Bale to have medical at Spurs

[Omideyi]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/6683989.stm

Southampton full-back Gareth Bale is exected to have a medical at Tottenham on Wednesday after the two clubs agreed a fee, reports BBC Radio Wales.

[Danners9]

Apparently Southampton have denied the report.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=468146&CPID=8&clid=6&lid=4161&title=Saints+reject+Bale+reports

Southampton have denied reports suggesting Tottenham have agreed a deal for prodigious left-back Gareth Bale.

No quotes there though, it's a short story.

[sendorange]

Southampton will have to sell him this summer to cover their losses now the parachute payments are over for them and Burley had 2nd highest transfer budget last year. Although I'm sure they would love an auction.

[KHowe]

Promising news. Anything to avoid last season's LB disaster.

[cdmphy]

Last year wasn't a disaster at LB until both BAE and Lee went out. Lee had a solid season (dodgy at times and I know I called him some horrible things in the middle of games) but proved he was a valuable squad member, especially going forward basically alone on the left. And remember, he's really a RB.

BAE is hopefully a work in progress, but he scared us all - especially when he watched Makalele score that cracker. I could have done that....I did that. At least I was angry about it :)

I don't think Bale is being signed as a pure LB. I think he's being signed as LM, with some time in the back during cup games. I could be wrong, but few defenders are all that good until their 20's. His strengths are in attack and set pieces.

Notice that we aren't linked with any other LM other than Petrov (and that seems mostly to be fans) and Gamst (and that is unlikely). However if we got Gamst, Bale could be used solely at LB, as I read stats that showed Gamst is one of the harderst working mids out there and would provide Bale some insurance.

And as for Soho rubbishing the reports: that is the stongest indication yet that the deal is done :D

[heez]

Apparently Southampton have denied the report.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=468146&CPID=8&clid=6&lid=4161&title=Saints+reject+Bale+reports



No quotes there though, it's a short story.

"Saints boss George Burley earlier denied reports a fee had been agreed between the two clubs"

the first line in the report by BBC

[cdmphy]

That's bull.

http://www.rivals.net/default.asp?sid=895&p=2&stid=8447496

They are hemorraging money and have to sell a kid for 10 million pounds.

[DigitalTron]

I don't think Bale is being signed as a pure LB. I think he's being signed as LM, with some time in the back during cup games. I could be wrong, but few defenders are all that good until their 20's. His strengths are in attack and set pieces.

And as for Soho rubbishing the reports: that is the stongest indication yet that the deal is done :D

Excellent points. It could be argued that Jol almost plays with a 442 a lot like the Dutch 343, or maybe a bit more like a 352. He insists that our left back be a wingback, covering the left back position defensively, yes, but also providing the flank service from that side as well. He's required to be at least a box-to-box player, and preferably an endline-to-endline player. Then, Jol uses that player we nominally call a left midfielder as another central midfielder. That's why Jol keeps stocking up on central midfielders, and why he demands so much from his left back.

This news, if true, would be a very strong indication that we're close to landing Bale ... from under Manchester United and Arsenal's noses. I'm a bit surprised that Bale is having a physical at Spurs. If true, it looks like we've found our left flank player. I just hope he can get his crosses off consistently while being marked by Premiership players. I'd hate to have him just as a dead-ball specialist.

If we're paying 8M£ to 10M£, I hope he becomes a lot better than Gareth Barry. I surely wouldn't pay 10M£ for a young Gareth Barry.

-Digital

[KHowe]

Last year wasn't a disaster at LB until both BAE and Lee went out.

That's exactly what I meant.