Topic: Gareth Bale

[SMD]

No, not a "why we should sign him" thread but "why do people want to sign him?" poser.

Obviously there's a lot about him in the media, particularly with Manchester United's reported interest. Thing is, being unable to watch the Championship and not really a follower of Wales' games, I don't know why.

Is he that good? Does he have that much potential? What kind of left back is he?

Has anyone here seen him play regularly? And yes, is he someone we should be taking a look at?

So - who is Gareth Bale?

And please no "he's boss on FM" because I'm genuinely wondering what the fuss is about.

[bradigor]

He is boss on LMA

[Wigwamdelbert]

Extemely highly rated youngster, solid defending, but more exciting moving forward. Fast, can dribble, has a fierce shot on his left peg, and can deliver a wicked free kick, a la Beckham in his prime.

I'd be really disappointed if Utd get him for £5m.

[SMD]

He is boss on LMA

c*nt.

[-HH-]

Not seen him much but just from watching the highlights I know he takes a boss free-kick.

[bradigor]

c*nt.

Sorry Mr Deluxe, I couldn't resist. You would of done the same I am sure

[felix.]

Yeah, I only know about the freekicks.

[SMD]

Are they proper free kicks though? Or John Arne Riise's once in a blue moon efforts?

[Walter Sobchak]

Are they proper free kicks though? Or John Arne Riise's once in a blue moon efforts?

they're beckham-esque. in style and success rate.

as for his all round game i havent a clue.

[Moley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED6_PCA-e-s

[Withnail]

He is a decent young player, a very good prospect. I wouldn't pay the sort of dosh they are asking though.

[SMD]

He is a decent young player, a very good prospect. I wouldn't pay the sort of dosh they are asking though.

Well, obviously. £10m for a left back with no Premiership experience is a joke. But does he have the potential? Should we be looking into signing him?

[jamo84]

so what is he like defensively. some impressive freekicks scored an he is only 16!!!  might prove to be an excellent buy for whoever gets him

[Withnail]

Well, obviously. £10m for a left back with no Premiership experience is a joke. But does he have the potential? Should we be looking into signing him?

definately, for the right money.

[Emlyn18]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED6_PCA-e-s

Shite.

[Martyn.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED6_PCA-e-s

Impressive !

Cant believe he is only 17.

[scouser4eva]

He is boss on LMA

Even better on FM07@!

[Welshred]

From the few internationals I've seen him play his positioning is good, he's good in the tackle but much room for improvement. His main strength is going forward, he overlaps well, passes well and gives a good cross. Also as most have said his free kicks are excellant.

He's just like any other talented youngster though, given the right guidence he'll be a star

[Blinking Timo Jutila]

Im not going to comment about Bale as a player, as i have no clue, but ill say this.

Dont you just hate it when every fucking youtube compilation of defenders, show 0 situations where the defender actually DEFENDS properly. Every centre-halve compilation has just videos of headers they have scored with, or when they actually show a defensive situation, they show a situation where they try to show what a "hard man" the defender is by showing a late tackle, that they got a booking of. Yes, that is excactly what i want to see when seeing a compilation of a defender.....

off my chest now....

[Devastatin' Dave]

He seems like a good prospect at left back, but his price is massive as he takes a good free kick.

[Lent§]

He's mint, but he's a scummer so he can fuck off!

[Terry de Niro]

He's mint, but he's a scummer so he can fuck off!

how did you feel when Harry boy was a scummer?

[Lent§]

he still is a scummer, always will be. but he was the only man imo who would've kept us up last season. he will always be a scummer in 90% of the fans eyes but he is starting to win them back, and fair play to him. if he does it again however...

[Golden Glory]

he still is a scummer, always will be. but he was the only man imo who would've kept us up last season. he will always be a scummer in 90% of the fans eyes but he is starting to win them back, and fair play to him. if he does it again however...

You should use TSF, do you use PompeyOnline?

And Bale is top draw, he's 17, takes a free-kick with style and is already a fully-fledged established international. He's decent positionally, not scared to put in a tackle and is great going forward on the overlap and swinging in crosses. Something, very good about him is that he has an experienced head, way above his years. He has the potential to be the best left-back in the world and for the potential alone, £10 Million would be a bargain.

[Lent§]

i don't know of any Pompey messageboards mate so enlighten me por favor.

Bale's talent has never been questioned, the potential to be twice the player that cashley cole is at LB for england.

[Moley]

i don't know of any Pompey messageboards mate so enlighten me por favor.

Bale's talent has never been questioned, the potential to be twice the player that cashley cole is at LB for england Wales.

[Lent§]

sorry for that, he's a scummer in my eyes so didn't know he was a taff.

he's class, no doubt about that. imo he needs class players/coaches to nurture him for the next 4 or 5 years. he will be the best of the best if this happens. IMO a move to the emirates would be best for him...

[Adeemo]

I reckon we'll seriously be in for him in the summer if he doesn't move in January.

[The Cappuccino Kid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED6_PCA-e-s

I have to say I've never seen him play and never seen him do an interview but he's got one of those faces I'd never get tired of punching. Don't even get me started on that gay pirouette he does when he scores. He'd fit in well with the mancs.

Any defender wearing white boots should be lynched.

[Welshred]

He's not as good as people are making him out to be, but he has the potential

[Golden Glory]

i don't know of any Pompey messageboards mate so enlighten me por favor.

Bale's talent has never been questioned, the potential to be twice the player that cashley cole is at LB for england.

www.pompeyonline.com/forums

Although most decent Pompey fans use the Saints forum. www.thesaintsforum.co.uk

[Terry de Niro]

Me thinks he's heading for Old Trafford..

DON'T BALE OUT YET, WARNS BURLEY

By Andy Sims, PA Sport

George Burley has warned Southampton starlet Gareth Bale against going down the same route as former team-mate Theo Walcott as speculation over the future of the teenage left-back rumbles on.

Bale is a reported January target for a host of top clubs, with Saints having already turned down an £8million bid - believed to be from Manchester United - for the talented 17-year-old.

Bale put in another fine performance on Saturday in Southampton's 2-0 win over QPR at Loftus Road, almost a year to the day since Walcott played his last game in a Saints shirt at the same ground.

Burley spent much of the last January transfer window fending off questions over Walcott's future before he finally made his big-money move to Arsenal.

But the teenage striker has started just six games in 12 months for the Gunners, and Burley feels Bale is better off learning his trade in the Southampton first team rather than warming the bench at a bigger club.

"I've told Gareth I feel he needs to be here this season and next season, that would be ideal for his development," said the Saints boss.

"I haven't changed my opinion. You can't beat playing first-team football for the development of a young kid.

"At a big club it's harder to get into the team, which is understandable. It's best for the player to be in this league, at a good club, where he can find his feet."

Bale's current contract runs out in 18 months and talks over a one-year extension - the maximum allowed for a player of his age - have been shelved until the summer.

But Burley remains confident he can ride out the rest of the transfer window without losing the Wales international.

"Gareth doesn't want to go anywhere, certainly until the summer," added the Scot.

"We know he's going to go at some point, but our aim is to keep him as long as possible. No matter what he will be here until the end of the season.

"I've had all the speculation about players in the past. I had it with Kieron Dyer, Titus Bramble, Darren Bent, Darren Ambrose, Tom Huddlestone. It's part and parcel of football.

"But Gareth's still a young lad who needs nurturing. His parents and everyone are very pleased about the way he has progressed over the last few months.

"He works hard on the training ground and he's still learning. But I don't think there are many more exciting full-backs in the country."

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/01/21/SOCCER_Southampton.html


Bale destined to be Fergie babe

Jan 19 2007

Ian Carbis, South Wales Echo
 

At the start of the season, the great and the good of the Boot Room debated where it would be best for Gareth Bale to end up.

 The 17-year-old had just lit up the Coca-Cola Championship with some fine performances and announced his arrival on the Welsh international stage with a stunning set-piece

 So, who would he sign for, we pondered?

 Arsenal? Chelsea? Manchester United? Liverpool? Middlesbrough? (OK, wishful thinking - he's far too young).

 Anyway, after a few Kencos and chocolate Hobnobs, it was decided that Old Trafford would be the ideal destination, with the possibility of a loan back to his current club Southampton.

Now it seems, our wish will come true.

 It appears Manchester United have won the race to snap up the Cardiff-born youngster ahead of the pursuing pack, which also included Tottenham, and will agree to let him help Saints try to reach the Premiership for the rest of the season.

 It could be the start of a beautiful relationship.

 Of course, United have previous with other young Welsh talent, Mr. Ferguson taking Ryan Giggs under his wing when he was weighed down by George Best comparisons.

 Now Giggs can play the mentor role himself.

 At a dinner this week, the 33-year-old admitted he could see the end of his career ahead, but he could still play a huge part in Bale's education - for club and country.

 And it's not just the Welsh connection.

 If Fergie thinks he's good enough to play, he'll play. Bale won't be reduced to cameo appearances like his great friend Theo Walcott at Arsenal or lost in the Stamford Bridge back numbers like Shaun Wright-Phillips.

 Ferguson once won the title when they said 'You'll win nothing with kids.' Hopefully, Welsh kid Gareth will be the real winner if OUR dream move comes off.

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0600soccer/columnists/tm_headline=bale-destined-to-be-fergie-babe&method=full&objectid=18502818&siteid=50082-name_page.html

[Gaz123456]

He's a good, promising player, but is he ready for the big time yet? - not sure. Its a lot of money to pay for a potentially good defender.

[mjgill85]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/southampton/6286491.stm

Saints receive £10m Bale approach

Southampton's resolve to keep Gareth Bale will be tested by an approach to sell the teenager for up to £10m.

BBC Radio Solent say an unnamed club has sounded out Saints on the prospect of selling the 17-year-old Wales star.

Manchester United and Tottenham have both had bids rejected for Bale, and boss George Burley insists he will not be sold in the transfer window.

Burley told the Saints website: "At some point Gareth will go, but he will be here until the end of the season."

Bale has recently turned down Southampton's offer of a one-year extension to his contract, the most Saints are able to offer a player of his age.

Tottenham are believed to have opened the auction for Bale with a £6m bid which was rejected.

Saints are then thought to have snubbed Man Utd's £8m offer for Bale, while Liverpool and Newcastle are also thought to be interested.

Southampton boss George Burley is desperate to keep Bale who is a key part of Saints promotion bid.

Burley is resigned to losing Bale at some stage, but feels the young defender's development would be best served by staying with Saints.

The Saints boss feels Bale could learn from Theo Walcott who has only flirted with first-team football at Arsenal since his £12m move last year.

Walcott played his last game for Saints almost a year ago to the week at QPR, and Burley is determined Saints 2-0 win at Loftus Road on Saturday will not mark Bale's last appearance in a Saints shirt.

Burley said: "You can't beat playing regularly for your development and at bigger clubs it is harder to get in the team.

"His parents are very pleased with his progress and feel this is a good place for him to learn his football and the improvement has been there to be seen.

"I know he is going to go at some point, but I want to keep him as long as possible."


£10m?

I guess a lot of that would be based on future clauses, but still

[SMD]

Well it's certainly not us.

I don't see why United would go in for him, they have Heinze, Evra and Silvestre. It's right back they ought to be worrying about.

[Mal]

Well it's certainly not us.

I don't see why United would go in for him, they have Heinze, Evra and Silvestre. It's right back they ought to be worrying about.

You know it's not us for sure?

Bale is an outstanding prospect.

My brother in law is a saints season ticket holder, says he's the bast prospect he's seen there for decades. Better than Walcott, better than Shearer, better than le shit etc.. etc.. the only player he refuses to rate him above is Le Tissier.

Youngest ever player to score for Wales, not bad when you consider they've had some half-decent forwards in their time, Toshak, Rush even Giggs.

Very solid & dependable at the back, wonderful left foot and dynamite with his free-kicks.

Just thought I'd chip in the comments of a saints season ticket holder.

I'd be happy if he signed for us, it'd solve left back for years & years to come.

[BazC]

You know it's not us for sure?

Bale is an outstanding prospect.

My brother in law is a saints season ticket holder, says he's the bast prospect he's seen there for decades. Better than Walcott, better than Shearer, better than le shit etc.. etc.. the only player he refuses to rate him above is Le Tissier.

Youngest ever player to score for Wales, not bad when you consider they've had some half-decent forwards in their time, Toshak, Rush even Giggs.

Very solid & dependable at the back, wonderful left foot and dynamite with his free-kicks.

Just thought I'd chip in the comments of a saints season ticket holder.

I'd be happy if he signed for us, it'd solve left back for years & years to come.

But the figures being thrown around are fucking stupid. I'm sorry but £10m for a 17 year old striker is pushing it to the max, but for a fullback is bordering on robbery.

[SMD]

You know it's not us for sure?

We haven't got any money to buy anyone other than cheap cover at the back, we're hardly going to be splashing out right now on a full back.

[Mal]

I agree with bazc350, £10m for a fullback is obscene, but these are the rules of the game now. Bale is top draw, from what I've been told good enough to go straight into any first team squad and from what I've been told it wouldn't be long before he'd be any "1st eleven" - whatever that is these days...


Whether we have the money or not is more contentious. For example, we spent many millions last January e.g. Dan Agger (£5.8m)when we were, apparently, skint.

I'm not sure any of us know exactly what we have to spend, the fact that Lucas Neill has opted to go to WHU is more a reflection on him than on our budgets. Neill is 28 so only ever going to be a short term option, Bale on the other hand is 17, has years ahead of him and if we structure the payments (in the same way Arse did with Walcott - paying only £5m upfront) you just never know.

BTW, I don't have any idea if it is us, just saying we shouldn't rule it out. 

[TheRedBull]

That 10M could get us Alves last summer...