Gareth Bale is...The most expensive player ever?!

Sixpence said:
You'd be positively fuming that we had signed one of the best young talents in Europe?

Yes, Ferguson must have been mental when he identified his quality at 16 and wanted to sign him from Southampton.

I'm convinced some people are on a wum here. No-one sane can believe this sort of shite people are writing. :lol:
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I'd be pissed off because of the price it'd cost. Not to mention we are probably going to let a superior player leave in summer. I bet I could go out there and find a better/potentially better winger than Bale for about half what it'd cost to sign Bale. I'm very confident that everyone at United would think the same and I'm therefore sure that we'll never sign Bale or go in for him again.
 
pocco said:
I'd be pissed off because of the price it'd cost. Not to mention we are probably going to let a superior player leave in summer. I bet I could go out there and find a better/potentially better winger than Bale for about half what it'd cost to sign Bale. I'm very confident that everyone at United would think the same and I'm therefore sure that we'll never sign Bale or go in for him again.
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And why would the price bother you? If we did sign him, it clearly wouldn't bother Fergie and he would think he's worth it. Why do you care so much?
 
What the feck is up with the hate on here? If he was playing for us, the very same people would be lapping up every touch he makes.

Stop being bitter/jealous that we don't have him. On his day, I'd have him ahead of any of our other wingers.

Awesome player, who is still ridiculously young for his quality. I'd sign him up without any hesitation if I knew Tottenham would only want £45m.

Now I expect some to counteract this comment with "Better than Nani?". I won't mind that, because I guess it's all about opinions. But what I won't understand if people continue to slate him as if he's a Suarez.

Yes he dives, which may be the only negative about him - but can anyone actually say that Ronaldo didn't dive? Seriously?
 
I'm also stunned at the hatred on here, he's absolutely brilliant. His bursts forward from nothing are frightening and he'd be incredible at United if he did play for us.
 
Sixpence said:
And why would the price bother you? If we did sign him, it clearly wouldn't bother Fergie and he would think he's worth it. Why do you care so much?
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Surely its fair enough for fans to have a view about what we spend on players? Especially when you spunk massive sums on a player you might not rate that highly. That is money that, presumably, won't then be spent on other players.

That's a general point. I think Bale is an excellent player, better than any of our wingers. So I'd be happy to sign him. Having said that, I don't think it's where we should be spending our money. I think Bale is better than Nani or Valencia, I have for some time but it seems increasingly clear now, but we still have outstanding options in wide areas, and good depth. I don't see the point in letting Nani go and spending vast sums on Bale, we'd be stronger but not enough to justify the net spend.

As you say, if SAF did it then obviously he'd think it was worth it, and who am I to argue. But that's my view. And I suspect we won't sign Bale, which may be partly down to reason I mentioned.
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
What the feck is up with the hate on here? If he was playing for us, the very same people would be lapping up every touch he makes.

Stop being bitter/jealous that we don't have him. On his day, I'd have him ahead of any of our other wingers.

Awesome player, who is still ridiculously young for his quality. I'd sign him up without any hesitation if I knew Tottenham would only want £45m.

Now I expect some to counteract this comment with "Better than Nani?". I won't mind that, because I guess it's all about opinions. But what I won't understand if people continue to slate him as if he's a Suarez.

Yes he dives, which may be the only negative about him - but can anyone actually say that Ronaldo didn't dive? Seriously?
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I know that, people were drooling over Kagawa's touches at the start of the season while saying Eden Hazard was over-rated at the same time :lol:

I don't think he's as good as he's being made out to be, I also find him thoroughly unlikeable due to his persistent cheating and ever increasing smugness and desire to copy Ronaldo.

He's had this hype for a while, last season you wouldn't hear about him for weeks then he'd crop up with 2 goals against Norwich and you'd never hear the end of it. I think there are several players who can match him, but players that wouldn't generate a fraction of the hype.
 
He's a class act and appears to be a decent bloke with a good attitude. The diving thing has been massively overblown. Don't see the smug thing at all. Keeps his head down, hardly a peep in the press. His consistency is far more impressive than Nani's and while he hasn't quite the same potential for magic, offers a better return on possession.

In my opinion.
 
Rossa said:
Bale? Well, he's pretty much raped Sagna on a couple of occasions, Maicon springs to mind and he gave Rio a whupping as well - class defenders all of them by any standard.
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He destroyed Inter twice, arguably more so in the home match than when he scored 3 in the San Siro. Also, even though Spurs were thoroughly outclassed, he was still the best Spurs player in both legs v Real Madrid and all Ramos, Pepe, Alonso & Khedira did was to constantly foul him. Not a bad tactic to stop him it must be said, so long as the fouls are committed by different players.

I do remember Everton containing him at White Hart Lane a season or 2 back by basically playing 2 right full backs in Coleman and Neville. At the moment the only way he is similar to Ronaldo is that he can beat the shit in the league all by himself.
 
his divings overblown? I've heard it all now. He got more protection for that than any player in the league. If you wan't overblown look at Suarez. Any time he slips on his ass it gets analysed and he gets dogs abuse.
 
Snake Plissken said:
I know that, people were drooling over Kagawa's touches at the start of the season while saying Eden Hazard was over-rated at the same time :lol:

I don't think he's as good as he's being made out to be, I also find him thoroughly unlikeable due to his persistent cheating and ever increasing smugness and desire to copy Ronaldo.

He's had this hype for a while, last season you wouldn't hear about him for weeks then he'd crop up with 2 goals against Norwich and you'd never hear the end of it. I think there are several players who can match him, but players that wouldn't generate a fraction of the hype.
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I really don't get where the idea about him being smug comes from. When he's interviewed there seems to be nothing arrogant or smug about him at all. He comes across a bit shy if anything. He seems like a quiet lad, who just wants to be known for his football and continually tries to improve his game. He never seems to big himself up and if anything is quite self deprecating.

All I can find of him talking about his opinion of himself is this:

“I have not always been the most confident of people, particularly as a schoolboy, so I needed my parents to keep telling me to believe that I was better than I actually thought I was myself.

I’m still the same now. I don’t think that I’m as good a player as people say I am.

That’s what keeps me working hard - because I want to be the player that others say I am."

He sounds nothing like the guy so many posters here make him out to be. In fact he sounds like the polar opposite.

I think Bale's biggest crime is that he's proven he really is the player he was being hyped to be and after all the shit he got here for the last few years, many are resentful of it and seem to have started attacking him as a person and making up a false personality type that fit more with a hate figure.

In reality he's a top player, down to earth guy and seemingly very modest.
 
I feel Garble is very one dimensional player but that dimension works against most defences he has come across and he can have that bit of magic to win the match for his team. I tell you what, I wouldn't complain if he came to United.
 
Sixpence said:
He destroyed Inter twice, arguably more so in the home match than when he scored 3 in the San Siro. Also, even though Spurs were thoroughly outclassed, he was still the best Spurs player in both legs v Real Madrid and all Ramos, Pepe, Alonso & Khedira did was to constantly foul him. Not a bad tactic to stop him it must be said, so long as the fouls are committed by different players.

I do remember Everton containing him at White Hart Lane a season or 2 back by basically playing 2 right full backs in Coleman and Neville. At the moment the only way he is similar to Ronaldo is that he can beat the shit in the league all by himself.
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The same Inter who Benitez was in charge of? The Real Madrid ties he was anonymous. He hasn't had much luck against us, and Arsenal have got the better of Tottenham in their recent ties going back a few years. How have his performances been in the Europa League?

This is my opinion on him. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and has an eye for goal, but as a winger, his playmaking skills need improvement. It wouldn't matter if he scored a shitload of goals, but he doesn't. He's a better version of Valencia, so one-dimensioned. Credit to him for trying to improve, and he has improved. It would be stupid to write him off, and who knows, maybe in the future he'll be world class. One of the most exciting players I've seen this season.

But at the moment, I don't think he would take this current United side to the next level. I've not seen anything from him that I haven't seen in Nani during his amazing run 18 months ago, or Valencia last season when he was ripping shit. I wouldn't take him over a 05-06 Ronaldo, and he is miles behind the 06-07 version one. He has not done enough to justify the free role he occupies in the Spurs side. Walcott has about the same number of goals, with much more assists. Yes stats are subjective, but watching both players, I honestly don't see a gap in quality or production. So why is he being touted as the man to replace Nani/Valencia, or someone Madrid will spunk 40-50 million on?
 
adexkola said:
The same Inter who Benitez was in charge of? The Real Madrid ties he was anonymous. He hasn't had much luck against us, and Arsenal have got the better of Tottenham in their recent ties going back a few years. How have his performances been in the Europa League?

This is my opinion on him. He seems to have a good head on his shoulders, and has an eye for goal, but as a winger, his playmaking skills need improvement. It wouldn't matter if he scored a shitload of goals, but he doesn't. He's a better version of Valencia, so one-dimensioned. Credit to him for trying to improve, and he has improved. It would be stupid to write him off, and who knows, maybe in the future he'll be world class. One of the most exciting players I've seen this season.

But at the moment, I don't think he would take this current United side to the next level. I've not seen anything from him that I haven't seen in Nani during his amazing run 18 months ago, or Valencia last season when he was ripping shit. I wouldn't take him over a 05-06 Ronaldo, and he is miles behind the 06-07 version one. He has not done enough to justify the free role he occupies in the Spurs side. Walcott has about the same number of goals, with much more assists. Yes stats are subjective, but watching both players, I honestly don't see a gap in quality or production. So why is he being touted as the man to replace Nani/Valencia, or someone Madrid will spunk 40-50 million on?
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Because he is currently one of the most devestating attacking players in Europe. It's quite simple really. Walcott is not touted for a big move to Spain, on the covers of Marca etc, due to the simple reason of him not being close to having Bale's ability. Bale can score any type of goal, as he's proved.

He wasn't that anonymous against Real, their task was rendered impossible before they got started due to Crouch's idiocy, but every time Bale got the ball he was brought down almost immediately before he could get running at them. Mourinho deployed this same tactic on Robben in the 2010 CL Final, he was hacked down every time and tries it every time his sides play v Messi, with little effect. It was a complement to Bale if anything.

You don't think he'd take us to another level at the moment? Have you seen our wingers recently? This guy would be a phenomenon and RVP with his exceptional movement and finishing ability would have a field day from his service from the left.
 
Sixpence you really are going so far over the top you should really be working for Sky or MOTD.

Apparently people are just jealous because he's proven everyone wrong. Yeah, you might want to wait until he's doing it for a big club and at the highest level before you make claims like that
 
Sixpence said:
Because he is currently one of the most devestating attacking players in Europe. It's quite simple really. Walcott is not touted for a big move to Spain, on the covers of Marca etc, due to the simple reason of him not being close to having Bale's ability. Bale can score any type of goal, as he's proved.

He wasn't that anonymous against Real, their task was rendered impossible before they got started due to Crouch's idiocy, but every time Bale got the ball he was brought down almost immediately before he could get running at them. Mourinho deployed this same tactic on Robben in the 2010 CL Final, he was hacked down every time and tries it every time his sides play v Messi, with little effect. It was a complement to Bale if anything.

You don't think he'd take us to another level at the moment? Have you seen our wingers recently? This guy would be a phenomenon and RVP with his exceptional movement and finishing ability would have a field day from his service from the left.
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Right now he'd be an improvement over Nani and Valencia, but they're both going through rotten phases of form. It's not going to last forever. When both of them are on fire there's no way I'd take him over any of them.

Even if he came, what would he improve? Our strikers? Or midfield? Would he take us the extra mile in Europe? No.
 
I'm not sure about him being "one of the most devastating players in europe", but he is very very good and would improve most teams. I think he's better than Valencia and given Nani's last 8 months, as much as I rate his talent more, I have to concede he's better than him as well right now. However I do like him much more as a proper wide player rather than this roaming ronaldoesque attacker. He hasn't imo got the technical game to play as free a role as he is without the team suffering due to his lack of technical ability/playmaking abilities. Also I think he's got a cracking delivery so it makes all the mode sense.

And yeah the hatred for him here is truly bizarre.
 
amolbhatia100 said:
And yeah the hatred for him here is truly bizarre.
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Indeed, he's one the best players in the league imo. He's been carrying Tottenham for the past few weeks now. Very mature performances from him as of late. He's still to prove himself on the big stage though, CL performances aside, his record against the top 4 teams isn't wonderful.

To put his season into perspective...

Overall PL Stats:
Mins: 10824
Goals: 33
Assists: 26
Games per Goal: 5.5
Games per Assist: 6.9

Last Season Stats:
Mins: 3216
Goals: 10
Assists: 14
Games per Goal: 5.4
Games per Assist: 3.8

This Season Stats:
Mins: 1841
Goals: 11
Assists: 4
Games per Goal: 2.8
Games per Assist: 7.7

Whats interesting is his Assists this season are terrible. Below his overall stat, but looking at Spurs squad and their lack of strikers, that might make a bit of sense. He put in some great balls the other night with no one on the end of them.
 
He would be perfect for United on the left wing.

Very direct, plays well on the counter, decent at crossing. If he was offered to United we should get him straight away.

He looks very much like a "United player"
 
Hernandez - BFA said:
What the feck is up with the hate on here? If he was playing for us, the very same people would be lapping up every touch he makes.

Stop being bitter/jealous that we don't have him. On his day, I'd have him ahead of any of our other wingers.

Awesome player, who is still ridiculously young for his quality. I'd sign him up without any hesitation if I knew Tottenham would only want £45m.
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Nobody is bitter or jealous. They just find him annoying because he's annoying.
 
RedSky At Night said:
Indeed, he's one the best players in the league imo. He's been carrying Tottenham for the past few weeks now. Very mature performances from him as of late. He's still to prove himself on the big stage though, CL performances aside, his record against the top 4 teams isn't wonderful.

To put his season into perspective...

Overall PL Stats:
Mins: 10824
Goals: 33
Assists: 26
Games per Goal: 5.5
Games per Assist: 6.9

Last Season Stats:
Mins: 3216
Goals: 10
Assists: 14
Games per Goal: 5.4
Games per Assist: 3.8

This Season Stats:
Mins: 1841
Goals: 11
Assists: 4
Games per Goal: 2.8
Games per Assist: 7.7

Whats interesting is his Assists this season are terrible. Below his overall stat, but looking at Spurs squad and their lack of strikers, that might make a bit of sense. He put in some great balls the other night with no one on the end of them.
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You often see him put in some wonderful crosses...it's criminal that he has the sole assist this year.

Something has to be said about the quality of his goals. He's got a sweet strike, not bad on his right either. Certainly has more about him than pace.
 
He'd have more assists playing out wide. I don't think he's a particularly gifted in passing between the lines and setting up his team mates in tight central areas, whereas his delivery from out wide is very good.
 
adexkola said:
Walcott has about the same number of goals, with much more assists. Yes stats are subjective, but watching both players, I honestly don't see a gap in quality or production. So why is he being touted as the man to replace Nani/Valencia, or someone Madrid will spunk 40-50 million on?
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You don't see a huge difference between Walcott and Bale in terms of technique? Bale obviously doesn't have the velvet touch or glued-to-the-feet dribbling of someone like Silva but he's fairly elegant on the ball, passes it well, controls it well at great pace and he can strike a ball - none of which really apply to Walcott. Walcott's a better finisher but he's worse technically in every other way.
 
The lack of assists and increased goals this season reminds me of when Ronaldo switched it up and had his 42 goal season. Obviously Bale is nowhere near right now, sort of a Ronaldo-Lite.
 
Bale is one of those players where some people on here seem completely stubborn in their inability to admit he is a very, very good player who is getting better and better. He'd get in the first XI of any team in the league and would make a great contribution to that team.

Would love him at United.
 
Brwned said:
You don't see a huge difference between Walcott and Bale in terms of technique? Bale obviously doesn't have the velvet touch or glued-to-the-feet dribbling of someone like Silva but he's fairly elegant on the ball, passes it well, controls it well at great pace and he can strike a ball - none of which really apply to Walcott. Walcott's a better finisher but he's worse technically in every other way.
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Yep. Bale might not be technically outstanding but he does the simple things well whereas Walcott can often struggle at some of the basic stuff. And I think Bale has decent footballing intelligence too. He might be have a brilliant football mind and awareness of those around him but he doesn't do daft things too often which Walcott is prone to.
 
redmeister said:
I really don't get where the idea about him being smug comes from. When he's interviewed there seems to be nothing arrogant or smug about him at all. He comes across a bit shy if anything. He seems like a quiet lad, who just wants to be known for his football and continually tries to improve his game. He never seems to big himself up and if anything is quite self deprecating.

All I can find of him talking about his opinion of himself is this:

“I have not always been the most confident of people, particularly as a schoolboy, so I needed my parents to keep telling me to believe that I was better than I actually thought I was myself.

I’m still the same now. I don’t think that I’m as good a player as people say I am.

That’s what keeps me working hard - because I want to be the player that others say I am."

He sounds nothing like the guy so many posters here make him out to be. In fact he sounds like the polar opposite.

I think Bale's biggest crime is that he's proven he really is the player he was being hyped to be and after all the shit he got here for the last few years, many are resentful of it and seem to have started attacking him as a person and making up a false personality type that fit more with a hate figure.

In reality he's a top player, down to earth guy and seemingly very modest.
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Agreed.

It makes me laugh how people criticise him for diving - he does, and I don't particularly like it, but he's no worse than Ashley Young and while he may have improved, Nani made an art form of it when he first arrived.

Loads jumping on the "smugness" band wagon - no idea where it comes from. He's quiet, never mouthing off, conducts himself well off the pitch and seems to work hard to improve himself and his game.

He's not arrogant, he's not banging on about what a great player he is - the criticism of him "copying" Ronaldo is ridiculous. What's wrong with wanting to be like such a great player - especially one with a similar work ethic?

Never ceases to amaze me how people want to relentlessly criticise a young british player. He's stayed loyal to Spurs over the last few years when he probably could have forced a move - probably because he knows he needs first team football, and as a result looks to be turning into a cracking player.

If he were at United people on here would be in overdrive commenting on what a fantastic talent he is, and I suspect the comparisons to Ronaldo would be ten a penny.
 
adexkola said:
Right now he'd be an improvement over Nani and Valencia, but they're both going through rotten phases of form. It's not going to last forever. When both of them are on fire there's no way I'd take him over any of them.

Even if he came, what would he improve? Our strikers? Or midfield? Would he take us the extra mile in Europe? No.
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He could potentially. I think people are forgetting something pretty basic that he does have over Nani, at least in terms of what he can offer us. He's a left footed winger, something we don't have(not one who can play every week anyway). That alone would make us that little bit more direct, people's main complaint about Young is that he slows the play down and always cuts back onto his right foot, that obviously wouldn't be an issue for Bale.

Couldn't imagine a more exciting left side than Evra and Bale, he'd also be an option on the right or even as cover for left back.

I also love the thought of Bale and Valencia/Rafael as wing backs in a 352 with Jones, Smalling and Evans as the back 3. Doubt SAF is going to experiment with the formation this late in his career but it's the only way I can see Jones, Smalling and Evans getting in the side on a regular basis and I think potentially all 3 are going to be just too good to leave out.
 
Brwned said:
You don't see a huge difference between Walcott and Bale in terms of technique? Bale obviously doesn't have the velvet touch or glued-to-the-feet dribbling of someone like Silva but he's fairly elegant on the ball, passes it well, controls it well at great pace and he can strike a ball - none of which really apply to Walcott. Walcott's a better finisher but he's worse technically in every other way.
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That's it with Bale as with Berbatov, people get carried way by their 'elegance' and forget about effectiveness.
 
I'd almost take him purely because he's a left footed winger. We haven't had a good one since Giggs went to central midfield.
 
The media overhype him, just as with hart and every other british player that shows some talent (even rooney) , but if ever there were a template for a perfect United player, its him.
 
I hope we will have a Gareth Bale transfer saga 2013 like the Sneijder/Berbatov/Hazard ones. It was brilliantly fun logging into the Caf and refresh for updates daily, never mind the end result. Yes June and July are boring without the actual football
 
SATA said:
I hope we will have a Gareth Bale transfer saga 2013 like the Sneijder/Berbatov/Hazard ones. It was brilliantly fun logging into the Caf and refresh for updates daily, never mind the end result. Yes June and July are boring without the actual football
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He won't come to united unfortionately, to expensive.
 
PatrickP said:
I don't think Wilshere would be that effective on the left wing
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He probably wouldn't be shit either. I certainly would like Wilshere though - he has future world class written all over him, imo. That said, for all my criticisms of Bale (which has to do with the hype, not actual ability), I would love him at the club as a left winger.
 
If you guys signed Bale and Wilshere you'd be unstoppable - sadly it won't happen.
 
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