Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[LukaMotion]

Bit unfair, Bale could never kick a ball again and he would be remembered as one of the best and most successful players of his generation, the most expensive player in the world and winners medals for:

4 Champions Leagues
2 La Liga titles
1 Spanish Cup, 1 Spanish Super cup
4 World Club Cups
3 Uefa Supercups

An outstanding career by anyone's standards, questioning his desire as he enters the vinegar strokes of his career is more than a little disrespectful.

I would love to see him come back to Spurs, but realistically he has absolutely nothing to prove. This point in his career is about earning as much cash as possible before retiring, he has achieved pretty much everything he possibly can achieve in football. If I were him, my only footballing ambitions would be around the National Team in club terms, he is done.

He's also got an EFL Cup medal from 2008. Played, and scored, in the 3rd round win over Middlesbrough.

 

[wooderz]

He's also got an EFL Cup medal from 2008. Played, and scored, in the 3rd round win over Middlesbrough.

Little whippersnapper

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

I’ll be honest with you, signing Bale now would be akin to attending the Eagles comeback tour of ‘94. Amongst the excitement and anticipation, there’d also be a sense you were watching live fossilisation of once great gods of MOR music from virile love machines to carpet slippers and Jeremy Clarkson biographies

 

[mil1lion]

I don't really get what people expect Bale to do. Would you give up 30m a year or 60m remaining on his contract and go somewhere dictated to by the very club who doesn't want you?

If someone paid me 60m to sit on my arse or to play golf I'll take it.

Would you still do so if you were already a multi millionaire? If you were a pro footballer who already has an absolute fortune but only so long to play out your career? I guess everyone has their own views on money. I'm not sure I could ever spend that kind of money myself. I would want to play while I still could. Golf isn't exactly expensive so not sure what reason he would have to keep raking in the money really. There's only so much you can do with it all. It's not like he wouldn't be well paid if he came back here either.

 

[JCRD]

Would you still do so if you were already a multi millionaire? If you were a pro footballer who already has an absolute fortune but only so long to play out your career? I guess everyone has their own views on money. I'm not sure I could ever spend that kind of money myself. I would want to play while I still could. Golf isn't exactly expensive so not sure what reason he would have to keep raking in the money really. There's only so much you can do with it all. It's not like he wouldn't be well paid if he came back here either.

Its not necessarily limited to just yourself or family when it comes to money... I mean that money is for generations ie his kids, grandkids etc.

I just think you couldn't pass up on 60m even if you do have 50m in the bank.

Also let's not forget, he has already been hugely successful so it's not like he is sitting on the bench having been a dud. Zidane appears to have acted like a **** and so have Real. If your employers treated you like shit, make it known they want you out but they dictate which club you go to, it's only right you dig your heals in.

He has a contract and he is being 'loyal' to it.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

If spurs and real in some fantasy land agreed a deal. Why would bale come?

No financial incentive (same money)
Very little chance of trophies
Chance of losing his legendary status in the EPL/ at spurs
Has to actually play football every week
Uproot his life to come back to England

Why? From his perspective I can't see the point.

 

[yankspurs]

If spurs and real in some fantasy land agreed a deal. Why would bale come?

No financial incentive (same money)
Very little chance of trophies
Chance of losing his legendary status in the EPL/ at spurs
Has to actually play football every week
Uproot his life to come back to England

Why? From his perspective I can't see the point.

On the contrary, the chance to bring trophies to Spurs would cement his legendary status. He’s still a great player when fit.

 

[panoma]

Going straight into my fpl team ?

 

[kent brockman]

If spurs and real in some fantasy land agreed a deal. Why would bale come?

No financial incentive (same money)
Very little chance of trophies
Chance of losing his legendary status in the EPL/ at spurs
Has to actually play football every week
Uproot his life to come back to England

Why? From his perspective I can't see the point.

If he would get the same money he would easily come back IMO. Despite having to settle for less sunshine and golf.

 

[E17yid]

I’ve got not problem what Bale is doing obviously, he can do what he wants I even find it quite funny coz Madrid are a bunch of twats and you reap what you sow. I also don’t necessarily think he’s done what he’s doing purely for the money rather I think he’s using money as a way to piss off Madrid as a matter of principle. Again, no problem with that.

Having said that it is sad in a way that he could be wasting a couple of good years playing football. Let’s be honest about it, Bale, his family, his kids, his kids kids, his kids kids kids, his kids kids kids kids are all going to be sorted for the rest of their lives with the obscene (yes it is fucking obscene) amount of money he’s made. Comments saying he’s got his family to look out for now misses the point imo. His family were sorted probably the first year he signed for Spurs let alone all the money he’s made at Madrid.

Again, he’s can do what he wants but it does slightly annoy me when people try to make comparisons to normal people saying “I don’t blame him I would do the same for £60m” well, yeah, of course we would. I would sit on my arse for £80k per annum if I fucking could so obviously I’m not going to turn my nose up at £60 million but we’re normal people who don’t have millions upon million in the bank with a million unencumbered properties worth millions upon millions. How Much money do you think he and his great great great grandkids fucking need, how many houses do they need? 3 each? 4 each, 10 each? It’s ridiculous. This is not about making sure his family is ok financially ffs.

 

[hellava_tough]

Little whippersnapper

Good little clip that - thanks

PS Tommy Huddlestone scoring a header on the break? What on earth!!! Lol

 

[hellava_tough]

If I was in Bale's position I'd say to Real, pay me half my contract now and the rest over the next 20 years and I'll leave

Never know, they might go for it lol

 

[Timbo Tottenham]

I’ll be honest with you, signing Bale now would be akin to attending the Eagles comeback tour of ‘94. Amongst the excitement and anticipation, there’d also be a sense you were watching live fossilisation of once great gods of MOR music from virile love machines to carpet slippers and Jeremy Clarkson biographies

View attachment 71539

The cast of ‘Friends’ haven’t aged well.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I’ll be honest with you, signing Bale now would be akin to attending the Eagles comeback tour of ‘94. Amongst the excitement and anticipation, there’d also be a sense you were watching live fossilisation of once great gods of MOR music from virile love machines to carpet slippers and Jeremy Clarkson biographies

View attachment 71539

I still go every time the Rolling Stones are in town.

 

[spids]

If spurs and real in some fantasy land agreed a deal. Why would bale come?

No financial incentive (same money)
Very little chance of trophies
Chance of losing his legendary status in the EPL/ at spurs
Has to actually play football every week
Uproot his life to come back to England

Why? From his perspective I can't see the point.

With the Euros delayed to next summer he cannot afford to have another season sat in the stands. He will be desperate to play football at a club where the fans and coach appreciate him, and with us the fans will LOVE him (and he'd get to play in the best stadium in the world!).

And playing up front with Kane and Son for Mourinho (who is still a big draw, especially for players of Bale's age) .... I'd expect him to think we'd have a very realistic chance of a trophy.

 

[dagraham]

I’ve got not problem what Bale is doing obviously, he can do what he wants I even find it quite funny coz Madrid are a bunch of twats and you reap what you sow. I also don’t necessarily think he’s done what he’s doing purely for the money rather I think he’s using money as a way to piss off Madrid as a matter of principle. Again, no problem with that.

Having said that it is sad in a way that he could be wasting a couple of good years playing football. Let’s be honest about it, Bale, his family, his kids, his kids kids, his kids kids kids, his kids kids kids kids are all going to be sorted for the rest of their lives with the obscene (yes it is fucking obscene) amount of money he’s made. Comments saying he’s got his family to look out for now misses the point imo. His family were sorted probably the first year he signed for Spurs let alone all the money he’s made at Madrid.

Again, he’s can do what he wants but it does slightly annoy me when people try to make comparisons to normal people saying “I don’t blame him I would do the same for £60m” well, yeah, of course we would. I would sit on my arse for £80k per annum if I fucking could so obviously I’m not going to turn my nose up at £60 million but we’re normal people who don’t have millions upon million in the bank with a million unencumbered properties worth millions upon millions. How Much money do you think he and his great great great grandkids fucking need, how many houses do they need? 3 each? 4 each, 10 each? It’s ridiculous. This is not about making sure his family is ok financially ffs.

Exactly. It’s probably more do with being more interested in playing golf in Madrid than golf somewhere else.

He’s clearly lost the hunger to play football above other things and just sees it as a job. A job which he’s being paid an obscene amount of money to do fuck all and pursue his hobby in a place where he and his family like living.

The thing I don’t understand is the China move. By all accounts he agreed to move there, which doesn’t fit in with a) the family lifestyle thing b) the golf and c) the chance to continue playing football at the top level.

The only criteria it fits is money.

He’s entitled to do what he wants of course, but football is a short career. He’s got the rest of his life to play golf.

 

[tiger666]

With the Euros delayed to next summer he cannot afford to have another season sat in the stands. He will be desperate to play football at a club where the fans and coach appreciate him, and with us the fans will LOVE him (and he'd get to play in the best stadium in the world!).

Bale will get picked regardless of club playing time, also if he was that desperate to move, he'd get his agent on it. He isn't bothered about us.

 

[spids]

Bale will get picked regardless of club playing time, also if he was that desperate to move, he'd get his agent on it. He isn't bothered about us.

Another year of not playing at all? Not so sure that even if he was picked he'd be any good in what could be just three games in 10 days. Lots of players have moved clubs, taken wage drops, moved country just to get playing time to represent their country in a major tournament.

 

[mr ashley]

Exactly. It’s probably more do with being more interested in playing golf in Madrid than golf somewhere else.

He’s clearly lost the hunger to play football above other things and just sees it as a job. A job which he’s being paid an obscene amount of money to do fuck all and pursue his hobby in a place where he and his family like living.

The thing I don’t understand is the China move. By all accounts he agreed to move there, which doesn’t fit in with a) the family lifestyle thing b) the golf and c) the chance to continue playing football at the top level.

The only criteria it fits is money.

He’s entitled to do what he wants of course, but football is a short career. He’s got the rest of his life to play golf.

I agree, it does look like he’s more focussed on the money than the football. I didn’t understand the China deal at the time, it felt like he was resigned to playing at a lower level.
The strategy he’s employing now looks exactly the same- it’s all about the money.
Fine-But if that’s the case, then we should forget about him coming to us because he’s simply not interested in football any more.

What I don’t understand is this:
Most days he still has to go into training, working with the manager and teammates who he’s clearly got no bond with. I can’t see why he’d want to work in that environment- certainly for another year.
Im sure list of us would be looking to leave a job that we hated, and the biggest barrier to doing so would likely be the financial security. Clearly that’s not an issue for him, so why put yourself through it?

 

[RikkiRocket]

Another year of not playing at all? Not so sure that even if he was picked he'd be any good in what could be just three games in 10 days. Lots of players have moved clubs, taken wage drops, moved country just to get playing time to represent their country in a major tournament.

Giggs would pick Bale with one leg.