Bale Barca Bound?

[NSIS]

I way I see it, is that football is a simple game and passing the ball is a simple task so when you have a played with great technical ability then they can fit into a system and learn how to adapt.

I mean for example, look at Swansea, there players play a short passing game, lots of possession and that is down to their players being trained to play such a way, yet it doesn't take years to achieve this, its more to do with how the manager trains the team to play his way.

I understand what you're saying. What I think is that, yes Bale is intelligent enough, and a skilful enough player to adapt to their system. However, that would negate his best attributes - his pace, his power, and directness. I just don't think his game is suited to the way Barca currently play. If opponents are finally getting to grips with them, then Bale's talents would provide another outlet and way of keeping their opponents guessing.

 

[Spurf]

As Barcelona are needing a new manager I would presume they will sort that out before deciding what players they need to sign, or do they not work like that.

 

[Boss]

I understand what you're saying. What I think is that, yes Bale is intelligent enough, and a skilful enough player to adapt to their system. However, that would negate his best attributes - his pace, his power, and directness. I just don't think his game is suited to the way Barca currently play. If opponents are finally getting to grips with them, then Bale's talents would provide another outlet and way of keeping their opponents guessing.

I get that point you make about not playing to his strengths, however if Bale adapts to their system and still has the ability to be direct then that would make him a far better player as often when Barca play their short passing game, its obvious they need another "weapon" they need to vary there game as if they have more variety then they wouldn't have failed to beat Chelsea.

That game was crying out for a direct approach from Barca, not that it has anything to with Bale, but if Barca had an Eto then they would have destroyed Chelsea most likely.

Lets not forget guardiola is leaving Barca and I would expect their new manager to understand they need some variety to their play as guardiola mentioned this after Chelsea game.

 

[Boss]

As Barcelona are needing a new manager I would presume they will sort that out before deciding what players they need to sign, or do they not work like that.

The new manager was announced already, Tito Vilanova, as apparently Guardiola told the barca directors in december that this would be his last season in charge.

 

[Boss]

heres a good article on the new manager

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/27/barcelona-tito-vilanova-pep-guardiola

 

[NSIS]

I get that point you make about not playing to his strengths, however if Bale adapts to their system and still has the ability to be direct then that would make him a far better player as often when Barca play their short passing game, its obvious they need another "weapon" they need to vary there game as if they have more variety then they wouldn't have failed to beat Chelsea.

That game was crying out for a direct approach from Barca, not that it has anything to with Bale, but if Barca had an Eto then they would have destroyed Chelsea most likely.

Lets not forget guardiola is leaving Barca and I would expect their new manager to understand they need some variety to their play as guardiola mentioned this after Chelsea game.

Exactly. No matter how good your system, and the players in that system, the opposition will eventually find a way to negate it to some extent. Barca have been lucky enough to have Messi, who could always be relied upon to do something special - but always within that short passing system. To my mind, there would be little point in having a player like Bale if you weren't prepared to utilise his greatest assets.

 

[notsosmartspur]

and that is down to their players being trained to play such a way, yet it doesn't take years to achieve this, its more to do with how the manager trains the team to play his way.

To a point, but there are certain natural talents some players have that your not allowing for, if football was that simple every team would have 11 Lionel Messi's. Its not just about passing, its about first touch in tight areas, and thats not always teachable, far easier to assemble a group of players naturally good at it, at least your half way there, you could say Rodgers deserves some credit for that.

Back to Bale, I'd rather see him improve his heading, he's 6ft 2 and has had quite a few opportunites of late, all over the bar or at the keeper, why can't Les teach him to head the thing down?

 

[Boss]

To a point, but there are certain natural talents some players have that your not allowing for, if football was that simple every team would have 11 Lionel Messi's. Its not just about passing, its about first touch in tight areas, and thats not always teachable, far easier to assemble a group of players naturally good at it, at least your half way there, you could say Rodgers deserves some credit for that.

Back to Bale, I'd rather see him improve his heading, he's 6ft 2 and has had quite a few opportunites of late, all over the bar or at the keeper, why can't Les teach him to head the thing down?

Would messi make a great centre back? possibly a sweeper

Passing is really what dictates how a team performs as if you pass well and attack the right areas then generally the rest falls into place and then having someone like messi to score 60 plus goals a season clearly helps.

Also lets not forget Bale is more then capable of playing a short pass, making space for himself but his current mindset is "be direct, short bursts of pace and galloping runs" but this season overall I would say he has become inconsistent but shown more signs of improving in different areas.

next season be interesting to see if it all comes together and he shows more consistency......and scoring headers would be a bonus!

 

[Boss]

Bale and free kicks

[video=youtube;feZ2uOKEKa8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feZ2uOKEKa8[/video]

Why has he stopped taking them?

 

[Spurf]

heres a good article on the new manager

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/apr/27/barcelona-tito-vilanova-pep-guardiola

Cheers Boss

 

[Boss]

and heres one from when he was at southampton

[video=youtube;l8epijJE2Ls]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8epijJE2Ls[/video]

 

[notsosmartspur]

(1. - Would messi make a great centre back? possibly a sweeper)

(2. - Passing is really what dictates how a team performs) as if you pass well and attack the right areas then generally the rest falls into place and then having someone like messi to score 60 plus goals a season clearly helps.

(3. - Also lets not forget Bale is more then capable of playing a short pass, making space for himself but his current mindset is "be direct, short bursts of pace and galloping runs" but this season overall I would say he has become inconsistent but shown more signs of improving in different areas.)

next season be interesting to see if it all comes together and he shows more consistency......and scoring headers would be a bonus!

1.

2. Not solely imo, how does the ball arrive in front of you to pass it?, you're missing the most fundamental thing...first touch, setting the ball for the pass, its more than well documented mainland European and Sth. Am. players are well ahead of English players in that respect, and probably one of many reasons English players don't do too well abroad. If a team performs badly with first touch...there's no pass, so poor passing wouldn't be the cause of losing that game. In reality a poor performance is a mixture of both.

3. Agree with that, slight improvements overall, but in doing that its bound to negate your main strong point. If he's going to continue trying the free role he needs to become more aware of whats round him, he's used to looking only one way being a leftie, doesn't get his head up enough, but he is getting there.

I also agree the next one is an important season for him...and us!

 

[NSIS]

As I pointed out earlier, It shouldn't be forgotten that Bale is still relatively young and inexperienced. He has been asked to adopt several different roles by Harry, it's bound to take time for him to learn his craft. He's an exceptional talent, with a great future. IMO, however, his strong points should be encouraged and given free rein, not try and make him adapt to a system not suited to his talents.

 

[humanbeingincroydon]

As Barcelona are needing a new manager I would presume they will sort that out before deciding what players they need to sign, or do they not work like that.

Barca still have a DoF - also, Chelsea have a history of signing players before a manager, with Marin the latest example of it.

 

[Boss]

notsosmartspur the point about passing (which i never explained well) was that teams are generally known for their style of play, either short passing, fast counter attacking, long ball etc and of course movement, defence is vital yet its the teams beliefs in how they play the game which dictates how the team plays, be that exciting or dull.

 

[notsosmartspur]

As I pointed out earlier, It shouldn't be forgotten that Bale is still relatively young and inexperienced. He has been asked to adopt several different roles by Harry, it's bound to take time for him to learn his craft. He's an exceptional talent, with a great future. IMO, however, his strong points should be encouraged and given free rein, not try and make him adapt to a system not suited to his talents.

Absolutely right Nsis, Shoving a player into a central position is not just about using the players abilities, it presents the player with a whole set of new things. First and foremost decision making, out wide, very few decisions to make, centrally, I'd say your ability to read the game will get exposed if its bad. Its one of Modric's abilities not spoke about too much, and any top MFer does this naturally imo, you can either see whats on, or you can't. He knows when to pass, burst forward, or switch it. This is what Bale will need to do to be successful there, bringing me back to things that aren't always teachable.

 

[Boss]

Absolutely right Nsis, Shoving a player into a central position is not just about using the players abilities, it presents the player with a whole set of new things. First and foremost decision making, out wide, very few decisions to make, centrally, I'd say your ability to read the game will get exposed if its bad. Its one of Modric's abilities not spoke about too much, and any top MFer does this naturally imo, you can either see whats on, or you can't. He knows when to pass, burst forward, or switch it. This is what Bale will need to do to be successful there, bringing me back to things that aren't always teachable.

Bale wouldn't go central with any other team, redknapp seems to want to experiment and push bale into more of a free role but i suspect any club looking at Bale, see him purely as a left side player.

 

[notsosmartspur]

Yeah you're right there Boss, 'shoving him central' wasn't the best phrase I could have used, what I meant was, giving him a free role where he may turn up centrally.

 

[Boss]

Yeah you're right there Boss, 'shoving him central' wasn't the best phrase I could have used, what I meant was, giving him a free role where he may turn up centrally.

to be honest mate its one of them weekends, we all using the wrong words, phrases online, think ill step away from my keyboard and have few cans.

lets hope bale tomorrow, left, central, right or even with his head, gets us into the champions league!

 

[notsosmartspur]

The Boss - ...I know, don't know about anyone else, but my heads scrambled, tbh I haven't been this excited and nervous about a weekend of football in god knows how long!...cans?...good idea!