comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
comment by Luke Combs (U3979)
posted 19 minutes ago
He played for a team that bottles it constantly and shone, then signed for Real Madrid and got progressively worse.

The best players in the world do not have their best spells at teams like Spurs.
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wait you managed to contradict yourself in two sentences
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No, you just couldn't understand what I said.

His best spell was at Tottenham, he never showed that level at Real Madrid.

You can’t argue with his CV and medal count. But I can’t help but think he should have done more.

He had all the talent and physical gifts to be challenging for the Ballon D’Or. Had the potential to be considered the best British player ever. Arguably in the conversation anyway but it shouldn’t have been up for debate. It should have been everyone agreeing but a couple of old folk saying, well you never saw Georgie Best.

All he’s achieved and when I think of Bale it’s about what more he could have achieved. Harsh possibly but I think most fans would be the same.

I do think Bale suffered a bit from being second fiddle to CR7 - he’d have had like 10 goals a season more from penalties/free kicks

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
Bale at his peak was unbelievable to watch but that was under 2 seasons in the Premier League. He made huge contributions at Real Madrid and won 3 CL's but he's rested on his laurels for years now.

I really wish he kept the hunger full time and returned permanently to the PL after that 3rd CL. I do feel the lack of respect he showed Madrid worked both ways and it's seen his career taper off.

He will retire this summer if Wales don't get to the World Cup imo.

But one of my favourite players to watch especially before the Madrid move.
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Under 2 seasons in the PL? He was quality from 2010-13

Grate player

I think his last few seasons at Madrid have made people forget how good he was in his first few seasons with them

He's probably the best British player ever. And in 15 years when we're talking about the Ronaldo Messi era in hindsight, it's hard to deny him being the #3 player IMO.

Won more CLs than Man United, scored the best CL final goal ever. He scores the types of goals you wonder how is that possible. Carried Wales to the Euros Semis, has won countless other trophies, and half the time he's injured! He's in that conversation with Zidane, Best, Xavi, Ronaldo, Messi etc. And better still he doesn't take himself or Madrid seriously

comment by TENƎꓕ (U17162)
posted 1 minute ago
Won more CLs than Man United, scored the best CL final goal ever. He scores the types of goals you wonder how is that possible. Carried Wales to the Euros Semis, has won countless other trophies, and half the time he's injured! He's in that conversation with Zidane, Best, Xavi, Ronaldo, Messi etc. And better still he doesn't take himself or Madrid seriously
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he prob aint that far behind spurs total honours list !!

comment by Luke Combs (U3979)
posted 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 3 hours, 34 minutes ago
comment by Luke Combs (U3979)
posted 19 minutes ago
He played for a team that bottles it constantly and shone, then signed for Real Madrid and got progressively worse.

The best players in the world do not have their best spells at teams like Spurs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
wait you managed to contradict yourself in two sentences
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No, you just couldn't understand what I said.

His best spell was at Tottenham, he never showed that level at Real Madrid.
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Did a fine job demolishing Liverpool on the CL final

comment by Ole dirty Baztard - penited and penandes (U19119)
posted 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
Did a fine job demolishing Liverpool on the CL final
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Yeah but scoring cracking goals in a Champions league final ain't all that is it.

he was brilliant for us

done well at Real despite what some might say

I'd have him back at Spurs in the summer no problem.

He isn't an all time great, he had the potential to be, but not a fan of his behaviour with Madrid, say what you want about how Madrid have treated him, but he gets paid 300 plus grand a week to do a job. World class player on his day, but all time greats are consistent for years, not 3-4 games a season.

Great player

comment by Ron (U1646)
posted 46 minutes ago
He isn't an all time great, he had the potential to be, but not a fan of his behaviour with Madrid, say what you want about how Madrid have treated him, but he gets paid 300 plus grand a week to do a job. World class player on his day, but all time greats are consistent for years, not 3-4 games a season.
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Except he does his job. It's not his fault he doesn't get picked to play

comment by Christopher (U20930)
posted 5 hours, 41 minutes ago
I think his last few seasons at Madrid have made people forget how good he was in his first few seasons with them
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Although I do agree with that, it’s also true that in turn he was rarely as good as the UK media (for obvious and completely legitimate reasons) made out at the time.

Bale could never have been as good as Ronaldo. Not because of application, which he did have for a fairly long part of his career. Other than in how he strikes the ball, he just isn’t as technically gifted.

comment by it'sonlyagame (U6426)
posted 44 minutes ago
comment by Christopher (U20930)
posted 5 hours, 41 minutes ago
I think his last few seasons at Madrid have made people forget how good he was in his first few seasons with them
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Although I do agree with that, it’s also true that in turn he was rarely as good as the UK media (for obvious and completely legitimate reasons) made out at the time.

Bale could never have been as good as Ronaldo. Not because of application, which he did have for a fairly long part of his career. Other than in how he strikes the ball, he just isn’t as technically gifted.
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I always found it weird when he was described as heir apparent to Ronaldo at Real. He was only 4 years younger, so not exactly different generations of player.

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!
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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?

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!
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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?

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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.
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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.

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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.


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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.

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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.