Gareth Bale

[HNKS 508]

No one said he was a "legend", just one of the best players in the world ATM.

I dont think you can call it "luck", I mean he has a good shot on him, he's a huge threat to the opposition, its true that you need a little luck, but thats not what makes Bale so good..

Alex said Bale was the best British player since Gazza. That means he was better than all those Ive stated.

Plus I love English mentality. When someone English is really good at a particular sport, he is ENGLISH!!! When someone Welsh (Bale) or Scottish (Murray) is good at something they become British.

[DustinC 136]

Ronaldo go back to United? Don't make me laugh, like United could afford his wages, nevermind the bloody transfer.

I've been reading that Nike has apparently agreed to help with the costs. I think it's less possible after SAF retired, but still I wouldn't rule it out.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Alex said Bale was the best British player since Gazza. That means he was better than all those Ive stated.

Plus I love English mentality. When someone English is really good at a particular sport, he is ENGLISH!!! When someone Welsh (Bale) or Scottish (Murray) is good at something they become British.

True, but saying so being the best Weslh or Scottish player does not sound very impressive.

I don't understand why there is not just a BRITISH premier league and a BRITISH national team. England + Gareth Bale would rock and trips to Glasgow would be nice, too. We in Germany also do not like Bavaria or East-Germany. Especially the former give us as much stick as the Scottish give the English. Still be don't say we are West Germans or Badener and the others are Ossies or Bayern or whatever, we are all Germans if we like it or not.

Anyway. I don't think Bale is better than Lamps was in 2005, who was THE consistent force for us winning the title by a record margin+ shield +Carling cup + good CL run which would have ened in glory, too if Liverpool had not been gifted a ghost goal. Bale only is the best player in a Euro League team and in a depleted Premier League. Lampard was the best player of the best team in the best league in the world when it was strongest. Bale is 4th or 3rd best player behind Messi, Ronaldo and maybe Ribery. All those three are not at their career-highs themselves. Lamps in 2005 was equal to Ronaldinho, who was at his very peak at which he was better than Messi IMO.

[Tricky 301]

Wow such an insane amount of money, guy is a talent, certainly world class but the sums being mentioned are unbelievable. I mean Neymar, going to be the face of football in this World Cup year goes for half the price. Madrid astound me....

PS - I'd take a young Ryan Giggs over Bale all day long....

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Funny how Kaka at Madrid is actually an even bigger flop than Torres at Chelsea, yet people tend to overlook him and make fun of Torres (not saying he doesn't deserve it, but the other guy too).

On topic: Bale is a fantastic footballer, I enjoy watching him even baring in mind he plays for Spuds. He's just brillant. This is too much money though, just way too much. He's worth 40, maybe 50M tops. This is not good for the market aswell. Think about it: for that price you could get two Hazards and a Mata.

[sutro 1,026]

Funny how Kaka at Madrid is actually an even bigger flop than Torres at Chelsea, yet people tend to overlook him and make fun of Torres (not saying he doesn't deserve it, but the other guy too).

On topic: Bale is a fantastic footballer, I enjoy watching him even baring in mind he plays for Spuds. He's just brillant. This is too much money though, just way too much. He's worth 40, maybe 50M tops. This is not good for the market aswell. Think about it: for that price you could get two Hazards and a Mata.

I would take just 1 hazard or mata over bale any day of the week tbh

[Special Juan 28,154]

Well this is the thing you see, is Bale better than Hazard? No, he isn't, and that is just after one season for Hazard as opposed to the few Bale has had. Is Bale better than Mata? Not a chance, he has more pace but Juan can split a defence with a pass where Bale chooses these power runs and charges and ploughs through people.

So if Madrid are reading, and they want Hazard- we look forward to your opening bid of 200M......been nice chatting......aurevoir!!!

[Liquidator 5,176]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/gareth-bale-may-not-train-in-hope-of-forcing-real-madrid-move-8746444.html

So if the newspapers are right he may refuse to train. Very professional. I wonder what would happen if I refused to work to get a promotion. Footballers don't live in the real world

[JayC 171]

Well this is the thing you see, is Bale better than Hazard? No, he isn't, and that is just after one season for Hazard as opposed to the few Bale has had. Is Bale better than Mata? Not a chance, he has more pace but Juan can split a defence with a pass where Bale chooses these power runs and charges and ploughs through people.

So if Madrid are reading, and they want Hazard- we look forward to your opening bid of 200M......been nice chatting......aurevoir!!!

On current form Bale is better than Hazard I'm afraid. He was an absolute monster last season, and while Hazard was very impressive also - not as much as Bale. The majority of the world would take Bale for sure if offered the choice between both players. Bale won awards - two of them actually.

Stop being so biased.

[Special Juan 28,154]

On current form Bale is better than Hazard I'm afraid. He was an absolute monster last season, and while Hazard was very impressive also - not as much as Bale. The majority of the world would take Bale for sure if offered the choice between both players. Bale won awards - two of them actually.

Stop being so biased.

Stop being so anti-Chelsea...two can play that game pal.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Bale is indeed better than Hazard right now. But Hazard has the higher ceiling.

[robdog 2,084]

I watched RM this season in the Guinness ICC & I don't think they really need Bale. Isco is the real deal & will only get better.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Isco has a potential to be like zidane. He has that eye for pass, close ball control, occasional elegance, strength on the ball, shot power, two footed, skills and is still very young.

He will shine more than people expect him to, I just know it. If we didn't have so much attacking midfielders, at the begining of last season I wanted us to snatch him for his earlier release clause of 15mil euros..

[Steagles 70]

That is a HUGE sum of money. I guess we will see if he pans out there.

[JayC 171]

Stop being so anti-Chelsea...two can play that game pal.

I gave Hazard praise too - so I'm not sure how my comment was anti-Chelsea. Also I see nobody else really challenged it on a CHELSEA forum. I guess most of them live in the real world.

Stop being so defensive. I'm not trying to wind you up.

Bale is indeed better than Hazard right now. But Hazard has the higher ceiling.

I'm not too sure about that either. Both look like they can hit top level. Who becomes the best is yet to be seen. There are lots of things that can happen. Currently Bale is making the biggest progress.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Bale is indeed better than Hazard right now. But Hazard has the higher ceiling.

This. Hit the nail right on the head.

Hazard can be as good as CR7, in my opinion. He's a slightly different type of player, but in terms of actual ability they are frighteningly alike. I see a young Cristiano in Eden.

Bale is fantastic but can he reach that absolute next level? I don't think he will. I think he'll have a magnificent career and he is already a top, top player, but will he reach the level of Messi, Zidane, Figo, CR7? I'm not so sure he will.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I gave Hazard praise too - so I'm not sure how my comment was anti-Chelsea. Also I see nobody else really challenged it on a CHELSEA forum. I guess most of them live in the real world.

Stop being so defensive. I'm not trying to wind you up.

I'm not too sure about that either. Both look like they can hit top level. Who becomes the best is yet to be seen. There are lots of things that can happen. Currently Bale is making the biggest progress.

BAle is a tad faster and has a better shot, but Hazard is the better creator and dribbler, in general hazard's play has more dimensions to it, he is more skilfull, Bale is rather a brute direct fore. He runs into space and shoots...predictable but no one can stop him. Hazard can do that, too. Not that good but he can. But Hazard can do so much more. That is why I think Hazard has the higher ceiling.

+Hazard is 1,5 years younger than Bale. I am sure next season or the season thereafter Hazard will be EPL player of the year himself.

[JayC 171]

BAle is a tad faster and has a better shot, but Hazard is the better creator and dribbler, in general hazard's play has more dimensions to it, he is more skilfull, Bale is rather a brute direct fore. He runs into space and shoots...predictable but no one can stop him. Hazard can do that, too. Not that good but he can. But Hazard can do so much more. That is why I think Hazard has the higher ceiling.

+Hazard is 1,5 years younger than Bale. I am sure next season or the season thereafter Hazard will be EPL player of the year himself.

Hazard probably does have more to his game, yes. However that doesn't mean he can achieve more. Bale does what works for him, and it's really effective. It has end product - you can't argue with that. I see what you're saying though, I just don't think that it will matter. Ronaldo had so much more to his game when he played for us, and was brilliant yes. Since moving to Madrid though he changed his style and became more 'simple' but more effective. His goal tally dramatically increased. It's just proof that having more to your game isn't always best - doing what makes stuff happen is. Bale is pretty much this currently. This fantasy Hazard ceiling doesn't have any bearing for me. It may never be reached if it even is higher.

It's a close call, but I have to go with current form. I always do. Bale is better.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Hazard probably does have more to his game, yes. However that doesn't mean he can achieve more. Bale does what works for him, and it's really effective. It has end product - you can't argue with that. I see what you're saying though, I just don't think that it will matter. Ronaldo had so much more to his game when he played for us, and was brilliant yes. Since moving to Madrid though he changed his style and became more 'simple' but more effective. His goal tally dramatically increased. It's just proof that having more to your game isn't always best - doing what makes stuff happen is. Bale is pretty much this currently. This fantasy Hazard ceiling doesn't have any bearing for me. It may never be reached if it even is higher.

It's a close call, but I have to go with current form. I always do. Bale is better.

I go with Hazard. He is younger, less injury prone, more gifted. Ronaldo might have improved his goal tally when at Real, but I do not think he has improved. he was at his best in 2008 at Utd. he did not score that much but he was the best player in the world...by far. His new "simple" playing style would never have worked in the EPL. It might do in La Liga, but the majority of the teams there are shit and do not even attempt to defend him, that is why he scores so many. At ManU he won multiple player of the year awards, epl titles, a cl trophy. 3 years Real and he has only won one major trophy. The same will probably apply to Bale. he might score more in La Liga but in the EPL he would become the better player.

[JayC 171]

I go with Hazard. He is younger, less injury prone, more gifted. Ronaldo might have improved his goal tally when at Real, but I do not think he has improved. he was at his best in 2008 at Utd. he did not score that much but he was the best player in the world...by far. His new "simple" playing style would never have worked in the EPL. It might do in La Liga, but the majority of the teams there are shit and do not even attempt to defend him, that is why he scores so many. At ManU he won multiple player of the year awards, epl titles, a cl trophy. 3 years Real and he has only won one major trophy. The same will probably apply to Bale. he might score more in La Liga but in the EPL he would become the better player.

I don't think injuries to either player is relevant. They both play enough games.

You make some other good points though. Ronaldo may have increased his tally simply by playing worse teams - then again maybe everyone underrates the smaller Spanish teams? I think that is more likely the case. Although it's a good point, and I can't be certain. I do know one thing for sure - they definitely do try to defend him. I see my fair share of Madrid games.

Also, he definitely could have been at his best in 2008. I don't know. He was phenomenal then as well. I just think he's cut out all the tricks and showboating and it's worked for him. Bale and him are quite similar now. If Bale can keep the consistency, who knows?

Anyway, I think Bale and Hazard both have a lot to prove still. I don't think moving to Madrid is in Bales best interests either, but I don't think it will stop him progressing. Hazard needs to find a new gear next year (well when the season starts), and Bale needs to keep doing what he is doing consistently. Currently Hazard is trailing.