Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

tottenhamlad said:

Mourinho is going to have no excuse is he. With Bale and Reguilon coming in this is the best Spurs squad in a very long time.

If we follow it with Ings as Kane back up WOW.

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C0YS said:

Basically, the important information is that it looks like we are looking at a permanent transfer with no initial cost. But we are likely to pay 7 million-ish for him. What I'm confused about is the wages and the delayed payment for the transfer. I don't know if it is achievement based bonuses, or something even looser, more like an agreement to negotiate price at a later date.

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tottenhamlad said:

Mourinho is going to have no excuse is he. With Bale and Reguilon coming in this is the best Spurs squad in a very long time.

If we follow it with Ings as Kane back up WOW.

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dagraham said:

In certain areas yes. In others, most definitely not imo.

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Tyler24durden said:

Still need a creative midfielder

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Cinemattis said:

It´s been seven years and fifteen days,

since they took my love away …

And ever since there are a handful of us that never gave up hope that he would one day come back to us. Obviously, we were deluded – it was simply unrealistic. But as the years passed, and the relationship to the fans, club and management soured in the Spanish capital – the glimmer of hope shone brighter. And in every single transfer window, there were always reports, rumours that there was a possibility. Always to be dismissed by all the ITKs. Sometimes friendly, softly, gently – sometimes abruptly – but always consistently.

I am deeply grateful for all the work the admins here are doing, and not at least for all the insight and snippets of fans´ gold the ITKs share with us. And I fully understand and respect that these same people can lose their patience when we mortal minions and underlings never stop nagging about “is he coming?” usually followed up with countless reuses of that Jim Carey gif “So you´re saying…There is a chance?!” It´s like having that annoying friend of your own annoying children sitting in the back of the car constantly repeating “Are we there yet?” – two minutes into the ride, every single bleedin´ time.

But, oh what glorious times these last couple of days have been! I was musing late last night, while just flowing with the perfect wave on the craziest and funniest day I´ve ever experienced in here (Bale avatars for everyone?!): what a development?! From a stone cold “no”, via “it´s not 0% chance” and “pull the fucking trigger, Levy!” to “I´m quietly confident”. And then, this morning´s “just medical and formalities”. Flabbergasting!

We football fans are dreamers, most of us. If you chose (or have been told to choose) Tottenham as your club, I would say even more so. If you didn´t experience the Nicholson era first hand, it´s not the overfilled trophy cabinets of constant success that lured you to this part of the footballing world. It´s more likely to be the romantic dream of the traditional cup team – the team that can outplay anyone anywhere on their day, and lose a game when we´re up three or four goals at halftime. We´re some of the last romantics in top football. So, we dream impossible dreams. Like Gareth Bale coming back to us – because we love him and thus he kind of have to like us too, right?

Luckily, we have in our midst some realists that can throw ice cold water in our faces and tell us that it “just isn´t going to happen”. It´s not because they don´t share the dream. But it´s more likely because they´re awake and can see the dream for what it is: a dream, and nothing more.

I immensely respect him and love him to bits the way one man can love another man he has never met. I´ve only read his comments on a website, given likes and stars to his words of wisdom. He probably doesn´t know I exist. I don´t even know if he´s a man, to be honest. So, please, this is not a dig at ITKs in general, or to Trix more specifically: if anything it´s a homage to his and their work! And it´s also an explanation to myself (and maybe others) on how the general mood on a website´s chat forum can change in an instant just because of a few words from the keyboard of someone we believe in and respect.

So, this is @Trix ´s timeline “From Not Doable to Baleiber”:

In this same thread Trix gave one single comment in the January window on the chances of Bale coming back. It simply and politely – as in a way you talk to people that have a hard time understanding the principle of spreading butter on a piece of bread – that the financial obstacles were impossible to work around. As he have said in the wondow before, and the window before that, and in - you get the picture.

Fast forward to August 15th:
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We´re not getting him back. Yes, we know. And it´s because of the money:
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Five days later, there´s not a ten thousand to one chance he´s coming back. Even if Levy would only have to pay 10K to get him:
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A couple of days later, and the patience is wearing thin:
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Then nothing. Absolute radio silence.

Almost a fortnight later, THAT Bale-interview hits the media. For the first time ever, on September 3rd, Gareth Bale gives an interview where he speaks about how he wants to play football and that Real Madrid stands in his way to do so. The ball is rolling, and the Bale-thread on SC slowly awakens from its slumber.

On the 7th, our man Trix is - as always - the realistic voice: it would take so much from all parties that it´s not realisitc. BUT: he gives the fanatic romantics something to chew on: we want him. And: he´s open for a possible return.
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And, then: dialogue....! (even though it´s still not possible)
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And, then on Thursday the 10th of September in the year of 2020, seven years and nine days since Bale signed for Real Madrid, Trix posts what we never thought he would ever do. And the thread goes ballistic:
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THERE IS HOPE: HE MAY COME HOME!

We even have a special Bale-budget outside the normal transfer budget?..?!
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Next day, Friday morning, in the ITK-thread - the hope is growing (but the blue is gone...?):
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Later in the afternoon - reminding us all both that there is a clever businessman at the top, and that we actually were very, very close to get Dybala. And at the same time reminding us aswell that a deal can derail just when everyone think it´s done:
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Quiet Saturday - we´re all just waiting for more info as the thread heats up. It´s happening isn´t it? Yes, this is the chance! He´s coming home - he has to!

Then Sunday.

Bloody, beautiful Sunday.

I love Sunday mornings! Sometimes, at least.

Trix were on form, online, and definitely not without hope. It´s now as good as it will ever get - it´s Levy´s decision now, only his. Trix gave us 24 minutes of gold that morning:
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(to be continued)

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Dzejkob said:

I still feel we have big holes in midfield...

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tottenhamlad said:

I am hoping with Hojberg and Lo Celso/Ndombele this gets better as the season goes on? We have spent a lot of money in that area to be fair.

I agree it has been really weak for us though that area lately. Missing Mousa Dembele massively.

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THFC_is_my_life said:

If this is us getting shafted, then sign me up. Bale has always been, and still is, a world class player. Press spin has all of the armchair fans writing him off, let’s see if they all have the same energy once he’s back and they realise he’s still pretty fucking good.

COYS

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Tyler24durden said:

Still need a creative midfielder

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Clark28 said:

He actually really wants to be back, he can keep the man bun now I guess.

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Donki said:

Do we know if its a permanent thing or a loan?

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Bobby TwoShots said:

Anyone know what the world record is for hitting refresh in a single day?

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