It's gone on for long enough now that the fact Bale and the club hasn't said anything, that you have to assume he is keen on leaving. Would love him to sign a new contract and stay forever, but it really does look like he isn't going to stay.
Disappointed we're selling Dempsey before some of the other dead wood. I know his chances will be limited with Soldado's arrival and the potential new 4-3-3 formation but he's popped up with some very important goals and assists for us, even if he hasn't set the world alight with his displays, he done a damn site more than what Ade, Hudd, Parker and Holtby done last season, albeit the latter only had 5-6 months. Think Dempsey would be a great impact sub when chasing a goal, maybe he's not interested in that sort of role though I suppose.
Welcome to Not606, DD. Time will tell, I guess. If he's happy to stay, then we should keep him. The finances will make themselves up in other ways. I read somewhere that his agent's contract with Bale is running out next year though, so if that's true then he'll be pushing for this massively.
CJ- I am thinking that you read the same sites I do, if so why wouldn't I be like that ? Thanks SG I have to be positive there has really been nothing but speculation ,so much so it starts to become believable.
Is Bale still injured or is he missing the game due to the Real speculation? Anyone know? I'd be very disappointed in him if it's the latter excuse, albeit he hasn't thrown his toys out but he's taken a similar route to what Modric done last season which shows no respect to the club and the fans that adore him. Like I said that's only IF it's the case, I won't jump the gun as I really don't know why he's not involved but it'd be a damn shame if he took that route.
You'd rather sell the Germany u21 captain who has only been here 6 months, was played out of position and has his whole career ahead of him, than a 30 year old player that was just as bad last season but had more game time and played further forward so scored more goals? Also think Huddlestone is not as bad as you are making out - certainly offers more then Dempsey does. I agree on the Adebayor and Parker front though, not a Parker fan at all and think Adebayor needs to move on (although if thats the case we need to sign another striker). Worth remembering though that just because we would rather sell Parker and Adebayor, if no decent offers come in for them compared to the Dempsey one we may have no choice. No point keeping Dempsey when we get a very good offer just because there are some players we would rather sell more
Last week AVB said he'd definetely be fit and would be playing. I find it hardly believable a "strained buttock" can keep you out for 3 weeks unless he keeps agitating it courteous of Mr. Perez' knob up his arse. Either way it says to me he's off to Madrid (whether it was his choice or Levy's).
But again we see a "quote": [That article says: "I believe the club is in talks to find a solution and we will see what happens," he said on Thursday.] Well who did he say that to, at what time on Thursday, where was he at the time? For goodness sake BBC, if you don't attribute a quote, then it isn't really a quote is it? Of course there is a good chance he will go, but if he does so it doesn't make 99% of the stuff we've read true. We have seen sports "journalism" at its worst over the past few weeks and about all they seem to be "reporting" is either what the hardly unbiased propaganda arm of Real are printing or what their own "journalists" are doing by making up new fees and randomly adding players to the deal. Utter disgrace.
The BBC is to Britain what Pravda was to the old Soviet Union, sadly. Not to be trusted on any topic, despite still producing some decent programmes. Their 'News' is appaling running from unimportant drivel about babies to downright lies and incompetence on politics. Back to football They are strickingly similar to the Mail, just slightly later.
Hi, and welcome to the board. At the beginning of July I felt the same way. What with the NBC billboard, BT promo, FIFA 14 cover (will look silly with Bale there in a Spurs shirt) etc. However apparently the BT Bale posters have been taken down, and the whole drama has gone for so long i think i've been ground down to think he will go. If we get 100m for him and he wants to go then so be it. Our profile has been raised to unprecedented levels because of this, constantly number 1 story in papers, "news" sites, and trending on twitter. Now we have a striker and an attacking winger to replace him already we are in a good position to spend the 100m on players that are reasonably priced, and not just do a liverpool and splash 35m on untried "talent". We could buy so many good players with that, not just re-invest like last year - Modric vs Verts, Lloris and Dembele but be better for it. Lets face it, losing Berbs and Keane to no replacements was a disaster Losing Modric and replacing with the above was ok (losing VDV and King made a big difference) Losing Bale to 100m with replacements in the team beforehand is a good situation
Agreed, they've really gone downhill in the last 5 years or so - they used to be very reliable - HR need to give it a shake-up.
Being the Germany U21 captain means nothing when his performances for us were poor. It feels like you're using your hope for a player to justify his merit in the team/ squad. Holtby made no contribution what so ever last season, even if he only had 6 months to Dempsey's full season that's a still a period of time to show something that he can offer the team that others can't. Don't forget though that neither had a pre-season for us so even though Dempsey had longer with the squad, he still showed me he had/ has more to offer than Holtby even if he is reaching his latter years. With our current team, where does Holtby actuallyt fit in? He's not going to be a starter unless we get injuries and I feel his space in the squad could affect the chances of someone like Tom Carroll, who, despite having even less time on the pitch than Holtby, looked a damn site better than the "Germany u21 captain who has only been here 6 months, was played out of position and has his whole career ahead of him". What is Holtby's natural position? He played CAM and on both wings for us last season and didn't impress. Dempsey was also played out of positon for us at times yet he managed to score some very important goals AND got assists. Did Holtby even manage an assist? I don't think he did and for a creative player that's worrying. I'm sure he'll be here anyway for the new season and I hope he shows me that my initial instincts are wrong but I base my point on performances and what he's offered the team, not about his status with his national side and his age. Huddlestone was great pre-injury. Last season he offered nothing, his passing was way below the standard we're used to seeing and that's his main asset, with the midfielders we have now, it's hard to see where he'll fit in bar a bench role which he's said before isn't something he'd be happy with. You make a good point about accepting offers as and when they arrive and I can't argue with that, though I think the club should look to hold to Dempsey especially while Bale's future is up in the air. The guy doesn't set the world alight but he's a player that can come up in some big moments and that alone is enough for me to say he at least deserves a squad role. Perhaps he wants out though who knows, if that's the case then good bye Deuce and thanks in particular to the Utd games memories
I'd be surprised if the club decided to withdraw him. If Bale is (hopefully) still here come the end of the transfer window then like all players he needs pre-season minutes. The club would be foolish to remove him unless he really is Real-bound and therefore his withdrawal is due to him starting talks with the Madrid hierachy.
My point is if you've seen him for the Germany U21's he has been awesome & shows great leadership qualities and clearly has immense talent. Was he good for us last year? Not really. But my point is why would you sell a player who didn't get many chances, and was played out of position, after 6 months when he has shown the potential to be one of the top players in the world. Im not saying he should start, but Dempsey has got progressively worse in last few years and will continue to go downhill where as Holtby has the potential to improve. If we were to keep him, use him as a sub and let him adapt to the way we play and try to get his Germany form switched to Spurs form we will have one of the best young players in the world in our squad. To say he is no better than Carroll is a joke. I like Carroll and think he could be a great player eventually but the Carroll love in on this forum is ridiculous. He's really not as good as people make out. Neither player is ready for the first team. Both players have the potential to be first teamers with some experience. Both players deserve chances this season. If we were going to make a substitution I'd rather see Carroll, Holtby & Gylfi on before Dempsey. Don't think we'll miss him.
I think he meant we withdrew him as we are planning on selling him now - If he gets injured it could throw the deal in doubt - or - There is no point playing Bale in friendlies if we know we are selling him, let the other players gel together without him.
Criticism of Holtby is harsh in my opinion when he's only been with us for half a season. Need to give him 1 more season - could well turn out to be a good CAM?
OR the talks are ongoing with Bale and Levy and AVB felt this would be too disruptive to his squad and the media frenzy that would follow them. You can read it how you like.
