Bale

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 11:46:51 GMT texan said:

Bale was mostly left in limbo during the protracted transfer, he's shipped his family to an unfamiliar country with an alien culture/language, he didn't kick a ball in anger all summer and started his season a full month after his new team mates, he's only recently begun to bed-in and regaing his general fitness completing 90 mins. It'll take a couple more weeks of continuous play to become fully match-fit and get his bearings/targeting back up to scratch, and at least a couple of months to get comfortable within the team and confident enough to fully assert himself.

Its a very, very brave move for a young lad to make, one which (if he takes it fully) will see him grow as a player and as an individual. The Premiership's a mad bubble where a footballer can potentially become a great player, but as Llannerch said he'd usually be a big fish in a small pond.

Ramsey needs to be next...

Spot on about Bale.
I would not be surprised if Ramsey stays at Arsenal for his whole career and wins multiple honours.

[Deleted]

Out of interest, did anybody here actually see the match and can comment my take? From what I saw the issue was not one of fitness so there is no need to make excuses for that. The issue from the evidence on Saturday is not with the player but more how Madrid employ him and don't involve him.

[Deleted]

Nov 4, 2013 12:48:38 GMT @storm said:

Out of interest, did anybody here actually see the match and can comment my take? From what I saw the issue was not one of fitness so there is no need to make excuses for that. The issue from the evidence on Saturday is not with the player but more how Madrid employ him and don't involve him.

I didn't see the match on the weekend but I have seen some of the previous games and what you assert I agree with. However, there is a world of difference being the main man in a team that cannot qualify for the CL and RM and the move will help Bale grow and develop in many ways which should only rub off on the rest of the Wales squad when they meet up.

You cannot go into RM and 'upset the applecart'. There is a pecking order and Bale is intelligent enough to realise this. It may take a few months of assists and sacrifice on the pitch for the 'greater good' (mainly Ronaldo) before Bale will feel he has earned the right to attempt to pile in a few masterpieces of his own.

[texan]

Yes I watched it, he didn't do anything other than the job asked of him and yes he does seem to be fit, as in injury-free. But match-fitness is a different matter and will be an issue for him for a few matches yet, affecting his sharpness, decision-making and movement.

Team familiarity is the huge issue however, his team mates (and coaching staff) don't really know him yet, and aren't aware of his preferred passing methods, the runs he likes to make or the positions he often takes up during particular phases of play (and vice-versa, he needs to learn these factors about his team mates). Such things take weeks/months of repeatedly playing together for a player to bed in.

Pre-season would have gone a long, long way to give them this information about each other, but the lack of it, along with his niggling injuries, have meant he's learning all this on the job right now.

Ancelotti knows what the rest of his squad can do, but is still learning about Bale. He's doing the logical thing by playing the way he knows and integrating Bale slowly from the wings, seeing how the team react to him and how he fits in. Given the lateness of the move/Bale's fitness/sharpness, doing it any other way would be reckless in the extreme.

I'm sure we'll gradually see Bale given more responsibility as the season goes on and they become more familiar with each others' capabilities.

[llannerch]

Nov 4, 2013 12:48:38 GMT @storm said:

Out of interest, did anybody here actually see the match and can comment my take? From what I saw the issue was not one of fitness so there is no need to make excuses for that. The issue from the evidence on Saturday is not with the player but more how Madrid employ him and don't involve him.

It'll take time for the team to get used to him, as it will for him to get used to them. They may go out shopping again in January which may undermine matters a bit, but it will come. And though I agree with your other point about Bayern and Dortmund being better than Madrid, they will still be in the mix at the end of the tournament. Maybe Bale will move to one of them in a season or two's time...

[Deleted]

Off topic still, IF Ramsey was to go from Arsenal, I wish it would be to Barcelona if not to Germany.

[fred]

Nov 4, 2013 11:18:32 GMT @storm said:

I challenge anyone to watch that match and show me video where benzema and Ronaldo looked to link up with bale, or prove to me that bale had more than 10 or so touches in the entire match.

Bale touched the ball 41 times and Ronaldo 48 times.

www.whoscored.com/Matches/738539/LiveStatistics/Spain-La-Liga-2013-2014-Rayo-Vallecano-Real-Madrid

Playing Di Maria (71 touches - 73% pass completion rate) in central midfield and allowing him to dictate the tempo was a mistake.

[biwmares]

Well his performance made this guy cry

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2487071/Gareth-Bale-left-Anazitz-Arbilla-tears-Real-Madrids-win-Raya-Vallecano.html

[llannerch]

Nov 4, 2013 21:36:23 GMT biwmares said:

Well his performance made this guy cry

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2487071/Gareth-Bale-left-Anazitz-Arbilla-tears-Real-Madrids-win-Raya-Vallecano.html

So what? The performances of plenty of Welsh footballers down the years has made me cry...

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 13:24:17 GMT llannerch said:

Nov 4, 2013 21:36:23 GMT biwmares said:

Well his performance made this guy cry

www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2487071/Gareth-Bale-left-Anazitz-Arbilla-tears-Real-Madrids-win-Raya-Vallecano.html

So what? The performances of plenty of Welsh footballers down the years has made me cry...

Aye, in fact I seem to recall having 'something in my eye' the night we lost to Poland at home as the Hughes era drew to a close.

We battered them for 70 odd minutes and missed a hatful of changes before being smashed in a 5-10 minute spell that saw us concede 3 goals and eventually lose 3-2. And that was that, mathematically eliminated from another World cup only 4 games in despite looking the better team for much of the match. The next day all our senior players retired.

A reminder that football can be a cruel, cruel game.

[Baxter Cymru]

I see what Storm is saying Bale has been largely ineffective in the first half for Madrid, party because he is just stuck out on the wing and partly because every time a real player gets the ball they look for Ronaldo even if he is marked!

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 20:32:51 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

I see what Storm is saying Bale has been largely ineffective in the first half for Madrid, party because he is just stuck out on the wing and partly because every time a real player gets the ball they look for Ronaldo even if he is marked!

Relax Bax, I'm sure not getting the ball and being kept out of the way is making him a better player.

[Baxter Cymru]

Nov 5, 2013 20:38:43 GMT @storm said:

Nov 5, 2013 20:32:51 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

I see what Storm is saying Bale has been largely ineffective in the first half for Madrid, party because he is just stuck out on the wing and partly because every time a real player gets the ball they look for Ronaldo even if he is marked!

Relax Bax, I'm sure not getting the ball and being kept out of the way is making him a better player.

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 20:40:43 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

Nov 5, 2013 20:38:43 GMT @storm said:

Relax Bax, I'm sure not getting the ball and being kept out of the way is making him a better player.

Its character building.

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 20:43:45 GMT @baresi said:

Nov 5, 2013 20:40:43 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

Its character building.

He could certainly do with a bit of character- can you imagine his speech if he won SPOTY?

A few nights on the lash with Malcolm Allen would sort that out

[Baxter Cymru]

Bale just scored a cracking goal

[Deleted]

Looks like giving the ball to Bale results in goals, who woulda thunk it?! I reckon he is doing phenomenally well there when you consider what his team mates give him to work with.

Perhaps the penny will eventually drop that if he can score and assist with most of his touches, that they might score even more goals if they pass to him more often?

Just a thought, like.

[flynnfan]

Gary Lineker ‏@garylineker 11m
Bale has scored 3 more goals from open play in Champions League games in Italy than Messi.

[Tim P]

Yeah, Bale is totally going to flop at Real.

'Said it before and ill say it again, what an awful move.'

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 21:04:07 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

Bale just scored a cracking goal

Did they give him more of the ball after he scored Bax?

[Tim P]

Nov 5, 2013 22:29:07 GMT @storm said:

Nov 5, 2013 21:04:07 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

Bale just scored a cracking goal

Did they give him more of the ball after he scored Bax?

This must be satire? Knowing self parody?

He is scoring and making goals without being match fit and at a brand new club. There is no need to go looking for downsides / conspiracies!

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 22:58:09 GMT Tim P said:

Nov 5, 2013 22:29:07 GMT @storm said:

Did they give him more of the ball after he scored Bax?

This must be satire? Knowing self parody?

He is scoring and making goals without being match fit and at a brand new club. There is no need to go looking for downsides / conspiracies!

Bax watched the game and drew the same conclusions as I did on Saturday. You seem to be commenting without even admitting whether you have seen him play yet?
In light of what Bax said it seems to be fair comment to ask whether his team mates are showing more desire to give him the ball after proving what he can do, no?

[Baxter Cymru]

He did have more of the ball could of scored again, there was a point in the game which angered me mind. Real won a free kick on the right hand side of Juve's box so the side you would think Bale would strike it, Bale and Ronaldo were stood over the ball, Bale stood as thou he would strike the ball but Ronaldo ended up taking it blasting the ball against the wall then blasting the rebound into row fucking Z!!!

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2013 23:44:48 GMT Baxter Cymru said:

He did have more of the ball could of scored again, there was a point in the game which angered me mind. Real won a free kick on the right hand side of Juve's box so the side you would think Bale would strike it, Bale and Ronaldo were stood over the ball, Bale stood as thou he would strike the ball but Ronaldo ended up taking it blasting the ball against the wall then blasting the rebound into row fucking Z!!!

All in all, Bale should consider himself lucky that he even got a pass from the great one to set him up for his goal. Even the BBC took pains to point out Bale making a run to take him clear in the first half while Ronaldo had possession, instead of giving the pass Ronaldo cut inside and shot.

Still, at least he's doing the business when he gets the chance, that's all he can do.

[njdragon]

not sure if this has been posted yet - bale apparently leaving a defender in tears after some great skill
www.caughtoffside.com/2013/11/06/video-real-madrid-winger-gareth-bale-leaves-marker-literally-in-tears-after-outrageous-bit-of-skill/

[biwmares]

Programme on ITV4 now , Gareth Bale - Welsh Galatico

Don't know if its been on before ?

[biwmares]

Another goal tonight

www.dailymotion.com/video/x17pocz_goal-gareth-bale-real-madrid-1-0-galatasaray-27-11-2013-champions-league_sport

[Deleted]

Nov 27, 2013 23:07:24 GMT biwmares said:

Another goal tonight

www.dailymotion.com/video/x17pocz_goal-gareth-bale-real-madrid-1-0-galatasaray-27-11-2013-champions-league_sport

BELTER.

[Deleted]

Real madrid 4-0 valladolid

Bale
Hat-trick and 1 assist.

[biwmares]

Nov 30, 2013 21:00:31 GMT @baresi said:

Real madrid 4-0 valladolid

Bale
Hat-trick and 1 assist.

And here are the goals

Well done Gareth

bleacherreport.com/articles/1870862-gareth-bale-scores-his-first-real-madrid-hat-trick-watch-every-goal