awesome dawson
Mitchell Thomas
Even if Bale only plays once a week I don't think anyone would have an issue with that. I just want to see him get his confidence up with a thirty yarder into the top corner of Arsenal or Liverpool's net.
Perhaps the problem isn't with Bale, but rather with the expectations?Bale's poor form is really worrying. Knew he won't be as good as before but he has been much worse than expected. On his current form, he is not fit to start any matches for us. The most disappointing thing about Bale is that his shots no longer has the power and accuracy as before. Can understand if he is no longer as fast as before but he really should be able to maintain his trade mark long range shots.
Lots of competition, and Moura, Bergwijn and Lamela are very good players. They all work very hard and do a lot for the team off the ball, particularly in the big games.Fluffed that sitter to clinch a win over WHU and Mourinho is probably obligated to make him earn a place in the starting 11. Lots of competition for those MF spots and if someone like Bergwijn can come up off the mat and regain his spot so can Bale. Lamela and Moura work hard when they're out there, so just handing a starting role to Bale would corrode relations with those playing hard.
For Mourinho, it's the right thing to make him earn it and keep the respect of all the other players scrapping for playing time.
Bale would have had more game time in different circumstances though, think people are forgetting that.
Against City he was going to come on, then Toby got injured.
Against Chelsea, if we were behind i think he'd have come on, instead Jose played for the draw (rightly so). So circumstances didn't suit the need for him.
I think he'll still have a big role to play, and we will see him impact other games, but thankfully Jose isn't going to pick him just because his name is Gareth Bale. He'll do what's best for the team, and he'll tweak that depending on the opposition.
Like i said few pages back, obviously was not a Jose signing and he's not obligated to play him, but he also knows he can be an ace in the hole and will utilise him as he thinks best. All a bit of a non-issue this Bale chat for me.
Edit: Last word on it, i don't think Bale is over the hill, nor do i think he's the saviour some also expected, he's just a good option to have, expect that, nothing more, nothing less.
Perhaps the problem isn't with Bale, but rather with the expectations?
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Perhaps the problem isn't with Bale, but rather with the expectations?
seriously who is expecting bale to be the same player when he left? the journos these days are just pathetic.
thats a wide range you suggest though so its certainly possible. however with the majority of players - after 28 its a steep decline.I mean, somewhere between the player who left and the guy who scored winning goals in cup finals for fun? That's a fair expectation, isn't it?
Joe Hartesque dive
It was always a bad idea driven by nostalgia.Bale experiment isn't working
Bale experiment isn't working
I’ve been critical of him on here but it is too early to judge. If we get to Jan or Feb and he hasn’t raised his game, you’ll be right but I’d give him until then.
It was always a bad idea driven by nostalgia.
He looks to have mentally retired and it's why he was so poor in the end in Spain!Said it for years then jumped on the bandwagon myself. But even by low expectations he has been poor. Just doesn't look anywhere near at it