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.
Agree with all this. He is machine like, extremely efficient in everything he does. Like Ronaldo he can pick the ball up anywhere on the pitch and somehow create a shooting chance for himself. Bale was one of many good players at Spurs over the past 2 seasons, but now he is by a distance their stand out player. He is the man they look to when it isn't going their way.
He's clearly practiced in training in using his right foot more and he is not a completely left footed players these days, he can score with his right and even put in decent crosses with it.
He's now a top class player in his own right and if he is "copying" Ronaldo with his dedication to improving and his fitness and adding more quality to his game, then what exactly is wrong with that?