Bale

[highbury06]

Oct 31, 2022 21:17:57 GMT CrackityJones said:

Bale hardly played before the play off games and look how he performed then

same for wayne. they besties both played like a beast in important matches for wales even if they dont have club game time a lot. National league r not important.
So there is no doubt that Page should start them. Would you drop a national hero who qualified the team to the playoffs becoz of lack of match time when rhey actually dont need any? Page has said he talked to them and rambo and allen for tailor made training schedule to make sure they perform well in WC.

[manulike]

Can we get a little more love on here for our boys plying their trade in foreign lands for the sole purpose of bringing glory and national pride to us ungrateful people back here in Wales.

I'm sure they would both rather be down the Eleven's pub having an orange juice with their mates.

[fiveattheback]

Oct 31, 2022 22:27:31 GMT iot said:

Have to admit I'm concerned about Bale. Yes he managed to pull it out of the bag against Austria, but there have been plenty of other games where he's not been match fit and it's shown - the double-header last month a case in point! It would be dangerous to assume he'll just repeat the heroics of that Austria game.

I agree. I didn't think this was a good move at the time and I still think that

That being said, if anyone can pull it out the bag, it's Bale

[insertname]

Oct 31, 2022 22:27:31 GMT iot said:

Have to admit I'm concerned about Bale. Yes he managed to pull it out of the bag against Austria, but there have been plenty of other games where he's not been match fit and it's shown - the double-header last month a case in point! It would be dangerous to assume he'll just repeat the heroics of that Austria game.

Even then the “heroics” were basically three touches that resulted in goals. He doesn’t really offer much in all round play these days so if he doesn’t score then he’s fairly anonymous.

I’m still trying to believe that he can produce something when he really puts his mind to it, seeing how his hallmark has been making such a difference in so many crucial games for club and country over the years. He’s been consistently worthy of the tag “big game player”. But his failure to influence the Poland game to stop us getting relegated from the nations league was a reality check that expecting him to produce something miraculous simply because it’s the World Cup will probably result in disappointment, especially given his current form situation at club level.

[marsvolta]

If you think that Bale’s contributions to the play off were ‘three touches that resulted in goals’ then I think you need to watch some recordings of the games.

Saying that,if all he does in the first two matches of the World Cup is have three touches that leads to three goals, I’d take that to be honest.

[allezlesrouges]

Nov 1, 2022 0:28:24 GMT insertname said:

Oct 31, 2022 22:27:31 GMT iot said:

Have to admit I'm concerned about Bale. Yes he managed to pull it out of the bag against Austria, but there have been plenty of other games where he's not been match fit and it's shown - the double-header last month a case in point! It would be dangerous to assume he'll just repeat the heroics of that Austria game.

Even then the “heroics” were basically three touches that resulted in goals. He doesn’t really offer much in all round play these days so if he doesn’t score then he’s fairly anonymous.

I’m still trying to believe that he can produce something when he really puts his mind to it, seeing how his hallmark has been making such a difference in so many crucial games for club and country over the years. He’s been consistently worthy of the tag “big game player”. But his failure to influence the Poland game to stop us getting relegated from the nations league was a reality check that expecting him to produce something miraculous simply because it’s the World Cup will probably result in disappointment, especially given his current form situation at club level.

I remember saying to the people I was at the game with that I thought he was putting in one of his worst performances before he scored the first goal. My cousin always records Bale when he is over a FK in the hope he'd catch a goal on camera, he's done this for years and never got anything. In that game he said, "I'm not going to bother this time the way he's playing", and then lo and behold he buries it

The thing he it's impossible for him to do it in every single game. A magic moment can happen at any time, but the reality is they will probably happen in less than 50% of games. I think he has to be on the pitch, but I'm fine with him coming off after 60/70 mins if it's not happening for him

[insertname]

Yeah that’s sort of the point I’m making- you’re picking him out of the hope he produces one moment of magic because, let’s be honest, if he didn’t have that capability would he still get in the starting XI based on his all round play at the moment? Probably not. He’s lost the attributes that made him such a good player. I think it’s a very accurate argument that a lot of his ability was based on explosiveness and physicality and it’s taken a toll and meant that his decline has been far more rapid than that of the likes of Ronaldo and Messi. I wonder, given his club form, whether he can even make it as far as the next Euros.

Ordinarily I’d be pretty discerning about the amount of time he plays at the World Cup given how it’s going for him at the moment…but given his contribution to Welsh football he probably deserves to play as much as his body can take no matter how ineffective he is playing. He’s earned that right

[foxmulder]

I have a hopeful idea that he's being wrapped in cotton wool as an agreement. After the World Cup he'll be a starter for LA.

[allezlesrouges]

I also think this is the case, the closer it gets the more cautious I'd imagine

[highbury06]

Nov 1, 2022 10:34:51 GMT insertname said:

Yeah that’s sort of the point I’m making- you’re picking him out of the hope he produces one moment of magic because, let’s be honest, if he didn’t have that capability would he still get in the starting XI based on his all round play at the moment? Probably not. He’s lost the attributes that made him such a good player. I think it’s a very accurate argument that a lot of his ability was based on explosiveness and physicality and it’s taken a toll and meant that his decline has been far more rapid than that of the likes of Ronaldo and Messi. I wonder, given his club form, whether he can even make it as far as the next Euros.

Ordinarily I’d be pretty discerning about the amount of time he plays at the World Cup given how it’s going for him at the moment…but given his contribution to Welsh football he probably deserves to play as much as his body can take no matter how ineffective he is playing. He’s earned that right

Absolutely. Wayne, Joe, Gareth, Aaron, they have earned that

[iantov]

Nov 1, 2022 15:35:15 GMT foxmulder said:

I have a hopeful idea that he's being wrapped in cotton wool as an agreement. After the World Cup he'll be a starter for LA.

I had an idealistic vision of him being bubble wrapped as part of an agreement also but realistically, no club that had an excellent chance of reaching their National Cup Final prior to signing Bale would grant to such an agreement and compromise on not playing a potential match winner surely? 

[pclaude]

Nov 1, 2022 15:35:15 GMT foxmulder said:

I have a hopeful idea that he's being wrapped in cotton wool as an agreement. After the World Cup he'll be a starter for LA.

The season doesnt start until Feb-March. It finishes this weekend with the final. He wont have played for 2 months if he doesnt get on the pitch. Which I doubt.

Given his lack of action, I dont think he's playing on after the WC

[kingstonred]

I think his legs have completely gone. It's clear to see if you watch him now, he's still got magic in his boots, but he can't run!
He'll go down as the greatest Welsh player of all time, and deserves his World Cup send off!

[allezlesrouges]

Either that is the case, or it's actually just the case that he's specifically asked to be played a bit when he first joins, and then to play less and less in the lead up to the World Cup in order to ensure he can play. It's been an aim of his for a long long time to play in a World Cup now and I'm sure he will do everything he can to make sure of that

He spoke previously about 2024, and I'd imagine he still intends on doing that. Perhaps he's agreed with LA that once the World Cup is out of the way he'll be fully committed to them and their ambitions

[insertname]

Nov 3, 2022 9:46:27 GMT kingstonred said:

I think his legs have completely gone. It's clear to see if you watch him now, he's still got magic in his boots, but he can't run!
He'll go down as the greatest Welsh player of all time, and deserves his World Cup send off!

Yeah I said a while back that he makes running look like really hard work when you watch his body language. I feel worn out sometimes sat in my armchair when watching Bale try and get up a head of steam.

[iot]

Nov 3, 2022 10:06:52 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Either that is the case, or it's actually just the case that he's specifically asked to be played a bit when he first joins, and then to play less and less in the lead up to the World Cup in order to ensure he can play. It's been an aim of his for a long long time to play in a World Cup now and I'm sure he will do everything he can to make sure of that

He spoke previously about 2024, and I'd imagine he still intends on doing that. Perhaps he's agreed with LA that once the World Cup is out of the way he'll be fully committed to them and their ambitions

I think that's extremely wishful thinking. There is no way Bale has decided that he doesn't want to play a minute of club football for 2 months heading into the WC. I'm guessing his plan would have been to get some cameo appearances as he did initially, and then start every other game to build up match fitness. 

[Deleted]

Let's just hope he has a few moments of greatness left in him because surely he is going to hang up those boots after the world cup,seems almost impossible to carry on in club football the way he has been going for the last years,come on just a few more moments you bloody legend.

[allezlesrouges]

Nov 3, 2022 11:35:55 GMT iot said:

Nov 3, 2022 10:06:52 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Either that is the case, or it's actually just the case that he's specifically asked to be played a bit when he first joins, and then to play less and less in the lead up to the World Cup in order to ensure he can play. It's been an aim of his for a long long time to play in a World Cup now and I'm sure he will do everything he can to make sure of that

He spoke previously about 2024, and I'd imagine he still intends on doing that. Perhaps he's agreed with LA that once the World Cup is out of the way he'll be fully committed to them and their ambitions

I think that's extremely wishful thinking. There is no way Bale has decided that he doesn't want to play a minute of club football for 2 months heading into the WC. I'm guessing his plan would have been to get some cameo appearances as he did initially, and then start every other game to build up match fitness. 

But he did get an injury not that long ago - maybe that spooked him a bit? I don't think it's a reach

[iot]

Nov 3, 2022 15:48:59 GMT allezlesrouges said:

Nov 3, 2022 11:35:55 GMT iot said:

I think that's extremely wishful thinking. There is no way Bale has decided that he doesn't want to play a minute of club football for 2 months heading into the WC. I'm guessing his plan would have been to get some cameo appearances as he did initially, and then start every other game to build up match fitness. 

But he did get an injury not that long ago - maybe that spooked him a bit? I don't think it's a reach

Pretty sure he's been an unused sub a couple of games before that slight issue that kept him out for that one game, and the 2 or 3 games since. So it's not likely

[Deleted]

bale coming on,25 mins left in extra time in MLS final,2-2 so far.

[dai]

Nov 5, 2022 22:14:26 GMT @smithersjones said:

bale coming on,25 mins left in extra time in MLS final,2-2 so far.

Where is this available to watch?

Don't worry, found it on sky.

[Deleted]

i am watching on sky mix (520 0n sky),i haven't got sky,this is kind of the free channel,usually full of rubbish tbh and the odd thing worth watching like this.It is on hesgoal aswell if you don't mind dodgy streams,doesn;t buffer much though in my experiemce

[dai]

Nov 5, 2022 22:18:49 GMT @smithersjones said:

i am watching on sky mix (520 0n sky),i haven't got sky,this is kind of the free channel,usually full of rubbish tbh and the odd thing worth watching like this.It is on hesgoal aswell if you don't mind dodgy streams,doesn;t buffer much though in my experiemce

I don't have sky myself, but can watch it via the sky sports app using my mums' account, ha!

Bale looks exhausted btw

[Deleted]

he has done one moment of real skill as soon as he came on,he chested it down on the byline and flicked it into the box but nobody gambled and went into the box because i don't think they thought he could ever have done it,haven;t been watching much but a half fit bale would turn this game inside out.

[Albert]

Nov 5, 2022 22:26:13 GMT dai said:

Nov 5, 2022 22:18:49 GMT @smithersjones said:

i am watching on sky mix (520 0n sky),i haven't got sky,this is kind of the free channel,usually full of rubbish tbh and the odd thing worth watching like this.It is on hesgoal aswell if you don't mind dodgy streams,doesn;t buffer much though in my experiemce

I don't have sky myself, but can watch it via the sky sports app using my mums' account, ha!

Bale looks exhausted btw

What channel is it on ??

[dai]

Nov 5, 2022 22:33:26 GMT Albert said:

Nov 5, 2022 22:26:13 GMT dai said:

I don't have sky myself, but can watch it via the sky sports app using my mums' account, ha!

Bale looks exhausted btw

What channel is it on ??

Sky Sports Main Event.

Game has just gone mad, LAFC keeper sent off for a 1 v 1 foul after a piss poor back pass towards him, but snapped his shin in the process! Looked like a Ramsey esque leg break, bad one. 

[Deleted]

My god

[dai]

He's doing it again!

[Deleted]

what a fantastic game this is

[dai]

He's done some great defensive work at set pieces. I hope he doesn;t miss a penalty in this shootout!