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The Bale Test

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posted on 6/9/11

Didn't he already pass the Bale test a couple of games ago when we beat Spurs?

posted on 6/9/11

How quick is Smalling? I just ask because I could potentially see Richards given the nod for pace reasons (even though he was dropped for Zabaleta against Spurs).

posted on 6/9/11

comment by Ronaldo McDonaldo 2 (U8472)

posted 4 minutes ago

Didn't he already pass the Bale test a couple of games ago when we beat Spurs?
---------------------------------------------------------
Exactly
I dont think he will struggle against bale, Unless Terry decided to play striker leaving him out numbered.
Ps
Bale is overrated

posted on 6/9/11

id laugh if richards did play as he's injured and back with city!
not that didi can see this, silly boy has me filtered because i said something bad about liverpool!

posted on 6/9/11

He did well against Spurs, though it did seem to take Spurs 70 minutes to realise that Bale was not a sensible out-ball for Friedel, as he usually is, because Smalling is awesome in the air and bloody massive!

posted on 6/9/11

to be honest i dont see smalling or england as a whole having any problems with bale tonight

posted on 6/9/11

Bale may be overrated but he's still a very good player. Smalling will have to be focused tonight me thinks.

posted on 6/9/11

he is a good player, but hes playing with wales, cant see him seeing much of the ball to be honest

posted on 6/9/11

I reckon Speed will say "get the ball to Gareth and let him run at Smalling"
It's their best way to goal...IMO.

posted on 6/9/11

Bale is a pretty good player, in comparison to his the rest of the team playing tonight he is a lot better... so obviously the focus is going to be on him but I think Smalling can match the challenge

posted on 6/9/11

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

posted on 6/9/11

As a natural CB he's probably not used to dealing with a player like Bale who will attempt to just bomb past him.

Got a feeling Smalling won't risk pushing too far forward tonight, just on the off chance John Terry get caught in a foot race with Bale...Actually makes me laugh thinking of how slow that would make JT look!

posted on 6/9/11

Cant believe that all the talk and hype is around one player tonight. Theres 11 England players and everyone is peeing their pants over Gareth Bale. One Welsh player

posted on 6/9/11

Mr Chelsea... (U3579)

one player that every pass will be aimed to and all their play will run through.

It's a bit like Berba at Bulgaria and Shevchenko at Ukrane. If you stop him playing then they will struggle to get out of their own half never mind score.

posted on 6/9/11

Apparently Bale played on the right in the last Wales game, so it's not a given that Smalling will have the responsibility of marking him.

posted on 6/9/11

Fair enough but if a team is set up correctly, defensively, then the Bale threat will be nullified.

posted on 6/9/11

I would have thought Speed would like Bale vs Smalling rather than Bale vs Cole.
We will see.

posted on 6/9/11

Gingerfinch

Perhaps, although Smalling is perhaps a better physical match for Bale than Cole is, while Cole is a more attacking full back, who may be more likely to leave spaces behind him.

I guess a more important factor is the overall shape of the Welsh team and what the other options are for left and right wings. About that subject I have to say I'm completely ignorant.

posted on 6/9/11

Smalling will be fine against him.

posted on 6/9/11

Yes, my knowledge of the Wales Football team isn't great.

If I were manager then Bale would be told to run at Smalling again and again but hey I work in an office and have managed a Sunday morning team only, so I will leave it to the experts

posted on 6/9/11

General point: Wales ought to have done a bit better over the years, given the number of fine players to have emerged from the country:

Charles
Toshak
Southall
Hughes
Rush
Speed
Giggs

...OK I guess the talent has been spread a bit thinly over the generations, and it's a small country where rugby has been traditionally more popular than football. Still, the all-time Welsh XI would make a pretty decent side. I can't even say with any certainty that Clayton Blackmore would get in the side.

posted on 6/9/11

Bellamy being out is a blow for Wales.
I bet he's an annoying little git to play against.

posted on 6/9/11

Gingerfinch

You have managed a Sunday morning team? In that case I'm going to have bow to your superior experience. I'm still in my playing career (albeit the twilight years... I like to think of it as a Giggsian Indian summer) so the best you'll get out of me is the odd footballer's cliché.

posted on 6/9/11

Cliché's are my speciality

Don't so it now. To stressful.

posted on 6/9/11

Should have read

Don't do it now

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