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

Liam147 said:
Xavi against Italy? No chance. They scored four goals, and he got none. That's hardly carrying a team is it.

Pirlo against England though, possibly. He did run the show. Although I'd say that Italy played better as a team than Wales did.

I'd not seen the others, which was my whole point.
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Oh my fecking god....:lol: He didn't score a goal so his performance wasn't good? Did you just start watching football? :lol: He fecking dominated the midfield and provided one of the best assists you'll see all year.




Yeah, don't say something so outlandish if you've not even seen half those performances from this year, let alone some of the classic ones from history.
 
Bale hardly carried Wales as well. A dubious penalty and a screamer isn't carrying a team.
 
Lynk said:
Oh my fecking god....:lol: He didn't score a goal so his performance wasn't good? Did you just start watching football? :lol: He fecking dominated the midfield and provided one of the best assists you'll see all year.

Yeah, don't say something so outlandish if you've not even seen half those performances from this year, let alone some of the classic ones from history.
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You've taken that out of context. I'm not suggesting that's the case, but when four players score goals, can you really say somebody else carried them? Yeah, he can still be the best player on the field, and get MOTM, but to me, 'carrying' would mean the team wouldn't get the result if it wasn't for your performance. Of course, if he'd laid all four goals on a plate for them, it'd be a different matter.

What was outlandish? That it was one of the best individual performances (as stated, in terms of carrying a team), I have seen. How could that be more relative? If that's the only game I'd ever seen, that would be the case by default. Everyone else is being very presumptuous here, making out like I've seen every international game for the last 60 years.
Lynk said:
Bale hardly carried Wales as well. A dubious penalty and a screamer isn't carrying a team.
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Ramswey seemed to do well in spells, but ultimately was incredibly wasteful.
 
"carrying a team" is a stupid enough saying as it is, since when did helping your team to a scrappy 2-1 win become carrying them? They haven't won in ages, where was Bale to "carry" them against any of those sides? Van Persie arguably "carried" Arsenal last season, because he was the only one to score all the time, and win them games. Winning one game where both teams are pretty shocking and a standout performer has one of the best individual performances ever seen? Give me a break.
 
Carrying a team is a bit like World Class in a way, people obviously define it differently. To me it implies the rest of the team don't play well. To give an example I seem to have used several times recently, Gerrard in the South Africa WC carried England. I think Orton is right tho, its a silly term when you think about it, the kind of thing you say to emphasise the contribution of a player, but it rarely stands up to scrutiny, other people usually play at least OK as well.
 
Lawman said:
By that reckoning does that mean Totti was never world class? I think your wrong you can be world class and you don't have to play for a top team. It's like players who play for smaller clubs move to a top team and instantly get internationally recognised its wrong but you get the media spouting rubbish like look how he's improved in 3 months playing with better players etc etc what a lot of rubbish maybe that's the case after a year or two though
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I never was a great fan of Totti. He isn't the best example anyway. Roma have won 1 Scudetto and have come second 6 times during his time there. He has also made team of the tournament at two major international tournaments, won the World Cup and played in the final of Euro 2000. He picked up the Golden Shoe in 2006 too. It is fair to say that he proved himself at the very highest level.

My point is that while Bale is playing for Spurs and Wales we will never know if he can handle the pressure of expectation at the elite level, something that I believe a 'world class' player has to be able to do.
 
Liam is truly without help. I can't believe he said that about Xavi's performance. And now he's trying to tell everyone Bale's performance is the best he's ever seen, when they're based on extended highlights. Kids these days. So impressionable.
 
Jimy_Hills_Chin said:
I never was a great fan of Totti. He isn't the best example anyway. Roma have won 1 Scudetto and have come second 6 times during his time there. He has also made team of the tournament at two major international tournaments, won the World Cup and played in the final of Euro 2000. He picked up the Golden Shoe in 2006 too. It is fair to say that he proved himself at the very highest level.

My point is that while Bale is playing for Spurs and Wales we will never know if he can handle the pressure of expectation at the elite level, something that I believe a 'world class' player has to be able to do.
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He has played in the highest standard of football in Europe (champions league) though and performed well so you are saying just because he plays for Spurs he will never be a world class player unless he moves to a 'bigger club' ? I just don't buy that criteria Jimmy plus there has been numerous world class players that haven't proven themselves internationally that's a lot down to the standard of players in their international team (Giggs, Best). And maybe a better example could be Batistuta then at Fiorentina.
 
Lawman said:
He has played in the highest standard of football in Europe (champions league) though and performed well so you are saying just because he plays for Spurs he will never be a world class player unless he moves to a 'bigger club' ? I just don't buy that criteria Jimmy plus there has been numerous world class players that haven't proven themselves internationally that's a lot down to the standard of players in their international team (Giggs, Best). And maybe a better example could be Batistuta then at Fiorentina.
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For me, you have to operate at the true elite level to be 'world class'. Whilst Bale is at Spurs, unless they start challenging for the title, I will not be labelling him as 'world class'. He might do a Berb's and fold under the pressure of expectation of performing on the elite stage.
 
Liam is one of the worst posters I've ever seen on the caf.I seriously mean it

Liam147 said:
Xavi against Italy? No chance. They scored four goals, and he got none. That's hardly carrying a team is it.

Pirlo against England though, possibly. He did run the show. Although I'd say that Italy played better as a team than Wales did.

I'd not seen the others, which was my whole point.
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Extremely reductive and stupid conception of carrying a team you've got there.Xavi's best game of the Euros was at the final, he was outstanding (specially in the first half). That pass to Alba for the first goal :drool:
 
surf said:
Gareth Bale is ...
under rated on the caf and over rated by Glaston.
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Too true.

He's not Cristiano Ronaldo as some in media would have you believe but he's a top player with a huge amount of potential.

If he was at United everyone on here would be raving about him. Simple as that.
 
kouroux said:
Liam is one of the worst posters I've ever seen on the caf.I seriously mean it



Extremely reductive and stupid conception of carrying a team you've got there.Xavi's best game of the Euros was at the final, he was outstanding (specially in the first half). That pass to Alba for the first goal :drool:
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A bit unnecessary from you really, I've certainly seen a lot lot worse on here from people. To be fair he attempted to address his concept of a player carrying a team, whether he is right or not is of no consequence. What he originally said about Xavi was taken out of context by Lynk, who should perhaps check some of his own posts before he batters someone for "outlandish" claims. Personally I thought Bale was head and shoulders the best player on the park and he did carry Wales let's be honest.

I'm sure any sane person could see Xavi was terrific in that game, but did he carry Spain? No I don't think he did at all, so on that point I do agree with Liam although perhaps not his rationale! It's debatable whether he was even their best player, Alba and Fabregas were outstanding and without Xabi Alonso nulifying Pirlo, Xavi might not have had the outright freedom he enjoyed that night. Still an outstanding performance but Spain don't need "carrying" by anyone.
 
To be fair, it's hard to see exactly what point Liam is trying to make. Surely Xavi's performance in the final (Iniesta's as well) far exceeded Bale's against Scotland, not just in terms of pure quality but also based on the level of opposition and the importance of the game. Yes they played in a far better team and almost all of their teammates performed to a very high standard in that particular game, but I don't see why that would be relevant to judging their individual performances.

If he wants to argue that Bale's performance was the best team-carrying performance in recent times that yes that's perhaps right, but it doesn't really say anything. It was an impressive performance all things considered. No more, no less.
 
Wales and Scotland are equally poor, Bale is a bit better and that showed. To me, "carrying" a team means performing so well it covers up your own teams mediocrity in comparison to the superior opposition. See Keane vs Holland 2001.

KM said:
Bit unnecessary that.
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It's harsh but true.
 
Ainu said:
To be fair, it's hard to see exactly what point Liam is trying to make.
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Liam147 said:
I'm talking about Bale's performance as one of the best I've seen in terms of carrying a team. For example, I'm sure I've seen Messi play better a number of times, but he hasn't stood out as much, nor has he carried the team, because he's surrounded with quality players.
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I think you answered your own question:

Ainu said:
If he wants to argue that Bale's performance was the best team-carrying performance in recent times that yes that's perhaps right.
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Lynk said:
"World class" to me is a hypothetical situation, if you were asked to pick a 23 man squad to play Mars who would get into it? Bale isn't even the best winger in the premier league, let alone Europe. And I'd hate to say it....but wingers are dying out in a lot of modern systems.
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Hence why he is attempting to add more diversity to his game, becoming more postionally flexible. Something you are panning him for...he obviously can't win with you.
 
He and the refereeing was the difference between Wales losing and winning. His pace was too much to handle for Fox at left-back, in fact the only Scottish left-back who would have at least competed with his physicality is playing in the Third Division. As talismanic as Bale was, a fast full-back would have negated a lot of his directness, while someone like Brown rather than Adam pressing him would have squeezed the space available in the centre of the park for both the penalty and the winner.
 
Has this ridiculous back and forth over Liam's comment finished now?

Can we get back to calling him a shit diving monkey gimp agian?
 
#Carl said:
Has this ridiculous back and forth over Liam's comment finished now?

Can we get back to calling him a shit diving monkey gimp agian?
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Is Liam really that much of a diver though?
 
Comsmit said:
Hence why he is attempting to add more diversity to his game, becoming more postionally flexible. Something you are panning him for...he obviously can't win with you.
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He isn't good enough to play elsewhere. His game is purely speed based.
 
Lynk said:
He isn't good enough to play elsewhere. His game is purely speed based.
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He's just 23. He has time on his hand to develop his game. From his POV, i totally see why he wants to play elsewhere to improve as a player. What i dont get is why managers play him there when he's far more effective as a traditional winger.
 
Varun_Utd said:
He's just 23. He has time on his hand to develop his game. From his POV, i totally see why he wants to play elsewhere to improve as a player. What i dont get is why managers play him there when he's far more effective as a traditional winger.
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Exactly. I was surprised when I saw him on the right or the middle during games last season. Why not utilize his strength to the maximum instead of trying to make him something he is not. It was insane. 'Arry teams totally lost it's shape when Bale became this "free role" playmaker.
 
Varun_Utd said:
He's just 23. He has time on his hand to develop his game. From his POV, i totally see why he wants to play elsewhere to improve as a player. What i dont get is why managers play him there when he's far more effective as a traditional winger.
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Not to the extent that he'll suddenly turn into a world beater elsewhere on the pitch.
 
Lynk said:
He isn't good enough to play elsewhere. His game is purely speed based.
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I'm afraid that you're only demonstrating the limitations of your perceptive powers when it come to football .... otherwise known as clueless.

Bale pretty much has it all as a left winger: eye-watering pace, power, an easy capacity to beat his man and an ability to deliver pin-point crosses (he's not too bad with his right foot either).

This is then combined with great shooting ability, heading ability, stamina, model professionalism and a relentless drive to both win and improve.

There are very, very few players who combine together all of the above attributes. I know a gem when I see one, but clearly you don't.
 
GlastonSpur said:
I'm afraid that you're only demonstrating the limitations of your perceptive powers when it come to football .... otherwise known as clueless.

Bale pretty much has it all as a left winger: eye-watering pace, power, an easy capacity to beat his man and an ability to deliver pin-point crosses (he's not too bad with his right foot either).

This is then combined with great shooting ability, heading ability, stamina, model professionalism and a relentless drive to both win and improve.

There are very, very few players who combine together all of the above attributes. I know a gem when I see one, but clearly you don't.
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Does his celebration cure cancer too?
 
Lynk said:
Not to the extent that he'll suddenly turn into a world beater elsewhere on the pitch.
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He doesnt have to become a world beater there, what he learns will make him a better player overall and help him regardless of the position he plays in.

When SAF plays strikers out wide for example, do you think its to make them a winger permanently? Its just to round up their game and make them learn new things which will help them become better strikers.
 
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