Discussion
ChocolateFrog said:
Zidane looks a bit of a tit at the moment then.
Yep, part of the job of being a manager is dealing with a range of people, some of which you might not like but you still have to get the best out of them.Quite possibly in the next 3 years Zidane will be gone and Bale will end up playing again, unless he leaves.
I see ex-RM manager and Liverpool and Wales legend John Toshack has joined in the Bale bashing.......
BBC Sport said:
Former Real Madrid and Wales manager John Toshack has told BBC Radio 5 Live that criticism of Bale is justified and he should have "engaged himself" with Spain and the Real supporters during his six years at the club.
"Come out Gareth, do an interview, speak yourself," said the 70-year-old. "You've been here six or seven years now. You don't speak the language. That's an insult to the people that you're working for.
"It's not gone down well at all here in Spain, and it saddens me.
"He's been important in Real Madrid. It's just a great pity that he hasn't engaged himself a little bit more with the country that he's living in, with the supporters that are there every week.
"Gareth, come on. Take a little bit of time out and learn the language."
"Come out Gareth, do an interview, speak yourself," said the 70-year-old. "You've been here six or seven years now. You don't speak the language. That's an insult to the people that you're working for.
"It's not gone down well at all here in Spain, and it saddens me.
"He's been important in Real Madrid. It's just a great pity that he hasn't engaged himself a little bit more with the country that he's living in, with the supporters that are there every week.
"Gareth, come on. Take a little bit of time out and learn the language."
There are several reports of him not integrating, socialising or generally engaging with the club, culture or fans. Whether that's all fact or a club smokescreen who knows.
Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
RobDickinson said:
ChocolateFrog said:
Zidane looks a bit of a tit at the moment then.
Yep, part of the job of being a manager is dealing with a range of people, some of which you might not like but you still have to get the best out of them.Quite possibly in the next 3 years Zidane will be gone and Bale will end up playing again, unless he leaves.
snake_oil said:
There are several reports of him not integrating, socialising or generally engaging with the club, culture or fans. Whether that's all fact or a club smokescreen who knows.
Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Probably just a bit thick most likely.Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
In a team profession, demonstrating you are not a 'team player' is never going to endear you to anyone you are working with, no matter what the 'job', and after 6 years living in a country and possibly still not having grasped the basics of communicating in that language is far from ideal.
Making an effort to learn the language is probably why even now decades later, Gary Lineker is still well thought of by the Barca fans, and probably the same for Kevin Keegan from his time in Germany.
Football may be just a job but it's the entertainment industry so perhaps a little bit more could be expected from players, especially when the strength of their image plays a large part in how much they are paid and what they can earn. However I find it hard to criticize Bale if keeping a low profile is his way of life and Real are freezing him out for off the field reasons.
JuniorD said:
Football may be just a job but it's the entertainment industry so perhaps a little bit more could be expected from players, especially when the strength of their image plays a large part in how much they are paid and what they can earn. However I find it hard to criticize Bale if keeping a low profile is his way of life and Real are freezing him out for off the field reasons.
Its understandable though if his constant distancing himself from his 'teamates' is affecting the relationship with them and other people within the club.aeropilot said:
JuniorD said:
Football may be just a job but it's the entertainment industry so perhaps a little bit more could be expected from players, especially when the strength of their image plays a large part in how much they are paid and what they can earn. However I find it hard to criticize Bale if keeping a low profile is his way of life and Real are freezing him out for off the field reasons.
Its understandable though if his constant distancing himself from his 'teamates' is affecting the relationship with them and other people within the club.Zidane has the horn for Pogba and doesn't fancy Bale for whatever reason. Probably because he is using up £600k a week of their salary budget which ZZ would rather spend elsewhere. Real are completely dreaming if they think that someone is going to commit to £90m salary for a 30yo AND pay a transfer fee for the privilege.
They could let him go on a free and keep paying half his wages and it would be equivalent to receiving a £45m fee for him! It's hard to have any sympathy for clubs who give massive contracts to players with limited resale value and then decide they don't want them. It's not like Bale has massive commercial value like Ronaldo or Messi.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Tuesday 30th July 12:07
TEKNOPUG said:
It's not effecting his performances on the pitch though. He's been there 6 years, if language and integration were an issue it would have surfaced long before now. They even gave him a new contract! They've won 4 CLs in that time, he's scored in 2 finals. Selected for 47 games for Real last season....
Zidane has the horn for Pogba and doesn't fancy Bale for whatever reason. Probably because he is using up £600k a week of their salary budget which ZZ would rather spend elsewhere. Real are completely dreaming if they think that someone is going to commit to £90m salary for a 30yo AND pay a transfer fee for the privilege.
They could let him go on a free and keep paying half his wages and it would be equivalent to receiving a £45m fee for him! It's hard to have any sympathy for clubs who give massive contracts to players with limited resale value and then decide they don't want them. It's not like Bale has massive commercial value like Ronaldo or Messi.
I agree, I have no sympathy at all for a club who repeatedly chase the best footballers in the world and make ridiculous offers and contracts to tear them away from the other teams then cry when it all goes tits-up !!Zidane has the horn for Pogba and doesn't fancy Bale for whatever reason. Probably because he is using up £600k a week of their salary budget which ZZ would rather spend elsewhere. Real are completely dreaming if they think that someone is going to commit to £90m salary for a 30yo AND pay a transfer fee for the privilege.
They could let him go on a free and keep paying half his wages and it would be equivalent to receiving a £45m fee for him! It's hard to have any sympathy for clubs who give massive contracts to players with limited resale value and then decide they don't want them. It's not like Bale has massive commercial value like Ronaldo or Messi.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Tuesday 30th July 12:07
snake_oil said:
There are several reports of him not integrating, socialising or generally engaging with the club, culture or fans. Whether that's all fact or a club smokescreen who knows.
Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
When I was in the Army I did a test aimed to see how well you can pick up languages, I was comically bad. That said I'm sure he could spare an hour a day at what £50 to have a tutor atleast get the basics across, assume the reports are accurate. Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
ChocolateFrog said:
snake_oil said:
There are several reports of him not integrating, socialising or generally engaging with the club, culture or fans. Whether that's all fact or a club smokescreen who knows.
Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
When I was in the Army I did a test aimed to see how well you can pick up languages, I was comically bad. That said I'm sure he could spare an hour a day at what £50 to have a tutor atleast get the basics across, assume the reports are accurate. Maybe he's just shy or a bit thick language wise.
Whatever, his situation needs sorting soon otherwise a fantastic talent will essentially disappear too early.
Zidane was suppsoed to turn around the club, but his results have been disappointing. Didn't they lose last season to two clubs that were relegated, now knocked out the Audi cup with Spurs dominating...
ChocolateFrog said:
When I was in the Army I did a test aimed to see how well you can pick up languages, I was comically bad. That said I'm sure he could spare an hour a day at what £50 to have a tutor at least get the basics across, assume the reports are accurate.
I think I did the same test and I probably scored less than you. I am normally good at exams but I couldn't make head nor tail of that one.I remember being on a course with a German guy and telling him that I had lived in Germany for 3 years. I immediately regretted telling him that when he began speaking to me in his native language and hoping for some kind of response.
I sympathise with Gareth but he never should have went to Spain in the first place, he is just a simple lad at heart and if he had stayed at Spurs or even went to Man Utd he would have been fantastic.
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