http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...may-struggle-to-keep-gareth-bale-8367753.html Andre Villas-Boas admits Tottenham may struggle to hold on to Gareth Bale after watching the Welsh winger end Liverpool's eight-match unbeaten run in fine style last night. Bale ran 50 yards and beat four Liverpool players before setting up Aaron Lennon for Tottenham's first and then beat Pepe Reina with a brilliant 30-yard free-kick to double the hosts' lead. The fact that Bale signed a new contract last summer has not stopped Barcelona and Real Madrid being heavily linked with the 23-year-old, and Villas-Boas admits he may be powerless to stop the winger leaving. "At the moment he is performing extremely well for Spurs and we are amazed at what he can do for us. He is on to a great career," Villas-Boas said. "Obviously Tottenham as a football club want to keep him here for as long as we can but we understand players like this have propositions and a market, which is the nature of the game." Should either of the Spanish giants have had scouts at last night's game at White Hart Lane, they will have been impressed with Bale's outstanding performance. His pace, creativity and finishing were sublime throughout the game - with the only negative point coming in the second half when he got in the way of Lennon's clearance, which struck his head and went in to his own net. Liverpool feel they should have taken something from the match, however. Manager Brendan Rodgers was infuriated at referee Phil Dowd for not awarding Liverpool two penalties - one for a foul on Steven Gerrard by Mousa Dembele, and the other when William Gallas took out Luis Suarez in the dying minutes. Rodgers earlier this season complained that his team were not getting enough decisions from officials, and he was deeply unhappy tonight that Dowd awarded the free-kick that led to Bale's goal when Clint Dempsey went down under the slightest of touches from Jordan Henderson. "Nothing is going for us away from home, that's how it's been all season in terms of decisions," Rodgers said in his post-match press conference. "Clint Dempsey has been clever (with the free-kick) "He gets a hand in back and goes down. We should have had two [penalties tonight]. It's incredible to have gone through the season without getting a penalty. "The Steven Gerrard one was nearly assault. How is that not a penalty? "Watch the second one. Luis Suarez spins, William Gallas swings his left foot, catches him and he goes down. "The statistics will tell you that we've been in the box as much as anyone, but to arrive at this stage of season and not get a penalty..."
i didn't think either were penalties. Dempsey wasn't a free-kick either but ho-hum dry your eyes 'pool. These players need to man-up
i'm not surprised we're seeing this report this morning. Having picked up a coupleof recent wins and climbed the table, closing the gap on our rivals; the papers have had nothing to write about/slag us off about for over a week now! So what do they come up with? Something worded in a way that makes it seem like the manager is indicating that he's given up hope of holding onto bale. We see something similar after every game he plays well in. It's just boring now. The beauty of all of this, is that the constant hype is just going to mean Daniel Levy will ask for more. I don't think bale is the type to pull off a modric style "throw your toys out of the pram" transfer request; he loves it at spurs. He's got a massive contract as well, so all I'll say is good luck to RM and Barca. let the bidding war begin! If he's sold, we'll reap the rewards when Daniel Levy rips who ever it is off, and gets over the market value.
I don't think anybody has told us anything we didn't already know. Bale himself has already admitted that he wants to play abroad "one day". When "one day" arrives will depend on various factors.
Having just had a kid, I'd be amazed if he moves just yet. It's not just about him, it's about his family too. Wouldn't the parents of him and is missus have something to say about him buggering off to Spain when they've just become grandparents?
Well, he's Welsh. So presumably, that's where his parents live. His other half, I've no idea about. To be honest, money wouldn't exactly be a problem, and his parents could get to Spain just as fast, if not faster, than London.
money might not be a problem, but it's still another country and requires much more organisation than just jumping in the car. However, SD you've got a very good point. Next question, who would be the replacement? it's something that none of us want to have to consider... but it could be a reality.
He was likely asked questions about Bale leaving in an interview after the game, it's how most of these kind of articles are created. The person writing the article probably had the title written already and wanted some quotes to fill it out.
Again, you are wiser than me. He needs to be more careful though, as the more it is spoken about, the more liely it becomes.
I also don't believe that he will chuck all the toys like Rat Boy. However, if he really decides it's time to go, I think we will find it pretty hard to say No - especially if the price is right. Unless we can produce regular CL football, and improved wage structure, it's only a matter of when, not if.
AVB's been making a real effort with the media since joining, giving them proper honest answers with the odd bizarre quote thrown in, like the post match Arsenal interview The trouble is unless we were top of the league there's plenty in the media that won't stop writing negatively about him and the team. We'll just have to learn to stop paying attention to these kind of articles as all they're doing is twisting his words to fit their agenda.
He'd fetch a handsome fee if he were to leave mid contract though. It's always a concern when a good and favourite player leaves a club but there's always somebody else waiting to step up. Other teams lose their best players and the team thrives so there's no reason why we shouldn't if he leaves. He does do some stupid things like getting himself booked for diving which makes me question his maturity a bit and goes missing for spells. I've already resigned myself to the fact that he'll be off but AVB seems to me to be a man growing into the Spurs job and he'll find a replacement in time.
I have no doubt that Real intend to make a move for him at the end of the season, as they've already started their tapping up campaign in the media. Them and Barca are becoming very tedious with their prolonged unsettling bullshit, presumably as an attempt to get fees down for this FFP crap. Pay the money or **** off, ta.
Not worried about the quotes at all, AVB is asked a question and answers it honestly If ENIC get offered £50m+ and Bale wants to leave, then it will just be about the final price and exactly when. BUT ATM, Bale seems happy enough, so I can't see him leaving in January. The summer is another year, we'll see then.
I'm just wondering though PNP that if he goes to either is there a par player we could accept in part exchange from them?
Not one that they'd be willing to part with, TMT. We'd have to take somebody that's not in their plans, but as we found out with van der Vaart, that doesn't necessarily mean that it won't be someone very, very good.
I also feel it's a matter of when, not if. All I can say is when it does happen, ENIC better spend to replace him with top quality. he's a very hard player to replace.
Point taken. We couldn't let GB go just for cash,it would have to be with a good player to come our way.
