Bale

[Tim P]

For the most part, he's doing as well as Ronaldo did to start with at Madrid, i.e. good but not spectacular. True, he hasn't shone in huge games, or at huge moments, but I confidently predict he will score the winner tonight

[dai]

My paranoia might be stemming from emotional bias here, but is it just me or do the Madrid players not look for Bale at all? He's hardly featured tonight, so frustrating to watch.

[fred]

Apr 16, 2014 20:57:27 GMT dai said:

My paranoia might be stemming from emotional bias here, but is it just me or do the Madrid players not look for Bale at all? He's hardly featured tonight, so frustrating to watch.

No, it's not just you. Some of the decision making by the Real midfield and centre backs, when they drive forward, is laughable.

[dai]

GOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ontheroadagain]

You beauty. Shades of Iceland.

[Deleted]

Get in! Shades of Inter Milan more like with the way he skinned the defender despite giving him a few yards.

Funnily enough, I really wanted to see a shot of 'The Boss' to see what he made of it, I'd certainly give a Euro for his thoughts right now....

[dai]

That's all I wanted to see.

[hookd]

What a goal Bale! I think Di Maria seems to have a problem with Bale. He never looks for Bale. Think it could have been so different if Ozil stayed and they sold di Maria. Hopefully after that goal the other Madrid players will reaise what Bale can do and will seek him out far more regularly!

[Deleted]

Commentator: "....without Ronaldo, who for the moment doesn't join in the celebrations".

Have some of that you arrogant little shit

[dai]

Apr 16, 2014 21:17:35 GMT hookd said:

What a goal Bale! I think Di Maria seems to have a problem with Bale. He never looks for Bale. Think it could have been so different if Ozil stayed and they sold di Maria. Hopefully after that goal the other Madrid players will reaise what Bale can do and will seek him out far more regularly!

This is what I gathered from watching that match too. Di Maria trying to be the next Ronaldo me thinks. 

Bale probably felt he had to do that tonight, as none of the Madrid players seemed to involve him. Over the moon for him.

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2014 21:17:35 GMT hookd said:

What a goal Bale! I think Di Maria seems to have a problem with Bale. He never looks for Bale. Think it could have been so different if Ozil stayed and they sold di Maria. Hopefully after that goal the other Madrid players will reaise what Bale can do and will seek him out far more regularly!

And Benzema, shoots everytime he gets the fucking ball. Di Maria, Ronaldo, Benzema - they are all glory hunting little bastards who don't seem to rate Bale or at the very least don't like giving him opportunities. The midfield seem a bit better, Modric and Alonso don't seem to have that problem.

When he got the ball you couldn't blame Bale for thinking he had to do it all himself at that point.

[dai]

Apr 16, 2014 21:26:04 GMT @storm said:

Apr 16, 2014 21:17:35 GMT hookd said:

What a goal Bale! I think Di Maria seems to have a problem with Bale. He never looks for Bale. Think it could have been so different if Ozil stayed and they sold di Maria. Hopefully after that goal the other Madrid players will reaise what Bale can do and will seek him out far more regularly!

And Benzema, shoots everytime he gets the fucking ball. Di Maria, Ronaldo, Benzema - they are all glory hunting little bastards who don't seem to rate Bale or at the very least don't like giving him opportunities. The midfield seem a bit better, Modric and Alonso don't seem to have that problem.

When he got the ball you couldn't blame Bale for thinking he had to do it all himself at that point.

This. Can't stand Di Maria.  

[Deleted]

I think its safe to say he's arrived!!!!!!

[abwales]

THEY DIDN'T PASS TO HIM AT ALL THIS GAME. HE MADE ALL HIS OWN CHANCES AND HE DID THAT.

#INCREDIBALE

[Deleted]

I thought it was just me who has watched a fair few Real games and become convinced there is an anti-Bale clique.....but I notice on other 'neutral' forums people saying the same thing.

Is it really that fucking obvious that they don't pass to him? As I've always said, maybe its not an issue with Bale or fitness or anything, maybe his record in the big games is more to do with the lack of respect that he get s from his own team mates?

I don't even expect that to change tonight. Knowing the culture at Real Benzema and Di Maria will be looking to outshine Bale in the next game rather than give him a platform to win them the league and European Cup

[Deleted]

[biwmares]

With foreign commentry

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jh6KPPPZBc

[fred]

Real need Coleman as manager. Just give the ball to Gareth - he'd score a hat trick a game.

[Deleted]

Bale's Spanish nightmare continues...

[squatter1]

Thing is, when Bale does that for Wales like he did against Iceland folks start moaning he's getting greedy.

Give Gareth Bale the ball in any kind of space near the half way line and let him go for it. That's how to get the best out of him.

Second half tonight he played as a striker alongside Benzema, who himself floated wide a lot to make room. Not the way to get the best out of Bale imo. He's more dangerous receiving the ball deep - if not very deep - rather than in and around the box.

On the evidence of Iceland, Wales are getting the best out of Bale. Madrid are not (despite brilliant goal tonight).

[hookd]

Apr 16, 2014 21:25:12 GMT dai said:

Apr 16, 2014 21:17:35 GMT hookd said:

What a goal Bale! I think Di Maria seems to have a problem with Bale. He never looks for Bale. Think it could have been so different if Ozil stayed and they sold di Maria. Hopefully after that goal the other Madrid players will reaise what Bale can do and will seek him out far more regularly!

This is what I gathered from watching that match too. Di Maria trying to be the next Ronaldo me thinks. 

Bale probably felt he had to do that tonight, as none of the Madrid players seemed to involve him. Over the moon for him.

To be fair - there was a shot of Ronaldo and he looked the happiest person in the stadium. I also think thanks to Bale's understated nature, he has been accepted by Ronaldo and they seem to get along. Bale and the manager need to push Bale as their second game breaker; none of this bullshit where di Maria and Benzyma are allowed to waste so many opportunities for their own glory hunts - Bale is in a different league to those two and the sooner they come to terms with that the better!

[squatter1]

PS - what's happened to the heart celebration by the way?

Although, love this shot.

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2014 21:57:22 GMT squatter1 said:

Thing is, when Bale does that for Wales like he did against Iceland folks start moaning he's getting greedy.

Give Gareth Bale the ball in any kind of space near the half way line and let him go for it. That's how to get the best out of him.

Second half tonight he played as a striker alongside Benzema, who himself floated wide a lot to make room. Not the way to get the best out of Bale imo. He's more dangerous receiving the ball deep - if not very deep - rather than in and around the box.

On the evidence of Iceland, Wales are getting the best out of Bale. Madrid are not (despite brilliant goal tonight).

Its when he loses the ball with no end product (as per the first half v Iceland) that I knock him for being greedy. To be fair who would he have passed to tonight when he went on that run? The only thing he could have done is what he did and he finished it.

As I have said before- if he does that 80% of the time for Wales then let him carry on. However he is not superman (yet...) If he keeps losing the ball trying to beat the last man when a simple pass would put a team mate through on goal then I would say he needs to use his brain and choose the option that most likely results in a goal rather than him with a shot at glory. Decision making is as much a part of being a great as raw skill.

[dai]

Apr 16, 2014 21:58:19 GMT hookd said:

Apr 16, 2014 21:25:12 GMT dai said:

This is what I gathered from watching that match too. Di Maria trying to be the next Ronaldo me thinks. 

Bale probably felt he had to do that tonight, as none of the Madrid players seemed to involve him. Over the moon for him.

To be fair - there was a shot of Ronaldo and he looked the happiest person in the stadium. I also think thanks to Bale's understated nature, he has been accepted by Ronaldo and they seem to get along. Bale and the manager need to push Bale as their second game breaker; none of this bullshit where di Maria and Benzyma are allowed to waste so many opportunities for their own glory hunts - Bale is in a different league to those two and the sooner they come to terms with that the better!

Nah I didn't mean it in terms of persona, just in terms of headline grabbing. Di Maria's developing Ronaldo's selfish esque play, but can't pull it off. When Ronaldo's back I dont see why him and Bale can't play up front together, both much more potent than Benzema.

[hookd]

Aren't we so, so lucky he's Welsh! What is it with left footed players in Wales!

[abwales]

It truly was incredible. No bastard would pass to him. Half the bastards didn't even celebrate his goal. Looking at Di Maria you'd think Barca just scored an 85th minute winner. He could've had a hat-trick with all that space in front of him. I lost count of moments Di Maria, Benzema etc didn't pass to him when he was clearly the best option. He has clearly the best option when Di Maria scored his goal, luckily Pinto was so shit Di Maria managed to score it. He's not only fighting the opposition but also the lack of support from his team-mates even when Ronaldo isn't even on the pitch. If Madrid went on to lose I would've come on here with no criticism it was so blatantly obvious tonight. Bring on Bayern.

[Deleted]

Apr 16, 2014 23:28:37 GMT abwales said:

It truly was incredible. No bastard would pass to him. Half the bastards didn't even celebrate his goal. Looking at Di Maria you'd think Barca just scored an 85th minute winner. He could've had a hat-trick with all that space in front of him. I lost count of moments Di Maria, Benzema etc didn't pass to him when he was clearly the best option. He has clearly the best option when Di Maria scored his goal, luckily Pinto was so shit Di Maria managed to score it. He's not only fighting the opposition but also the lack of support from his team-mates even when Ronaldo isn't even on the pitch. If Madrid went on to lose I would've come on here with no criticism it was so blatantly obvious tonight. Bring on Bayern.

It was curious how the majority of Madrid players were celebrating in the centre circle.

The only player to make his way over to Bale when he scored was Alonso which is in keeping with him and Modric being the only players who seem to support Bale.
It's so cliquey it's unreal. It comes across like Playground stuff- they won't pass to him and look pretty pissed off that he's a good footballer who is making them look stupid for not passing to him more often- that seems to be what the neutrals are taking from that game: why don't they give him the ball more often?

I seriously don't get it- the guy has proved at spurs that he is a machine if you give him the ball in dangerous positions- yet the number of times those little bastards go it alone...in fact given the number of shots they have I wonder if there is a team in world football less greedy than Madrid, even Pepe shorting from 30 yards...come on, you're a fucking centre back with a crap scoring record for a reason, give the ball to Bale to score the bloody goals.

I maintain he's a crap fit for Madrid, unless they start putting him on the same pedestal as Ronaldo then his talent would be better served (and appreciated) elsewhere.

[abwales]

Best commentary from RMTV. Apparently the commentators say 'Long live the country of Wales' lol.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWVrolNQ4RU&sns=tw

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2014 0:40:02 GMT @storm said:

Apr 16, 2014 23:28:37 GMT abwales said:

It truly was incredible. No bastard would pass to him. Half the bastards didn't even celebrate his goal. Looking at Di Maria you'd think Barca just scored an 85th minute winner. He could've had a hat-trick with all that space in front of him. I lost count of moments Di Maria, Benzema etc didn't pass to him when he was clearly the best option. He has clearly the best option when Di Maria scored his goal, luckily Pinto was so shit Di Maria managed to score it. He's not only fighting the opposition but also the lack of support from his team-mates even when Ronaldo isn't even on the pitch. If Madrid went on to lose I would've come on here with no criticism it was so blatantly obvious tonight. Bring on Bayern.

It was curious how the majority of Madrid players were celebrating in the centre circle.

The only player to make his way over to Bale when he scored was Alonso which is in keeping with him and Modric being the only players who seem to support Bale.
It's so cliquey it's unreal. It comes across like Playground stuff- they won't pass to him and look pretty pissed off that he's a good footballer who is making them look stupid for not passing to him more often- that seems to be what the neutrals are taking from that game: why don't they give him the ball more often?

I seriously don't get it- the guy has proved at spurs that he is a machine if you give him the ball in dangerous positions- yet the number of times those little bastards go it alone...in fact given the number of shots they have I wonder if there is a team in world football less greedy than Madrid, even Pepe shorting from 30 yards...come on, you're a fucking centre back with a crap scoring record for a reason, give the ball to Bale to score the bloody goals.

I maintain he's a crap fit for Madrid, unless they start putting him on the same pedestal as Ronaldo then his talent would be better served (and appreciated) elsewhere.

Hopefully that goal will cause some tremors. I'm sure the rm fans aren't complaining. They even booed ronaldo the other day.
The clique is mainly led by pepe and marcelo it seems. But the fans will demand bale has the ball now. Its like gladiator.....win the crowd......

[cadnox]

Maybe they've asked the other players not to give him the ball every time in his first season for him to have to work harder and find space and positions etc. Or maybe it's because of some other tactical reason, that when he does get the ball the opposition are less prepared and used to his brilliance.