Gareth Bale

[Metaphysical]

hey you know how I always say that while we shouldn't sign Neymar because of the cash concerns as well as Villa & Tello but we kinda should sign Neymar because of the potential omgwtfruserious football we could produce? that goes double for Bale.

I know he's a monkey-lookin' Welshman, but he has all the tools to be a phenomenal LB for us.

y'all actin' like Abidal and Adriano are Garrincha or some shit. have you seen how they attack for us? it's mostly running very fast in a straight-line while someone feeds them the ball whereupon they hit a low flat cross into the area. if you can't see how Bale fits PERFECTLY into that set-up, then I dunno what I can do for you.

yes, he'll have to get back to basics with his defending (he started as a LB, it's not like he can't defend ffs) and yes he'll have to learn to play a more restrained game, timing his runs better especially if he's in a back three, but he has ALL the raw materials - including the size & strength that pretty much no other candidate does.

[putogusiluz8]

hey you know how I always say that while we shouldn't sign Neymar because of the cash concerns as well as Villa & Tello but we kinda should sign Neymar because of the potential omgwtfruserious football we could produce? that goes double for Bale.

I know he's a monkey-lookin' Welshman, but he has all the tools to be a phenomenal LB for us.

y'all actin' like Abidal and Adriano are Garrincha or some shit. have you seen how they attack for us? it's mostly running very fast in a straight-line while someone feeds them the ball whereupon they hit a low flat cross into the area. if you can't see how Bale fits PERFECTLY into that set-up, then I dunno what I can do for you.

yes, he'll have to get back to basics with his defending (he started as a LB, it's not like he can't defend ffs) and yes he'll have to learn to play a more restrained game, timing his runs better especially if he's in a back three, but he has ALL the raw materials - including the size & strength that pretty much no other candidate does.

Bro you're the shit. So many biased, regurgitated posts in this forum- your posts are always rejuvenating and backed with sense. I have no prob with people not wanting Bale, but it seems like their stance is just based on going against the current, if you will. "Well he's the obvious choice for LB, I'm gonna be cool and say I don't like him" *Proceed to coming up with some lame mantra* everybody else picks up on it, and for pages and pages it the same comments over and over again. "He's not suited to our style, he's not suited to our style, "he's not suited to our style.................................aH!

[Raed]

hey you know how I always say that while we shouldn't sign Neymar because of the cash concerns as well as Villa & Tello but we kinda should sign Neymar because of the potential omgwtfruserious football we could produce? that goes double for Bale.

I know he's a monkey-lookin' Welshman, but he has all the tools to be a phenomenal LB for us.

y'all actin' like Abidal and Adriano are Garrincha or some shit. have you seen how they attack for us? it's mostly running very fast in a straight-line while someone feeds them the ball whereupon they hit a low flat cross into the area. if you can't see how Bale fits PERFECTLY into that set-up, then I dunno what I can do for you.

yes, he'll have to get back to basics with his defending (he started as a LB, it's not like he can't defend ffs) and yes he'll have to learn to play a more restrained game, timing his runs better especially if he's in a back three, but he has ALL the raw materials - including the size & strength that pretty much no other candidate does.

That much I agree with, the hate on Bale is the fact that he is white, which is odd, but he is not some out of Europe exotic player who is the second coming of Cafu or Robero Carlos.

The only problem with that is the player you'd have to give up, either a striker for a defender ie Pedro-with-touch-of-a-rapist or a full back for another, ie dressing-room-good-vibe Alves...

[Fourteen]

That much I agree with, the hate on Bale is the fact that he is white..

You mean the fact that he's a welshman playing in the English PL who would have to adapt to an alien culture?

It has nothing to do with his skin colour being white.

Meta's spot on as usual, we'd probably have to make a sacrifice to accommodate him and the expense would provoke nail-bitting reactions if he didn't seem to find his feet within the team and also the new life style in Spain.

[FCBarca]

There are clearly drool worthy aspects to Bale's game...He's got outstanding speed, acceleration, strength and nose for goal for a left sided player...He's more technical than I had previously given him credit for and he's apparently a football junkie who's serious about improving his game...I just am a bit disillusioned with him defending after watching several of his matches this season - despite him playing more as a winger...His manmarking is very poor and does not have the makeup of a defender, at all...I didn't watch him enough when he was just an LB but he looks like an upgraded Adriano

Seems like he's cut out more for a counterattacking team than a possession one like our team where he is certain to have less space to beat defenders...Two wide players in Dani & Bale would surely leave this defense even more exposed, non?

[Fourteen]

Indeed, which is why some people have suggested the sacrifice that we will/may have to make, that being Dani Alves as ludicrous as it sounds. It doesn't really make much sense, since alot of our good work goes down that right hand side - Dani - Xavi and the free roaming Messi, our most common Defense - Midfield - Attack combination. Switch the emphasis over to the left and do we shoot ourselves in the foot? Certainly for a little while (maybe). In the end it could give us a fresh vibe to our play, but I'm not sure we need that to happen now, especially since Dani shows no signs of decline.

[Pepe Silvia]

We need someone who will defend their territory like a skinny hooker defending her pimp. Aggressively.

Saying that, Bale defends like a kid going in for his first kiss. Uncoordinated and sloppy.

[FCBarca]

We need someone who will defend their territory like a skinny hooker defending her pimp. Aggressively.

Saying that, Bale defends like a kid going in for his first kiss. Uncoordinated and sloppy.

Pepe is feeling me on this...It's exactly where I am with what I'd like to see at LB....Skinny hooker defending her pimp

[SoMa]

cant be worse than Adriano

[beautifulgame]

hey you know how I always say that while we shouldn't sign Neymar because of the cash concerns as well as Villa & Tello but we kinda should sign Neymar because of the potential omgwtfruserious football we could produce? that goes double for Bale.

I know he's a monkey-lookin' Welshman, but he has all the tools to be a phenomenal LB for us.

y'all actin' like Abidal and Adriano are Garrincha or some shit. have you seen how they attack for us? it's mostly running very fast in a straight-line while someone feeds them the ball whereupon they hit a low flat cross into the area. if you can't see how Bale fits PERFECTLY into that set-up, then I dunno what I can do for you.

yes, he'll have to get back to basics with his defending (he started as a LB, it's not like he can't defend ffs) and yes he'll have to learn to play a more restrained game, timing his runs better especially if he's in a back three, but he has ALL the raw materials - including the size & strength that pretty much no other candidate does.

isn't that what Bale does?

will give you that he scores more but yeah.

[Robbie]

Do any of you guys actually watch Bale play? He's exactly the player Barcelona doesn't need.

Basically he has one trick: kick the ball away and chase it faster than the other guy. He also hugs the byline (running faster than the other guy) and blindly crosses into the box.

Does Barca have any tall players to get on the end of crosses? Do they play the kind of counter-attacking football that a pace merchant would need?

[Raed]

isn't that what Bale does?

will give you that he scores more but yeah.

Well actually, now that you mention it, Bale is more like a Maicon than an Alves, someone who creates from deep, or I should say WOULD create from deep as opposed to receiving the ball from the center line. It could be an awesome thing actually, as you would have a deep lying play maker as opposed to a width creator. It does go against your natural order of things but it surely will give you a different edge.

[beautifulgame]

Do any of you guys actually watch Bale play? He's exactly the player Barcelona doesn't need.

Basically he has one trick: kick the ball away and chase it faster than the other guy. He also hugs the byline (running faster than the other guy) and blindly crosses into the box.

Does Barca have any tall players to get on the end of crosses? Do they play the kind of counter-attacking football that a pace merchant would need?

Your on point with what you say about Bale. Thanks. :-)

Barca do need to reinstate some counter-attacking football next season but there are better players out there.

[Raed]

Your on point with what you say about Bale. Thanks. :-)

Barca do need to reinstate some counter-attacking football next season but there are better players out there.

Like? Bale is the way he is because he plays in the EPL and for Tottenham, he is skilled enough to make it at Barcelona and young enough to learn. You cannot just see black and white here, many players change like Pirlo, your own Mascherano and Lionel. Players improve, change and adapt, it is what they get paid to do and if they have the talent there is no need to be so defensive about the club.

The only thing that I have against him is his inflated price tag, something uncle Rosell is a bit good at dealing with. Especially when he give 'arry a taste of his own medicine.

[beautifulgame]

Like? Bale is the way he is because he plays in the EPL and for Tottenham, he is skilled enough to make it at Barcelona and young enough to learn. You cannot just see black and white here, many players change like Pirlo, your own Mascherano and Lionel. Players improve, change and adapt, it is what they get paid to do and if they have the talent there is no need to be so defensive about the club.

The only thing that I have against him is his inflated price tag, something uncle Rosell is a bit good at dealing with. Especially when he give 'arry a taste of his own medicine.

And that is a pretty BIG 'thing,' is it not?

40 million for a simple counter-attacking only player is well out of line.

Plus with a little more muscle Tello can make those exact runs and Bale isn't exactly too much better at defending.

Players having to learn a new trade is one thing but the players you mentioned come from a lifetime of training in some of the best football infrastructures we know of.

Paying 40 million for a limited player that will take a very long time to learn how to play is kinda silly, no?

Edit: Also, keep in mind Barca is coming off a season where they seemingly forgot how to defend in big games.. The team doesn't descend like it needs to. Adding a player that will do exactly that is not the best idea.. Give me Thiago Silva or Javi for 40 if we're gonna spend that much, thanks.

As a madrista, you'd love for us to sign a player for 40 million that will give the ball up in the middle and not get back, wouldn't you? ;-)