Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[hughy]

I just prey this isn't a David Haye style comeback where he steps into the arena, gets a few knocks and reality hits home that his days at the top level are done...?

It's not really a "comeback", he's played 62 games in the last 2 seasons. It's not like he went in to retirement after the CL final that Madrid won and this is his first competitive game in years.

 

[ikky]

Jose saying he will probably play against Spammers.
http://www.skysports.com/share/12105537

 

[GMI]

The boy has basketball skills..

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[SandroClegane]

The boy has basketball skills..

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You can tell CCV is the only one that's actually played an organized game, but was surprised with Bale's form.

 

[Shadydan]

Bale can actually ball

 

[dagraham]

Pitch and Putt next week I presume?

 

[whitesocks]

No-one doubts his athleticism and ability. The big questions for Bale are is he a team player, and does he follow instructions.
He needs to be seen working hard and tracking back. He needs to be disciplined to show the world that actually real madrid were at fault here, and repair his legacy as one of the best players ever.

I don't really expect anything too spectacular from him until after the cancelled christmas. As arguably the most famous player in the premiership, players will be alert to him, and he'll be held and flattened if he's looking to accelerate away. They'll double up on him, but that's ok as the others will have more time and space.

It will take time for him to adjust to the mental speed of the game with all this crazy pressing. But that will come, and he'll get less attention later in the season when the novelty has worn off a bit. No reason to think he wont be regularly slotting a few away then. A little taster goal against wham would be nice all the same.

 

[EQP]

You can tell CCV is the only one that's actually played an organized game, but was surprised with Bale's form.

Yeah, CCV's dad is a former NBA player.

Howard Carter (basketball) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[taidgh]

You can tell CCV is the only one that's actually played an organized game, but was surprised with Bale's form.

Well CCV's dad played professionally, so I imagine he was brought up playing basketball.

 

[chelmyid]

Got a feeling there is going to be a lot of surprised people with Bale.
His treatment has given a false image of his ability and as he has got older people add that to it and expect him to be less of a player.
Looking at his body language and he physique I think we’re going to see some player back at home

 

[Gassin's finest]

Honestly, he's going to be on another fucking planet from most of the league.

 

[Gareth88]

You dont lose talent overnight but I am not going to set my expectations too high. Just the brace from Bale today will be okay

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

"Bale is a bloke who is good at football, but is effectively an ex-footballer. See also Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler, Mario Balotelli etc."

This was the end of the most agreed comment on the guardian website about the bale article (worth a read btw)

I honestly didn't realise this was the perception of other fans. Firstly he is in a different league to those players. But I think people have forgotten how good he actually was and is.

The only worry for me is his fitness. If he plays and he is fit I expect him to rip it up.

 

[dovahkiin]

 

[Tucker]

View attachment 76126

Beware, beware, the Dragonborn comes
For the darkness has passed, and the legend yet grows
You'll know, you'll know, the dragonborn's come

 

[TheTanguy]

Underwhelming, send him back in January!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Bale starting his run of no win games with us again like when he joined last time ?? should’ve made it 4-2 through on goal, then would’ve been game over, but our defending is a joke, no clean sheet in 8 games I think.

 

[nailsy]

One moment of brilliance. Such a shame he didn't finish the chance.

 

[cjbyid]

Can see he needs a run of games.

Training can only do so much!

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Do we really have to do the whole "can't win a match with Bale" thing again at the start of the second stint?