Football

Evolutionary terms I'd say Bale is 7 million years behind

Once Bale has performed at clubs like Man Utd and Real Madrid for 4 or 5 seasons we can start comparing him to CRonaldo. Most hyped up player of the year award goes to Bale. Another one on his shelf.

mikec- he shoots, he scores..

Moar realistic?

new page post!

Has the shirt situation been resolved yet?

You mean are Pisti's sheets still soaking?

We need a bedwetter thread especially for him.

Of course we have one;

http://www.lfgss.com/thread95561.html

Pisti - can you just post in that thread until you man up please.

Liking the fact that slain called it right, a hybrid of Molby and Boy George.

According to Dave "The Secret Footballer" Kitson quite a few players have been got by the tax man for this in the past few years. May the big bills continue.

It will come as no surprise that this was the standard form of remuneration at Portsmouth during 'Arrys reign.

Jaw why the bale hate?

Nice piece which seems to be pointing to Bale staying put at least for another season.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/may/09/gareth-bale-tottenham-hotspur

And don't get pulled into the Ronaldo/Messi comparisons, just the press and know nothing pundits getting overexcited. Where are the really good, but not great player comparisons, who are the "world class" players that they consistently speak of, that he has now joined

here's the guardian's top 100 players from 2012
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/interactive/2012/dec/20/top-100-footballers-in-the-world-interactive

Wouldn't it be better to compare Bale to Hazard or Di Maria or a.n.other young player in a similar position who is on the verge of creative competitive consistency, and winning things?

Bale isn't fit to clean Eden's boots...

CB - my grudge with Bale is that it appears that he's starting to believe the hype.
Trademarking that friggin hand gesture is only the beginning, some might say he's ill advised others might say he's a twerp.

The boy can play football, I'll give him that. The media need to have a long hard look at themselves for awarding him with all the plaudits.

Serious question, Mata or Bale? (there's a 15 month age gap between the 2)

Bale isn't fit to clean Eden's boots...

This!

Fuck. Can't believe Roman let that one get away! Best goalscorer in the game at present.

not having a manager may have affected things for the player?

would the picture of bedwetsi benefit from a wembley patch?

Jaw that's a difficult question, Mata is more of the finished article, and I can see him, being a more attacking fulcrum for Spain when Xavi hangs up his boots.

But Bale has that pace, that terrifies, has scored more goals than Mata and Hazard combined in the league, and is starting to show an appreciation for picking out a pass, to play in someone else.

I think I'd take Bale as I think he's got more room to grow in terms of passing, controlling games through the runs he makes, and the pressure he can put on defences, and also in becoming aware that on the days when he isn't scoring or "contributing" as much, just through the attention focused on him, allows his team mates more opportunities to win the game..

not having a manager may have affected things for the player?

Monaco's managerial position is in flux with rumours abounding about Ranieri getting the push so Mourinho or a.n.other big name manager can be lured to the tax free haven of Monaco..

interesting article here by paul doyle on possible sanctions against them by the rest of Ligue 1
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2013/may/02/monaco-paris-saint-germain-ligue-1

He'll be gone in the summer, CornBall...

Interesting to see all the #moyesout stuff... Bumped into a mate who's an actually-really-from-Manchester-but-watches-games-in-the-effra-I'm-a-plastic-and-proud United fan this morning, he thought Moyes was a good shout...

Corndog - Mata's conversion rate is 50% when it comes to shots to goal ratio. Also, Mata is the more inventive player and has more than double the number of assists.

Is it fair to say that AVB wants Bale to play in the Mata position these days?

Moyes is a good shout, like the idea of a 6 yr contract, enough time to win stuff, without placing a win now emphasis. The only ones who will be up in arms if Utd don't get off to a winning start is the media and the over entitled fans who will make the whiny Arsene out brigade at the Library sound like small children in comparison, with the proper balls to the walls tantrums they'll pish out..

#NoShirtNoTalk
#Weartheshirt

Jaw, as mentioned above, Mata is more of the finished article, see his time at Valencia when the burden fell on his shoulders to create and score for the team, but its also why I was comparing Bale to Hazard or Di Maria who are more wingers with pace who can step inside, rather than a centre loving passer who can skip outside like Mata..

#NoShirtNoTalk
#Weartheshirt

Nothing leaves a player faster than his 'pace'. What then? Bale will just be another good Welsh left winger.

And talking of comparisons, he's not even close to where Giggs was at the same age.

Not in body hair anyway.

Corny, why shouldn't Utd fans expect to get off to a winning start?

They have been head and shoulders above any other team in the UK this year and no one is predicting an exodus. 6 years shows confidence in your selection process but instant success is still required.