Gareth Bale

[Pablo]

Still think Bale has much more to his game than just a speed merchant. I think he's the best striker of the ball (along with Ronaldo) in the world. Also, I think his skill and touch is underrated because to run with the ball at your feet at that pace takes a massive amount of ability.

And no I'm not Welsh, which enhances my point even more

Not being Welsh enhances just about any point in fairness

[Sarb]

He doesn't beat people with skill or tricks - like Suarez for example - he kicks it past them and legs it. That's it. When his pace goes he'll be done.

He is pure pace. Been over hyped by the press here. He doesn't have the profile of Ronaldo. Didn't something like 20000 people turn up for his unveiling compared to 80000 for Ronaldo?

I'm surprised Real fell for the hype and paid £86m. Levy must be laughing his head off

[cannotmakeit]

A Welsh Djibril Cisse

[Tee]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cj4T7YBQg"]Gareth Bale - Still Speedin' - Best Goals & Skills - Welcome to Real Madrid - 2013/14 HD - YouTube[/ame]

Don't know why he is not regarded so highly, but for me the sight of a graceful player with pace flying down the wing or centre with the ball and unleashing some of those shots is a pure sight to behold. Love it and reckon he will tear it up in La Liga, well I certainly hope he does.

Thought it was fantastic the way his family were all stood with him a the unveiling in Madrid. really want him to succeed, living his dream!

[Shaggy]

That was kinda nice - underneath all the cringeworthy clothes, patented goal celebrations and laughable dives, he does seem a nice, humble lad. And he is an amazing striker of a ball as well as a powerful speed merchant. I'd like to see him upstage that insecure, preening prick Ronaldo tbh but I can't see it

[Tee]

That was kinda nice - underneath all the cringeworthy goals, patented goal celebrations and laughable dives, he does seem a nice, humble lad. And he is an amazing striker of a ball as well as a powerful speed merchant. I'd like to see him upstage that insecure, preening prick Ronaldo tbh but I can't see it

Absolutely. A great role model dare I say. Shame Luis has that mad streak otherwise he equally would come across as such a grounded humble bloke.

[lickedlollipop]

dunno if it was already posted, but..

[Fredo]

Bale is Dan Perky's ultimate footballing fantasy.

[Assassin]

Bale is Dan Perky's ultimate footballing fantasy.

[McDermotX]

Missed this one (although it's probably here earlier in the thread)

Southampton had a 25% sell-on clause for Bale when they sold him to Spurs. That would have been worth £21.5m today.

In 2008 they decided to forego that clause in exchange for goalkeeper Tommy Forecast.

Forecast is now playing in Conference South for Chelmsford.

D'oh !

[Fosterbloke]

Bale is kissing the badge already? ****ing hell...

[baitman]

Southampton will also receive £2 million as a result of the world-record Bale deal from the Fifa solidarity payment that relates to the development of players. They would have received around £10  million had a sell-on clause not been subsequently bought out by Spurs.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/tottenham-hotspur/10258890/Gareth-Bale-joins-Real-Madrid-from-Tottenham-for-a-world-record-fee-of-86m.html

[McDermotX]

Mugs

[dww]

Southampton will also receive £2 million as a result of the world-record Bale deal from the Fifa solidarity payment that relates to the development of players. They would have received around £10  million had a sell-on clause not been subsequently bought out by Spurs.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...ee-of-86m.html

Mugs

Who? IIRC Southampton needed the money to prevent administration or some such at the time they let Spurs but out the clause. Considering since then they have climbed back to the PL I would suggest that they did okay out of the deal.

[McDermotX]

Who? IIRC Southampton needed the money to prevent administration or some such at the time they let Spurs but out the clause. Considering since then they have climbed back to the PL I would suggest that they did okay out of the deal.

Of course they had financial reasons for doing it at the time, but it was more so to enable acquisition of a player rather than cold hard buyout to ease their financial burden.
Obviously, we're not privy enough to the details of the deal for the Forecast fella at the time, but clearly Southampton weighed up the financial balancing of needing to bring in a keeper at the time with the precarious state of the club at the time, and of course they couldn't see the future.
But the 'mugs' statement is more in jest relating to the fact that a 25% sell on clause was waived in lieu of the signing of a keeper on a 5 year deal who never measured up as a playing option for them, nor a financial benefit before he was released earlier in the summer.
Circumstances far beyond the waiving of the clause allowed Southampton, thankfully, to grow to a level where they could achieve PL football again, but it still asks a question as to whether they regret the deal they made with Spurs at the time ?? Question for the Saints board I think.

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