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In your opinion, amongst the best players in the world, where would you put him?

The lad has had 2 shit hot seasons thats it, no way near the top 5 imo, if he carrys on like the way he was at spurs hell get there nps.

Not consistent enough to be in top five. He aint far off but down to his long range shots and free kicks. With tranny at real will he be taking the free kicks? Not majority of them.
Could end up being an embarrassment for such money changing hands.

I went for outside the top 5, simply because I don't think he is there.....YET

Messi, Ronaldo are obviously 1st & 2nd, but individual tastes dictate which way round. But it's Messi for me personally.

Then there are a few other players that I rate higher than Bale.

RVP for one, finally seems to have got himself fit and is mr reliable, with the odd occasional special moment. I'd love to see a player LIKE him at City, but not him :)

Xavi & Iniesta in my book are better players too

Falcao also.....i'll stop there

Ribery? Amazed that he won the award.

s1ty m wrote:Ribery? Amazed that he won the award.

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

3rd best in the world for me.

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.

Bridge'srightfoot wrote: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.

Wonderwall wrote:

Bridge'srightfoot wrote: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

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

Bridge'srightfoot wrote: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?

Wonderwall wrote:

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:

Wonderwall wrote:

Bridge'srightfoot wrote: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.

Agreed. He hasn't just done it recently. He was the catalyst for their Chumps League run two or was it 3 seasons ago.

dazby wrote:Agreed. He hasn't just done it recently. He was the catalyst for their Chumps League run two or was it 3 seasons ago.

He absolutely tore Inter apart both home and away. Maicon at the time was still regarded as one of the best right backs out there was completely torn a new arsehole by him.

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.

Bale is not even the best player at Spurs let alone in the world! ... yet

Sideshow Bob wrote: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.

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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.

If he played in Spain the past 3 swasons you'd all be demanding we sign him.

He's carried spuds.

Bridge'srightfoot wrote:

Sideshow Bob wrote: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.

dazby wrote:If he played in Spain the past 3 swasons you'd all be demanding we sign him.

He's carried spuds.

It's not often I disagree with you but you could also say that, well he was good at pretty good club but would he cut it at world class one?

In Tottenham he was like Tevez during Mancini's first full season with us. Every ball was supposed to go to him, as often as was possible. Both Tevez and Bale delivered when given that responsibility but at Real Madrid, he won't be the first player his team-mates will automatically look for when they get the ball.

To become one of the great players of your generation nowadays you have to make it at the really big clubs. I'd say that we'll know if Bale is good enough in a couple of years. Right now, he's yet to prove himself consistently at the toppety top top level of football.