Gareth Bale

[Hakkz]

That goal again Swansea is my absolute favourite. Instant control with his right foot from a pass from Jan and then smashed it with his left before the keeper even had time to blink.

The keeper being Vorm.

 

[tooey]

That goal again Swansea is my absolute favourite. Instant control with his right foot from a pass from Jan and then smashed it with his left before the keeper even had time to blink.

It was nice but that Stoke volley was something else, to be able to hit the ball first time at that height with the outside of his left foot and find the top corner...wow.

 

[fletch82]

As for Bale integrating into spanish culture, I know it would take a hell of a lot more than 600k per week to make me eat my dinner at 10 p.m.

Yeah alright mate

 

[thelak]

Not sure if Bale is trolling the Madrid fans now posting from Pebble Beach

People were calling him El Golfer in Madrid a couple of weeks ago

Wonder if he actually has the talent to make it as a pro

 

[ackie]

Just a few genuine questions.

Does he still have the ability and is he still as fast as the seasons he was with us?
What about his injuries?
The PL is faster, more physical and more demanding than any other leagues, does he still have drive to do what he did for us. Things have changed since he's moved on. I personally believe that the league has become more competitive.
CR7 has maintained his form and can still win games and trophies at his age.
Bale is not admired by Zidane.
Why does a great player like ZZ, a manager that has won the CL, does not want him in the squad and does not use him?

 

[swarvsta]

Not sure if Bale is trolling the Madrid fans now posting from Pebble Beach

People were calling him El Golfer in Madrid a couple of weeks ago

Wonder if he actually has the talent to make it as a pro

He played in a pro-am last year with a handicap of 5.

He is basically a billion light years away from being able to ‘make it as a pro’ golfer.

It’s just his hobby.

In fact, Harry Kane is a better golfer than Bale!

 

[Gassin's finest]

He played in a pro-am last year with a handicap of 5.

He is basically a billion light years away from being able to ‘make it as a pro’ golfer.

It’s just his hobby.

In fact, Harry Kane is a better golfer than Bale!

Harry Kane is a better than everyone at their profession. He should run for PM.

 

[dace]

Have golfed with both Kane and Bale, neither are good enough to be pro golfers but where good company throughout the day.

 

[pedrodelawasp]

Just a few genuine questions.

Does he still have the ability and is he still as fast as the seasons he was with us?
What about his injuries?
The PL is faster, more physical and more demanding than any other leagues, does he still have drive to do what he did for us. Things have changed since he's moved on. I personally believe that the league has become more competitive.
CR7 has maintained his form and can still win games and trophies at his age.
Bale is not admired by Zidane.
Why does a great player like ZZ, a manager that has won the CL, does not want him in the squad and does not use him?

He certainly still has the ability. If anything his technical skills have improved. His top speed may have reduced a little but he can still shift, no doubt. He is also quite a lot stronger than he was while at Spurs.

Bale is the only one who can conclusively answer on whether or not he still has the drive. I suspect he'd relish the chance of playing Champions League football against Real and sticking it to them.

Another post earlier in this thread spoke about the fact the total amount of time he has been unavailable due to injury is not as great as many people seem to think. He has had some injuries but has come back strong from them, as far as I can tell.

The CR7 bit isn't really a question, but it wouldn't be particularly fair to speculate about whether other players can replicate his continuously high levels for as long as he has - Ronaldo's athleticism, in particular his cardio, is pretty astounding.

As for Zidane, you'd really have to ask the man himself. It could be a clash of personalities, maybe Bale just doesn't fit the way Zidane wants his team to play. While his opinions on the comparative qualities of players are certainly worth some consideration due to the fact, as you point out, he has won the CL, others should feel free to form their own opinions on a 4-time CL winning player in Bale.

 

[rez9000]

He certainly still has the ability. If anything his technical skills have improved. His top speed may have reduced a little but he can still shift, no doubt. He is also quite a lot stronger than he was while at Spurs.

Bale is the only one who can conclusively answer on whether or not he still has the drive. I suspect he'd relish the chance of playing Champions League football against Real and sticking it to them.

Another post earlier in this thread spoke about the fact the total amount of time he has been unavailable due to injury is not as great as many people seem to think. He has had some injuries but has come back strong from them, as far as I can tell.

The CR7 bit isn't really a question, but it wouldn't be particularly fair to speculate about whether other players can replicate his continuously high levels for as long as he has - Ronaldo's athleticism, in particular his cardio, is pretty astounding.

As for Zidane, you'd really have to ask the man himself. It could be a clash of personalities, maybe Bale just doesn't fit the way Zidane wants his team to play. While his opinion on the comparative qualities of players are certainly worth some consideration due to the fact, as you point out, he has won the CL, others should feel free to form their own opinions on a 4-time CL winning player in Bale.

This is an interesting point. A manager will always try and use the talent at his disposal, but there will oftentimes be situations where a player simply doesn't fit be that tactical, technical or personality-wise.

What seems germaine though is that the manner in which Zidane and Real have gone about the Bale business suggests that it's a personality issue rather than footballing concerns. The flavour of story that Spanish media, especially Marca, have been bandying about is that Bale's face doesn't fit. The whole 'we want to party but he just wants to go to bed' thing. Trying to be objective, I actually think that attitude would fit in really well under Poch.

 

[swarvsta]

Have golfed with both Kane and Bale, neither are good enough to be pro golfers but where good company throughout the day.

Yeah me too.

Tiger Woods was caddying for me and the ghost of Seve appeared as we walked off the 18th green.

This was at Augusta. I shot a 66.

 

[Hakkz]

This is an interesting point. A manager will always try and use the talent at his disposal, but there will oftentimes be situations where a player simply doesn't fit be that tactical, technical or personality-wise.

What seems germaine though is that the manner in which Zidane and Real have gone about the Bale business suggests that it's a personality issue rather than footballing concerns. The flavour of story that Spanish media, especially Marca, have been bandying about is that Bale's face doesn't fit. The whole 'we want to party but he just wants to go to bed' thing. Trying to be objective, I actually think that attitude would fit in really well under Poch.

Guardiola is another example of a manager who has been happy to not play/ignore players he doesn't think fit his philosophy.

 

[worcestersauce]

Have golfed with both Kane and Bale, neither are good enough to be pro golfers but where good company throughout the day.

I'd guess you're not Spanish then.

 

[wrd]

I'd guess you're not Spanish then.

I think it's pretty obvious that he's Ben Davies

Edit: The plot thickens:

 

[IfiHadTheWings]

Yeah me too.

Tiger Woods was caddying for me and the ghost of Seve appeared as we walked off the 18th green.

This was at Augusta. I shot a 66.

Funnily enough Golden Bear held my green jacket whilst Gary Player threw a few logs in to the fire in the cabin room for me... Bit chilly in Georgia that time of year.

Patrons loved me.

 

[yankspurs]

Yeah me too.

Tiger Woods was caddying for me and the ghost of Seve appeared as we walked off the 18th green.

This was at Augusta. I shot a 66.

How many mulligans?

 

[Gassin's finest]

I think it's pretty obvious that he's Ben Davies

Edit: The plot thickens:

"That's the last thing you're winning..."

 

[archiewasking]

He played in a pro-am last year with a handicap of 5.

He is basically a billion light years away from being able to ‘make it as a pro’ golfer.

It’s just his hobby.

In fact, Harry Kane is a better golfer than Bale!

Think he's a one club man as well.

 

[soflapaul]

Yeah me too.

Tiger Woods was caddying for me and the ghost of Seve appeared as we walked off the 18th green.

This was at Augusta. I shot a 66.

Not to brag but i shot 65 at Augusta. But then i got crushed on the back 9.

 

[topper]

Not to brag but i shot 65 at Augusta. But then i got crushed on the back 9.

Liar - that was your score around Amen Corner!