Agreed. His overall poor form at the beginning of his spurs days proves he's not cut out for defending full-time. I have no doubts that he has a defensive aspect instilled in him by now. So he will offer some protection to his fullback but he can't go back again. Redknapps talking out his hole by saying Bales future lies as a defender.
Gareth Bale is...The most expensive player ever?!
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Agreed. His overall poor form at the beginning of his spurs days proves he's not cut out for defending full-time. I have no doubts that he has a defensive aspect instilled in him by now. So he will offer some protection to his fullback but he can't go back again. Redknapps talking out his hole by saying Bales future lies as a defender.
Let's have a look at the top clubs:
Inter - Maicon has the most similar skillset and role to Bale. No 'wingers' in the team that play like him.
Barcelona - Alves likewise. Messi, Pedro, David Villa...no wingers who are there for their stamina, crosssing, pace.
Bayern Munich - Probably Lahm, really. Ribery comes central a lot, acts as a playmaker. Robben drifts centrally, acts as a secondary striker really. Both are strong dribblers but avoid getting up and down the byline, or whipping crosses in...that's really what Lahm does.
Maicon, Alves, Evra, Cole...they all get in behind the defence. Everyone besides Evra does it regularly, and acts as what we would call a typical winger.
Nowadays you've got players who play on the wing that act as secondary strikers or secondary playmakers, both like to drift centrally and that leaves the space for the fullbacks to provide the width, the energy and the delivery.
There are a few typical wingers that genuinely do play on the wing still, but realistically he can do everything he does on the wing from left back, so if he could improve his defending to a high enough level he'd be a much more impressive player.
Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott, and Rosicky all play on the 'wings' or the wide-forward position for us. Whilst Sagna, Eboue, Gibbs and Clichy all overlap and put crosses in.
Well, he kind of is.
Again, during the Chelsea v Liverpool game, the commentator mentioned that Cole and Malouda are probably the two best left sided players in the premier league.. Along with Gareth Bale of course..
Since bloody when? yes he is good, but bloody hell! Had a stretch of 10 games where he's played well and now he's one of the best??
Since bloody when? yes he is good, but bloody hell! Had a stretch of 10 games where he's played well and now he's one of the best??
Why isn't anyone wanking over him now?
Should Valencia become a right back?
I know Bale has a history of playing there, but he's about 10 times better than those fullbacks going forward. I'm not saying there's no chance but ATM it makes no sense. If he does manage he'll be unbelievable left back given how good he is going forward. He'll make Maicon and Evra look defensive.
I'm with amolbhatia100 on this.Why would you wanna limit such a great to a defensive role when he's got so much potential when attacking.
I just finished watching the City game. I'm not a machine...
another good performance by Messi today, so much more millions is he worth now?
It was 50 after the Inter game
It was 50 after the Inter game
I think that his best assets are utilised at fullback nowadays, probably, but when he was learning the game he was taught to be a winger so probably not no...
Bale's always been a wing-back.
I'm not saying that's where he will play or where he's best at now, but it's how he's set up I think.
Well done
Put on a pretty good show tonight!
I heard today that apparantly he's a model professional. Doesn't drink or go out clubbing, and when he was sent on vacation he went to Cardiff and visited his mother. Not saying he could ever be my best friend, but these guys are certainly few and far between these days and further elevates my estimation of him.
I heard today that apparantly he's a model professional. Doesn't drink or go out clubbing, and when he was sent on vacation he went to Cardiff and visited his mother. Not saying he could ever be my best friend, but these guys are certainly few and far between these days and further elevates my estimation of him.
I don't know because it would be gay to jerk off to another guy.
He's arrived on the world stage:
Gareth Bale Makes FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 Shortlist
FIFA have revealed the 55 man shortlist for the prestigious FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 award, and Tottenham Hotspur’s flying winger Gareth Bale is on it.
Although Bale upped his game enormously in the second half of last season, it is surely his stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League – particularly those against Inter Milan – that impressed the judges.
Nevertheless, the most likely to feature in the XI for the award will be probably be amongst those players who performed well at the World Cup in South Africa.
Members of the triumphant Spain team, such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Villa will certainly be in the running, while Wesley Sneijder won everything going for his club Inter Milan – only missing out at international level in the final for the Netherlands.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dazzle and will be in the running too, but the inclusion of players such as Ronaldinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a surprise, while Wayne Rooney hasn’t been particularly amazing since around March.
Even more ridiculously though, Real Madrid defender Pepe didn’t even play any first team football in 2010 until September. He must have had an insanely good two months.
Gareth Bale Makes FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 Shortlist
FIFA have revealed the 55 man shortlist for the prestigious FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 award, and Tottenham Hotspur’s flying winger Gareth Bale is on it.
Although Bale upped his game enormously in the second half of last season, it is surely his stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League – particularly those against Inter Milan – that impressed the judges.
Nevertheless, the most likely to feature in the XI for the award will be probably be amongst those players who performed well at the World Cup in South Africa.
Members of the triumphant Spain team, such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Villa will certainly be in the running, while Wesley Sneijder won everything going for his club Inter Milan – only missing out at international level in the final for the Netherlands.
Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dazzle and will be in the running too, but the inclusion of players such as Ronaldinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a surprise, while Wayne Rooney hasn’t been particularly amazing since around March.
Even more ridiculously though, Real Madrid defender Pepe didn’t even play any first team football in 2010 until September. He must have had an insanely good two months.
Playing at fullback would be an utter waste of Bale. He is better off developing into a winger with a wingback's engine who can also defend.
I'm still amazed that this idea is still alive.The guy creates and scores goals, why would you wanna limit him ?
Exactly.
Park
Apparently a defender according to FIFPro.
But he's been nothing special at all at left back, and excellent on the wing.
Think Lee Sharpe many years ago - played at left-back, but was definitely more effective as an attacking player.
Think Lee Sharpe many years ago - played at left-back, but was definitely more effective as an attacking player.
the day Maicon lost his world class tag, the day Bale became Messi
in all seriousness what a season he's having, I hope the bandwagon isn't full because I would like to reserve my spot
in all seriousness what a season he's having, I hope the bandwagon isn't full because I would like to reserve my spot
C'mon, you don't lose your 'world class' tag off the back of one bad game.
actually he got his arse handed to him twice in all due respect. What rooney misses the most was valencia's crosses, someone like bale would be great for Rooney or our other forwards.
True, but you know what I'm saying.
Bale is not as good as everyone was making out a few months ago.
Very promising talent, but to think some were putting him in the same bracket as Messi and Ronaldo..
Very promising talent, but to think some were putting him in the same bracket as Messi and Ronaldo..
He was largely ineffective today.
When he did find an inch to cross he rushed into botching it by our players.
When he did find an inch to cross he rushed into botching it by our players.
Very good in the first half, non-existent in the second.
...an extra from Planet of the Apes.
He seems to get extra love from the commentators everytime i watch a Spurs match. Like he overhits a cross or something, they will go 'ooohhh what a pity'
Didn't he over hit like his first three crosses and still get praised?
Carragher said on Soccer Saturday yesterday that he'd have Bale on the left in his World XI and that there is "nobody better in that position"
Good player with huge potential but World XI material? Jesus Christ, he's been struggling to get past being found out(for now anyway) and double-teamed in the PL. He's been nothing more than decent bar against City on the opening day and a game and a half against Inter.
Good player with huge potential but World XI material? Jesus Christ, he's been struggling to get past being found out(for now anyway) and double-teamed in the PL. He's been nothing more than decent bar against City on the opening day and a game and a half against Inter.
I seem to remember being told in this thread that, unlike the vastly inferior Nani, Bale very rarely wastes a cross and never puts them right into the stands.
Aye, right.
Aye, right.
One of it was a cross too high even for Peter Crouch and the commentator went 'ooohh the cross was abit high but it's a good cross though'
I hope he ends up at United soon.
He is frighteningly talented and still only 21.
He does have athleticism that reminds of Ronaldo. His crossing IS good too!
He is frighteningly talented and still only 21.
He does have athleticism that reminds of Ronaldo. His crossing IS good too!
I don't think it's fair to judge him based on this one game. Over the course of the season he has without doubt been one of the best two or three players in the league, and not to mention he's still only 21.
And he was better than most of our players today.
And he was better than most of our players today.
I don't get the hype, he's a class player and possibly one of the best wingers in the world but definitely not at the level he's put at by some people. There are plenty of players as goos as him, even at Tottenham Modric and van der Vaar are at the same level. He's quick, has a good shot but he isn't all that.