Bale not in Spurs squad....

[Divine Wright]

People used to say that Whitts did not like football, I don't think that's true, but Bale has struck me as someone who's fallen out of love with the game based on what's happened with him at Real Madrid Spurs. To be more accurate, I'd say Bale has fallen out of love with club football because I still think he enjoys playing for his country, but the problem is that what is happening to him at his club is bound to impact on his performances for his country and I'd have very low expectations of what he could do in the Euros this summer if they go ahead - after that, I wouldn't rule out him retiring from the game.

There MIGHT be some truth in that, but to be fair he hasn't been given much game time when fit, which is not speculation but fact.

Regardless of attitude or workrate, the guy needs to be given a run of games to get his confidence up. ..... confidence in his abilities, confidence in his physical durability.

I'm pretty sure that part of this perception of him as being lazy or is uninterested comes from the fact he tries not to overexert himself in case he gets injured again.

It think it's just a fact for him that he can't be as full on in terms of workrate as he was in the past and is the type of guy who relies on moments of brilliance....which is something that goes against him in a modern game that relies on EVERYONE to be running 10km every game.

That said, I seem to remember him heading a ball off the line against Brighton.....so , he is not against putting in a defensive shift.

We need to to see him play 10 games in a row before judging his attitude. Until then it's just total speculation and (questionable) second hand info.

[the other bob wilson]

There MIGHT be some truth in that, but to be fair he hasn't been given much game time when fit, which is not speculation but fact.

Regardless of attitude or workrate, the guy needs to be given a run of games to get his confidence up. ..... confidence in his abilities, confidence in his physical durability.

I'm pretty sure that part of this perception of him as being lazy or is uninterested comes from the fact he tries not to overexert himself in case he gets injured again.

It think it's just a fact for him that he can't be as full on in terms of workrate as he was in the past and is the type of guy who relies on moments of brilliance....which is something that goes against him in a modern game that relies on EVERYONE to be running 10km every game.

That said, I seem to remember him heading a ball off the line against Brighton.....so , he is not against putting in a defensive shift.

We need to to see him play 10 games in a row before judging his attitude. Until then it's just total speculation and (questionable) second hand info.

If I were his manager, especially at a club like Spurs where managers come under pressure when the team is having a run like they currently are, there is no way I would give Bale ten games, you only need to see how he has jogged through his appearances with Spurs so far to see he’s not worth a place in the starting line up.

I don’t want to knock someone who is arguably Wales’ greatest ever footballer, but I can’t help thinking that attitudes towards him would be different if he wasn’t who he is.

[UNDERHILL1927]

If I were his manager, especially at a club like Spurs where managers come under pressure when the team is having a run like they currently are, there is no way I would give Bale ten games, you only need to see how he has jogged through his appearances with Spurs so far to see he’s not worth a place in the starting line up.

I don’t want to knock someone who is arguably Wales’ greatest ever footballer, but I can’t help thinking that attitudes towards him would be different if he wasn’t who he is.

Agreed, he can do no wrong as far as Welsh football fans are concerned, and he's earnt that. Club football wise he seems to have given up. Easy to say that looking in though.

I have the same calf injury that he does and my confidence has gone running wise (granted he's got the best medical treatment in the world, but also I don't run anywhere near as fast or explosively as he does) 🤣

[Divine Wright]

If I were his manager, especially at a club like Spurs where managers come under pressure when the team is having a run like they currently are, there is no way I would give Bale ten games, you only need to see how he has jogged through his appearances with Spurs so far to see he’s not worth a place in the starting line up.

I don’t want to knock someone who is arguably Wales’ greatest ever footballer, but I can’t help thinking that attitudes towards him would be different if he wasn’t who he is.

How many games have you seen him play ?

Brighton and West Ham ?

I saw him in the West Ham game and he looked a bit rusty , which is to be expected, but he was definitely trying.

As far as Brighton goes, spurs lost 1-0 . I didn't see the full 90. I saw him heading a ball off the line. What about the rest of the team ? Were they all impeccable ? Cmon......

I think his nationality is a moot point . Judging ANY player on the amount of game time that Bale has had is totally unfair. I don't see any discussion beyond that really. From my point of view, anything beyond that is just noise that is filling a void of info regarding his current situation.

Like any other player, he needs to be given a run of games, he needs to score, get some praise , get some confidence. These basics don't change just because you are (or have been until recently) one of the world most revered footballers.

If he was playing at a team like Everton under Ancelotti, he'd get game time and he would have scored 4 or 5 goals by now. I'm certain of that.

[the other bob wilson]

How many games have you seen him play ?

Brighton and West Ham ?

I saw him in the West Ham game and he looked a bit rusty , which is to be expected, but he was definitely trying.

As far as Brighton goes, spurs lost 1-0 . I didn't see the full 90. I saw him heading a ball off the line. What about the rest of the team ? Were they all impeccable ? Cmon......

I think his nationality is a moot point . Judging ANY player on the amount of game time that Bale has had is totally unfair. I don't see any discussion beyond that really. From my point of view, anything beyond that is just noise that is filling a void of info regarding his current situation.

Like any other player, he needs to be given a run of games, he needs to score, get some praise , get some confidence. These basics don't change just because you are (or have been until recently) one of the world most revered footballers.

If he was playing at a team like Everton under Ancelotti, he'd get game time and he would have scored 4 or 5 goals by now. I'm certain of that.

Those two, Marine. Stoke, a couple of Europa League matches (at least), Wycombe, Leicester, Liverpool - there's quite a few to choose from;-

https://www.soccerbase.com/players/p...layer_id=43700

and he has scored goals, but there's been no evidence of any progression in his performances, in fact it could be said they're getting worse.

There doesn't seem to be anger when he's withdrawn and he seems happy enough just to stay on the bench. I'm not being critical for the sake of it, but his attitude raises a lot of questions and any squad member at Spurs would surely be pissed off if Mourinho came out and announced Bale was getting a ten game run in the team because I can't see he's done anything to justify such special treatment since he's been at the club.

[Divine Wright]

There doesn't seem to be anger when he's withdrawn and he seems happy enough just to stay on the bench..

I think this is another thing that is often levelled at him unfairly.

When he plays for Wales he is exactly the same......giggling and fooling around. Only difference is that people don't pick up on it when he is actually playing. In fact the laughing and fooling around is seen as good camaraderie.

I just don't think he is the type of guy to mope around when he is not playing. It doesn't mean he isn't unhappy not to be playing.

You are right to a certain degree regarding games played though.....I watch match of the day and that's about it. In terms of Premier League matches I can't remember seeing much of him and I think it's fair to say he has featured in dribs and drabs and hasn't featured much at all over the last few months. When he has had an appearance, he has had very few minutes on the whole. I mean, I don't think it's a case of having "plenty to pick from"...far from it....especially in the PL.

I'd like to see him playing 60-80 in the same team as Keane and Son with the same regularity that those guys get. Maybe he doesn't deserve it, but I feel like we'd see more positives if Mourinho put more faith in him in the games that matter. It's not as if Spurs are blowing teams away when Bale isn't playing.

It's clear that Gareth isn't at the top of his game, but I'm not convinced it's the famine everyone makes it out to be. He needs to be with the right manager, playing the big games as a striker or advanced midfielder.