Bale - POLL

[Cocacolajojo1]

Yes. 3rd best in the world and I'll stand by that.
Whilst he may have never won or got in top 5 of WPOTY, it's hardly a foolproof method of saying who's better than who. For example Balotelli and Rooney finished higher than Bale in 2012. Who here seriously thinks that they are both better than him?

It's a hell of a lot of money Real are spending. But look at it this way, he's only 24 and just had an absolute stormer of a season where he was as good as anyone bar Ronaldo and Messi. He has another 6-8 years at the top. If he helps Madrid win titles and the CL it will be worth it. Having him and Ronaldo in the same side will absolutely scare the shit out of teams.

His ability to score from range shouldn't be dismissed or belittled. How many games did we play last season where we simply couldn't break teams down playing tippy tappy football.
Sometimes you need someone to be able to smash one in from distance to win you games against stubborn defences. Whilst we have a couple of players who can take a decent long range effort, none can do it as powerfully, accurately and consistently as Bale does. He also takes a fantastic free kick, has pace to burn and is a good one on one finisher too. I'd go as far to say with him in our side we'd rip up the league.

Is he as good as Ronaldo or Messi? No not yet but he has 3 years on both of them and at Madrid he can definitely get up to that standard.

So you have considered all of the alternatives?

Xavi, iniesta, Ribery, Robben, Mata, Reus, hell I would put Luis Suarez ahead of him.

I don't see how you can compare Xavi or Inisesta to him for starters. Different positions. Very different roles. It's only really fair to compare him to attackers.

And yes I think he's better than Ribery, Mata and Reus. Robben is not too far off but again is a lot older and Less playing years in him

You said he is the 3rd best player in the world, then you say attacker.... so what about Neymar, Falcoa, RVP, Tevez, Gomes, Cavani, Ibrahimovic, Suarez, Aguero? or are you saying attacking midfielders?

When putting players into categories for comparison, you have goalkeepers, centre backs, full backs, midfielders and attackers (including 'wingers').
That's why I hate lists like 'best player in the world'. How can you for example compare Kompany to Xavi, Aguero to Alonso, Buffon to Shweinsteger etc. So I'm only really comparing him to attackers. Yes I think he's better or as good as all on that list.

You have to add Iniesta to the comparison as well. He's played a lot of times as a forward/winger and I'd say he's better than Bale at that position as well. Don't get me wrong, he's even better as a central-attacking midfielder but he's world class as a winger-outer forward as well.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

ok, he's fast and has a hard shot. his linkup play, passing, awareness, vision are average at best. dribbles are below average...he's basically a kick and rush winger. balotelli has more skill on the ball. bale in the top 3 overall?? you're 'avin a laff.

Below average dribbling?
I'll have some of what you're on please.

Fuck me, I'd say Ronaldo and Messi the only other players in world football who can dribble so fast and powerfully yet remain so much control over the ball.

your videos just proved my point. his "dribbling" consists of knocking the ball past an opponent and outrunning him.

That's what dribbling essentially consists of, knocking the ball past someone and getting onto it. it's about being able to control the ball after aswell. Look at the goals he scored, how many players could do that? Nedum Onuoha is even quicker and could knock the ball past players and outpace them, but he wouldn't have anywhere near the balance, control and ability to finish the move off. In each of those clips he goes past 2 or 3 players like they weren't there.


Below average? You have incredibly high standards of dribbling

[Sideshow Bob]

ok, he's fast and has a hard shot. his linkup play, passing, awareness, vision are average at best. dribbles are below average...he's basically a kick and rush winger. balotelli has more skill on the ball. bale in the top 3 overall?? you're 'avin a laff.

Below average dribbling?
I'll have some of what you're on please.

Fuck me, I'd say Ronaldo and Messi the only other players in world football who can dribble so fast and powerfully yet remain so much control over the ball.

your videos just proved my point. his "dribbling" consists of knocking the ball past an opponent and outrunning him.

That's what dribbling essentially consists of, knocking the ball past someone and getting onto it. it's about being able to control the ball after aswell. Look at the goals he scored, how many players could do that? Nedum Onuoha is even quicker and could knock the ball past players and outpace them, but he wouldn't have anywhere near the balance, control and ability to finish the move off. In each of those clips he goes past 2 or 3 players like they weren't there.


Below average? You have incredibly high standards of dribbling

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

[Original Dub]

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

Exactly.

Bale isn't a world class dribbler.

He is a poor man's ronaldo. Excellent player but nowhere near what is being made out by the British media.

[BlueinBosnia]

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

But then couldn't you argue that he would be even better outside the Prem, as most leagues allow players more space and time on the ball?

I'd say he's in the Top 5 most valuable players in the world, due to position and age as well as how good he is, but not in the Top 5 overall 'best'. Were we short in his position, or overhauling an aging squad, I'd have no qualms with us forking out €80m (or £65-68m) for him.

[Saul Goodman]

Well Messi, Ronaldo, Iniesta, and Xavi are ahead of him so that's 5th at best but there's probably more ahead of him. I'd put him in the top 15

[PeterParker]

Dunno about that, huge advantage that he has is that he is proven in Premier. If you are a star in Premier, you will be everywhere.

[Slim]

Dunno about that, huge advantage that he has is that he is proven in Premier. If you are a star in Premier, you will be everywhere.

Like Michael Owen.

[PeterParker]

Dunno about that, huge advantage that he has is that he is proven in Premier. If you are a star in Premier, you will be everywhere.

Like Michael Owen.

Touche.

pmsl.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

ok, he's fast and has a hard shot. his linkup play, passing, awareness, vision are average at best. dribbles are below average...he's basically a kick and rush winger. balotelli has more skill on the ball. bale in the top 3 overall?? you're 'avin a laff.

Below average dribbling?
I'll have some of what you're on please.

Fuck me, I'd say Ronaldo and Messi the only other players in world football who can dribble so fast and powerfully yet remain so much control over the ball.

your videos just proved my point. his "dribbling" consists of knocking the ball past an opponent and outrunning him.

That's what dribbling essentially consists of, knocking the ball past someone and getting onto it. it's about being able to control the ball after aswell. Look at the goals he scored, how many players could do that? Nedum Onuoha is even quicker and could knock the ball past players and outpace them, but he wouldn't have anywhere near the balance, control and ability to finish the move off. In each of those clips he goes past 2 or 3 players like they weren't there.


Below average? You have incredibly high standards of dribbling

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

Absolute bollocks. He has one of the best shots, and is a great finisher too. Takes a bloody good free kick. You think he'd struggle to make the bench for Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Hull City?
If he just ahd pace then surely Usain Bolt would be equally as good on a fotoball pitch or infact any sprinter. Onuoha has tonnes of pace, do you think he can do what Bale can?
Take a look at this goal and tell me 'he only has pace'
[youtube]wyqcbBfyzMc[/youtube]

[Slim]

Absolute bollocks. He has one of the best shots, and is a great finisher too. Takes a bloody good free kick. You think he'd struggle to make the bench for Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Hull City?
If he just ahd pace then surely Usain Bolt would be equally as good on a fotoball pitch or infact any sprinter. Onuoha has tonnes of pace, do you think he can do what Bale can.

Yes.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

Absolute bollocks. He has one of the best shots, and is a great finisher too. Takes a bloody good free kick. You think he'd struggle to make the bench for Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Hull City?
If he just ahd pace then surely Usain Bolt would be equally as good on a fotoball pitch or infact any sprinter. Onuoha has tonnes of pace, do you think he can do what Bale can.

Yes.[/quote]
Shame no one told him, he could have been completing an 80 million transfer to Real Madrid as we speak.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

Absolute bollocks. He has one of the best shots, and is a great finisher too. Takes a bloody good free kick. You think he'd struggle to make the bench for Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Hull City?
If he just ahd pace then surely Usain Bolt would be equally as good on a fotoball pitch or infact any sprinter. Onuoha has tonnes of pace, do you think he can do what Bale can.

Yes.[/quote]
Shame no one told him, he could have been completing an 80 million transfer to Real Madrid as we speak. Instead he plays for QPR.

[Beefymcfc]

Monkey Booooyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!

[Sideshow Bob]

your videos just proved my point. his "dribbling" consists of knocking the ball past an opponent and outrunning him.

That's what dribbling essentially consists of, knocking the ball past someone and getting onto it. it's about being able to control the ball after aswell. Look at the goals he scored, how many players could do that? Nedum Onuoha is even quicker and could knock the ball past players and outpace them, but he wouldn't have anywhere near the balance, control and ability to finish the move off. In each of those clips he goes past 2 or 3 players like they weren't there.


Below average? You have incredibly high standards of dribbling

for me it's all about close control in tight quarters. bale doesn't have it, while players like iniesta and messi do. that is the difference. bale is all about pace. without pace, bale would struggle to make the bench for a top flight side.

Absolute bollocks. He has one of the best shots, and is a great finisher too. Takes a bloody good free kick. You think he'd struggle to make the bench for Crystal Palace, Sunderland, Hull City?
If he just ahd pace then surely Usain Bolt would be equally as good on a fotoball pitch or infact any sprinter. Onuoha has tonnes of pace, do you think he can do what Bale can?
Take a look at this goal and tell me 'he only has pace'

i never said he "only has pace." i acknowedged earlier that he has a good shot on him. my point was that his dribbling is based only on pace, because he lacks the close control of a messi/ronaldo/iniesta.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

i never said he "only has pace." i acknowedged earlier that he has a good shot on him. my point was that his dribbling is based only on pace, because he lacks the close control of a messi/ronaldo/iniesta.

You said without his pace he's struggle to make it on to the bench of a premier league side. Absolute rubbish. Even if he had average pace, you think he would struggle to get on the bench of Crystal Palace or Hull etc?
He has ability as well as pace, look at his goal against Stoke or Us, nothing to do with pace, pure ability.


And yes he may lack the close control of Iniesta or Xavi but they lack the ferocious pace of Bale.
PACE IS NOT SOMETHING TO DISMISS.
He scores wonderful goals because of his pace, he wins his team games from it, what's the problem? It's a massive asset. But unlike most pacy players who tend to beat 4 men and then run into a blind alley etc, he is able to finish the chances and put across great crosses.
There are very few players in world football who can run quicker with the ball than him.
He's also probably the best long range shooter in the world and one of if not the best free kick taker.

Would struggle to get on the bench of a top flight side without his pace? My arse.

[Beefymcfc]

He's definately not shit but top 5 in the world, I don't think so.

[dazby]

I just don't think that Xavi, nor Iniesta could make as much of an impact on Tottenham as Bale does. Bale could make an impact at Barca.

Bale is the better player.

[Wonderwall]

I just don't think that Xavi, nor Iniesta could make as much of an impact on Tottenham as Bale does. Bale could make an impact at Barca.

Bale is the better player.

Sorry dazby I nearly spat my pint out. That is one of the worst of your 15k posts

[Jorgobot]

i'm not he helped win CL ,german cup & league Messi won liga ,Tranny sweet FA

So did the rest do that team. In no way did he outplay messi and ronaldo and winning the league and want not isn't win by one player like messi ronaldo or ribery. Bayern just had the best overall team