Both goals Pictures c/o Sky Sports Italia
You’ve seen them before, and they are worth enjoying again. I was asked earlier this morning by Mr Bruce Grove if I would take Bale for an additional season. My straight, honest answer is no thank you.
The reasoning is twofold. One, he’s too expensive, and we’ve already been short-changed to the tune of 6-months as it is. Real Madrid aren’t (or rather could never be seen to supplement the boy further.
And for two; one nasty knock, and we’re back into the whole crisis management and rehabilitation cycle. For weeks, at £320,000k a week.
In this game he showed his class many times. His passing, the goals even some tracking back. The future well the problem is there is not a player out there with that much class not in our price bracket
*also I just watched 2 60+ ladies being bundled into a piggy wagon for walking in a park. This is about public safety? Right.
Get John McGinn and Hagi Jr instead. Look forward. Bale is the past.
Some of the passing was fantastic. Can he keep going? He’s only 31. For the first time there was quality from both flanks. Be a shame to break it up.
Moura played a big part in that performance last night – his energy, pressing and driving runs in the central position were something we’ve been missing, even from Ndombele. Having the insurance of a more defensive player next to PEH gave the front 3 + Lucas more freedom.
If he plays this well for the rest of the season, ignites this weekend’s NLD for example – then I think you keep him despite the risks/expense.
We could free up a lot of wages but then also if we can’t attract a world class player then that’s still an effective downgrade – because if he can link with Son and Kane this well against top oppo then he’s world class again. If you have attacking players of that class happy and performing well each week you don’t want to disrupt it. It’s what we’ve needed all season – a third amigo for Bale and Kane, all the other pretenders haven’t impressed consistently.
All that a massive ‘if’ though – sadly I think we’ll find his level is still below what he’s shown against Fulham and Palace… and in that instance we probably should look elsewhere.