27 Jul 2017 11:50:11
So lots of Bale chatter atm. So here's my two cents.

I really like him as a player, he certainly fits the mould of what we might call a "typical United player". He's fast, direct and does the things that get you off your seat.

But only when he's fit. Which unfortunately isn't enough of the time. Isco didn't break into the Real Madrid team last season by playing better than Bale. He did so while Bale was on the physio's treatment table. Last season Bale started 17 league games, he came on from the bench in a further 2. In the more physical EPL how many games could you rely on him being fit for? He might make a difference in half a dozen games, but can you justify the near 100m outlay on a player who will only be in the team half the time. Would it not be better to wait a year and sign Greizmann? Or Dembele or Lemar players who have bright futures rather than higher medical bills?

1.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 12:00:03
I agree with everything said here. He needs to prove his fitness but recent history clearly tells us that this will be a struggle. If Madrid felt his fitness issues were not that major, I do not think they would be looking to sell him as when fit he is truly "world class". As others and yourself have mentioned, I think waiting for Griezmann is best.

2.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 12:09:44
Could be dangerous that though shappy, a year is a long time in football not all the superclubs will have a good season and may look to splash the money on big players, what if greizmann or dembele get massive interest from other big sides next season and they appeal to these players just as much as utd might . I personally don't think we are good enough to refuse bale if he's available now and not gamble who may be available in a year . We get so many posts on here moaning great players are never available so if and when they are should we not act upon it.

3.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 12:47:48
Dislocated his ankle last season which can happen to anyone .
Previous seasons he has played
38,48,44,44 games a season not including games for Wales.

Is his injury record really as bad as people make out?

4.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 13:04:43
His injury record up until the last 2 years was ok, so we need to understand if it is a chronic issue or not. He is a game changer, EPL proven, home grown, great legs, and if he is available you can bet your mortgage that Ed will be waving his chequebook about.

5.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 13:15:22
Indeed, Bale's health is an awfully big question mark given the price that he would go for.

6.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 13:23:08
It's a signing that could go either way I think.

7.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 13:59:38
AJH - Great legs. is there something you need to tell the rest of us. :)

8.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 14:03:51
Slate, it could be dangerous and is certainly a gamble. But so is signing Bale in my book. He is a player who relies heavily on his ability to explode, but with that comes muscle damage issues. We saw with Rooney what can happen to a top player when they lose a key part of their game. Especially when it is that ability to explode off the line. Could he adapt? Certainly, but is it worth gambling 100m on it? Hell no.

Jred, Real Madrid have played nearly 60 games in each of the last two seasons. So 38 games means he was still missing for around 20 games due to injury. Before that he was relatively injury free, or at least not particularly injury prone. But that's two years of injury effected seasons. Also Ed001 has said it is well known he will suffer from certain injuries and that is likely to get worse as he gets older.

Tony he does have great legs, but that's a very different discussion. Lol.

Jwalk, I think you've got the nail on the head. It could go either way, personally I don't think gambling 100m on a 50/ 50 is a good idea. Especially as I feel it's more likely he will continue to have injury issues than not.

9.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 14:29:24
Shaps
40 odd games a season is still not bad and out of the 60 games Madrid don't play with that strong a team for domestic cups .
A dislocated ankle from a late challenge that he had this season can happen to any player.
Take that away and I don't think his injury record is as bad as people want to make out .

I really rated bale at spurs and got a lot of stick on the site because of it . Was told time and again he was the most overrated player in the EPL.
And we shouldn't buy him because once he lost his pace he would be finished, he was only 23 at the time?

Clubs will be very well Informed about his fitness and potential Injuries and how to deal with them, same as any player.
If available they will pay big money for him, tells it's own story.

10.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 14:39:36
I'm pretty sure if utd were to outlay that much money they would seek some pretty in-depth medical advice on it, if that advice was he will will miss too much football then yr correct shappy but surely it's something well paid medical professionals would advise on and utd would then choose how to proceed based on it, but if a guy we pay to give us his medical opinion on wether bale has an underlying medical issue or not then says it's ok to proceed then do we just over rule him on our own hunches or accept the advice we pay for .

11.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 14:45:10
The absolute best players, Ronaldo, Neymar, Messi, Suarez, do not miss a lot of games through injury. When they are injured, it is uncommon. Comparing Bale to these guys should be the measuring stick. Unfortunately for him, being injured is common enough. If we could get him at a fee that is not astronomical, it will be worth it. He is a game changer and I think Jose would manage him well. As I've said in another post, it is just a matter of not being able to rely on him.

12.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 15:06:12
Neymar and messi would cost 200mil.
Not sure bale would, bale picks up injuries but I honestly think when you look at the amount of games he has played prior to the last season,174 in 4 seasons plus 20 for Wales it's overplayed.

{Ed001's Note - how many of those are full 90mins? How many are sub appearances or where he is taken off as he tries to get back to fitness after injury? How many are cut short by injury? Just saying 174 in 4 seasons is meaningless if 170 are from the bench! Not having a dig, just wondering as I know the Madridistas have a lot of jokes about Ballet (as they pronounce it) and his injuries.}

13.) 27 Jul 2017
27 Jul 2017 15:33:28
Ed1 they also boo ronaldo class act them boys .
I get your point tho 100%, and the truth is I don't know but I watch a lot of Madrid and for me if fit bale always seems to start, haven't seen him on the bench often . but I might be wrong .
He does seem to pick up injuries but I just think it's overplayed .
Still played a lot of footy, maybe not as much as a ronaldo but more than a robben.

{Ed001's Note - I never said I liked them! I was just saying they whine on about his injuries all the time. They love him, think he is a fantastic player, but always injured.}