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But that is the risk you take with exciting ambitious players. If yoi want a safe player who will keep the ball look to valencia but of you want a player who will make things happen look to di maria. Even messi loses the ball during dribbles but that is part of the game. Some times things come off some times they dont.
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Losing possession trying to do something positive in the final third is one thing... What Di Maria does is either launch the ball forward at every opportunity are misplaced simple 5-10 yard passes on a regular basis.

I'm all for players who make things happen and take risks. I'm probably one of the few posters here who rated Nani and think he's a better player than Di Maria. Di Maria's biggest issue is that he seems to be incapable of picking his moments. He plays at 110mph the whole time, as though he has ADHD or something.

The best way I can describe the way he loses the ball is as though he sees a picture of play in his head, but as that picture changes in real time he's unable to see it or adapt, and just goes for what he saw anyway, even though the moment has passed or is no longer available.

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Lebowski

Bale has 78% passing stats this season but Ronaldo isn't much better with 81%.

But passing stats aren't the only story when it comes from keeping possession. Di Maria goes on runs with the ball and often loses it when up against decent defenders. Bale has better success when running with the ball.

Interesting this, according to squawka, ADM's and Bale's pass accuracy in their respective leagues this season is exactly the same, 78%.

On the one hand, you could say Di Maria plays in a possession based team, which should help him to return better stats. On the other, you could argue he plays in a league notorious for its 'breakneck speed', while Bale is in a league that's played at snail pace.

What do you reckon?

IOAG,

How passes per game do they average though?

I'd argue that Bale probably sees less of the ball than Di Maria, who likes to drop deeper and inside and do his 5,784 launch glory passes every 2 minutes...

Checking last season's stats, when both were in the same side, ADM completed 82% vs 76% for Bale. That would probably been down to playing more centrally though, as you have more pass options in the middle.

Either way, there doesn't appear to be all that much in it.

comment by BerbaKing11 (U6256)
posted 4 minutes ago
IOAG,

How passes per game do they average though?

I'd argue that Bale probably sees less of the ball than Di Maria, who likes to drop deeper and inside and do his 5,784 launch glory passes every 2 minutes...
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Haven't found that stat yet, but Di Maria's played more forward passes (58% to 52%)

Well, I have more faith in Bale to be a success in this United team than ADM. The guy is wasted in Spain. If Ronaldo left this summer the Real fans would see such a better Bale if they built the team around him. Sadly I can't see Ronaldo stepping aside.

Interesting.

What the stats don't tell us though is where and how a player loses possession nor how many actual passes they play.

Bale may well lose the ball often (I've not watched a lot of him since going to Madrid), but it's hard to image he loses the ball in such spectacularly embarrassing fashion as Di Maria does so often!

Keep in mind that Bale is playing on the right wing, the part of the pitch I'd hazard he's least comfortable playing in a forward position. So if he's not in his best position it makes sense he's not at optimum passing range.

Also, avg pass length ADM 20m, Bale 15m

Did Bale play his preferred position in his last season at Spurs? Just asking because his p.a. was 79%, hardly a spectacular difference.

The stats I've been able to find thus far don't really back up the original claim I called into question, which was that "Bale very rarely loses possession". His pass completion is the worst of any outfield player in the Madrid squad.

Then it was that he rarely gives it away "as stupidly" as Di Maria, and what we found is that this season:

They've had the same pass completion rate
Di Maria has played more forward passes
Di Maria has played longer passes
Seem to suggest more risk, yet the same accuracy.

I honestly don't think I'll find stats on "stupidity of balls lost" or "running better with the ball", though squawka does keep count of defensive errors leading to attempts on goal. Bale wins that one, 3-1.

So the evidence we have been able to collect doesn't seem back up the claim of Bale being a very good passer or of his being significantly better in that aspect than ADM.

Couldn't it just have something to do with viewing one in a kinder light than the other?

Not that there'd be anything wrong or unusual about that - we're all human, after all.

4231, 433...there really isn't much of a difference between the two. We have been playing 433 this season but with Fellaini very advanced so it's effectively been 4231.

A front 4 of Rooney, Depay, ADM and a new playmaker could work although Herrera won't really fit in a 4231 formarion. Don't think he's quite got the killer instinct to be our main playmaker

Statistics schmatistics!

I don't need to look at stats. I use my eyes. They've shown my in crystal clear vision that ADM has been absolutely awful since the home game versus Chelsea. Geez...sometimes I wish these OPTA guys had never started!