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

Lynk said:
I think it's blatant he's let the hype get to his head (literally, look at his ears and hair now) and believes he is on Ronaldo and Messis level, therefore he feels he needs to transform himself into an inside forward like them.
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I love this theory. As if he has been allowed to simply do as he wants by 2 successive managers for 3 consecutive seasons. Its absolute bullshit.

They both recognise his talent. Bale, despite all the ridiculous negativity he receives on here, is clearly trying hard to change his game and become less predictable, which is exactly the main criticism that has been levelled at him on here and other places in the past. And until a few weeks ago, he had scored all his goals this season with his right foot.

Its good to become less predictable because we become less predictable and also because when he loses his pace in the future, he doesn't end up playing for Wigan.

As for the Ronaldo thing, who cares if he is trying to copy some of the stuff the second best player in the world does to try and better his game? It doesn't mean that he thinks he is anywhere near as good as Ronaldo. As for trying to say that his celebration is a copy of Ronaldo's, that is pathetic, he's been doing that for years and well before any comparison with Ronaldo came about. Its to his girlfriend.
 
Spurs fan, duly ignored.




No one is mentioning his ridiculous celebration. His free kick stance though, haha pathetic.
 
Brwned said:
I simply don't understand why he crosses it so rarely when he's potentially the best crosser in the league - and no-one realises it because he does it so rarely nowadays! In some of his league performances surrounding Bale's hat trick v Inter he showed a fantastic range of crossing, placing inch-perfect crosses on the penalty spot from withdrawn crossing positions or drilling them low to the back post for a tap-in. Two minutes before his cross to Lennon for the goal, he threw away a goal from the exact same position by going for that far-post finish that he loves so much. I think it was against Lazio that he did the same thing twice in 10 minutes and Defoe (?) went mental. I don't have the stats but I'm sure last season he crossed considerably less than he did in that 10/11 season. It's a shame. Perhaps he's just not as good a crosser as I first thought but for me if he could consistently deliver from a wide position then he'd be well on his way to being a world class winger.
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It's because he isn't proper winger at all anymore, he quite ofte ends up on striker's position. Arry started to give him freedom last year, and I see Boas continued with that, he rarely tracks back, and is shifting from position to position recently, just searching for space to shoot. Look at his average positions in some games this season:

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/61...d-Premier-League-2012-2013-Tottenham-West-Ham

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/61...nd-Premier-League-2012-2013-Arsenal-Tottenham

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/615012/MatchReport/England-Premier-League-2012-2013-Tottenham-Wigan

Just click on player positions, and find his number.
 
And yet you wander into the thread, after you had clearly seen that the lost post was by a Spurs fan, to say that because it was written by a Spurs fan, you wouldn't read it? Then changed it to ignore?
 
africanspur said:
I love this theory. As if he has been allowed to simply do as he wants by 2 successive managers for 3 consecutive seasons. Its absolute bullshit.

They both recognise his talent. Bale, despite all the ridiculous negativity he receives on here, is clearly trying hard to change his game and become less predictable, which is exactly the main criticism that has been levelled at him on here and other places in the past. And until a few weeks ago, he had scored all his goals this season with his right foot.

Its good to become less predictable because we become less predictable and also because when he loses his pace in the future, he doesn't end up playing for Wigan.

As for the Ronaldo thing, who cares if he is trying to copy some of the stuff the second best player in the world does to try and better his game? It doesn't mean that he thinks he is anywhere near as good as Ronaldo. As for trying to say that his celebration is a copy of Ronaldo's, that is pathetic, he's been doing that for years and well before any comparison with Ronaldo came about. Its to his girlfriend.
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Ignore Lynk, who clearly has an obsessive hate for Bale. While Glaston's incredibly biased, you're a sensible Spurs fan and you're generally right here.

He is a very good crosser and is up there with the better ones in the league. I don't think there can be any doubt about that. I'd argue that Valencia is a narrowly better crosser, but pretty much all other regards in Bale's game are better.

Also, Lynk's point on his dribbling and attacking the frontline is simply stupid. He's said that Balotelli and Taarabt can do it to, yet has ignored that Bale is regarded higher because he's better at that than the two of them, funnily enough. What he's said is on par with me saying Messi's goalscoring isn't better than Bent and Hernandez because they both score goals; as if anyone who can run, dribble and attack is on par with Bale in that regard. It's got to be one of the most nonsensical statements I've seen here in a long time.

You're spot on in regards to Bale adapting. He may be a left winger, but if he doesn't try to learn new things and develop his game more now, then he'll be average by the time he's entering his 30s. If he learns now, then he can sustain himself for longer. Why people criticise him for this now I do not know.
 
Cheesy said:
Also, Lynk's point on his dribbling and attacking the frontline is simply stupid. He's said that Balotelli and Taarabt can do it to, yet has ignored that Bale is regarded higher because he's better at that than the two of them, funnily enough. What he's said is on par with me saying Messi's goalscoring isn't better than Bent and Hernandez because they both score goals; as if anyone who can run, dribble and attack is on par with Bale in that regard. It's got to be one of the most nonsensical statements I've seen here in a long time.
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You said Bale is better than Valencia at dribbling and shooting, I'm saying Taarabt and Balotelli are better than Valencia at those attributes as well. Doesn't matter a feck, because Valencia is the better winger.
 
Lynk said:
You said Bale is better than Valencia at dribbling and shooting, I'm saying Taarabt and Balotelli are better than Valencia at those attributes as well. Doesn't matter a feck, because Valencia is the better winger.
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Except they're not. Balotelli is a striker anyway, making it irrelevant, but Taarabt has only shown glimpses of his talent at this level and I'd have Bale and Valencia ahead of him for dribbling. Bale's a better winger than Valencia and most unbiased fans would agree.

You're as bad as Glaston to be honest. You just get away with a lot of what you say because it's generally pro United and anti other sides, so people don't take as much notice of it.
 
1) Valencia is not a better dribbler than Taarabt. He is however superior in nearly every other way. I'm merely pointing out to you that two attributes doesn't make a player better.
2) Balotelli is not solely a striker. He plays frequently on the wings
3) Subjective. Valencia is a more consistent player, and when they are close in effectiveness I'll take the more consistent one, thanks.
4) lol. Don't care.
 
Lynk said:
1) Valencia is not a better dribbler than Taarabt. He is however superior in nearly every other way. I'm merely pointing out to you that two attributes doesn't make a player better.
2) Balotelli is not solely a striker. He plays frequently on the wings
3) Subjective. Valencia is a more consistent player, and when they are close in effectiveness I'll take the more consistent one, thanks.
4) lol. Don't care.
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Taarabt is a talented dribbler, yes, but he's only shown his ability in glimpses and hasn't used it anywhere near often enough. He's one of those flashy players who has been exposed as mildly decent at best at this level. Valencia and Bale can actually utilise their dribbling well and are better than someone like Taarabt in every regard.

Balotelli has played on the wing, but his primary position is as a striker, and it's generally where he plays. Someone who is versatile and gets played out on the wing sometimes is not a winger, as Balotelli isn't.

I'll give you consistency, but Valencia isn't Mr Consistency as some seem to think. He's had bad spells before; most notably one of them being right now as he's been terrible lately, and has shown himself to struggle when he isn't providing his best service for players.
 
United sides have always been littered with game-changers. Bale is the same. Someone who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and get you a goal out of nothing. The more of them in our squad the better. I think it's a matter of time before he moves on and I hope it's to us.
 
I don't think Lynk gets away with it, he just lives in his own world and entering that world is far too daunting a prospect for any one man...Bale-mania, it's extremely bizarre. Sometimes very funny, most of the time just plain concerning. The way he goes on and on about him and his monkeyness...come on, he's a blatant zoophiliac.
 
Valencia missed most of a season through a horrific leg break, got niggles the following year. And in the past month has been poor and has been found to have a hip problem.

Bale is consistently poor against the top sides, Arsenal away two weeks ago, historically against United, Chelsea....you name it. Valencia has tore all those teams a new one at some stage.

Brwned said:
I don't think Lynk gets away with it, he just lives in his own world and entering that world is far too daunting a prospect for any one man...Bale-mania, it's extremely bizarre. Sometimes very funny, most of the time just plain concerning. The way he goes on and on about him and his monkeyness...come on, he's a blatant zoophiliac.
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:lol:
 
I'm often spent arguing with people who overhype him, hence the post count
 
honestly he wouldnt get half the hype if he wasn't British. Flavour of the month type thing.

Guys like Mata are far better footballers and wouldn't get a fraction of the hype.
 
Lynk said:
Aggression and protecting the fullback are fecking vital, and if you don't know this you have no place judging football. Look at Chelsea this season. Valencia himself exposed their glaring weakness, when you don't have wingers who track back you get absolutely annihilated by width. Ever since that game Chelsea have been in a downfall. Bale was exposed against Arsenal, a game in which, consolation goal aside he did feck all, and with 10 men put in the most lazy performance I've seen from a winger, and let Walcott run rings at their young fullback.

Again, you're just taking trash. Bale isn't a hugely more successfull goalscorer than Valencia, on average he gets 2-3 more goals a season than him. Pace wise there isn't much in it, and Valencia on form is as exciting to me as any player in the league. I've read threads on RAWK and Arsenal-Mania calling Valencia the best winger in the league by far, and that says something.
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I'm not sure what's stronger, your hatred for Bale or your love of Valencia.
 
Unfortunately, I was off the grid yesterday and even missed the late night highlights when I came home after midnight. But it appears Bale has struck again and was instrumental in Spurs' win over Liverfool.

Whoever is left who still thinks Bale isn't good enough for United, or is somehow a pale shadow of Nani, Valencia or Young needs to get a grip on reality.

I'm in the camp that says the price Levy would want is far, far above what we should pay for him, but if we could land Bale for 25m I'd take that deal in a heartbeat. Unless, of course, there's any truth to the rumor that Ronaldo wants to come back to Old Trafford. There's probably no truth in that rumor, but it has been hanging around for a few months now.
 
Bale is better than Valencia, no doubt.
 
Ekeke said:
Bale is also a machine. I agree with Brwned he's shown some great crossing ability in the past but seems to be less of a team player these days and wants to be the goalscorer himself.
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I dont see how any player can be criticised for wanting to improve their all round game.

He's Spurs best player for me, and will be expected to do more than sling in good crosses. He's clearly talented and keen to improve.

Some of the comments on here are ridiculous - people speculating that he's let it all "go to his head" and thinks he's like Messi and Ronaldo. Absolute garbage.

He's one of the best left sided players in Europe, is improving season on season, does his graft and gets on with it without being "big time". Good athlete and seems like he's committed. Not much not to like. I'd take a hungry young player like that any day of the week.
 
BD94 said:
Bale is better than Valencia, no doubt.
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I have to agree.

Valencia is a very talented player, good at what he does, beat a man - put in a cross. Bale has that to his game and a huge amount of potential to be a lot more.

Watching how players like Valencia improve when they come into a really top side and get more space, for me, shows why Bale would be such a good asset to United - if they could ever convince Spurs to sell.
 
RedRover said:
I have to agree.

Valencia is a very talented player, good at what he does, beat a man - put in a cross. Bale has that to his game and a huge amount of potential to be a lot more.

Watching how players like Valencia improve when they come into a really top side and get more space, for me, shows why Bale would be such a good asset to United - if they could ever convince Spurs to sell.
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I can't argue with any of that.

On their best day, it goes in this order:

Nani
Bale
Valencia

...and by a considerable distance down the ladder, Young. The only problem with Nani is that we don't see his best day very often, thus tipping the scales to Bale.
 
LTS10 said:
honestly he wouldnt get half the hype if he wasn't British. Flavour of the month type thing.

Guys like Mata are far better footballers and wouldn't get a fraction of the hype.
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I think the flavour of the month bollock can be dissmissed when he has been hyped for three years.

feck knows what your point is with Mata who has been praised endlessly this season by everybody and was receiving alot last year too.
 
Must admit, I didn't quite see the fuss with Bale previously and he's by no means the finished article at the moment, but I can't help but think at some point that he's going to really step it up a few gears in a very short space of time and become absolutely top class. A player that, whilst not exceptionally gifted like a Messi or a Ronaldo, has the combination of self-belief, confidence, general all round ability and physique to be brilliant. Somewhere around the level of a Beckham or a Gerrard, perhaps.

He may not ever reach that level (and, by the same token, he could go on to be better), but there's something about him that makes you think his potential is huge without quite being able to pinpoint why. Jones struck me as that sort of player when we first signed him too. It's not exactly a bold prediction given his age and the level he's at already, but I previously couldn't see a player like him improving that much and felt he'd be the sort of player that would stagnate massively.
 
paceme said:
I think the flavour of the month bollock can be dissmissed when he has been hyped for three years.

feck knows what your point is with Mata who has been praised endlessly this season by everybody and was receiving alot last year too.
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doesn't get anywhere near the adulation Bale is shown. thats my point obviously
 
LTS10 said:
bollocks. That season was the start of a rapid decline for Maicon.
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Yeh it was you are correct. Probably about right after Bale had reduced him to a headless chicken at White Hart Lane.

And the rest is all proven you complete tit.
 
Ekeke said:
Bale is also a machine. I agree with Brwned he's shown some great crossing ability in the past but seems to be less of a team player these days and wants to be the goalscorer himself.
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RedRover said:
He's Spurs best player for me, and will be expected to do more than sling in good crosses. He's clearly talented and keen to improve.
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A newbie's PM's me pointing out a much more simple and obvious reason than either of these - he doesn't really have anyone to cross to. Defoe's not good at getting on the end of crosses because, in his words, he's a "reactive striker not a proactive one" and Adebayor's got the presence but lacks any kind of aggression 90% of the time. I remembered compiling this list but completely forgot that his crosses were all aimed at Crouch and Pavlyuchenko - you know, genuine targets in the box. Even Keane's much sharper in those areas than Defoe. So I think he's just trying to adapt his game to suit the team's needs now, and if he came here he'd go back to his roots to a degree.

Brwned said:
"[Bale's] cross found Crouch at the back post and the substitute's header landed at the feet of Van der Vaart to turn and fire home."

v Sunderland

"The goalkeeper got fingertips to that effort and also to Peter Crouch's 33rd-minute header following a super far-post cross from Bale."

"Bale skinned Foley down the left and produced a cross Keane somehow nodded wide from eight yards."

"Keane almost produced a spectacular equaliser three minutes later, his scissors-kick from another outstanding Bale cross just failing to find the target."

v Wolves

"Pavlyuchenko wasted another chance to score four minutes later, hooking Gareth Bale's excellent low cross wide from six yards."

v Villa

"A peach of a cross from Bale evaded everyone..."

v City

"Pavlyuchenko dwelt on Kranjcar's inside pass 12 yards out, then poked Bale's wicked cross over the bar from half the distance."

v Young Boys

"Tottenham started brightly and Bale got to the by-line and then turned back inside before his cross picked out Modric."

"Bale was troubling the Albion defence and one superb cross just failed to pick out the run of Lennon."

v West Brom

"With both sides pressing for a winner, Bale whipped in a devilish low cross that somehow evaded three of his team-mates."

v Werder Bremen

"The early moments of danger came through Gareth Bale down the left, the winger producing two crosses for lone frontman Pavlyuchenko, the Russian collecting the second and dragging wide from a tight angle."

v Fulham

"A typical Bale run down the left was followed by a cross to the far post, where Pavlyuchenko rose unmarked to head home."

v Blackburn.
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LTS10 said:
doesn't get anywhere near the adulation Bale is shown. thats my point obviously
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Yeh great point....it's clear everyone has been mulling over that one for so long. Glad you finally bought it to light.

Your observations are top class. I'm sure Lynk is very proud of you.
 
Yes. I know he's taking up different positions and moving away from being a traditional winger. That goes without saying. I was just wondering why.
 
I read that he's been booked four times for diving this season, and it's only November. This guy must be pushing Suarez for the biggest cheat in the league, if he hasn't surpassed him already.
 
Both bookings this week have been after there was contact. He did an appalling dive against Villa and should be vilified, but today he got booked for making it look worse than it was, but that isn't a booking offence. He did get clipped and had every right to go down.

They showed the one against Liverpool today on Soccer Saturday and form one angle it's absolutely clear there was contact.
 
I never understand players having a 'right to go down'. Either they've been knocked off balance and fall to the ground or they've intentionally gone to ground - there really isn't much of a middle ground.
 
Snow said:
Sort of yes. You can be kicked really hard without being put off balance.
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Absolutely, and you can be fouled without being knocked over too. I understand that players feel the need to go to ground to get a decision but it doesn't change the fact they've completely simulated the fall.
 
I agree. Shevchenko used to be a master at doing that inside the box. Saw a defender put his foot out and he went for the contact.

A random name to bring up I know, he just popped up.
 
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