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If so, he is just a puppet?
Try to forget the fact you support Spurs. Now put yourself in the position Bale was in. You'd do the same thing. You'd want to leave and you'd do anything to achieve that.
Also, why don't we give our new signings shit for wanting to better themselves?
Also, why don't we give our new signings shit for wanting to better themselves?
Speak for yourself on the bolded part. I dont see anyone saying Bale was wrong to want to move, but there are ways of going about it.
Why do people continue to ignore that distinction? If Bale was honest about his intentions from last May, instead of saying:
"I want to play at the highest level possible and be playing against the best teams in the world. I think the club is going in the right direction. All our objectives are the same, we just have to try to achieve them now," he said.
"We're all working well as a team. We're all working together. The club is going in the right direction, bringing in better players every season,"
"The likes of Mousa [Dembélé] and Jan [Vertonghen] have been fantastic additions to the squad and I'm sure we'll bring in a few more players into the squad again this summer. It's just a matter of progressing for everyone and reaching our targets."
And then in July:
"We have a great relationship. Last season we had a great campaign and obviously we came up short but we had a great working relationship on and off the field.
"We chatted quite a lot about tactics and stuff like that. He definitely got the best out of me last season and hopefully can again.”
He knew the entire time that he was talking to Real Madrid when he said these things. You might not see a difference, but I do.
You want me to put myself in his position? Well, here is what I would have done.
I would have let Levy and AVB know before the end of last season and tried to leave early as possible. I would have released a statement, and been honest to the Spurs fans, and dealt with the reaction like a man.
I would have used the last game of the season against Southampton, fittingly, to say goodbye to the PL and both sets of fans.
I would have used my power and status to not give a flying fuck about what any agent, lawyer or anyone else told me I could or couldnt say. Because I believe in freedom of speech, and I dont see myself as a slave, or a sheep or a piece of property.
Bale could have been honest, but it takes a man, not a spoiled little brat, who just wants to be loved, to do that.
As for the new signings, as far as Im aware, they simply signed for another club, and I have no idea why that alone is wrong. Its how you go about your move that makes the difference.
Discussing this issue is not trying to make a case to discredit Bale.I feel, It's to do with the essence of football players today. Supporters put so much emotion in and seem to get little back? There seems to be a void as Bale didn't formally say his goodbyes directly to all Spurs supporters at a game. I accept all the tacitly manoeuvring behind the scenes shenanigans BUT its unfair on the AVB, the team and supporters to be kept at arms length. If I were in his position, I would have wanted to say goodbye in front of a full house at WHL. NOT through an agent then leave through the back door allowing conspiracy ideas to develop.
I find it interesting that sammy is happy to get on his soapbox about Bale missing a couple of training sessions, but the three month courting of the England job by one H. Redknapp did not generate enough "disrespect" to stop him defending the latter to no end this time a year ago.
You're right of course, c'est la vie and all that - the big fish chew us up, whilst we chomp up smaller fish such as Southampton or our East London Pikey feeder club.
It's the way it is and I dislike how Real went about unsettling our player but we have no doubt been as bad previously with lower league teams - I guess it sums up how fickle being a fan can be unfortunately.
I just can't wait for next weekend so we can well & truly draw a line under Bale/Madrid and concentrate on what is more important: Tottenham Hotspur.
My own suspicion is that Bale probably did go to Levy and make his intentions clear. But releasing a statement as you describe lets a world-record-breaking signing go for half of what he could be worth.
Ultimately, all the talk of acting like a man and not a brat misses a very simple truth in professional sports - that while you have a contract with a club, they own you like a piece of meat. If he did the right thing and spoke to Levy and Levy said,"Say nothing to anyone - we will get you your move IF the price is right and when your replacements have been brought in," who's in the wrong then?
Sammy, a lot of your arguments put the fans first. It has been described elsewhere and is increasingly visible in modern football but very few football clubs at the top level do that. Or can do that and stay competitive. At some point you've got to accept that the fans will give you money regardless of how well you treat them. Levy has realised that and has jacked up ticket prices, let the Spurs Shop sell more and more tat, involved Stubhub...
My point remains that I think a lot of us may be hurt over how he acted but I think, equally, a lot of us can see why he did it that way. Overlooking all of this, while he was at the club, Gareth Bale was one of the last footballers out on the pitch every match, he applauded the fans in all four stands and did feel like he was a true part of the club. I'm sad he's gone - of course I am - but I can't begrudge him this move. Partially because of the money, partially because he got what he wanted but mostly because it just has Levy's fingerprints of wanting the best deal for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club all over it.
He's talking out his arse, how do you know he didn't talk to AVB and Levy, maybe he told Bale to keep stum so we could make a few bob of the back of marketing. We couldn't have done that if he released a statement. Maybe he thought he was helping us out, maybe he didn't, we know fuck all in reality but I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt regardless
Even if Lamela, Eriksen or Chiriches was to kiss our badge, I'd find it a bit cringeworthy
I would cringe BIGTIME....but at the same time secretly love it.
When Bale does it to another clubs badge that he has just signed for it is shallow to me, no genuine feeling or just a PR exercise for fools that will believe it.
If Lamela or Co does it, to me it shows upmost respect & love for the club and its fans and shows how much they want to do well in our colours representing our magnificent club.
I need help...
Admitting it is the first, and most important, step.
I see what you are saying, but I can only judge his actions against my own principles. I wouldnt even have an agent for a start, so I dont buy into all the politics and bullshit.
I do as I please in life, and if I loved the fans and felt part of the club, I would have put that first, and let the fall out land where it landed. Im not saying I wouldnt have moved, or he is wrong for that, but personally, I dont give a shit about money, I put things before that.
Im not rich now, and I dont give a fuck. Ive walked out of jobs I didnt like, or told bosses that are cunts that Im not doing a single thing or working a single minute over my duties. I dont pander, or pretend or arse lick anyone or thing.
If I was on the money Bale was on here, I would give even less of a fuck about what any prick trying to leech off my talents wanted or thought. Thats the way I am, and thats what I judge respect by.
Actions speak louder than words, and if Bale "loved" us, he would have put us before his agent, or his record transfer fee. He could have told Madrid that he will sign, only on Tottenham's demands.
Other than that, he could still show us some respect, and just say it as it is. "I put myself first, its a dream move, and thats the way football is today. Im moving on, and people should accept it and do the same."
I respect that far more than his bullshit statement about loving it here and coming back one day....fuck off with that basically. Its an insult, and feeds his image as an idol, and simply appeases a certain type of person, that hero worships people because they can kick a ball, or sing, or drive a car really really fast.
You can be a tramp, or a "superstar", but to me you are a human, and you earn my respect by how you act, not who you are, and your shallow, meaningless statements written by your PR team.
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A "socialist" who is wholeheartedly lapping up Bale as a stand up bloke in all this. Amusing at best.
You actually believe that no one could possibly think he's a cunt over principle.....they must be jealous of his wealth?
So wealth is the desire of everyone? Was'nt you fiercely anti Thatcher?
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Different ball game mate, you're way off the point now, if you look that deeply into it you'd struggle to follow football at all.
I agree, but I draw the line at justifying something wrong in principle to me, on the basis that Bale was world class for us, and the he put on the perfect nice boy show after he moved.
As said, actions speak louder than words, and he acted crass. I prefer a cunt that knows he's one, than one that pretends he isnt, but actually does nothing differently.
The furthest i'd go on this is that you've got to act like a cunt to beat a cunt (Daniel Levy). I love Levy as much as the next guy and he does the best for our club imo but if he's not on your side he's a massive cunt.
For Bale to get what he wanted this summer and admittedly what his agents wanted they had to beat Levy, taking no risks whatsoever, i.e not being public, being injured etc etc.
Bale went about this in the best way he could to ensure getting his move and doing the best for Tottenham (Levy). They come hand in hand.
When there's Daniel Levy looking over you i think its quite hard to leave spurs to better yourself and for large amounts of money without being a bit cunty.
Everyone has done things that are cunty, doesn't make them a cunt.
