Good article Spurf and I don't believe anyone would be in disagreement about having a balanced a team, as that was one of our main problems last season, the lack of balance, yet AVB was one of the reasons for that lack of balance as he allowed the team to become unbalanced and we relied on Bale,. If Bale goes, it may well look like we have a more balanced team, and on paper that may be the case, yet alot will depend on AVB, as last season he allowed the team to become unabalanced and never addressed certain issues within the team, and at times relied on Bale, as imo he looked short of ideas. If he has learnt from that and creates a more balanced team, then of course we can still be a success and be a team on the rise, yet losing players like berba, modric, vdv & bale will always be a sad feeling, as these players that we love to watch and also are joining teams that have success (aside from vdv), so these individual great players do have their place in a balanced team, its a just a shame we have to lose them to create that balance. Maybe one day we will create that balance with these great players, thats when we will be back to the glory days, just doesn't seem like its going to happen anytime soon.
Hey guys....I didn't say it would be easy or that we had to sell to buy. I also said that the c.£85m does not take account of salaries. Vim - no need for the Chavski, just here for honest debate. My point was more about if he is going to leave, is it better just to get on with it and try to use some of the money wisely. We overpaid for Torres and Liverpool burnt a significant amount of that money on Carroll because they were desperate at the close of the transfer window. Regardless of what you get (assuming the sale happens), you wouldn't want it to happen like that. You are not going to replace Bale with a like-for-like quality player (he's too good for that - unless you are really lucky and discover an unknown talent), but even buying 2 or 3 good players might do the trick. Without the heavy reliance/burden on 1 player, the overall team may improve. I don't disagree that the initial impact may be negative (you are NOT a 1 man team - but he is bloody good), and it may take time to recover, but delaying a transfer to late in the day may be more detrimental.
That's a key point Boss. For us to break into that 'League winning potential club' is the hardest step. Bale at Madrid will be in am more balanced team, because of the quality of the players around him. We are creeping up our quality step by step. Sandro, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Lloris, Dembele, and now Paulinho & Soldado. Not forgetting Lennon who not so long ago was our stand out player. Not so shabby. I think we might progress that little bit further sooner than you think. Oh and Carrol waiting in the wings (The new Carrick?)
Actually when I take Bale out the team and look at our squad/team, its still fairly exciting, I still have huge hopes for Dembele (if he can improve) and of course the players you mention (especially Carrol if he ever gets a chance), Just in the back if my mind I think "who will be the next bale" as its going to happen, we have a knack of finding stars, just FFS lets keep them!
If this theory is so good, why doesn't someone suggest to Real and Barca to sell Ronaldo and Messi and get 3/4 average players in as it will be much better. Sorry, but this theory is .
Messi is a great player AND a team player. Real underachieve for the talent they have, so maybe Spurf has a point here. No one proposes average players?
Sell Ronaldo & Messi to get 3/4 very good players in. If the theory is so why do you have to exagerate to make your point?
Notso I'm certainly not suggesting that selling Bale is ideal - however, if (still a big IF) he is about to leave, better to do it while you've still got some time to source other players rather than making some desperate purchases on the last day of the window. I'm guessing that others at the club are looking at a number of players to try to help fill the void. On another note - Dembele was an excellent acquisition. These bloomin' Belgians are looking real quality.
P.S Spurf (don't curse me)...BUT remember when Maradona left barca, he went to Napoli and turned an average team into league champions (and cup success), not to mention what he done with Argentina.
My finger got tired and I couldn't think of any words! My point is, Bale, Messi and Ronaldo are match winners, when the rest of the team (doesn't matter who it is) are having an off day/spell the top teams all have a player that having done nothing all game, pops up with something special. Most teams outside the top4 (loose term) would love to have this kind of once a generation player. We by good luck have one, yet seem ok with letting him go a season sooner than expected.
Cheers Boss. Argentina lost to Germany remember and the best example of all, the Fantastic Dutch side with a team of world beaters who got beat by West Germany. The best organised team is always best and they don't come any better organised than the Germans. Touche!
I would prefer us to keep him but NOT build a team around him. I prefer that we build a team around each member of that team. Of course special players will make a difference Letissier did wonders for Southampton, VDP for United. But then Arsenal earned more points without Persie than when they had him.
Its a team game, and everyone is talking about the balance in the attacking sense. The BIGGEST problem we have with the season fast approaching is the lack of centre backs. That is the issue that needs addressing pretty damn sharpish regardless of whether Bale is here or not.
In fairness, a balanced side doesn't necessarily mean it's a better side. When you look at most of the top teams in Europe, each team has that extra special player. Barca - Messi Madrid - Ronaldo. Dortmund - Lewandowski. Utd - van Persie. Bayern - Robben. Each of those sides have more quality players but those listed are the guys that generally bring them a lot of success. Though as I said earlier, who do people feel are the players that can come in and make us a better side than what we are now with Bale? As of right now, when fit, our strongest team would likely be: Lloris, Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Ekotto, Paulinho, Sandro, Dembele Bale, Soldado, Chadli/ Lennon Take Bale out, which 2/3/4 players do we get to improve us and where do they fit in?
Is it? Kaboul, Verts, Dawson, Fryers? I can't believe we offloaded Caulker without cover or planned cover. We wouldn't do that would we?
I just can't get my head round the idea that 3 or 4 other players (that will be of the standard we've been buying for years), doing us better. These players will have bad games too....but with no Bale to get us out the ****e. Now I'm not saying thats why we should solely keep Bale, its this. When Ronaldo and Messi are on the teamsheet, opponents approach the whole match differently, its a psycological edge having such a player, defences more hesitant going forward etc etc. Everyone and I mean everyone wanted us to start the season, NOT like all the others. If he goes, we're running out of time already to get these 3/4 in, so once again, ****e start to the season, still bringing players in when its started, and falling short because of it come next May. By then it will be...should've kept Bale.
Crocarno my apologies, in this particular debate it was unnecesary to refer to your team in some derogatory way, but for the record I used the term "Chelski" not "Chavski", which I would suggest is nowhere near as bad!
I've said this countless times, but IF bale goes, we need to address the creativity, which we are already struggling with having lost VDV and Modric. if Bale leaves, that's such a key area which can easily be overlooked, just because we have an abundance of midfielders, rather than 1or 2 who specify in unlocking defences. as I have said. - Eriksen. If Bale leaves, Chadli and Lennon become 1st choice Wingers, and Paulinho, Dembele, Sandro and Eriksen would be the first 4 "Midfielders" on the team sheet, IMO. They would have to rotate, but that's completely normal when playing 55-60 games in a season. I know people will say "what about holtby, Sig etc", but I don't have answer for that. The point is we need to get at least 1 person in to fill the void left by Modric's, VDV's and Bale's qualities. (I say 1 player, because I don't know if Paulinho can do that or not?!) We cannot think about using Sig or Holtby to replace the world class qualities of Modric, VDV and Bale. It's just too much of a risk.
