Bale

[foxmulder]

I just can't wait for the autobiography.

[eppingblue1]

I'm still hoping for a change of mind ! 

[rushy]

Jan 11, 2023 12:39:47 GMT iot said:

Yeah. There's also a point about how people's pain threshold and what they can manage psychologically varies. It's been like that with Bale throughout his career. I can't find the comments, but I remember Redknapp saying that when he first came to Spurs, he really rated Bale but he would go down all the time in training. Every slight knock would keep him down for a while, and that he was encouraged to pick himself up and play through the pain. He was saying that Bale had to overcome that psychological / physical hurdle before he could kick on.

That's the same Redknapp who tried to offload him to Notts.Forest because he didn't know where to play him , and as for injuries it didn't help when a certain Charlie Adams tried to end his career with serious foul play on at least three different occasions and didn't get sent off once.

[ontheroadagain2]

Jan 11, 2023 15:21:44 GMT foxmulder said:

I just can't wait for the autobiography.

Same here, having just read Martin O'Neill's autobiography.

[jimbo82]

Jan 11, 2023 13:02:09 GMT foxmulder said:

What I found really interesting is that when he returned to Spurs, as mentioned above, his form was not good to start with. There was even a period where he couldn't even get off the bench and it was hard to see him even playing, let alone starting.

But then he did, but what was different is that he was chewing gum whilst playing. As my kid has sensory issues, I've attended many sensory/autism classes and employing certain devices can distract from mental/sensory problems.

Bale's form suddenly improved and he started scoring braces, hat tricks and brought out the short-lived but loved, Welsh Mafia hand gesture.

I know it's fucking ludicrous to suggest that an improvement in form down to a sudden practice of chewing gum is the reason. There were obviously other factors, but when did he ever chew gum previously? It only happened during those four/five months in his 17 year career. And that period was probably the last time he was in form. And it's interesting that his form slumped since, with the absence of gum lol.

I think he used it as a device to mentally get past fear of tackles/muscle pain.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure he was chewing gum while playing for Wales right up until the end. I always wondered how footballers are allowed to though, I'm sure when I was younger the ref would say it was a choking hazard.

[allezlesrouges]

Jan 11, 2023 13:40:43 GMT insertname said:

Jan 11, 2023 12:22:31 GMT allezlesrouges said:

I have a friend who knows the family Bale has married into. Told me a few years back that particularly when Bale seemed to be injured literally all the time, that it was because Madrid pressured him to come back too early causing re-aggravation. This is why Bale then hired a personal physio to monitor him, as reported in the press. That was to get someone outside of the bias of the club to assess his readiness to return

For a period I do think this made Bale overly cautious. Do you remember when Mourinho made a point of calling him out publicly for there being a psychological reason Bale was dropping out injured at Spurs? Soon after that Bale put in some blistering performances, and seemed back to his best (he actually ended up with an incredible return when he went back to Spurs), and I think that proved Mourinho was right in saying Bale had become overly cautious about his body - which was clearly a result of Madrid misusing him

That being said it obviously caught up to him late in his career. But I think the thing people forget is that he might only be 33, but he started regular professional football when he was 16. A 17 year career is pretty standard for most, if you think a player that breaks through when he is 19 and then retires when he's 36 - that's a 17 year career too!

Interesting- thanks for sharing! That’s certainly a new (albeit perhaps unsurprising) perspective on it and also goes to show that even though the game is awash with cash at the top end such tremendous amounts of money per week still come with some pretty heavy duty strings attached - such as risking your longevity in the game to satisfy your pay masters.

It’s a pity more of this stuff isn’t made more public because reading the narratives around Bale’s retirement emphasis is placed on how his career tailed off in the last few years at Madrid due to injury…and it seems like that was thanks to his club!

Thing is he was, is and always will be bigger than that. Part of why I respect him so much. He doesn't really play those media games and did his talking on the pitch

[insertname]

True and there’s a lot to be said for that. It seems to be water off a ducks back to have the strength of character to accept the twisted narratives and not let it get to him…but when it affects his reputation and the story of his career it seems unfair that the story has been written and accepted that the way his career has tailed off is down to him first and foremost and his struggles with fitness rather than a situation that had he handled it himself he may well still be playing now.

Ah well, it’s done now I guess. He’s achieved a lot and earned a lot, so in the grand scheme of things him retiring early, potentially due to poorly handled injuries, will not have left too many loose ends in his career or earning potential. I’m pleased for him that he was able to sneak a World Cup goal in there just before the curtain went down. To think that when he won his first cap most associated with Welsh football had no idea what it was like to play at a finals and his career ends with us knowing most of what there is to know about it. It’s absolutely no coincidence that such an incredible era was in lock step with the way his career has gone.

[CrackityJones]

Viva...

[rushy]

My god are we gonna miss him !!

[hooky]

I hope he accepts a coaching role!

Just having him around will inspire the players.

Bale time was mad!

Hope he left a little bit of magic behind so we can continue the journey!

Thank you for making the life of a Wales supporter magical over the past 16 years captain Bale! Even when we were crap just seeing those moments of magic in the game (Russia away anyone?) was enough to bring smiles to our face and pride to our Nation. You are simply the best!

Thanks for putting Wales first. You were our best all time supporter as well as our best ever sportsman. To have the biggest fan playing and leading us in an era of egos and money .... it just can never get better than this.

We need to sort out that statue as soon as!

[garynysmon]

Jan 9, 2023 22:10:35 GMT cogancoronation31 said:

Wonder what LAFC will think about him not carrying on with them? Not so pleased, I guess.

They got him on a free and he wasn't even on Designated Player money, so they clearly aren't annoyed nor do they have any reason to be.

[highbury06]

Jan 12, 2023 14:45:18 GMT garynysmon said:

Jan 9, 2023 22:10:35 GMT cogancoronation31 said:

Wonder what LAFC will think about him not carrying on with them? Not so pleased, I guess.

They got him on a free and he wasn't even on Designated Player money, so they clearly aren't annoyed nor do they have any reason to be.

and that goal won them their first trophy! what an ending!

[cogancoronation31]

He should get some lifetime/career recognition prize at the FIFA Best Awards 2022 due to be held (in Zurich?) on 27 February 2023. Hope the FAW push for something like that on his behalf.

On checking, I note that a "FIFA Special Award for Outstanding Career Achievement" is occasionally handed out, albeit not annually. I think it's an award that FIFA itself gives, rather than it being based on a public vote.

Seeing even just his 10 or 12 best goals would be feast for the awards ceremony, and its worldwide audience.

[allezlesrouges]

100%

Even the simple fact that we are the smallest nation ever to reach the Euros semis, and did it on our first time playing at it. That's an inspiration to all small nations, and should be rewarded

[hooky]

Bale has an unbeatable goals highlights reel!

My son (the England supporter) had Bale's highlights on condition we do the same for Messi and Rooney. Messi is brilliant but the difference in goals was stark and comparing to Rooney was a complete joke. My son was not too impressed - he had claimed Rooney was Britain's best footballer (he clashes with me all the time - its a son vs. dad kind of thing). Needless to say I feel somewhat smug!

Also watched Ramsey's top goals - you forget how great they were. There were 3 great backheel goals. He just tried stuff for the sheer audacity of it.

England have never had 2 incredible talents like those 2 at their peak in modern times that is for sure!

If those 2 developed from Wales - surely there are gonna be more off the conveyor belt, especially given the inspiration provided by those 2 and successful Welsh teams over the past decade! Its a bit weird as we are short Welsh born attaching talent right now!

[surge]

When Japan beat Spain and Germany to top their group in this past World Cup there were pundits pointing out that it was 20 years after they had hosted and how this had inspired greater investment and attention into the sport.

I'm not suggesting we can expect to top a World Cup group, money is much tighter these days especially for smaller nations and larger nations have it that much better figured out so less likely to have slumps, but, if we do it right, the legacy of likes of Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Davies, Ledley, Williams will carry on. Even players like Gunter and Taylor who maximised their talents through sheer hard work and belief can inspire players with less high ceilings.

Sure we didn't host a World Cup, but we took something like 24,000 to Bordeaux so it's a little bit similar!

[foxmulder]

If one of the mods here published this thread into a hardback book, I'd buy it.

Just sayin'

[insertname]

He/his media team didn’t include the free kick vs Andorra…is he/they not aware of the importance of that goal?! Arguably the most important of them all, from a Welsh perspective!

[insertname]

Jan 12, 2023 23:42:26 GMT foxmulder said:

If one of the mods here published this thread into a hardback book, I'd buy it.

Just sayin'

[conwy10]

Jan 13, 2023 0:09:43 GMT insertname said:

Jan 12, 2023 12:49:21 GMT CrackityJones said:

He/his media team didn’t include the free kick vs Andorra…is he/they not aware of the importance of that goal?! Arguably the most important of them all, from a Welsh perspective!

Or the second against Austria. I thought that was world class. The way he caught it perfect on the turn into the only angle he could possibly hit it to score. Margin for error was practically zero.

[hooky]

Was just thinking

Ronaldo has not wished Bale a good retirement?

Does he hate him?

So weird and childish if true!

[bale-droed]

Ronaldo knows the truth and can’t handle it. He had 0 champions leagues at Madrid until Bale. Bale who was the most expensive player Ever was also the one who grabbed winning goals in seperate champions league finals. Of course he hates him.

[hooky]

Almost 7 minutes of Gareth Bale's highlights reel - and yet it missed many amazing goals (Wales vs Iceland, second goal versus Austria, etc).

His second reel could be better than someone like Rooney

It was only when I checked Rooney's and Messi's highlight reels that you get a clear sense that in terms of Hollywood moments, no one comes close to Bale. I am not claiming he is the best ever or the most consistent but it is just incredible that a boy from Cardiff produced such a body of work which is captured only partly in that 7 minutes reel. People will be looking at those highlights in 50 years time. He was incredible.

[hooky]

He really is best of British in my opinion - the sheer diversity of his goals and abilities, the key goals he scored. Just because Bobby Charlton won a WC in the 60s does not give him a divine right to be the best British player - what did he do in the final and Bale obviously did not have the team around him the big nations have and the standard of opposition is much stronger now. Best was a genius but shone for just a couple of years. Bale has to be the best.

Even for Real Madrid - would their fans in 20 years get more excited over Bale's or Ronaldo's goals I think we know the answer.

[bale-droed]

www.bbc.com/sport/football/64383897

That’s why he moved to LA then. I love him

[insertname]

Jan 24, 2023 9:43:39 GMT bale-droed said:

www.bbc.com/sport/football/64383897

That’s why he moved to LA then. I love him

The timing is certainly interesting. Perhaps he has decided now is the time to pursue his interest in golf as far as he can and that he would need to jack football in to do it

[allezlesrouges]

Best of luck to him, hope he can make a career out of it and continue putting Wales on the map! I know he's good at golf but no idea if he is close to being good enough to do well at one of these events

[insertname]

He’s had enough practice! (Said tongue in cheek…)

There have been plenty of top footballers who were also pretty high level cricket players. Can’t think of a footballer who became a fairly high standard golfer but maybe someone will enlighten me….

[kingstonred]

This is a complete non-story, he's just playing in a Pro-am, as a celebrity amateur. He's done it many times before whilst he was still playing football!

[manulike]

Jan 24, 2023 15:17:52 GMT kingstonred said:

This is a complete non-story, he's just playing in a Pro-am, as a celebrity amateur. He's done it many times before whilst he was still playing football!

Yes. Maybe. Difference is that Emma has put her foot down now and told Gaz that she had enough of him playing on FIFA and he needs to start putting the bread on the table agian ;-)