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Gareth Bale

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.
 
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'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.
Perhaps the problem isn't with Bale, but rather with the expectations?
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.
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.

Bale, so far at least, hasn't been a superstar. He quite simply hasn't showed himself to be better than his competitors. For us, in our system, for now.

I'm hoping that changes as he regains fitness and form. But it's a very good situation to be in, very good players that can start with a hungry, supremely talented, player fighting to get back to form and into the team.

My only small worry when signing Bale was that he would play too much. Not so much about injuries, but because I didn't expect him to be as good defensively as the players he's competing with and his attacking ability remains somewhat uncertain.

It was only a small worry because I expected Mourinho to do what he's done. Pick performing players over big names, pick players that fit the system over players with big wages and profiles. I'm very happy with him doing just that.

Then the question is what will Bale do from here? I think he can push on, get back to a great level, but there's also the chance he doesn't. We've put ourselves in a position where either outcome is acceptable. We've taken a good gamble, a calculated risk.
 
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.
 
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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.

If he gets match fit, he will be a lot better than good (I saw a lot of Bale at Madrid)

This guy turns up when it matters (something a lot of our squad has not been good at), and he has carried really bad teams (Wales) on his own.

He's just had 2+ years of intermittent playing and needs to find his confidence in his game and his body again ..

He will make a difference to us at some point ...
 
Perhaps the problem isn't with Bale, but rather with the expectations?

Having high expectation is one thing. But the player playing so poorly is another. Apart from his goal against Brighton, Bale has been a mere passenger in all the matches he has played since joining us. He just can't seems to lift his game now.
 
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?
thats a wide range you suggest though so its certainly possible. however with the majority of players - after 28 its a steep decline.

i am secretly hoping that JM is working a transformation in Bale Mk II.
 
The standard line will be that he's building up his fitness. Would be nice to see him run at players a bit. He did it once in the first half but his contributions have been poor so far
 
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.

Half the length of his contract to see his best? Also he is 31 not 41 shouldn't take that long to get fit in my opinion
 
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
He looks to have mentally retired and it's why he was so poor in the end in Spain!
I'm hoping he can't still do a job for Spurs or is will be a waste of that finite resource, money!
 
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