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Gareth Bale - best British player ever?

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posted on 1/10/24

He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.

posted on 1/10/24

*Spurs

posted on 1/10/24

No.

comment by kinsang (U3346)

posted on 1/10/24

For me he is in the debate, but it's easy to have rose-tinted spectacles about other players from yesteryear etc. Some folk will take this far too seriously and make it factual, but it's all subjective at the end of the day

posted on 1/10/24

Far from it imo

posted on 1/10/24

He's definitely the greatest export. There's no doubt about that, although I guess it depends how far back you go because by all accounts John Charles was amazing at Juve.

As for being the best British player of all time, that's a hard one judge. George Best might have something to say about that. I think Bale is up there though. You could argue that Best had as many years at the top as Bale did. Both tailed off at the latter stages. That being said, even when Bale came back to us for a year, he was still brilliant and his body was failing him back then. I've no doubt that if he'd stayed in the Prem, he probably would be considered the greatest British player. The fact he was in Madrid and largely on the bench really affected his legacy.

I don't think I've seen one player have such an impact on a team as he did with Spurs for a couple of years.

posted on 1/10/24

He is certainly one to put on the list for consideration but I would put quite a few players ahead of him.

posted on 1/10/24

comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 16 minutes ago
He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronaldo

posted on 1/10/24

Charlton, Charles, Best, Dalglish are four from the not so distance past which always get mentioned.
Bale along with many others from the more recent era would be knocking on the door. If Kane ends up getting 100 goals for England, then he could lay claim.

posted on 1/10/24

It’s a debate if he’s even the best Welsh player ever. He’s in the conversation for both best Welsh and British player though, for sure.

posted on 1/10/24

1. Rooney
2. Charlton
3. Scholes
4. Giggs
5. Best
6. Carrick (underrated)
7. Ferdinand
8. Neville
9. Beckham
10. Bale

posted on 1/10/24

comment by Scott Fraser (U1734)
posted 4 minutes ago
1. Rooney
2. Charlton
3. Scholes
4. Giggs
5. Best
6. Carrick (underrated)
7. Ferdinand
8. Neville
9. Beckham
10. Bale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You forgot Rooney

comment by kinsang (U3346)

posted on 1/10/24

comment by Ali - 🇪🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (U1192)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Scott Fraser (U1734)
posted 4 minutes ago
1. Rooney
2. Charlton
3. Scholes
4. Giggs
5. Best
6. Carrick (underrated)
7. Ferdinand
8. Neville
9. Beckham
10. Bale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You forgot Rooney
----------------------------------------------------------------------
better go to Specsavers...............

posted on 1/10/24

Bale was an incredible athlete and a very good ball striker. I never saw him as an elite technician overall or a player with particularly good vision. But maybe that's my general bias toward more cerebral and skilful players.

As for his career, yeah, great career, but looks all the better for being at Real Madrid during a golden era, and I don't remember him being a key component in what made them so good during that time.

posted on 1/10/24

comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 16 minutes ago
He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronaldo
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also:

Henry
Suarez
Haaland

comment by kinsang (U3346)

posted on 1/10/24

comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 seconds ago
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 16 minutes ago
He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronaldo
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also:

Henry
Suarez
Haaland
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did they all claim asylum here and become British

posted on 1/10/24

comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 36 minutes ago
He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It was brilliant but not above Ronaldo 07/08 or Suarez 13/14 imo.

posted on 1/10/24

Best, Greaves & B Charlton

posted on 1/10/24

The debate over the best individual season in Premier League history is often heated, but one name consistently appears near the top: Thierry Henry.

His 2003/04 season with Arsenal is often considered one of the greatest individual campaigns in the league's history. He scored 30 goals and provided 20 assists in 37 games, leading Arsenal to an unbeaten league title.  

However, other contenders include:

Erling Haaland's record-breaking 2022/23 season with Manchester City.  
Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007/08 campaign with Manchester United.
Luis Suarez's 2013/14 season with Liverpool.
Ultimately, the "best" season often depends on personal preference and the specific criteria used to measure greatness.

posted on 1/10/24

comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Red Russian (U4715)
posted 38 seconds ago
comment by ManUtdDaredevil (U9612)
posted 16 minutes ago
comment by whodunnit (U22710)
posted 16 minutes ago
He is in the debate, the period towards the end of his Sours stint was mental. It just seemed that everything he tried that year came off.

Might have been the best individual season I have seen in the EPL in my lifetime.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Ronaldo
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Also:

Henry
Suarez
Haaland
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Did they all claim asylum here and become British
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I was responding to the claim that Bale might have had the best individual season in the PL, i.e. widening the conversation from the OP's 'best British' question.

posted on 1/10/24

comment by Scott Fraser (U1734)
posted 31 seconds ago
The debate over the best individual season in Premier League history is often heated, but one name consistently appears near the top: Thierry Henry.

His 2003/04 season with Arsenal is often considered one of the greatest individual campaigns in the league's history. He scored 30 goals and provided 20 assists in 37 games, leading Arsenal to an unbeaten league title.  

However, other contenders include:

Erling Haaland's record-breaking 2022/23 season with Manchester City.  
Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007/08 campaign with Manchester United.
Luis Suarez's 2013/14 season with Liverpool.
Ultimately, the "best" season often depends on personal preference and the specific criteria used to measure greatness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Soon, I fear that Barry will make AI obsolete.

posted on 1/10/24

George Best.


Easily.

posted on 1/10/24

Someone not even mentioned vs Bale's best season.

Salah vs. Bale: A Comparison of Premier League Masterclasses

Both Mohamed Salah's 2017/18 season with Liverpool and Gareth Bale's 2012/13 season with Tottenham Hotspur stand as remarkable individual campaigns in Premier League history. However, a definitive judgment on which was "better" is subjective and depends on various factors.

Let's break down their key statistics and accomplishments:

Salah's 2017/18: A Goal-Scoring Phenomenon

Goals: 32
Assists: 10
Key achievements: Premier League Golden Boot, PFA Player of the Year, Champions League final appearance

Salah's season was a masterclass in goal-scoring. His pace, dribbling, and finishing were a constant threat to defenses. His ability to create chances for himself and his teammates made him a complete attacking force. While Liverpool narrowly missed out on the league title, Salah's contributions were instrumental in their resurgence.


Bale's 2012/13: A Force of Nature

Goals: 21
Assists: 5
Key achievements: Record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid

Bale's season was marked by his incredible athleticism and powerful strikes. His ability to score from distance and his pinpoint crosses made him a nightmare for defenders. His performances were so impressive that he earned a then-world-record transfer to Real Madrid.

Arguments for Salah's Season

Goal-scoring record: Salah's 32 goals were slightly higher than Bale's 21.
Assists: Salah contributed more assists, demonstrating his all-round attacking game.
PFA Player of the Year: Salah was recognized as the best player in the league by his peers.

Arguments for Bale's Season

Impact on the team: Bale's performances were arguably more transformative for Tottenham, elevating them to Champions League contenders.
Record-breaking transfer: His performances justified a world-record fee, showcasing his exceptional talent.


Ultimately, the debate between Salah's 2017/18 and Bale's 2012/13 is a matter of personal preference. Both players produced extraordinary seasons that will be remembered for years to come. While Salah's goal-scoring prowess and all-round impact were exceptional, Bale's athleticism and ability to change games with a single moment were equally impressive.

comment by Elvis (U7425)

posted on 1/10/24

I can think of 5 or 6 at United alone that you could argue were better. The scousers will probably tell you the same about their legends.

posted on 1/10/24

comment by kinsang (U3346)
posted 22 minutes ago
comment by Ali - 🇪🇦 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 (U1192)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Scott Fraser (U1734)
posted 4 minutes ago
1. Rooney
2. Charlton
3. Scholes
4. Giggs
5. Best
6. Carrick (underrated)
7. Ferdinand
8. Neville
9. Beckham
10. Bale
----------------------------------------------------------------------
You forgot Rooney
----------------------------------------------------------------------
better go to Specsavers...............
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Woooosh

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