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Post by derynglas on Mar 5, 2019 0:31:00 GMT
I found the agents statement interesting that despite constant roumours to the contrary Bale does speak reasonable Spanish,is happy at Madrid and wants to stay. Every year since hes been there we get speculation hes going to Man U or back to Spurs or wherever but its always turned out to be paper talk with no basis in reality. Its heartening to see an agent not agitating for a move for his player in this day and age and to see a player showing loyalty and getting on with it even if he has his frustrations. I personally hope hell be there a few more years and certainly better off there than some English club who arent going to win the EPL and certainly not the CL when he could win a couple more at Madrid.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 2:23:16 GMT
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Post by insertname on Mar 5, 2019 2:23:16 GMT
As I said, he'll probably see out his career there. Seems to be a favourite of the president and he has probably been through worse. A serious waste of talent, but it's his career and hey, the money ain't bad.
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Post by richierich333 on Mar 5, 2019 8:18:40 GMT
It's clearly gone sour and it's best for everyone if he leaves. He had to have one season without Ronaldo which he has done now but stepping out of his shadow hasn't turned out how we thought it would. Doesn't have to go back to EPL he can play anywhere in Europe. He is equally adept at French, German and Italian as he is at Spanish.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 10:07:34 GMT
Post by allezlesrouges on Mar 5, 2019 10:07:34 GMT
I still think he’s sharpening up after his injury. Always takes him about a month to get back to his best after returning, especially considering he is not getting 90 minutes consistently. What he really needs now is to stay injury free for 3/4 months, gain some consistency and before long the fickle Madrid fans will be back on side and the rumours will go away.
These stories always seem to be at their peak when he returns from injury and has a few quiet games, especially if it’s a Champions League game or a Clasico.
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Post by texan on Mar 5, 2019 11:14:35 GMT
I agree with Alarch's question about asking himself if he's made the most of the opportunity out there, I personally don't think he has.
I think it was John Charles who said when you play in a foreign country you have to go over there thinking that you may never come back, that this would now be "home" and all that came with it. Toshack also alluded to a similar mindset being needed. Rush and Hughes however both openly admitted they went abroad thinking of it as a "bit of a break and a change", a couple of years away before being able to come home to the (then) 1st Division as conquering heroes. Both of course got the shock of their lives. Basically if you're going abroad you have to immerse yourself in it, assume that now 'this is it' for the foreseeable future and live it.
I'm not saying Bale's attempt is anywhere near Rush's, who was home within a year, at least he's sticking it out and showing some real guts. However from all I've understood of his time there he's done some things that will evidently set him back. Apparently he has a couple of his schoolmates always out there with him (he's employing one as his bodyguard I believe?) and, outside of training and matches, he's with them. He also quit his Spanish lessons after 18 months as, outside of being at Valdebebas, he's rarely exposed to it or needs it as he lives in a bit of a 'Welsh bubble' surrounded by friends and family.
Most of the things he's been criticised for over the years are in all honesty things that he's previously been praised for. Not drinking at all or socialising heavily, spending time with family, being reserved and respectful and never speaking out of turn, taking his rest seriously...all model professional behaviour and nothing that comes as a surprise for any Welsh fans (or Spurs to be honest). We all know he's a down-to-earth Whitchurch lad who's fiercely loyal and loves his home comforts. This has undoubtedly been a barrier in his time there, just looking at the behind the scenes FAW content during Wales get-togethers are evidence enough. With us he's the joker in the pack, at home with his mates and comfortable in his own skin. This should also be the same at his club, however his demeanour at RM in most instances, other than with a core handful of teammates, seems to be of detachment and isolation.
I appreciate that there's constantly been unfounded rumours of his imminent departure from RM and I suspect that Barnett's claims that they've never had discussions about him leaving are true, along with Bale's insistence he wants to stay, of course he does, he's winning trophies and I'm sure his young family have a great life there which needs to be fought for. However I've never witnessed an agent needing to step in to fight so many fires before, or make so many statements to defend a player and quell apparent unrest. Neither have I ever seen senior players publicly denigrate a teammate in the media like has happened recently. What both Courtois and Marcello said was tame(ish) on the surface but if they can openly say that comfortably what are their real feelings? There's no smoke without fire...on a social level something's rotten there. He's never been fully integrated into RM life and, as a result, is never going to be able to become a leader in that side, it's simply not possible.
It is of course feasible he'll return to some form (beginning tonight hopefully!) and power them to a CL final this year, stay there a few more years and win a few more things. He has undoubtedly been mostly a success there up to now, however I doubt he'll ever be as effective there as he could have been (had he fully immersed himself in the Spanish life) or could be (should he move to a new side where he truly is the leader and can fully integrate with them).
I don't think he's a good fit into the Real Madrid culture...he's simply too nice!
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Post by allezlesrouges on Mar 5, 2019 11:55:10 GMT
I agree with Alarch's question about asking himself if he's made the most of the opportunity out there, I personally don't think he has. I think it was John Charles who said when you play in a foreign country you have to go over there thinking that you may never come back, that this would now be "home" and all that came with it. Toshack also alluded to a similar mindset being needed. Rush and Hughes however both openly admitted they went abroad thinking of it as a "bit of a break and a change", a couple of years away before being able to come home to the (then) 1st Division as conquering heroes. Both of course got the shock of their lives. Basically if you're going abroad you have to immerse yourself in it, assume that now 'this is it' for the foreseeable future and live it. I'm not saying Bale's attempt is anywhere near Rush's, who was home within a year, at least he's sticking it out and showing some real guts. However from all I've understood of his time there he's done some things that will evidently set him back. Apparently he has a couple of him schoolmates always out there with him (he's employing one as his bodyguard I believe?) and, outside of training and matches, he's with them. He also quit his Spanish lessons after 18 months as, outside of being at Valdebebas, he's rarely exposed to it or needs it as he lives in a bit of a 'Welsh bubble' surrounded by friends and family. Most of the things he's been criticised for over the years are in all honesty things that he's previously been praised for. Not drinking at all or socialising heavily, spending time with family, being reserved and respectful and never speaking out of turn, taking his rest seriously...all model professional behaviour and nothing that comes as a surprise for any Welsh fans (or Spurs to be honest). We all know he's a down-to-earth Whitchurch lad who's fiercely loyal and loves his home comforts. This has undoubtedly been a barrier in his time there, just looking at the behind the scenes FAW content during Wales get-togethers are evidence enough. With us he's the joker in the pack, at home with his mates and comfortable in his own skin. This should also be the same at his club, however his demeanour at RM in most instances, other than with a core handful of teammates, seems to be of detachment and isolation. I appreciate that there's constantly been unfounded rumours of his imminent departure from RM and I suspect that Barnett's claims that they've never had discussions about him leaving are true, along with Bale's insistence he wants to stay, of course he does, he's winning trophies and I'm sure his young family have a great life there which needs to be fought for. However I've never witnessed an agent needing to step in to fight so many fires before, or make so many statements to defend a player and quell apparent unrest. Neither have I ever seen senior players publicly denigrate a teammate in the media like has happened recently. What both Courtois and Marcello said was tame(ish) on the surface but if they can openly say that comfortably what are their real feelings? There's no smoke without fire...on a social level something's rotten there. He's never been fully integrated into RM life and, as a result, is never going to be able to become a leader in that side, it's simply not possible. It is of course feasible he'll return to some form (beginning tonight hopefully!) and power them to a CL final this year, stay there a few more years and win a few more things. He has undoubtedly been mostly a success there up to now, however I doubt he'll ever be as effective there as he could have been (had he fully immersed himself in the Spanish life) or could be (should he move to a new side where he truly is the leader and can fully integrate with them). I don't think he's a good fit into the Real Madrid culture...he's simply too nice! A lot of good points here. I still don’t understand the mentality of the Real Madrid fans. Remember when they voted Modric as their worst ever signing after only one season there! Absolute madness! Their fans are happy when they are winning, but as soon as they start losing they are more than happy to scapegoat the easiest target they can find. Contrast that to the almost unconditional adoration shown by our set of supporters to our players, even when things go wrong. It’s easy to see why Bale feels so comfortable playing for Wales. Him not being a good fit for Real Madrid is more of a reflection of Madrid than it is of Bale himself. How can you boo a player who has scored two Champions League final winning goals for your club?! I just find that it shows a lack of integrity to do something like that.
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Post by CrackityJones on Mar 5, 2019 12:19:02 GMT
Bale may well be 'too nice' for a basket case club like Madrid but he has a steely determination to his character which has enabled him to continue being a success there despite having to endure shit from probably the worst fanbase in world football.
This was exemplified by what he did in the CL final last season, coming off the bench and producing THE stand out football moment of 2018.
Basically he's a winner and as much as I'd prefer him to move on and win things elsewhere, he has the will and strength to stick this out...rightly or wrongly.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 12:23:30 GMT
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Post by welshiron on Mar 5, 2019 12:23:30 GMT
Bottom line is he is happy in Madrid.
Football is his job and just a part of life.
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Post by texan on Mar 5, 2019 12:36:14 GMT
I still don’t understand the mentality of the Real Madrid fans. Remember when they voted Modric as their worst ever signing after only one season there! Absolute madness! Their fans are happy when they are winning, but as soon as they start losing they are more than happy to scapegoat the easiest target they can find. Contrast that to the almost unconditional adoration shown by our set of supporters to our players, even when things go wrong. It’s easy to see why Bale feels so comfortable playing for Wales. Him not being a good fit for Real Madrid is more of a reflection of Madrid than it is of Bale himself. How can you boo a player who has scored two Champions League final winning goals for your club?! I just find that it shows a lack of integrity to do something like that. Oh absolutely, RM fans are deluded and bat-shit crazy, probably the worst in world football. Even from a purely footballing perspective, RM have rarely used Bale correctly or given him the proper platform to dominate, play has rarely been targeted through him leaving him wondering aimlessly which fuels the fans' fury (albeit this has become a self-fulfilling prophecy of late as Bale doesn't seem to do much to go after the ball either!). All the while their real problem of a Sunday league defence is completely ignored year in and year out. RM have always struck me as the club of the individual, where they cram it full of the most expensive talent available and just send them out, knowing their individual skills and abilities will see them through, "to hell with a cohesive defence, we'll just out-score you". Whilst Barcelona have always been the club of the unit, balancing individual skill and flair with a team ethic. Imagine what RM could achieve if they actually started to get their players playing for each other! I think Lopetegui was heading in this direction, but it just wasn't happening quickly enough. Solari however hasn't a clue and will be gone by June.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 12:43:35 GMT
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Post by conwy10 on Mar 5, 2019 12:43:35 GMT
I love Bale and will always defend him to anyone but he just doesn’t fit in at Real. The president seems to want him there but that’s it. How many times have we seen over in the U.K. the chairman of a club is nuts and goes against everything the fans want, unfortunately it’s happening at Real. The fans don’t want him and for that reason it’s time to go.
If he left after that champions league final he could have stuck 2 fingers up at those who’ve booed him and smashed up his car on countless occasions. Instead, admirably, he stayed to fight for his place probably hoping to become the top guy at Real but it didn’t and won’t work.
He needs to be somewhere he’ll be loved. Bayern are having an overhaul next year. PSG will probably lose Neymar and are guaranteed to be champions, Mbappé seems more level headed so could gel well with him.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 12:46:25 GMT
Post by texan on Mar 5, 2019 12:46:25 GMT
Basically he's a winner and as much as I'd prefer him to move on and win things elsewhere, he has the will and strength to stick this out...rightly or wrongly. No I don't expect him to leave in the summer either, I think the only way he leaves Madrid is if he's physically thrown out the door! Whatever happens this season it wouldn't surprise me to see Bale get yet another fresh start under yet another manager and the merry-go-round starts anew.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 13:46:16 GMT
Post by dai on Mar 5, 2019 13:46:16 GMT
Bottom line is he is happy in Madrid. Football is his job and just a part of life. Really? How do you know? I know from experience it only takes one colleague to make your working life miserable which in turn can affect your personal life. This is happening to Bale, but instead of just colleagues, he has thousands of customers bringing him down. He seriously cannot be happy with all this going on.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 14:06:35 GMT
Post by Deleted on Mar 5, 2019 14:06:35 GMT
The absolute worst scenario is if he shuts up shop and sits on that fat wage
He has been very poor for real madrid for a long period now. That final goal last year papered over the cracks massively. I don't think its any surprise the fans arent fussed any more
He should leave the league asap I think. A new club will appreciate him more and he could make a great legacy from several years he has left.
He will never be a legend for madrid and that is a fact. But he still could be for someone else!
edit - in saying that, if he drags them to another CL then I will happily eat my words.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 14:27:44 GMT
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Post by welshiron on Mar 5, 2019 14:27:44 GMT
Bottom line is he is happy in Madrid. Football is his job and just a part of life. Really? How do you know? I know from experience it only takes one colleague to make your working life miserable which in turn can affect your personal life. This is happening to Bale, but instead of just colleagues, he has thousands of customers bringing him down. He seriously cannot be happy with all this going on. If he wasnt happy he would of left by now. Also his agent has said he's happy and they are usually looking to move their clients on.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 20:29:50 GMT
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Post by CrackityJones on Mar 5, 2019 20:29:50 GMT
Real currently 2-0 at home to Ajax and on their way out of the CL.
Bale just brought on after 30 mins.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 20:35:20 GMT
Post by manulike on Mar 5, 2019 20:35:20 GMT
Real currently 2-0 at home to Ajax and on their way out of the CL. Bale just brought on after 30 mins. Must admit a wry smile when I read about the substitution ;-)
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 20:39:16 GMT
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Post by CrackityJones on Mar 5, 2019 20:39:16 GMT
It was only because of an injury to the ineffective Vazquez. He’d still be sat on his backside otherwise.
Madrid are an absolute mess at the back. Why Bale is getting all the grief is beyond me. Joke of a club.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 20:55:19 GMT
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Post by welshiron on Mar 5, 2019 20:55:19 GMT
Looked sharp in the 15 mins he has been on
Probably their best chance of going through.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:48:33 GMT
Post by alarch on Mar 5, 2019 21:48:33 GMT
Fyc - Bale has an injury to his foot, can barely walk, but playing on.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:49:02 GMT
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Post by erasedcitizen on Mar 5, 2019 21:49:02 GMT
That's him out of the Slovakia game then.
Great.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:52:47 GMT
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Post by dai on Mar 5, 2019 21:52:47 GMT
He's getting it tomorrow in the papers
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:53:27 GMT
Post by alarch on Mar 5, 2019 21:53:27 GMT
We'll be lucky if he makes the double-header at the end of the season. Wouldn't be surprised if it's a metatarsal - although that's a complete guess.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:53:56 GMT
Post by alarch on Mar 5, 2019 21:53:56 GMT
He's getting it tomorrow in the papers So what?
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:55:55 GMT
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Post by CrackityJones on Mar 5, 2019 21:55:55 GMT
He’s a lot more mobile now but there’s obviously a problem. Just hope it’s not bad enough to make him miss Slovakia.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:56:34 GMT
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Post by georgeberrysheadband on Mar 5, 2019 21:56:34 GMT
I could cry
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:56:41 GMT
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Post by insertname on Mar 5, 2019 21:56:41 GMT
Basically he's a winner and as much as I'd prefer him to move on and win things elsewhere, he has the will and strength to stick this out...rightly or wrongly. No I don't expect him to leave in the summer either, I think the only way he leaves Madrid is if he's physically thrown out the door! Whatever happens this season it wouldn't surprise me to see Bale get yet another fresh start under yet another manager and the merry-go-round starts anew. There won't be any fresh starts. Zidane didn't rate him, Solari doesn't rate him. I suspect the perception of him as an overpaid loner foreigner who is always injured is here to stay. The fans won't forgive and forget and that is a major factor too. He won't leave so things will just plod along as they are with him having to reach Ronaldo levels of goals and consistency in order to change the opinion of those associated with Real madrid and the writers who cover Spanish football who have all been penning hatchet jobs of late. Bale's reputation is in tatters and it won't be put back together simply by a change of manager. Even though he is about to be knocked out himself, the big winners tonight were Ronaldo and Zidane.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:56:46 GMT
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Post by erasedcitizen on Mar 5, 2019 21:56:46 GMT
We'll be lucky if he makes the double-header at the end of the season. Wouldn't be surprised if it's a metatarsal - although that's a complete guess. We could get through Slovakia without him I suspect, but that would be a disaster.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 21:59:17 GMT
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Post by dai on Mar 5, 2019 21:59:17 GMT
I said during the Nations League that the team needs to be planned without Bale. We'd be lucky to have him for 1 game in 10. I never thought this would happen but wont be surprised if he retires from int football not long after 30.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 22:04:58 GMT
Post by alarch on Mar 5, 2019 22:04:58 GMT
I said during the Nations League that the team needs to be planned without Bale. We'd be lucky to have him for 1 game in 10. I never thought this would happen but wont be surprised if he retires from int football not long after 30. Rubbish. Bale will be playing for Wales at 40 - if he's still playing professional football.
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Bale
Mar 5, 2019 22:07:30 GMT
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Post by welshiron on Mar 5, 2019 22:07:30 GMT
Fuck me some over reaction on here.
Their defence cost them today not Bale or anyone else.
Hopefully the injury isn't too bad and he will be fit for Slovakia.
As for retiring from international football, cant see that happening especially while at Madrid
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