How good was/is Gareth Bale?

I think the OP is confusing talent with effectiveness. In terms of raw talent, Bale is nowhere near Suarez or Neymar

What Bale was really good at what combining physique with unbelievable technique to strike the ball. He was a no nonsense player and very direct. It worked a charm in PL but don’t think it was quite as effective in La Liga. Would probably go down as the most talented British player this century arguably (up until 2018 anyway).

He was very effective in La Liga in his early years, he just couldn’t keep it together for long enough, and it would seem judging from the statements he’s just made that he was poorly advised by his agent, who seems to have had no idea of how to play the Spanish media, paid too much attention to media critics and allowed them to get under Bale’s skin.

comment by Rock Steady (U9953)
posted 5 hours, 55 minutes ago
comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462) .

We're never going to win a World Cup but getting there would be some achievement and worthy of celebration. The other good thing about Bale is that whenever I go abroad now and they ask where I'm from all I have to say is Bale. Before him it took quite a while to explain!
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So you're basically saying, people abroad understand the origins of where Bale comes from over where UK, Britain or even Wales is? How very fakin strange is that? Who have you been speaking to?

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.

comment by Diafol Coch 77 (U2462)
posted 27 minutes ago

Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Holds true for loads of Spaniards too. Which is quite funny when you've got Scottish friends who've lived here so long that they've finally had no choice but to accept being referred to as English half the time.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.

-------
I remember being in the US years ago and a guy I spoke to had never heard of Ireland. I thought Paddy's Day was a big there so brought that up. Still nothing.

He should go to Barca on a free just to WUM Madrid some more.

comment by King TUt - I Need a Hiro (U3732)
posted 1 minute ago
He should go to Barca on a free just to WUM Madrid some more.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That would be hilarious.

comment by Patriarch (U11015)
posted 1 day ago

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.

-------
I remember being in the US years ago and a guy I spoke to had never heard of Ireland. I thought Paddy's Day was a big there so brought that up. Still nothing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s mad. Usually most of them claim to be Irish.

comment by The Process (U20671)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Patriarch (U11015)
posted 1 day ago

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.


----------------------------------------------------------------------
Believe me some people don't know! This is true for when I've been to Mexico, Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece. They just see UK as England.

-------
I remember being in the US years ago and a guy I spoke to had never heard of Ireland. I thought Paddy's Day was a big there so brought that up. Still nothing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That’s mad. Usually most of them claim to be Irish.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
America- the land of the free, that many are constantly going on about how proud they are to be American.

Yet most of them claim they are irish, Scottish, Italian, German etc…