Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[ClintEastwould]

He scored an identical goal vs shalke his first season at Madrid

 

[eddiev14]

I think it’s fair to say that he’s got a lot of work to do.

 

[dagraham]

I think it’s fair to say that he’s got a lot of work to do.

Physically yes.

 

[SlotBadger]

I think it’s fair to say that he’s got a lot of work to do.

Yep, but his intelligence and deft touch is already apparent at, what, 60% fitness.

 

[PrettyColors]

He looks understandably like a man who hasn’t played football competitively in about a year. The thing is we’re going to need him sooner than we may think, not now but in the busy holiday period he’ll have a big role to play.

 

[ardiles&villa]

He looks so half hearted tonight haha

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I think it’s fair to say that he’s got a lot of work to do.

Need to be fitter so he can be more involved, but almost everything he did do was effortless and created danger for the opposition. The reverse passes were lovely and his outstep cross for the own goal was just verve.

 

[TheTanguy]

Was always going to take 6-8 weeks before he will look anything like the player we all loved. I'm not gonna judge him too much before December.

 

[Timberwolf]

There were some moments of pure class that reminded me of the Bale of old, but its clear that he's a different player now and not at full fitness.

But as the old adage goes: form is temporary and class is permanent.

Some arse clowns on here were writing off Kane when he wasn't match fit and we'd be foolish to do the same for Bale after barely 80 minutes.

He might not be what he used to be, but his talent is pure and he's still a serious fucking weapon (in the good sense) if he's properly match fit. Some of his little flicks and touches today were the kinds of things Moura and Bergwijn, for all their chutzpah, will never be capable of regardless of fitness.

 

[DJS]

That was a lovely flick from his left foot from the right to set up that own goal.

Pure quality!

 

[Montalbano]

TBH as someone who grew up playing basketball I can guarantee you this is a weird looking jump shot View attachment 76143

I believe he was trying to go for a contested layup but a) leaped way too far out b) folded his legs like a wanker c) cocked his shot back like a jump shot.

Glad he decided to be a footballer.

 

[SlotBadger]

Nice to hear Bale being interviewed now and saying himself that it’s a ”mini pre-season“ for his fitness.

 

[topper]

Nice to hear Bale being interviewed now and saying himself that it’s a ”mini pre-season“ for his fitness.

Agree, he knows he's not quite on the necessary pace; but when he is!

 

[mrlilywhite]

There were some moments of pure class that reminded me of the Bale of old, but its clear that he's a different player now and not at full fitness.

But as the old adage goes: form is temporary and class is permanent.

Some arse clowns on here were writing off Kane when he wasn't match fit and we'd be foolish to do the same for Bale after barely 80 minutes.

He might not be what he used to be, but his talent is pure and he's still a serious fucking weapon (in the good sense) if he's properly match fit. Some of his little flicks and touches today were the kinds of things Moura and Bergwijn, for all their chutzpah, will never be capable of regardless of fitness.

I actually think we are getting a better Bale, than the one that left us. I accepted that he wouldn't have that Maicon toasting pace, age makes that a given, however, I think we have a finished product in Bale, and with each passing game comes more match fitness. I'm actually so stoked to have that kind of winner and influence in the team and it is clear by his own words just how much he loves this club. In your words, we have a serious fucking weapon - perfect choice of words actually

 

[C0YS]

I've actually think we are getting a better Bale, than the one that left us. I accepted that he wouldn't have that Maicon toasting pace, age makes that a given, however, I think we have a finished product in Bale, and with each passing game comes more match fitness. I'm actually so stoked to have that kind of winner and influence in the team and it is clear by his own words just how much he loves this club. In your words, we have a serious fucking weapon - perfect choice of words actually

I've heard this view before. But I think people really don't remember how good Bale was in 2012-2013, and he never managed to repeat that form in Real Madrid, like ever. If we even a third of that player I'd be stoked, as Bale between feburary to may in 2013 was, in my opinion, on level footing with Messi and Ronaldo.

At the moment he is playing himself into fitness, and we have to be patient. He did his job today, but right now I think he'll have to get used to coming on in the PL and building his minutes in the Europa. It might take a while till we really see him going, and even then, I hope fans check their expectations a little bit.

 

[tiger666]

I've actually think we are getting a better Bale, than the one that left us. I accepted that he wouldn't have that Maicon toasting pace, age makes that a given, however, I think we have a finished product in Bale, and with each passing game comes more match fitness. I'm actually so stoked to have that kind of winner and influence in the team and it is clear by his own words just how much he loves this club. In your words, we have a serious fucking weapon - perfect choice of words actually

The Bale that left us was arguably the 3rd best player in the world. Time will tell what we have back, pace-wise he's running in treacle at the moment. Will take some time to see where he's at.

 

[mrlilywhite]

I've heard this view before. But I think people really don't remember how good Bale was in 2012-2013, and he never managed to repeat that form in Real Madrid, like ever. If we even a third of that player I'd be stoked, as Bale between feburary to may in 2013 was, in my opinion, on level footing as Messi and Ronaldo.

At the moment he is playing himself into fitness, and we have to be patient. He did his job today, but right now I think he'll have to get used to coming on in the PL and building his minutes in the Europa. It might take a while till we really see him going, and even then, I hope fans check their expectations a little bit.

I don't disagree totally, but I still think that was a raw Bale back then, and not totally developed. He was, by and large, tearing up teams back then. I still think he actually became a better player at Real though.

 

[theShiznit]

I've heard this view before. But I think people really don't remember how good Bale was in 2012-2013, and he never managed to repeat that form in Real Madrid, like ever. If we even a third of that player I'd be stoked, as Bale between feburary to may in 2013 was, in my opinion, on level footing as Messi and Ronaldo.

At the moment he is playing himself into fitness, and we have to be patient. He did his job today, but right now I think he'll have to get used to coming on in the PL and building his minutes in the Europa. It might take a while till we really see him going, and even then, I hope fans check their expectations a little bit.

Yeah at the moment he is clearly searching for fitness/sharpness..
He started brighter today but (naturally given his playing time this season) faded quickly in the second half.

 

[mrlilywhite]

The Bale that left us was arguably the 3rd best player in the world. Time will tell what we have back, pace-wise he's running in treacle at the moment. Will take some time to see where he's at.

I guess time will tell - for sure that blistering pace isn't there anymore. In his own words, he feels he has added more to his game since the last time he was here, and I'd agree that he was the 3rd best player in the world back then too.

 

[E17yid]

In November and December we play:

21st November - Man City
28th November - Chelsea
5th December - Arsenal
16th December - Liverpool

I’m pretty sure the plan is to build him up steadily so he’ll be at peak fitness just in time to score 5 goals in each of these games.