Glass Dragons Still Breathe Fire - The Gareth Bale Thread

If we could make this work it would be our best option. Bale's big problem is his lack of involvement in build up play. If we have another man in midfield, and change his role slightly, that's less of a problem.

The question then being, is he going to as effective a partner for Ronaldo as Benzema is?

 

If that is true, that is shocking. Anyways, I hope he had a big world cup so we can see him for something crazy.

I like Bale and was thinking he was placing himself to take Cristiano's role the beginning of last season. However after what we all witnessed last season, I think we all know his self-life may be even shorter than Cristiano's!

 

I'll get slated for this but I would say no, there is a reason for his lack of involvement in build up play, Benz is far more involved in that than he is ( although we need him to score goals) IMO the reason is simple, they are different kinds of players with completely different set of skills, although Gareth thinks he can play in the middle ( even allegedly trying to force that) he just does not have that skill set,

for all the nonchalance that Benz displays, much to our annoyance, and for all the times he misses chances and we wonder where he is instead of being in the box where he should be, and although we did not buy him for his "link up play", he is quite good at it , he makes space for Ronaldo, he defers.

I don't see Gareth with those kinds of skills, he has his own way of playing that is pretty much just like Ronaldo, every now and then it might come off but I think more often than not they'd get in each other's way and instead of creating space for each other would end up mostly fighting for the same space, we are talking Ronaldo here, someone has to play second fiddle, who would it be

 

Remember when Barca Kids ripped this off and did one for messi

 

We can argue about that...again... But, when is the last time you have seen "top level" Bale?

I take Disco Isco any day of the week, especially in Spain while replacing Bale`s pace ( which was non existant last season ) with Mbappe.

In short, this would be lunacy:

CR7 - Mbappe
Isco ​

 

It would certainly be a different partnership to how Cristiano/Benzema function. But with that midfield, Ronaldo's movement in the box and Bale's explosiveness, it could be something.

 

Bale is British.... and the greatest of his generation. Somebody in England will pay for him.

Oh... it was his birthday yesterday!!! I meant to say.... but at 28, his value might not be sustained beyond next summer.

 

Let's start with your feelings in this pre-season after the physical problems of last year …

"It is clear that the pre-season is going to be hard, we are working hard to get in shape. To be prepared as soon as possible for the season."

How is your ankle?

"Well, logically on this trip I have not put much intensity into the area, so as to recover well. Last year with the pain I found it difficult to get in shape. I worked hard to recover and now I can do the pre-season fully. Last year it bothered me, because you always try to come back to help the team, and give the best of yourself. Maybe I should have been recovering longer and not forcing, but now there is no pain. I have strength in my ankle and I am ready.”

Looking back has it been the most complicated year of your career, or at least in Real Madrid?

"Well, until January everything went very well for me. It was bad luck, you cannot avoid these injuries in football, when you knock your ankle. Logically it was very hard, but the most important thing is that we won titles and very important ones."

Have you looked back over what happened in Cardiff? The bench, your entrance onto the pitch, the cup ... It can't have been easy.

"To be honest, six weeks before the final I worked hard to get in shape, and being on the bench was the most rewarding thing, because if I did not do that job I would not have been there. I worked hard, 12 hours a day, to be available in the final, to make the ankle right, and being able to enjoy those minutes was the most rewarding. Raising the cup in front of my family and friends was amazing."

What do you expect for this new season?

"To make a good pre-season and start 100 percent with the team. When I came back last year from the injury I was about 50 percent, I tried to improve, but my ankle would not let me. My goal now is to get in shape and continue playing with Madrid."

Will we see then the best Bale this season or the most regular?

"I will try to have my best season, of course, as always, if I respect the injuries I will have a great season. Now you have to get strong to try to avoid these injuries."

There were rumours about your future, have you thought about leaving Real Madrid?

"No, everything has been complicated due to my injury, but for nothing else. I can still play football very well, when I am at the maximum I will give the best again, I signed a long contract in Madrid and I am happy in this club. I am sure this is going to be a great season. My plan is to score goals here."

But is it true that United wanted you?

"The truth is that I do not read any of that. Logically I am a British player and I am always linked with a return home. It happened with Beckham, with other Englishmen who came to Spain. Nothing new. I am happy playing in Madrid, logically interest is interest, but if there has been nothing concrete, no offer, there is nothing to discuss."

Do you feel Zidane's support? Have you talked to him?

"We have been here only a few days, we have a lot of time over the preseason, to prepare well and see what will happen."

Did you expect Zidane to triumph so quickly?

"Maybe there were people who did not think so, but he had the support of the team, we worked hard, all working for the team and talented people, so we won many titles. We will follow logically along the same path and see if we win more titles."

Do you think you can manage all six?

"It is clear that it is very difficult. It's hard to win one, imagine six, but that's the reason we're here. We'll go out to win everything, that's the plan, and we think we can do it. Obviously we will also need luck.”

Who is Bale's worst opponent this season on his way to success?

"I have confidence and it is important to have a good pre-season to be fit and strong. As I said the most important thing is to avoid serious injuries. There are always little setbacks in preseason. The most important thing is to concentrate on the game and do the best you can."

Are you conscious that it is becoming more difficult to find a place in the Madrid side?

"Possibly, but for that I am here, and that is why I play for the best team in the world, to win the maximum number of trophies. We all want to play and we all work hard to win our places, but this is not 11 players. Zidane wants to keep rotating and will give options for everyone. I think the most important thing is to think that we all will win.

I think in previous seasons we did well in LaLiga or in the Champions League, but in the last campaign we won both thanks to the rotations, it gave us a lot of freshness, it's a great method of working because the players have time to recover. It's good, in football now everyone has to contribute."

Do you really believe that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave?

"I have not read anything, I have no clue as to what is going to happen. Look, I found out yesterday that Lukaku had signed for Manchester ... I really do not know."

But you expect to continue playing with him at Real Madrid, right?

"Sure, we won titles, we did well, we don’t need to change anything.”

And you think he will stay with you?

"You will have to ask him."

Do you think this is the strongest group you've played with?

"We have a big group, if one player cannot play, another one comes in and he does the same. Very strong players coming on from the bench. Yes, that's important for the whole season."

Have you also been surprised by Asensio?

"No, he is doing very well, in games and in training, he has had very bright moments last season and is a very good player. I hope this year will continue along the same path. It is normal to have good players in Madrid."

What do you think of Kylian Mbappe?

"I have not seen much, really. I do not see much football, but I know he is a good player and if he comes it is because he has had a great last season and I hope he helps the team if he comes."

Do you still believe in reaching the World Cup with Wales?

"Sure, we have four games left and we are four points from the top, we are still there, and while there are options we will fight to the end, but it will not be easy. We measure ourselves with the ones above and we will also need luck."

Who will be the rivals for Real Madrid on their way to success?

“The usual ones. Several English teams, Bayern, Barcelona, Juventus, PSG ... Always similar, but to get to the end you have to win against whoever."

Do you consider the criticism of the BBC fair? What do you say to those who think the team plays better without the BBC?

"They are opinions and they are in their right to say that."

Real Madrid also won titles with the BBC …

"The facts speak for themselves. People can talk, but in the end the coach makes decisions."

Are you comfortable with Benzema and Ronaldo?

"Yes, we spend time together, we feel very comfortable and we have won many things together. It is the coach's decision how the team has to play and we will do our best."

 

A long interview where he basically says nothing lol. So much PR fluff.

 

For someone who does so well with his commercially, he is quite a bland character. Not a bad thing, you know he won't bring any trouble to the club - bar his agent.

 

Well yea. Bale is the bland shy good guy. He'll never fight for himself personally or say something interesting. He will only do it through his agent and go cry to Flo.

 

Better a bland and humble player than a loose cannon or a Pique type always stirring drama.

I appreciate Bale's character, markedly different than many players in the squad. The interviews may not be very exciting, but he lets his game do the talking.

 

He avoided some questions whose answers could have caused him trouble. Smart move from him.

Otherwise it's just a regular interview where not much is revealed.

 

43 - @GarethBale11 is the second player who has assisted more goals (43) since his arrival to @realmadriden after @Cristiano (60). Birthday. pic.twitter.com/wUE9KkN9Kw

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 16, 2017

 

No he is on another level to them. So as not to make them look overly inferior, out of their huge generosity they've decided not to include the playmaking CF we have been graced with

 

I meant to be available for at least 90 percent of the games.

Apparently the guy still thinks his injuries are 'bad luck' which happens to everybody. He needs a reality check. James was described around here as a luxury player, but it doesn't get more luxury than Bale with his salary and injury breaks in a situation where we already have the exact same type of player in the team, just better (Ronaldo).

If this was a Mourinho team, having both Bale and Ronaldo would have made sense. But with this incredible midfield, its simply an overkill. Just choose between the injury prone guy and the old guy and get rid of the declining glue guy instead of deceiving yourself that 'he will hit form'. But as someone said, persisting with the BBC must be somehow be related to Barcelona having the MSN, and we have to match them. It reeks of complexes which frankly we shouldn't have.

 

They are called Pre-assists.

 

Also all 60 of ronaldos assists are not real assists either .

 

http://www.espnfc.us/spanish-primer...bale-talks-injuries-champions-league-and-isco

ESPN FC had an interview with Gareth Bale. Interesting to see his perspective going forward.

Some of the questions the interviewer asked are really stupid:

What is your relationship like with Cristiano Ronaldo? Ans: We're just like any other teammates.

What's it like to fight for the same position with Isco? Ans: We don't fight for the same positions.

 

New season, same shit !!

 

Would be cool to see Bale on top, with Ronaldo or without Ronaldo.

 

You have to have the movement and positioning and the ability to play with your back turned to the goal. Bale doesn't have that.