It's happening....

[LeningradCowboy]

Re: It's happening....

Where does this leave his future with Wales after the World Cup? Living in Los Angeles means a 12-hour flight back before every international window.

[the other bob wilson]

Re: It's happening....

Where does this leave his future with Wales after the World Cup? Living in Los Angeles means a 12-hour flight back before every international window.

That thought occurred to me - retirement from international football after the World Cup?

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

That thought occurred to me - retirement from international football after the World Cup?

He's previously said he will play for Wales until he hangs his boots up.

[logic]

Re: It's happening....

The suggestion is that he is not a designated player which means his salary would be no more than $1.6m per annum, which means no more than $30k a week.

I'm sure there will be other financial incentives but I'm sure in terms of salary we could've and would've matched it.

Logic would indicate that makes his decision even more baffling. Live in permanent home in Wales, liaise regularly and easily with FAW physios, coaches in addition to managing his game time with more competitive matches - something we did with Bellamy.

[Citizen's Nephew]

Re: It's happening....

I must admit, even though I've not taken any of this seriously, I do feel gutted. All feels a bit flat now tbh.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

It's the press and especially the local press that blew this story out of all proportion.

There's every chance that Bale had numerous offers on the table - I said a couple of days ago it would surprise me if that wasn't the case given his abilities and his profile. But we've got no idea how good any of those offers were or how good City's offer was. The latter could have been laughable for all we know, but the club itself and the player are never going to say as much.

No but his agent and Bale's non denial fanned the flames. Oh well, it is what it is, hope he does well and is firing on all cylinders for the WC. LAFC need a good playoff run, though. Season ends on Oct 9th, and there's a lot of plastic pitches over there...

[City123]

Re: It's happening....

Maybe time to change the thread title?

[the other bob wilson]

Re: It's happening....

He's previously said he will play for Wales until he hangs his boots up.

Well in that case, I think Rob Page has got some tough decisions to make when it comes to selection and what he sees as his first choice team in the not too distant future.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

Maybe time to change the thread title?

To Scott Johnson has stuffed it?

[delmbox]

Re: It's happening....

Perhaps he was interested to a degree and it was a genuine option, but in the end the prospect of playing in America simply appealed more to him and his family.

Did the player himself ever mention Cardiff City?

Exactly, some bizarre butthurt reactions on here (and elsewhere no doubt)

He had options, he considered them, he chose one, it wasn't us. He never himself even suggested he was coming here, not sure what he was meant to have done differently

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

Exactly, some bizarre butthurt reactions on here (and elsewhere no doubt)

He had options, he considered them, he chose one, it wasn't us. He never himself even suggested he was coming here, not sure what he was meant to have done differently

As TLG said, the media and some ITK types haven't done themselves proud and made it sound like a done deal.

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: It's happening....

MLS probably less competitive than the Championship lots more money no connection to us for Bale.

I honestly don't know what the standard or the general style of play out there is, I've never watched an MLS game from start to finish, but it may well suit him more than playing for Cardiff in the Championship, especially with the World Cup coming up.

Significantly better weather, fewer matches, possibly a less physical and frenetic style of football, more appealing lifestyle, and maybe a period of rest before travelling to Qatar. He's said all along that his next move won't be about money and I've little doubt that's the case with this one.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

Well in that case, I think Rob Page has got some tough decisions to make when it comes to selection and what he sees as his first choice team in the not too distant future.

Games are in March, June, Sept, Oct and Nov usually aren't they? He'll be coming off a long season for the back end but at least he'll have game time, and will be fresher for March and June. Still, I can't imagine it's ideal prep.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

Re: It's happening....

I honestly don't know what the standard or the general style of play out there is, I've never watched an MLS game from start to finish, but it may well suit him more than playing for Cardiff in the Championship, especially with the World Cup coming up.

Significantly better weather, fewer matches, possibly a less physical and frenetic style of football, more appealing lifestyle, and maybe a period of rest before travelling to Qatar. He's said all along that his next move won't be about money and I've little doubt that's the case with this one.

Also, nobody will know who he is. Rooney said this about playing in MLS. It must be quite nice and novel for him to go somewhere where most people won't recognise him and he can have a semi normal life.

[jon1959]

Re: It's happening....

Disappointing, and doesn't really fit with the checklist for his next club that Bale and his agent spelt out a few weeks ago.

But I'm well on the way to persuading myself we have dodged a bullet.

In an alternative universe we got Bale on a 2 year contract and he was constantly injured, barely played, was the elephant in every changing room undermining the manager, soaked away a large % of the squad budget and slowly turned from hero and icon into an expensive liability.

Of course he could have been gold dust - inspiring and leading by example, selecting his games but providing regular match winning moments, raising the profile of the club and bringing in massive amounts of additional revenue to offset his salary.

Now we just need the news that Rambo is off to Turkey!