Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[HedgieSpur]

But that's my point. He is winning and its infuriated Zidane and RM. Win win

How exactly is he "winning"? By being paid the money he's due in his contrac

To be honest I think this shows the strength of his will power to suffer this form of bullying. I have no sympathy with RM. They inflated the market when they brought him. They inflated the market when they paid him his initial signing on fee and salary. They inflated the market when they paid him his £600k new salary. Why therefore should we or the general public castigate him for having the balls to hold them to their agreement? RM had the chance to offload him to China and then pulled the plug. Those saying that he should let RM of the hook and move on for a lower salary seem to want to strengthen RM's ability to buy more players than they currently can due to Bale holding them to their written agreement. Why would any Spurs supporter wish to strengthen RM's financial position.

I suspect fans are saying he should move so that he can play football. That clearly isn't a priority for him, so he can sit and collect his money and enjoy his life. I certainly wouldn't want someone with that attitude at my club, but he cannot be criticised for holding Real to their contractual obligations.

 

[JCRD]

Madrid did all of these things, that’s true.
I just don’t see how Bale fights the system and wins.
So he holds them to his contract- and sits in the stands for 2 more years. Ok he’s got the money but his career is over.
If he agrees a move, he salvaged his career (and still earns handsomely no doubt).
In any case, do you seriously believe that any element of this situation would alter Madrid’s approach to transfers?
I don’t think they’d behave any differently in their pursuit of Harry Kane in any way, regardless of how this pans out. It wasn’t like they acted any differently when they signed Hazard.

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

 

[fletch82]

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

Won nothing in his own country that surely must bother him a bit ?
Maybe thats just my way of thinking though

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

How exactly is he "winning"? By being paid the money he's due in his contrac


I suspect fans are saying he should move so that he can play football. That clearly isn't a priority for him, so he can sit and collect his money and enjoy his life. I certainly wouldn't want someone with that attitude at my club, but he cannot be criticised for holding Real to their contractual obligations.

Of course RM and Zidane could do the right thing and play him. If he was not winning he would have left.

 

[Ionman34]

The question needs to be asked on what he has done to try and resolve the issue with management.
Has Bale sat down with Zidane etc and told him he's available? Has he applied himself in training where he's showing that he's doing everything he can to prove to his manager he really WANTS to play?

If he's done this to no avail, and still Zidane is blanking him, then I can fully understand his position.

If, however, he's not made the effort and is just coasting, then I can understand why Zidane doesn't want him.

There's so much we don't know about the situation, and people are jumping to their own conclusions based on very little information.

The thing that has me doubting Bale is that, if he really were applying himself, then Zidane would be under immense pressure to play him, his team mates would likely be upset about his treatment.

It may be that he did this initially, but it was made apparent to him that he was wasting his time, so he just stopped bothering.

Or it may be that, once he got the massive deal he just decided that he was set for life and couldn't be bothered to put the work rate in.

Whatever the reason, he's a massive risk for anyone to take on, especially if it's the latter and he's just coasting.

The more I think about it, the less appealing bringing him back becomes.

 

[JCRD]

The question needs to be asked on what he has done to try and resolve the issue with management.
Has Bale sat down with Zidane etc and told him he's available? Has he applied himself in training where he's showing that he's doing everything he can to prove to his manager he really WANTS to play?

If he's done this to no avail, and still Zidane is blanking him, then I can fully understand his position.

If, however, he's not made the effort and is just coasting, then I can understand why Zidane doesn't want him.

There's so much we don't know about the situation, and people are jumping to their own conclusions based on very little information.

The thing that has me doubting Bale is that, if he really were applying himself, then Zidane would be under immense pressure to play him, his team mates would likely be upset about his treatment.

It may be that he did this initially, but it was made apparent to him that he was wasting his time, so he just stopped bothering.

Or it may be that, once he got the massive deal he just decided that he was set for life and couldn't be bothered to put the work rate in.

Whatever the reason, he's a massive risk for anyone to take on, especially if it's the latter and he's just coasting.

The more I think about it, the less appealing bringing him back becomes.

I mean they did prevent him from going to China so they must have wanted to keep him but i think ZZ is at odds with their Board. ZZ wants him gone but the Board dont and want money. I think a deal had already been agreed with a Chinese club but last minute the Board moved the goalposts.

So Bale is in limbo

 

[JCRD]

Won nothing in his own country that surely must bother him a bit ?
Maybe thats just my way of thinking though

He isnt going to come here except to us, dont think anyone else would buy him but we are the only club who also wouldnt be able to afford him. Also realistically will we win the league:? with him, possibly but we need to strengthen other areas and bringing him in would mean sales and weakening other areas... so why would he come here knowing he wont win the league etc.

Youre right it is a possibility in his mind but doubt it

 

[RikkiRocket]

Won nothing in his own country that surely must bother him a bit ?
Maybe thats just my way of thinking though

Not many trophies up for grabs in Wales

 

[Hoopspur]

Questions are would spurs pay 60m for Bale? Do RM want rid if poss?

If yes to both questions then we buy Bale for £30m and RM then subsidise his wages by that amount. It’s swings and roundabouts but they will probably be pleased to be rid.

Erm, @Erm33 why is this spam? Just curious and not complaining

 

[mr ashley]

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

in terms of salvaging his career, yes all the things you mention could be seen as a resurrection- or at least a new challenge.
If things stay the same, you’d have to say he’d be finished at the top level, which feels wrong.
But if the competitive spark has gone, then he may as well take the money

 

[thelak]

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

I think the point is you only have a finite time as an elite footballer - one life and all that

if you really love the game then you want to play as much as you can what in 3-4 years it will all be over

then he has 30-40 years to play golf

 

[Erm33]

Erm, @Erm33 why is this spam? Just curious and not complaining

Sorry fat fingers whilst scrolling

 

[yankspurs]

Update: i’ve drunkenly talked myself into Bale coming home

 

[C0YS]

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

Thing is he has the ability to win the Ballon D'or. He could absolutely make that his goal. With Ronaldo and Messi ageing there is a vacuum approaching he'd have at least two good seasons to make a good go of it. Maybe even three.

 

[Riandor]

Ah my children, welcome home...
The Cult if Bale is always here for you and your devotion to bring him back.

the career resurrection beckons, believe, pray to the bun haired deity.
I say, as every year, it will happen, and the unbelievers will be shown the light.

 

[Metalhead]

You say salvage his career and if he was younger and hadnt been successful already then I would agree but what does salvaging his career entail? Winning a league in a different country? playing internationally for Wales? he wont win the Ballon D'or and wont win much else out there...

I think that is the crux... he has won four CLs, the La Liga etc - not much else will compare to that.

Plus, he has fulfilled his dream of playing for Real Madrid. I would certainly be concerned that he no longer has the fire in him that he had before and I don’t think that we are a club that should be grateful to just have a superstar player on our books. They should be able to put in a shift week in, week out.

 

[wirE]

60 Pages in; are we getting Bale or what?

 

[cider spurs]

60 Pages in; are we getting Bale or what?

You know the rules.

You cannot ask such a question until the thread has hit 100 pages.

 

[freeeki]

 

[tiger666]

The fee is irrelevant