Gareth Bale

[Peace. 4,352]

Bale, a World-Class player ? What did he actually achieved ? What trophies did he won ? The Champions League ? The Premier League ? The sole trophy he has ever won is the mighty League Cup, and it's generous to say that he won it because he played one game in it. This player has had just one very good, nay great (for the debate sack) season in the Premier League — and he didn't even manage to carry his team in the top four (against an eternal average Arsenal and a Chelsea on his knees). Moreover, it isn't his goalscoring ability that sets him as a World-Class player... In the League, he has scored more than ten goals only once. He is not World-Class by any means, and it's a long way until he can be labeled as one ; the first step would be to actually win trophies, and then have more than one great season.

And the greatest British-born player since Gascoigne ? What about Scholes, Lampard, Rooney, Ashley Cole, etc... ?? You know, players that have actually won trophies and that have had an handful of great seasons. For now, he is barely worth to lace their boots.

[Ankit 3,176]

Hhmm. .

[Kojo 4,676]

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

[HNKS 508]

Who's better?

I can think of quite a few players who not only have achieved more than he by his age but also have been consistently good for many years not just 1 year.

Lampard, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney. The only way Bale will be a legend in my books is if he can continue his form through the next years. Never have I seen someone with such luck, taking pot shots in the 90th minute and scoring. Luck runs out sooner or later.

[yuvala 2,167]

I can think of quite a few players who not only have achieved more than he by his age but also have been consistently good for many years not just 1 year.

Lampard, Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney. The only way Bale will be a legend in my books is if he can continue his form through the next years. Never have I seen someone with such luck, taking pot shots in the 90th minute and scoring. Luck runs out sooner or later.

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..

[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 28,129]

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 28,129]

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.