He is absolute class and I have thought so for 2 1/2 seasons.
Would be sensational in this United team.
Would be sensational in this United team.
This.
It is scary to think what he could do with the ball at his feet playing for United.
Undoubtedly though, we'd do something to him and make him a gibbering wreck when faced with a fullback like we have with Valencia.
Nothing to do with us. During various parts of his United career, he was miles better than before he'd joined us (second part of last season for example). There's no explanation for what's happened to him this season. Seeing as we like the 4-4-2 so much, Bale would thrive here.
Best winger in the league now, i guess
Erm, he is. By a country mile.
He's a great player, but I'm not entirely sure he's the right style of player for where the team (United) is going right now.
Yes, we're renowned for ruining wingers' careers.
Where are we going though? This is the most unsettled United team in years IMO, we don't seem to have decided on a tactic or formation.
Bale would be perfect if we were going to go back to basics with an orthodox winger on the left and right and two forwards up top. But like you say, Fergie could be going in a completely different direction.
He must have intended to play Kagawa somewhere when he bought him, which could be cutting in from the left because he wont displace Rooney in the hole.
Also, when Welbeck and Young play on the left they cut in all the time, so maybe he wants a proper winger on the right and then an inside forward on the left... feck noes tbh. It is really unclear though, part of me thinks signing Bale would just keep things simple and be really effective.
We've made Valencia a better player to be fair. Despite his extremely poor season he's been a better player here than he ever was before.
The problem with Valencia is that players are cottoning on to him and it's not as easy. Give him space and he'll still kill you. I just hope he can improve his game and be less predictable when there isn't much space.
He would be a fantastic buy for us unfortunately he will go to Madrid instead
It's not that unclear. Just look at the players SAF went after in the summer: Lucas and Hazard. They are wide forwards than 'back to basics' wingers'. And obviously we signed Kagawa too.
I'm guessing SAF wanted to play more possession football, and I don't see how Bale would fit into that, as good as he is.
Bale has been playing inside too
Couple of his goals ysterday were because he made some good runs down the middle.
this.
he might be a one trick pony but at least he is using it to full effects. i think he is modelling himself after ronaldo, and while he is not going to be anywhere near as good as ronaldo, he is fast becoming the best winger in the premier league which is a great achievement.
I disagree, it's a very unsettled United side. Though we are starting to find some consistency in selection over the past few weeks, that could change when Kagawa comes back if Fergie reverts to the diamond. Many posters on here want him to play three in the middle with Anderson, Cleverley and Carrick, which he did against Reading before Anderson got injured and in Europe as well, so it's certainly on his mind as an option. It's halfway through the season and if everyone was fit I still don't have a clue how he'd play.
Hazard is fantastic playing as a winger, he's more effective there than in the hole IMO and Benitez seems to have him playing wider. He would have played the role similar to Nani, capable of hugging the line or cutting inside. Dont think you can read anything into that potential signing. Lucas isn't a 'possession' player either.
As others have said Bale cuts inside loads, in the same way Hazard would have if we played him left. But the point is both are able to stretch the pitch and give some width on the wing as well. By back to basics I'm talking about an alternative to Welbeck, Kagawa, Rooney or even Young who keeps cutting in on his right foot.. None of those are natural hugging the touchline and all 4 prefer cutting in, whereas Bale is more conventional in being able to attack the byline, which I'm starting to think is the way to go.
He's certainly been making runs inside when the ball has been on the other wing but there's no doubt he's been playing on the left wing.
I think he'd be great here. However I honestly think Kagawa will end up playing from the left and if he can do that to great effect then there's no need for Bale.
He's shit.
Shit-hot, yes.
3 goals against the worst current defence in the league, 2 of them free shots from about 7 yards out. That'll add an extra £20 million onto his price tag. Meanwhile Walcott's stats match up and the credit doesn't come his way 
3 goals against the worst current defence in the league, 2 of them free shots from about 7 yards out. That'll add an extra £20 million onto his price tag. Meanwhile Walcott's stats match up and the credit doesn't come his way
Walcott has been playing as a striker?
Apparently he is no better than Valencia.
registered 4 times the assists and started a fraction of the games.
If you want to kid yourself that Walcott is in Bale's league then be my guest.I don't need to kid myself on, his productivity is a big give away. He just needs to at a daft free kick stance and ridiculous celebration to really convince people
Walcott isn't in the same league as Bale.
Walcott has scored most of his goals past those bastions of defensive organisation Reading and Southampton.
Villa aren't much better!
That being said, it's all a bit pointless. Football is about so much more than statistics. It's better judged by actually watching it.
Bale just scored 3 of his against a side who just conceded 8 a few days prior to that. Hardly impressive is it
Said it before and I'll say it again, thing that separates him from the likes of Valencia.. is attitude pure and simple. Bale might be deluded in his quest to be the best player in the world and does alot of daft shit, but the kid is ambitious.. he's dedicated to improving, that can only ever be a good thing.