The only reason I've given up on him staying is because I believe Bale wants to go, and Madrid know he wants to go and they will offer a world record fee, can any chairman in world football turn down 80 million plus for a player that wants to leave? not even Levy could do that, could he? I'll love it if he could, as Bale could still give us another year at least, from what I remember Utd told Madrid to do one the first they they tried to lure Ronaldo, so I would hope Bale has enough respect for us and the manager to put it all behind him if Levy decides to keep him as for all this talk of balance, if we have balance and Bale, then we will be a much greater team.
I don't doubt that carroll has an excellent future ahead of him. He's breaking his way through and will be this exact type of "creative" player. But he's just not quite ready yet. We need to sign someone he can learn from, should bale leave. That way, we have 2 players who can use their intelligence in a game, who we'll be able to rotate, as well as have cover for, should 1 of them get injured.
For me players are ready based on what they bring to the team and while Carroll isn't the finished product, he is ready to make more of an impact, yet of course that doesn't mean we should all of a sudden rely on him, but football is such a simple a game, you don't need 5 years of experience or a big build to make a simple pass or create chances so as long as Tom is given a proper chance this season then I'll be happy.
Until someone can put a figure on what Bale is worth next season commercially, its impossible to say, but selling him is not the only source of money from him is all I'm saying. I care not one jot if he wants to go, you're right CR7 was held back a year, Modric wanted to go aswell, and once he got his little 'my heads not right' tantrum out the way he played well for us. At the end of last season Bale was happy to stay, in no rush with his career, blah blah. Things change I know, but in this short space of time??
Dortmund are modern day proof that you don't need to have a load of "stars" to have success. 18 months ago nobody could even name a Dortmund player. The pool of talent is shrinking (undoubtedly) but it seems most clubs are trying to channel their efforts into buying a group of players that work well rather than big names. Even Chelsea are doing it That said I still think you will be weaker without Bale. You need to keep him to have a chance of top 4. Lennon's stats are poor but he is very effective. Soldado and Defoe would take the pressure off Bale (if he stayed) and I assume Dembele would play in an advanced role given Sandro is back and Paulinho has been bought.
The "Little Englander" types couldn't, but they could name you every Bayern player despite the fact Dortmund slapped them that season. Not even gonna begin to try and spell the names of the players so don't get me started
