awesome dawson
Mitchell Thomas
Vintage Zidane clip..
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Gareth Bale
- Thread starter GGyid
- Start date
Vintage Zidane clip..
The guy is such an asshat ..
Can you imagine, supposedly Madrid will buy almost no one this season (they are saving the money for a shot at big names next summer) and your ego doesn't want Bale, James and Reguilon in the squad?
nayenezgani
Jimmy Neighbour
Get out.
Ridiculous. With Davies being used as cover at CB. We need the LB cover.
metalgear
Nayim
Imagine if they got along.
I really hope Bale can stay fit until the loan ends [emoji28]
Sent from my SM-T865 using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app
It makes me laugh because after a 6-1 and 7-2 in our last two games, all I can think is
- Against a team with Reguilon +attacking RB, Lo Celso and Ndombele in midfield, Son, Kane, Bale up front and a bench with Lamela, Bergwijn, Lucas, Dele, Vinicius
Someone this season is going to get completely smashed and taken apart ..
Funny thing is, although it might be romantic and nostalgic, certain eras have certain strengths. There was a lot of defensive greats in the mid- to late 90's, while the years after that was dominated by great midfielders. Nowadays seems to be an all-time low in regards of defenders. Except maybe Van Dijk, I would be hard pressed to quickly fill the back 4 in a cheating game of Championship Manager. Good thing is, I think we will see quite a lot of weird scorelines this season. In fact, there's not an abundance of fantastic strikers (prime) either, come to think of it. We are lucky to have one, but dare I say not at the same level as pre-injuries.
DubaiSpur
Ian Walker
Part of it stems from the blurring of roles in the modern game. A defender cannot solely be a monster at the back anymore - he has to be able to bring the ball out with both feet, pass into spaces, see the plays, participate in the buildup. Likewise, the striker has to drop deep, participate in the buildup, press the opponent, keep the ball moving.
A lot of specialization in football has been sacrificed for a raising of the general standard of play. What that has produced are excellent generalists, but only a few really notable specialists, or renowned practitioners of their art. The modern defender is a player like Todibo from Barcelona - good playmaker, good technical player, but only an acceptable defender. That makes it harder for them to hone their skills at the latter.
It also has to do with more general awareness of tactics and systems across football - in modern discourse, fans and players alike understand that systems are what enable players to thrive or struggle.The space for and recognition of individual mavericks is much reduced, and the coach really is king.
I tip my hat to you good sir, that is a splendid analysis. Still, regarding roles you have to have an understanding at the back, not necessarily the sole defensive monster. Many things have been tried, including the obsolete sweeper, it still comes down to having a great pair and even better, a great line. Like the fantastic backlines of 90's AC Milan and Man Utd, even (hark, spit) Arsenal. Admittedly the focus on the game was different, but still. If Sol had stayed, think of the impenetrable defense we could have had with a healthy King. None of those exists today, not even the types. I believe the last great defensive pair (that I know of, and of course in a totally unbiased opinion) was for us with Verthongen and Alderweireld, and even that's a stretch.
RunTMC
John Scales
What are people expecting from Bale this season? Stats-wise. His presence alone has lifted the whole place and but are your views on the following 3 stats:
- Games
- Goals
- Assists
Personally I’m not at all sure what to expect but I’m going for 28 games, 15 goals, 10 assists
- Games
- Goals
- Assists
Personally I’m not at all sure what to expect but I’m going for 28 games, 15 goals, 10 assists
braineclipse
Willie Hall
Spot on.
Just to add to that I think more teams playing with a high line more of the time makes defenders look worse. They're having to defend more with space behind and around them, without real protection. When the press fails that is.
Having the ability to defend as a part of a high line is another ability, so players train and get selected for that too, at the cost of other attributes.
Being a central defender really is a difficult task. You're there battling physically with Harry Kane one moment, next thing you know you have Son running in behind. Then you're asked to play through a high press. Next thing you know you have Ndombele running at you with all his skill and finesse. All of a sudden Gareth Bale is nearing shooting range and you need to be in position to block. You think you got it all covered and before you know it some bloody fullback is speeding into the box and your winger didn't track him. All while keeping your positioning right, tracking players without being dragged out of position, minding the offside line.
If you're bad, or even not great, in any one of these situations you're a liability, a weakness, not good enough. If you can't be consistent good at all of those you're brick. If you don't quite have the pace, strength or height you're useless.
braineclipse
Willie Hall
That would do very well please and thank you.
I find it difficult to think straight when it comes to Bale. So difficult to judge his most recent seasons, so difficult to judge how returning to us will impact him, so difficult to logically evaluate something so emotional. Just thinking about him getting on the ball for the first time makes me all tingly jolly excited. How am I supposed to have anything other than outrageous expectations.
Just want to see him in action. See him in our shirt again. In a way just get out started, enjoy it and start talking about him playing football for us rather than him having signed.
Kandi1977
Terry Dyson
I think that's a stretch. If he could get 20 points total (goals and assist), that would be extremely good. Even Kane and Lewandowski will struggle to reach almost 1 goal/assist per game.
For reference Son had a combined 26 goals and assists in 36 games last season, which is his most prolific season for us.
FatBloke
Jose Dominguez
Where true love is concerned, all objectivity goes out the window.
*makes heart sign*
braineclipse
Willie Hall
I hadn't thought of the heart sign. Will he make the heart sign? At us? Do you think he really likes us back? Can someone pass him a note with a little heart drawn on it signed by all of us. He's so dreamy. Do you really think he likes us? Oh he couldn't, could he. But what if he does? Will he score us goals?
Bale is a lovely name though. Braineclipse Bale does have a nice ring to it. BB, like two little hearts. Don't tell him I said that. He'll think I'm stupid. He will score though Just smash it in. Oh, eh, excuse me for a moment. Just need to, eh, do a thing.
Bale's a lot better than Son.
