How good is Gareth Bale? As a season ticket holder at Spurs, I get to see him week in week out. But I also realise that his very inconsistent. Is he anywhere near the likes of Pedro, Robben and the like?

One trick pony.

@rckd - 10 April 2011 01:40 PM

One trick pony.

One Trick Chimp.

Not sure the 1 trick pony applies entirely.. Yeah he is better than anyone at getting around the RB and whipping in a delish cross, but he’s a great FK taker as well as starting to master the Rory Delap Throw.  Thats at least 3 tricks right there, innit?

I was obviously being a little harsh - but he’s not a balanced footballer at all.  He can be electrifying and he can do some wonderful stuff but it’s all a little one-dimensional.  He isn’t exactly the keystone of a ball-retaining team (his control and pass-picking isn’t in the same world as Xavi et al), and ‘delish crossing’ game relies too heavily on hitting the ball into a dangerous area rather than picking people out.

Can’t bring myself to think of him amongst the world’s best.  He’s a unique player, which is a useful quality, but not close to being on a par with the best.

Unfortunately, the English media is doing what they do with him.  Find a young player with skill who does a few extroardinary things and he’s the next Messi.  They just pile on so much hype that any non-spurs fan will immediately get annoyed and pick holes in his play. 

Bale does what is needed of him:  Provide width, score a few goals, terrorize opposing RBs, do the odd free kick, rinse. repeat.

I love watching him play, but I’m not so myopic that I think he’s the best in the world or anything. 

Explosive young winger with the ability to thrill fans who started his career at Southampton, before a move to North London brought high expectations and elevated him onto the world stage. As an Arsenal fan, this sounds eerily familiar, only Theo walcott has a reputation for less end product yet has better stats in fewer matches.

Seriously, though, an excellent player who, like all wingers, is inconsistent.In my view, though, he will never be one of the world’s best and shouldn’t get anywhere near Player of the Year, particularly since Nani’s not even nominated. Without his, admittedly amazing, exploits against a Milan side who were torn apart by Schalke, he’s had a fairly decent season but nothing more.

Robin Van Persie’s Chocolate Leg - 10 April 2011 02:34 PM

Explosive young winger with the ability to thrill fans who started his career at Southampton, before a move to North London brought high expectations and elevated him onto the world stage. As an Arsenal fan, this sounds eerily familiar, only Theo walcott has a reputation for less end product yet has better stats in fewer matches.

Seriously, though, an excellent player who, like all wingers, is inconsistent.In my view, though, he will never be one of the world’s best and shouldn’t get anywhere near Player of the Year, particularly since Nani’s not even nominated. Without his, admittedly amazing, exploits against a Milan side who were torn apart by Schalke, he’s had a fairly decent season but nothing more.

I’d go all along with that. Was thinking the same thing in regards to Player of the Year, he was electrifying against an Inter defence which has been a little suspect all year (you can only beat what’s put in front of you. etc.) But has he actually been any good in the Premiership? Admittedly I haven’t seen a great deal of him, but for a winger who “torments RB’s & takes the odd set piece” he’s only got 3 assists this season, whereas Nani has 18.

I love watching him play, but he is a little bit of a media darling, although that’s through no fault of his own.

If clubs are willing to pay some of the reported fees that are being touted for him, then Spurs would be mad not to rip their hands off.

As it happens, he might benefit from playing in Italy or Spain.  There’ll be a lot more emphasis in training on developing his technical side, and his raw pace and dribbling would probably rip teams open every week in leagues where pace isn’t used in quite the same way.

Does anyone have any footage of him ever using his right foot? Even when dribbling, he seems to only ever use his left. I might be wrong, though, never really studied him in detail.

I think he’s decent, but by no means world class.

zlatan - 10 April 2011 03:48 PM

Does anyone have any footage of him ever using his right foot? Even when dribbling, he seems to only ever use his left. I might be wrong, though, never really studied him in detail.

I think he’s decent, but by no means world class.

April 2010. Bale. Right Footed goal.

I’m sick to shit of hearing about him frankly, I posted in another thread about how he hasn’t scored or had an assist in the premier league since November, yet people are still creaming their keks over him. I’ll put it to you guys like this, Gareth Bale being a left side winger has only had three assists in the premier league, John O’Shea being a right sided defender also has three. I remember reading the PFA POTY descriptions on the official PL website and it mentioned Bale’s performances against Inter Milan more so than anything he has done league wise, and that is daft. It’s a league based award, european performances shouldn’t factor into the equation, yet they are over shadowing anything he has done in the league this season.

EDIT: Honourable mention of muppetry to FourFourTwo for appeasing Bale-ievers by including him on a poll entitled “Who is the best player in the world” alongside players such as Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi.

madk0w - 10 April 2011 02:02 PM

Not sure the 1 trick pony applies entirely.. Yeah he is better than anyone at getting around the RB and whipping in a delish cross, but he’s a great FK taker as well as starting to master the Rory Delap Throw.  Thats at least 3 tricks right there, innit?

Again, 3 assists in the premier league disagrees with that assessment.

Lynk - 10 April 2011 06:51 PM

I’m sick to shit of hearing about him frankly, I posted in another thread about how he hasn’t scored or had an assist in the premier league since November, yet people are still creaming their keks over him. I’ll put it to you guys like this, Gareth Bale being a left side winger has only had three assists in the premier league, John O’Shea being a right sided defender also has three. I remember reading the PFA POTY descriptions on the official PL website and it mentioned Bale’s performances against Inter Milan more so than anything he has done league wise, and that is daft. It’s a league based award, european performances shouldn’t factor into the equation, yet they are over shadowing anything he has done in the league this season.

EDIT: Honourable mention of muppetry to FourFourTwo for appeasing Bale-ievers by including him on a poll entitled “Who is the best player in the world” alongside players such as Messi, Ronaldo and Xavi.

madk0w - 10 April 2011 02:02 PM

Not sure the 1 trick pony applies entirely.. Yeah he is better than anyone at getting around the RB and whipping in a delish cross, but he’s a great FK taker as well as starting to master the Rory Delap Throw.  Thats at least 3 tricks right there, innit?

Again, 3 assists in the premier league disagrees with that assessment.

That is more of a testament to our shit strikers this season rather than Bale’s crossing ability.  They’ve been woeful in front of goal and wouldn’t know a good run if the fucking grass had a dotted line for them to run onto. 

BTW, Dylstar, April 2010.. Chelsea at the Lane..  What an outstanding goal with the right foot.  I made the trip over for 3 Spurs games in a week and while Pompey at Wembley left me feeling low, I’ll trade that feeling for the 2 incredible highs in the Arsenal & Chelsea matches that followed.

Siobri - 10 April 2011 07:32 PM

He’s missed a lot of games in his defence. Yesterday was his fourth league start this year.

Bale - 2159 minutes - 7 goals - 3 assists
Nani - 2260 minutes - 9 goals - 18 assists

Nani has only played the equivalent of just over 1 game more than Bale.

This is also quite interesting from another Southampton graduate ‘wing wizard’.

Walcott - 1184 minutes - 7 goals - 8 assists

In context of assists:

Manchester United Strikers:  Rooney, Berbatov, Chicharito
Arsenal Strikers:  Van Persie, Chamakh (well he was decent at the first part of the season) Bendtner

Tottenham:  Pav, Defoe, Crouch <——maybe 10 goals between them in the league. 

So, they all have similar goal totals, but when you have lesser strikers that a) aren’t making the correct runs or, b) can’t finish worth a shit, of course the assists will be down.

Stats make me want to punch football in the face.

Thats fair enough, though I think Walcott has at least scored the same as Bale. Don’t forget, Nani has assistants and referees to credit for half his assists, juts like yesterday (jokes, obvi). It also seems that whenever they need it a calamitous bit of keeping goes United’s way, the opposite of arsenal.

Anyway, Arsenal play to Walcott’s strengths with well-designed tactics and Cesc Fabregas as playmaker (better than Modric any day). We all know the closest harry gets to some tactics is when he’s trying to remember what those delicious little peach and passion fruit chewy sweets were.

Siobri - 10 April 2011 07:32 PM

He’s missed a lot of games in his defence. Yesterday was his fourth league start this year.

I’m mostly critical over him being favourite for both PFA awards, when like you said, he has missed a lot of games after christmas.

Oh and stats are relevant as they are a sign of productivity, especially when it comes to wingers. People always mention Bale’s crossing but 3 assists in the league all season? Come on.

Robin Van Persie’s Chocolate Leg - 10 April 2011 07:52 PM

Thats fair enough, though I think Walcott has at least scored the same as Bale. Don’t forget, Nani has assistants and referees to credit for half his assists, juts like yesterday (jokes, obvi). It also seems that whenever they need it a calamitous bit of keeping goes United’s way, the opposite of arsenal.

Jokes aside, effective play causes other teams to make mistakes, not necessarily biased officials. Funnily enough, I think Wilshere is one player United could really do with, while Hernandez likewise is a player Arsenal could really use.

Lynk - 10 April 2011 07:54 PM

.

I’m mostly critical over him being favourite for both PFA awards, when like you said, he has missed a lot of games after christmas.

Oh and stats are relevant as they are a sign of productivity, especially when it comes to wingers. People always mention Bale’s crossing but 3 assists in the league all season? Come on.

This.
Bale is always placed above other wingers for his end product. When stats prove this to be ridiculous, they are very relevant. Bale, like the other top wingers in the premier league, is inconsistent but with the ability to thrill regardless of end product

Wilshere would be perfect for you lot, he’s just a better Paul Scholes. I would do anything for Hernandez, imagine the goals when set up by Theo Van Nasrigas. Carlos vela lives on my road, I’d give him a piggyback to Old Trafford if we could sign hernandez, and I’m already developing a hunchback anyway.

What do you look for in a winger though? I look for someone to make goals (andon assists maube Bale hasnt done that), but i also look for a player that excites, and I’d argue that Bale is a more exciting player than both Nani and Walcott. In other words, he’d get me out of my seat more and I’d rather have him at my club.

Well you’re spot on about him winning POTY, I’m a Spurs fan and even I think it’s insane that he is the odds-on favourite to win. Modric has been a country mile ahead of him for Spurs’ player of the year, let alone the whole league’s. Nani would have been mine, if not Kompany or Parker.

Having said that, stats are relevant but can be twisted. Bale has only three assists, but that is far more to do with the proflgacy of our strikers than any failing on his part.

Spot on.

Dylstar - 10 April 2011 08:10 PM

What do you look for in a winger though? I look for someone to make goals (andon assists maube Bale hasnt done that), but i also look for a player that excites, and I’d argue that Bale is a more exciting player than both Nani and Walcott. In other words, he’d get me out of my seat more and I’d rather have him at my club.

I’d look for a winger who does both, but if I had a choice, I’d pick effectiveness all time. What’s the point having an exciting player who doesn’t produce? Nani and Nasri both have flashes of flair, but they also use their heads, there’s no point trying to dribble past 10 men when you can pass to one and bring others into the game, but on the same hand as a winger you should be willing to take people on. It’s about choosing the right option. I mean just look at Nani’s assists yesterday, the first was trickery and guile, the second was pace and cunning. He has both assets you mentioned, yet the media think Bale is better.

Nani is perfect for united, injecting them with the flair they so dearly lack in his absence but also possessing end product. Walcott is perfect for Arsenal, he has a telepathic link up with Fabregas and provides the pace and thrust that means even without end product he is a vital part of our team. Nasri is also perfect for Arsenal, providing a contrast to walcott’s pace with his quick feet. Even in his barren run, he has rarely had a game without creating what football manager would term ’ a clear cut chance’. Bale is perfect for Spurs, because he looks better and receives more plaudits than his true ability deserves ( I jest, again). He combines Nasri’s skill and Walcott’s pace, just not as good as if they were actually morphed into 1 player.

Lynk - 10 April 2011 08:17 PM

Well you’re spot on about him winning POTY, I’m a Spurs fan and even I think it’s insane that he is the odds-on favourite to win. Modric has been a country mile ahead of him for Spurs’ player of the year, let alone the whole league’s. Nani would have been mine, if not Kompany or Parker.

Having said that, stats are relevant but can be twisted. Bale has only three assists, but that is far more to do with the proflgacy of our strikers than any failing on his part.

Spot on.

Dylstar - 10 April 2011 08:10 PM

What do you look for in a winger though? I look for someone to make goals (andon assists maube Bale hasnt done that), but i also look for a player that excites, and I’d argue that Bale is a more exciting player than both Nani and Walcott. In other words, he’d get me out of my seat more and I’d rather have him at my club.

I’d look for a winger who does both, but if I had a choice, I’d pick effectiveness all time. What’s the point having an exciting player who doesn’t produce? Nani and Nasri both have flashes of flair, but they also use their heads, there’s no point trying to dribble past 10 men when you can pass to one and bring others into the game, but on the same hand as a winger you should be willing to take people on. It’s about choosing the right option. I mean just look at Nani’s assists yesterday, the first was trickery and guile, the second was pace and cunning. He has both assets you mentioned, yet the media think Bale is better.

His British, Nasri’s French. Thats why they do it. It’s wrong, but it’s the truth

I posted in the wrong thread. Forum failure.

@rckd - 10 April 2011 07:47 PM

Stats make me want to punch football in the face.

They are more than stats… they are Fantasy Football stats.

Bale’s good, but just not as good as people like Richard Keys and Capello think he is, as they make ridiculous statements like “he’s up there with Messi”. If they’d just give him some time to show he’s consistent and not put him up on a pedestal immediately then we wouldn’t even need to have conversations like this.

Bale is the best player in the world.

Roy Keane’s Mental Face - 10 April 2011 09:18 PM

Bale’s good, but just not as good as people like Richard Keys and Capello think he is, as they make ridiculous statements like “he’s up there with Messi”. If they’d just give him some time to show he’s consistent and not put him up on a pedestal immediately then we wouldn’t even need to have conversations like this.

True, they’d become a laughing stock amongst Arsenal fans long before their sacking when they ended their analysis of a Walcott assist with the insightful quip ‘better than bale though?’

I havent read all the other posts, just a couple.

Gareth Bale is a player who can kick the ball by the defender and run faster than him, and from time to time he can whip in a goal….but for me THATS IT!! I just think he is very overated right now, all respect to him and well done to the lad but my god what some people are saying is ridiculous.

For me Nani has had a tremendous season, and he can change a game brilliantly. Believe he should have been nominated for Senior Player of the year and feel he should have won it, young player may go to Wilshere….Bale should not get either i feel

Robin Van Persie’s Chocolate Leg - 10 April 2011 07:52 PM

Thats fair enough, though I think Walcott has at least scored the same as Bale. Don’t forget, Nani has assistants and referees to credit for half his assists, juts like yesterday (jokes, obvi). It also seems that whenever they need it a calamitous bit of keeping goes United’s way, the opposite of arsenal.

Anyway, Arsenal play to Walcott’s strengths with well-designed tactics and Cesc Fabregas as playmaker (better than Modric any day). We all know the closest harry gets to some tactics is when he’s trying to remember what those delicious little peach and passion fruit chewy sweets were.

Not everyone knows this.. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/dec/01/the-question-harry-redknapp-tactically
I think i will take Jonathan Wilson’s opinion over yours.

Ooh, I just got slammed!

I was clearly being facetious, well obviously not clearly enough.

I think people think Bale is inconsistent because he gets hyped up too much by the press. I think he plays consistently well, then will occasionally do something out of the ordinary rather than being as good as Messi but inconsistently.

When he plays I genuinely feel we can score at any moment, even without in form strikers. He can make things happen from nothing on his own from anywhere on the pitch.
He does things no other player can do. The amount of running in some games is non-human.

        Goals+ Assists
Nani       9+18=27
Walcott   7+8=15
Bale       7+3=10

These stats don’t tell the whole story.

Bale has made more than 10 goals, he will make a run and cross which will be headed down by crouch to van der vaart for example. The same can be said for Walcott and Nani. Goals can be made by individuals that don’t have an assist or goal to their name.

Also spurs have scored far less goals than Arsenal or Man Utd. Spurs- 44,  Arsenal-62,  Man Utd-70 which is a contributing factor. All three Spurs strikers have scored just a few more combined than Bale himself. Bale has also played some of those games at left back.

Conclusion, he is one of the best players I have seen this season in the prem at beating a full back and delivering a delightfull cross at top speed, time and time again, if not the best.

Ryan Giggs will always be the Welsh Wizard. Gareth Bale has a long way to go.

It’s amazing how different things were such a short while ago. Gareth Bale was a complete laughing stock until very recently…..........how many games did Spurs go without winning when he played? I remember reading endless guff about how useless and bad a signing he was. He moves up to left wing from left back and now he’s being compared to players like Messi.

Gareth Bale is a textbook example of hysteria at both ends of the scale. The perception of his career so far should studied for centuries to come.

Ben Andrew - 11 April 2011 12:32 AM

Also spurs have scored far less goals than Arsenal or Man Utd. Spurs- 44,  Arsenal-62,  Man Utd-70 which is a contributing factor. All three Spurs strikers have scored just a few more combined than Bale himself.

This is a good point. no-one’s really mentioned the fact that Bale’s assist count could be much higher if he had Berbatov, Hernandez and Rooney, or RVP and Chamakh on the end of his crosses instead of Crouch, Defoe or Pavlyuchenko

Roy Keane’s Mental Face - 11 April 2011 01:29 AM

Ben Andrew - 11 April 2011 12:32 AM

Also spurs have scored far less goals than Arsenal or Man Utd. Spurs- 44,  Arsenal-62,  Man Utd-70 which is a contributing factor. All three Spurs strikers have scored just a few more combined than Bale himself.

This is a good point. no-one’s really mentioned the fact that Bale’s assist count could be much higher if he had Berbatov, Hernandez and Rooney, or RVP and Chamakh on the end of his crosses instead of Crouch, Defoe or Pavlyuchenko

You mean except for when I was the first one to mention it 3/4 of the way back up the thread?  :facepalm

All I’m going to say is this:

If Nani was British, the media would literally be jizzing all over him. Somehow, being Portuguese, he didn’t even get a vote for this player of the year thing. It’s crazy really. I guess he has to be as good as Christiano Ronaldo to be noticed!

And no, I’m not a United fan… I’m a southampton fan.. And I know that Bale has potential to be fantastic, and has shown a few flashes of this… But this season he hasn’t warranted the attention he’s been given, in my opinion.

For those of you talking about stats (E.g. Bale having 3 assists)

Let me point out that Peter Crouch has 7 assists in 1600 minutes. In case you’re wondering… Crouch didn’t cross it in from the wing… More often than not, it was Bale.

This shows that stats are definitely a bit misleading when you just compare assists.

He’s a good player. When he’s done it consistently for 3 or 4 seasons then he’ll be a world class player.

He’s ite