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

Bale is really good, but a player's contribution is what matters in the end. Some of you compare Bale to Walcott - a comparison I've pondered about myself - and then some argue that Walcott plays as a striker and Bale as a winger. Well, Walcott plays as a wide striker/winger quite a lot of the time, and Bale plays just as much as a wide striker/winger, only on the left.

Walcott is faster, Bale is stronger, so physically they are both phenomenally good. Stats, however, favour Walcott:

Assists:
Walcott: 7
Bale: 1

Goals:
Walcott: 11
Bale: 10

Now, if Walcott plays as a striker, you would expect him to have more goals, but not that much more assists - so the striker vs winger argument is quite moot. The argument would be that of Suarez last year when a lot of people on here argued that they would not have him because he wasn't productive even though most acknowledged he was a cracking player.

Bale is interesting to look at, but atm Walcott is more productive, so saying Bale is a league or two above Walcott has no real arguments other than he is more flashy. He is also one of the most wasteful players in the league, so he certainly ruins enough attacks.

Bale is certainly hyped by the media, and comparing him to Ronaldo just isn't fair on the lad - he isn't at that level, not yet anyhow. He doesn't score as much, he doesn't assist and he isn't nearly as consistent. He has improved, but I don't think he is world class just yet, as some would argue.

Just to make things clear, I would gladly take him at United.
 
I only check into this thread every month or so. Seems currently people are appreciating how good he is. I always got the impression that he would have to join United for some people to rate him as he should be rated (like RVP) - but it is pretty easy to see his quality for me. I've seen many United fans say he is no better than our Tony V. I'd say if by some chance Ronaldo was to come back to us, Madrid would be stupid not to buy him.

Also, I'd quite advocate us breaking our current record to bag him. I think he's worth the £45-£55m it would probably take to be honest. He'd be regarded as one of the world's best players if he performed on a platform like Old Trafford. He still has room for improvement, but he's at the right age, and for his own sake of this clear desire he has to be the world's best, he must leave Spurs while he still has his best years to spend at the top.
 
elisha27 said:
Just came looking for the Bale thread to make this observation.

Bale, increasingly, is developing into Ronaldo. The overly-built physique, the raw power, speed and directness, and the shoot on sight policy. Neither are what I'd call naturally gifted or subtle players, more the product of being supreme athletes with a dedication to practice and perfection, yielding a machine-like quality on the pitch. I wouldn't say Bale is worse in every way either - they are pretty close. Ronaldo is probably more clinical right now, but Bale seems to have slightly more variety in his game.
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WTF?

Ronaldo is naturally gifted alright. His dribbling skills beat bale easy tbh, even though he isn't a Messi level dribbler.

Bale is like a Poor man's Ronaldo.
 
peterstorey said:
You're just mining more and more rubbish numbers, It's not a chance - despite dumb ex-players oohing and aahing - when a player crosses it to where his team mates aren't. It's not a 'lovely' cross in football terms if it sails past everybody harmlessly.
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Actually I didn't post any numbers for for scoring opportunities Bale created that Spurs player didn't get on the end of.

But if you actually watched the games you'd know what I'm talking about. But if you were actually judging the players by watching the games, instead of using numbers, then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. It should be clear to anyone who regularly watches Bale and Walcott, that Bale is comfortably the better player.
 
People on here overrating Bale and Underrating Walcott a bit.

Even then Bale is comfortably ahead of Walcott as a player and has potential to get better.
 
Cevno said:
People on here overrating Bale and Underrating Walcott a bit.

Even then Bale is comfortably ahead of Walcott as a player and has potential to get better.
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Walcott is good, no question, but I think that Bale could be extra special. He is also perfect as a player for Manchester United.
 
Orton said:
They are the same age :lol:
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So are Tom Ince and Wilfred Zaha. Infact Ince is probably a better player right now, but you can tell Zaha has more potential, at lest from what i have seen of both.
 
Cevno said:
So are Tom Ince and Wilfred Zaha. Infact Ince is probably a better player right now, but you can tell Zaha has more potential, at lest from what i have seen of both.
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Walcott has stepped up this season, so I see no reason why he can't get better.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
Walcott is good, no question, but I think that Bale could be extra special. He is also perfect as a player for Manchester United.
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Yeah, there is a comfortable difference between them, but it's no 2 levels as some are making out.
 
Rossa said:
Bale is really good, but a player's contribution is what matters in the end. Some of you compare Bale to Walcott - a comparison I've pondered about myself - and then some argue that Walcott plays as a striker and Bale as a winger. Well, Walcott plays as a wide striker/winger quite a lot of the time, and Bale plays just as much as a wide striker/winger, only on the left.

Walcott is faster, Bale is stronger, so physically they are both phenomenally good. Stats, however, favour Walcott:

Assists:
Walcott: 7
Bale: 1

Goals:
Walcott: 11
Bale: 10

Now, if Walcott plays as a striker, you would expect him to have more goals, but not that much more assists - so the striker vs winger argument is quite moot. The argument would be that of Suarez last year when a lot of people on here argued that they would not have him because he wasn't productive even though most acknowledged he was a cracking player.

Bale is interesting to look at, but atm Walcott is more productive, so saying Bale is a league or two above Walcott has no real arguments other than he is more flashy. He is also one of the most wasteful players in the league, so he certainly ruins enough attacks.

Bale is certainly hyped by the media, and comparing him to Ronaldo just isn't fair on the lad - he isn't at that level, not yet anyhow. He doesn't score as much, he doesn't assist and he isn't nearly as consistent. He has improved, but I don't think he is world class just yet, as some would argue.

Just to make things clear, I would gladly take him at United.
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Is Walcott faster than Bale? Perhaps over the first few yards but I think it's open to debate, Bale is lightening quick, and is always in control of the ball at that pace and can cross well when running at full pelt, something that Walcott suffers with sometimes.

Personally I struggle to think of anything Walcott is better at than Bale. Possibly finishing, but we've even seen Bale be extremely clinical when clean through one on one with the keeper.
 
redmeister said:
Actually I didn't post any numbers for for scoring opportunities Bale created that Spurs player didn't get on the end of.

But if you actually watched the games you'd know what I'm talking about. But if you were actually judging the players by watching the games, instead of using numbers, then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. It should be clear to anyone who regularly watches Bale and Walcott, that Bale is comfortably the better player.
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I've seen far more live Walcott games than anybody else on here and probably more TV Spurs games than anyone but Glaston and they simply aren't different class players let alone a gap of two levels.
 
Sixpence said:
Is Walcott faster than Bale? Perhaps over the first few yards but I think it's open to debate, Bale is lightening quick, and is always in control of the ball at that pace and can cross well when running at full pelt, something that Walcott suffers with sometimes.

Personally I struggle to think of anything Walcott is better at than Bale. Possibly finishing, but we've even seen Bale be extremely clinical when clean through one on one with the keeper.
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scoring and assisting more?
 
peterstorey said:
... they simply aren't different class players let alone a gap of two levels.
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I doubt there's a single football manager, anywhere in the world, including Wenger, who wouldn't take Bale over Walcott in a heartbeat given the choice.

You're in denial, plain and simple.
 
I noticed Sky tried to cover up Jamie's daft statement on their site by saying

Jamie Redknapp says Gareth Bale can be as good as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo
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"I'd put him up there with the Ronaldos and Messis of this world. There's no two ways about it, he's going to be anything he wants in the next few years."
 
Cracking goal he scored against WBA. He was the difference for Spurs today. The ideal replacement for Ryan Giggs but I can't see it happening, he'd cost a fortune. Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up in Spain.
 
ninety said:
Cracking goal he scored against WBA. He was the difference for Spurs today. The ideal replacement for Ryan Giggs but I can't see it happening, he'd cost a fortune. Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up in Spain.
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Agreed. I see Bale going to Real. To replace Ronaldo, of course, who will be coming home next season.

Levy is going to make a fortune on that sale.
 
Name Changed said:
I'd take Bale over Wilshere personally, although Wilshere is class.
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Jack's only 21 and playing in CM, when he grows up he'll eclipse Bale totally. Players like him turn up for every game and give you a platform to win like Keane or Vieira. Fannies like Bale turn up against WBA after they're down to 10 men.

What about Bale over the others? After all he's nearly as good as Ronaldo.
 
If it wasn't for pens, Falcao would have only scored 11 goals this season. Basically he and Bale have scored the same amount of league goals that weren't from the penalty spot. So why is Falcao so highly rated? Lets face it we don't look to sign strikers for their ability to take pens. Most clubs have a reliable penalty taker.

I don't know much about Falcao, maybe he has a great all round game, but I didn't think he was a Rooney type of player, who brings much more than goals. I thought he was more of a finisher.
 
redmeister said:
Walcott is not on the same level to Bale.

If your team doesn't pass, tackle, dribble, intercept and head the ball enough, you will get slaughtered in every game. This is why players aren't judged simply on one or two stats and why Rooney is rated miles better than someone like Darren Bent.

Bale has made 21 tackles to Walcotts 10. He's made 31 interceptions to Walcotts 6. He's made 43 clearances, to Walcotts 4. Bale has made more than double the amount of passes, more than double the amount of crosses. Bale makes more dribbles. Bale has made 86 aerial challenges, compared to Walcotts 18.

Basically though they might line up in a similar position on the team sheet, there is little comparison in what they actually bring to the team. Bale offers so much more and his role is much greater. The scale of difference really is as great as between Rooney and Defoe or Bent.
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Have you even seen much of Walcott this season? You wouldn't be coming out with such bollox if you have
 
I only skimmed this thread but is anyone seriously arguing that Walcott is as good as Bale?
 
redmeister said:
If it wasn't for pens, Falcao would have only scored 11 goals this season. Basically he and Bale have scored the same amount of league goals that weren't from the penalty spot. So why is Falcao so highly rated? Lets face it we don't look to sign strikers for their ability to take pens. Most clubs have a reliable penalty taker.

I don't know much about Falcao, maybe he has a great all round game, but I didn't think he was a Rooney type of player, who brings much more than goals. I thought he was more of a finisher.
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Brilliant brilliant player but currently quite overrated, not a chance he is a better player than RVP which is something I'v heard a lot of people say.
 
What I hate about Bale is that it seems the media talk has gone to his head. He acts like he's all that when he's not. Good player but needs to get his head sorted, work harder and stop trying to act like he's a Ronaldo.
 
simonhch said:
I only skimmed this thread but is anyone seriously arguing that Walcott is as good as Bale?
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I've detected a few inferences to that effect, but no direct statement. No one would seriously argue that Walcott is as good as Bale, except perhaps his mum.
 
might be against 10 men WBA but the goal was brilliant. if i could pick one winger for us to sign today then it would be bale. he would definitely improve us.

comparisons to falcao and wilshere are inappropriate though. they are not even playing in the same position.
 
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