Bale is one of the three best British players produced in the last 30 years
When I saw Gareth Bale play for the first time in an away match against Man Utd in August, I mentioned that Alex Ferguson should eventually sign the 18 year old full back as the long term replacement for Ryan Giggs.
Bale then disappeared somewhat after a bright start to his Spurs career - and really only resurfaced in the latter half of last season when he was outstanding in helping to drive Spurs to a Champs League position. At this time I often mentioned that Real Madrid should sign him up as a new Galactico.
This season Bale has gone into seamless overdrive. He is a one man stampede down the left wing. His attributes are stunning: he regularly beats his opponent with ease; has a fantastic delivery with his left foot; has a tremendous strength, pace, stamina, balance and athleticism; has an excellent on-field temperament; and can ping a left foot shot with a force and accuracy that few in the world can emulate.
For me I think that Bale is arguably the best British player I have seen since first watching football in the late 1980's. Giggs and Gascoigne are perhaps the two best that I have seen - and I do not hesitate to put Bale at their level.
What is your view?
posted by T at 11/26/2010 04:11:00 pm
EFT match of the season for 2008/2009: Barcelona construct a masterclass footballing performance to defeat the reigning Champions League holders and current English champions, Manchester United, by a scoreline of 2-0 in the 2009 Champions League final in Rome
EFT player of the season for 2008/2009: Chelsea central midfielder, Frank Lampard
EFT player of the month for May 2009: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for April 2009: Andrey Arshavin (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for March 2009: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2009: Phil Jagielka (Everton)
EFT player of the month for January 2009: Nemanja Vidic (Man Utd)
EFT player of the month for December 2008: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2008: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2008: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for September 2008: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for August 2008: Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic)
EFT match of Euro 2008: Turkey's amazing comeback from two goals down to beat Czech Republic 3-2 as captain Nihat Kahveci's two goals in the last three minutes sensationally put his country through to the quarter finals at the expense of their beaten opponents
EFT player of Euro 2008: Spain (anchor) central midfielder, Marcos Senna
EFT match of the season for 2007/2008: Liverpool win titanic Champions League quarter-final second leg 4-2 against Arsenal that also saw two of the best football moments of the season - Fernando Torres' top corner strike and Theo Walcott's thrilling run across the whole of Anfield.
EFT player of the season for 2007/2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for May 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for April 2008: Ashley Young (Aston Villa)
EFT player of the month for March 2008: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for February 2008: David James (Portsmouth)
EFT player of the month for January 2008: Ronaldo (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for December 2007: Roque Santa Cruz (Blackburn Rovers)
EFT player of the month for November 2007: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for October 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)
EFT player of the month for September 2007: Francesc Fabregas (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for August 2007: Fernando Torres (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for May 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for April 2007: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for March 2007: Carlos Tevez (West Ham Utd)
EFT player of the month for February 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for January 2007: Thierry Henry (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for December 2006: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester Utd)
EFT player of the month for November 2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for October 2006: Jussi Jaaskelainen (Bolton Wanderers)
EFT player of the month for September 2006: Andrew Johnson (Everton)
EFT player of the month for August 2006: Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth)
EFT match of World Cup 2006: Italy win a thrilling 'end-to-end' World Cup semi-final 2-0 against Germany courtesy of two late extra time goals from Fabio Grosso and Alessandro del Piero 
EFT player of World Cup 2006: Italy captain and centre-back, Fabio Cannavaro
EFT match of the season for 2005-2006: Liverpool win the FA Cup final 3-1 on penalties against West Ham after a Steven Gerrard-led fighback saw the Anfield side recover from 2-0 and 3-2 down to level the match in normal time
EFT player of the month for May 2006: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for April 2006: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for March 2006: Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
EFT player of the month for February 2006: Aiyegbeni Yakubu (Middlesbrough)
EFT player of the month for January 2006: Jason Roberts (Wigan Athletic)
EFT player of the month for December 2005: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)
EFT player of the month for November 2005: Robin van Persie (Arsenal)
EFT player of the month for October 2005: Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
EFT player of the month for September 2005: Danny Murphy (Charlton Athletic)
EFT player of the month for August 2005: Wayne Rooney (Manchester Utd)
EFT match of the season for 2004-2005: Liverpool win Champions League final 3-2 on penalties against AC Milan after sensationally recovering from 3-0 down to level the match in normal time
8 Comments:
Surely you should add Paul Scholes to that list?
11/26/2010 5:45 pm
The obvious difference is that Giggs managed to be that good consistently for over a decade. So far Bale has done it for a few months - plenty of other players (Lennon, Berbatov, Modric etc) have been awesome over that timeframe before fading away, so the real test will come next year and the one after that.
That said, at the moment he's out of this world so I wouldn't swap him for anyone!
11/26/2010 5:50 pm
Thanks Embee, I did seriously consider adding Scholes to the list, but ultimately concluded he slightly lacks that undoubted superstar quality that Giggs and Gascoigne had at their best.
Brilliant footballer though, no doubt.
Thanks also to Anon: definitely agree the test will come with time. But for me Bale transcends the players you mention - and I don't doubt he will prove over time that he is what he is: a footballing sensation.
11/26/2010 6:18 pm
What a disgrace of an article!
Such a lack of respect to players who have performed consistently brilliantly over extended periods.
Bale has a looooooooooong way to go.
Pull your trousers up and wipe your chin.
11/26/2010 6:36 pm
Modric? Inconsistent? The most consitently good player for Spurs these past few season?
11/26/2010 8:36 pm
I rate Giggs, I loved Gazza and I love Modders despite the deep voice and miserable demeanour but none of that lot could have scored a hat trick at the San Siro in a ten man team against the European Champs. I was there and I reckon it will go down as one the best ever performances in football history. Bale is head and shoulders above the other players mentioned. Did you see his header against Blackburn? He is astonishing in every department: touch, balance, strength, crossing, heading, stamina, attitude, accuracy and confidence. Watch him over the next few years.
11/26/2010 9:51 pm
ridiculous post, i'm a tottenham fan and i find this article pretty humourous. Bale, Gazza and Giggs. What divines a star then? Scholesy won the double win man utd yet hasnt got the star quality? What about Rooney? Gerrard? BECKHAM? for goodness sake!
I love Bale and love him in a spurs shirt but everyone please calm down, he deserves his praise yes but lets stop championing players before its due.
11/26/2010 10:36 pm
Has a lot of potential.Only if he had a right foot he would have been amazing.
12/05/2010 8:48 pm
Post a Comment
<< Home