28 May 2018 10:50:29
I’m sure the Bale debate will rage over the coming weeks but I am happy that we pursue him. I know his injury record isn’t great but stick with me and let em explain why.

1. Jose has commented on the mentality of the players and suggests that for some of them the issue is in their heads. Bale doesn’t have that issue, he has played and performed at the highest level, he has clearly put the hours in and he would be an example to the rest.
2. Ronaldo and Messi have been a step ahead of everyone but there a group of players at the next level and I put Bale in that category. If we want to get back to the top we need to be buying at this end of the market. For all his potential, Pogba was just that, potential, and so it had proved since we signed him. I think Bale would hit the ground running and make a difference straight away.
3. “But he’s always injured”. According to Bale he was only out for 5 weeks this year and has been fit and ready to play the rest of the time. The counter argument of course is that if he had played he may well have got injured again. However, if he passes a rigorous medical than we live with it and manage it.

Having said all that we need to be sensible, he is a great late but let’s not go breaking any records to sign him.

I also wonder whether Jose may promote some of the youngsters, they may not be read but if they have been brought through the correct way they will have the right dedication and attitude, something Jose singled out McTominay for. If we can promote say 3, buy 3 or 4 top class players with the right attitude, then the dynamic of the team would change immediately. I can see this happening and I can also see Martial and Pogba being sacrificed to achieve it.

1.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 11:16:22
I agree with that ajh . We are quite away behind city and we have to redress the balance somehow . This guy is capable of closing the gap, our goals and assists from the right side of attack don't stack up against our rivals and he can play there . He does come with a risk and hopefully a medical would pick up on any long term issue that makes the risk to high. The man has the ability to be the best player in the league.

2.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 11:54:29
Good post AJH - agree completely on Bale. This is the caliber of player we should be signing.

I'm all for promoting youth as you know, my only slight concern with the current crop of youth players is they have been messed around by the LVG debacle, changing the whole 'philosophy' of the club from top-bottom, then I assume changing it again once he left? Now the kids should benefit from learning multiple ways of playing and some will be saved from the internal confusion by having been away on loan - but I can't help but think it may have held a few of them back, fine margins and all at the elite level. That's really a side issue, something to consider - I have no evidence for this.

If you are good enough you should play, but we have seen how reluctant Jose is to play young players from the start, to allow them to settle etc. I think under this regime we should forget about the dream of having young players being a core part of the team and just face up to the fact they will be stop-gaps for the most part and that will likely mean they never develop into the players they could/ should be whilst here.

I know what type of performance to expect from our team, I am also learning to know what type of opportunities academy players are going to get, may be the odd exception - but fundamentally 99/ 100 times I'm pretty certain the transfer market is where Jose will go in order to compete. Like most teams at the very top nowadays though to be fair.

3.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 12:12:30
After that goal I suppose Madrid will put an extra 50 million on his price tag.

4.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 12:21:52
My concern is where he will play. If he plays on the right under Jose, he’s wasted. Like Sanchez he will be required to focus on tracking back, and what’s the point in buying him for that job. The obvious solution is to play him behind Lukaku, but this means playing him with two holding mids. So, great player, but we already have some very good attacking players who underperform in our system.

5.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 12:47:35
Good post AJH - Looking ahead to the summer I think our team and style of play could be transformed by signing just 3 players.

1. Alderweireld - A composed, elegant CB who is calm and assured on the ball, consistent, rarely makes mistakes, relatively quick, good both in the tackle and in the air, the complete modern CB. He should bring a calming influence to the team and is able to play out from the back. In theory he should be able to form an effective and imposing partnership with Bailly. We need a settled and first choice CB pairing if we are to take the next step.
2. Fred - Whilst I must confess I haven't seen him play, I've done my homework and the more I read the more excited I become. Apparently he's a tenacious player with great stamina. He's good on the ball, a great passer and also a good dribbler. He has the ability to start attacks from deep and drive us forward from midfield breaking the lines with his dribbling ability. He could form a formidable defensive shield with Matic whilst still having the quality on the ball to instigate attacks. Against newly promoted or relegation threatened teams especially at OT he could easily partner Pogba in a midfield two transforming us into a much more attacking outfit. In bigger games he could also line up in a midfield 3.
3. Bale - Maybe the most controversial player on the list but also the most talented and capable of making the biggest impact. A fit and inform Gareth Bale is a frightening prospect. He will bring experience, pace, goals and assists. His delivery from set plays and crosses is brilliant. He would bring a directness and add a totally new dimension to our team. Ok he'd be expensive and a big risk due to his injury problems but we once took a similar punt on RVP and he won us the title. At the moment Bale is fit, he's in form and hungry for a new challenge. He'll get a good rest as Wales are not involved in the the WC and a full preseason. If we really want to close the gap and are serious about challenging City in the immediate future then Bale is a MUST for me. Yes it's a risk but he who dares wins.

Maybe add a left back to that list but I'd try and capture those 3 first.

Anyway there you have it please feel free to disagree or pick me apart.

Roll on next season.

6.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 14:28:47
I'd be happy bit a lb is a must this year.

7.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 14:36:05
I personally feel that we shouldn't be going for Bale. If we are signing a winger for big money I'd rather we go for Pulisic. Young, dynamic and plays primarily on the right side of wing. What worries me about Bale is thag his game is entirely dependent on pace.

But still if we sign him I'd support him. After the kind of money Sanchez is on and the fact that we needed to shift out Zlatan to make room in the wage bill to avoid getting in trouble with FFP, I doubt we can afford Bale's astronomical wages.

I would like to see a summer of Fred, Pelligrini, Pulisic, Toby and Sandro. I think that is very realistic and achievable bh shifting out some squad players like Blind, Darmian, one of the CBs, Shaw and Fellaini.

8.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 14:37:03
Bale should be signed.

9.) 28 May 2018
28 May 2018 18:27:18
Maybe Jose is signing Bale as our new left back.