Don't agents act as advisors and sometimes babysitters to these somewhat immature footballers? Take Mario Ballotelli for example... he couldn't even work out how to put a bib on! I suspect Bale's agent has spoken to him about this of course, that's a given; but it's whether Bale is giving the instructions or the agent is basically saying "let me handle this". I suspect the latter in most cases.
HIAG, like I said to you, as scathing as it was its done to get a reaction like this. Durham doesn't hate anyone, he's a WUM, just paid for it.
I hear what you are saying, DL, and I appreciate it. Thing is, the style of sensational journalism adopted by Adrian "the paid wum" Durham is exactly the same kind adopted by so-called respectable sheets, such at The Guardian and The Telegraph. Opinions and rampant speculation dressed up as news.
The same media have said Fabregas to United was all but done, same with Higuain to the Goons, just finalising personal terms eh!, all these stories from their reliable source bank , who neglected to wait to see the player on his way for a medical (thats when you know its all but done) before such wild claims, no, poor guesses. However, tin hats on for round two when Bales injury is still deemed too risky and only goes in for treatment and doesn't take part in training or the Monaco game.
http://www.i4u.com/2013/07/daniel-l...ges-bale-transfer-levy-cuts-gareth-short-july source...Daily Fail.
An actual quote (if trusted) but it sounds like the arrogance to come from Madrid and if true, it's clear Madrid believe Bale wants to move, and possibly Bale has been happy for his agent to make these suggestions while playing the quiet game as his agent probably told him when Madrid make a bid of 84 million, Levy will let you talk. Yet this is what all journos and people ITK are doing, attempting to read between the lines and predict what will happen, they are all waiting for the moment it kicks off and to say '' we told you so''. Personally I believe Bale wants to talk to Madrid and Madrid know the player wants to talk, as they only pursuit players they know are interested, even if they are aware the club doesn't want to sell. When the club doesn't want to sell, marca run their stories and Madrid players and staff start making remarks, all to make the player dream of Madrid and force a move. Luckily for us I don't believe Bale would act in that manner and am hoping he let's us stick two fingers up at these journo's, to file these stories in the failed ITK draw, but unfortunately I just can't help but think these shameless journos will be saying '' we told you so''.
I get his MO. Just wind up people on TalkShite and get them calling in (actually sympathetic with Arsenal fans for his ridiculous Daily Arsenal slot). But to be given a national newspaper column too??? Don't they realise what his job is, or don't they care? Mind you, if you had to guess what newspaper would employ him, it would have to be the Fail!
Reports saying bale won't request transfer because of relationship with fans. Well done fans and well done Bale (if true) Edit - Sorry, wrong thread, meant it for transfer thread. I'm an idiot. Off to become a journo!
This is the form of journalism we have nowadays, although, it's gone above and beyond beyond yellow journalism IMO. Southern clubs tend to get targeted by the media far more often (See Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, QPR). The media respect the likes of Leeds, Liverpool and United more so don't go as far. For the last two weeks, I've had to listen to X, Y & Z as to why Rooney should stay at United, for the last two weeks I've had to listen to X, Y & Z as to why Bale should leave Spurs. Like PNP said on a different thread, it's the media & footballing authorities that give some clubs status over others, they set the agenda hence why "Rooney would be mad to leave United" and "Spurs would be mad to not sell Bale". If Chelsea had dared to be as arrogant and abrasive in their approach for a key Madrid player, I would guarantee UEFA intervention or at the very least, an outspoken warning/criticism based on our actions. This has been discussed at length on every board, and my opinion is that you will be weaker without Bale. If Bale stays this season, I think you'd have a good chance of getting top 4 (assuming Soldado signs).
I appreciate your balanced view on this. I agree that if Chelsea had behaved like Real you would probably be facing some kind of UEFA charge.
I'm not really balanced, I would rather see Bale in the PL, in the same way I'd like to see Arsenal spend big. It might just mean that, for once, the Premier League has a degree of unpredictability. A strong league benefits everybody. People want to see Bale, Dembele, Wilshere, Suarez, Cazorla, Hazard, Mata, Luiz etc. Nobody wants a league full of Welbeck's or Cahill's. Unlike HIAG, I don't take any transfer report as gospel. I knew for a fact (via two people, one that I know) that months ago Mata was going to be offered a 5 year deal so when United fabricated that story of a Rooney + Mata/Luiz swap, unlike most Chelsea fans I didn't descend into mess panic or outrage. Lack of quotes re: a potential move to Madrid from both Bale and THFC suggests to me that Bale would be open to a move but isn't going to force it. The stories of him being "distraught" are an absolute insult and derogatory towards your club.
Unless he has been "turned" by Real's campaign, I would say keep him. Never sure it is a good idea to keep an unhappy player. But saying no to the money if he is committed to us would be easy for me. Agree with everything you say.
Ok now I really have the hump..... BBC Football Gossip page has a dedicated "Gareth Bale Gossip" section; at the top of the page I might add.... this is relentless! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/gossip/
Today, I nominate the Fail Online's Neil Ashton into the ranks of the country's most disgraceful and ignorant hack journos. Today, he wrote:- "Gareth Bale's future is in turmoil after it emerged the forward is reluctant to risk his relationship with Tottenham fans by handing in a transfer request." Alternatively, in the real world, Gareth Bale would rather stay at Spurs where he knows he is adored and worshiped by us fans, and that loyalty to us means more to him than taking Real's twenty pieces of Spanish government funded silver. Where do these idiots get off in insulting our club so outrageously? Future in turmoil! What the hell is that hack smoking? What is really pissing off hacks like Ashton is the fact that Bale isn't doing what they all want in order for them to write their fevered headlines. Ashton and the rest of them would **** themselves blind if Bale handed in a transfer request. But they now know that Bale won't do it, and their pathetic circus has nowhere else to pitch its tent. NEIL ASHTON YOU ARE A DISGRACE AND AN IGNORANT SCUMBAG. You can find the full "article" here:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ale-ask-transfer-Tottenham.html#ixzz2aZ8NYLhc
Jesus H Christ! Have you seen some of the "stories" listed on that page? "Spurs in for Suarez!" "Levy wants Rat-Boy back at Spurs as part of Bale deal!" You really couldn't make these stories up!... Er... well, actually, yes, it seems that that is exactly what the hack scumbag journos have done!
I beg your pardon? Have you actually understood anything that I have written on this subject? It's fairly obvious that I am completely aware of the fact that all of these stories are pure fabrication. One particular clue that you might have picked up on is my actual use of the word "fabrication" on more than several occasions, and my littering of the word "hack" in most of the pieces I write on the subject. You might also have observed that I, above anyone else on this entire site, have consistently stated that Bale is going nowhere. So, tell me, where from all of that are you led to believe that I take these hacks' transfer reports as "gospel"?
I still am of the belief that if there was no truth whatsoever in these rumours of Bale wishing to join Real, we would have heard something by now. Again, there is far too much smoke for there not to be a fire somewhere!..
I read this disgraceful article that implies that that fine, upstanding club from Madrid are involved in some exceptionally shady dealings: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...allegations-of-illegal-state-aid-8557550.html