Morning all! I'm sure you're all a bit down as I am regarding the result, though one thing did slightly annoy me - and it's probably going to be quite controversial - is the absence of Bale due to his partner going into labour. I spoke about this on Twitter after I got home from the game with a gooner mate of mine (sorry... But he is a sensible one if that helps!) who agreed with me. Now don't get me wrong, any "normal" person finding out their partner has gone into labour when at work, be it a construction operative, office worker, banker and so on etc can be excused in my opinion, yet a footballer on £80k a week to leave the field of play only an hour before kick off for arguably the biggest match of your clubs season in terms of rivalry and passion, I think is wrong (add to the fact we were already depleted of key players as it was). It meant so much to the fans and someone like Bale is a player who can change the out come of a game with a bit of individual brilliance. I can appreciate many (possbily even all of you) will disagree with this but I can't help but feel a little let down by Bale... We contribute massively to these guys phenomenal wages to play for our club and although I can appreciate it's a very special moment for him - especially as I understand it's his first born - but in the environment he's in, I feel he needs to put his club before pretty much anything. The only situation I feel which warrants a player not being selected is a bereavement of family or friends, to play with a mindset of knowing you've lost someone would be horrible and I wouldn't expect anyone in any profession to be expected to work while finding out news like that. Like I said, I'm sure many will disagree with my view and what's done is done but I'm only expressing an honest opinion in which I feel Bale COULD still have played before shooting off afterwards to be with his partner, who gave birth on Sunday anyway! If anyone asks, I don't have any kids so naturally I'm only seeing it from my side, if I had one of my own perhaps I'd be more understanding but hey-ho. For the record though, I'd like to congratulate Bale on the birth of his baby girl, lets hope she has the Bale gene and one day can lead our women to European glory in years to come!
I was contemplating posting exactly the same thing Sexy so NO you are not being harsh. His professional life should come first. Bloody lucky Chelsea that he wasn't in or we'd have won it going ahead from being behind. Good post sir.
It's his girlfriend King and not his wife. What obligation did the club have to let him off? I know that a baby is important Christ knows I do but I agree with SOS on this one.
Sorry you are being harsh. Birth of children comes before any game of football and, as King says, his mind would not have been on the game if he did stay. A pity the other guys could raise their game to celebrate/welcome Bale jnr. If it was last game of the season against Arsenal and we are tied in 4th place, I may feel differently.....
i don't have kids either but i have to agree with SD. It doesn't matter whether it was his wife or girlfriend, that is irrelevant. Marriage is a personal choice and whether he is married or not should not make a difference. Bale having a family and settling down could be the best thing for Spurs. He now has more people to think about before pissing off to another club. Does anyone seriously think that pissing Bale off by forcing him to miss one of the biggest moments in his entire life is the way to keep him happy/settled/playing well? Welcome Bale Jnr (has it actually been born now? I assume so but have seen nothing of it)
Cheers Thor, I know it's a sensitive issue but I just can't help but feel aggrieved... Probably because it was our biggest game so far and really needed him. Perhaps telling him after the game? I'm not sure though but as I said, when you're on the money he is, you expect him to play regardless of near enough anything. Completely agree RE some of the players not raising their game, had to seem some shocking performances from certain players on Saturday, though Lennon, Verts, Defoe and Caulks don't come into that. Surely a home game against a rival team who took your CL place, destroyed us in the FA Semi and wanted to show their previous manager a torrid time is a big enough game?
Don't think it's a case of p*ssing him off or forcing him to do anything, it's just it would've been nice for Bale to have played then shot straight off. Baby girl by the way, was born on Sunday.
Well I've been there, and let me tell you this: There's **** all for a man to do when his partner is giving birth. If I had to go through it again, I'd get my mother or mother-in-law to hold her hand. My wife ended up having a C-section, which meant an extra few days in hospital. And let me tell you this: There's **** all for a man to do in this situation, apart from telling the relatives to piss off and leave the mother alone. I actually went to work the next day, as there was nothing for me to do. I had a very productive day, as I always do when I'm in a happy frame of mind. When the both of them came home, they were both knackard, and I took a few days off. Guess what? Yep, there was **** all to do. Bale did his job nine months ago. He should have played football.
I was also going to post that Inda this very second. He'd have been far more useful on the pitch than at the maternity ward where he could have done eff all. I'm damned sure his gf would have said play the match and don't worry,I'm in good hands. The club were in a difficult position because had they refused to let him go then he'd have been in a huff shoving in a transfer request etc etc and Spurs do not want to lose their best payers. I thought the club were very generous to him. But for the player the more important thing would be his baby not Chelsea or any other team. But as Inda said,there was nothing that he could do. I'm not totally heartless though,well done on becoming a daddy Gareth.
WOW - lots of old-fashiioned thinking here. If he thought he needed to be there then he needed to be there. No way he should be forced to play or even given a hint that he was letting the side down. Football is just a job!
Not saying he should have been forced to play, just that he himself could have chosen to play for us then shoot off.
Can you imagine a manager telling his players they can only get their other half pregnant in September or October, so they won't miss any league games? Wait, stupid question, it's probably written into all Man Utd contracts...
I think the vast majority of women like their man to be there for the support. I've got no problem with those who don't but family should always have priority over work - or bigger problems occur.
