Player Watch: Gareth Bale - Retires

[Everlasting Seconds]

he’s been wrapped in cotton wool long enough.

 

[DJS]

This echoes of when Kane was just coming back from injury and people expressed concerns about his form.

Match fitness / sharpness makes a lot of difference and as some have said he really needs to be judged when he is starting alongside Kane and Son in our strongest team.

I‘d be tempted to start him against Brignton tbh as Moura and Bergwijn haven’t exactly been pulling up trees either (although I do like the skill and energy potential Bergwijn can bring to the table).

 

[E17yid]

I’m telling you, you all need to chill the fuck out until end of November/early December when we play Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and all that lot.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I’m telling you, you all need to chill the fuck out until end of November/early December when we play Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and all that lot.

I agree. He's probably being managed toward a peak in form in 3 weeks.

 

[Kingellesar]

How many times have we seen players start the season slow and then pick up as the season goes on. Lets not forget he has had a very limited pre season so it will take time for him to get going. I do think he needs to start against Brighton though with Son and Kane, see if he can get something going.

 

[allatsea]

Disappointing game last night but hardly surprising with his injuries, problems at Real Madrid, and lack of match fitness. Not sure he should be starting PL games just yet but then Moura and Bergwin (sp?) are hardly pulling up trees.

 

[dagraham]

Disappointing game last night but hardly surprising with his injuries, problems at Real Madrid, and lack of match fitness. Not sure he should be starting PL games just yet but then Moura and Bergwin (sp?) are hardly pulling up trees.

I think Brighton is as good a game as any to start him. They will play an open game.

 

[offside_ruel_fox]

I think Brighton is as good a game as any to start him. They will play an open game.

I was thinking the same exact thing. It was right not to use him against Burnley and get him some minutes in the Europa League. Starting him on Sunday makes perfect sense. So no doubt we will not

 

[DEFchenkOE]

He hasn't really showed anything to deserve to start yet though has he?

 

[dagraham]

He hasn't really showed anything to deserve to start yet though has he?

You could argue that. If we look at the options though, Bergwiyn looks just as unfit as Bale, Lamela is possibly better off the bench and Moura is...well Moura. Never know what you’re going to get with him. Can’t fault his work rate though, so to be fair I can see why he gets picked.

 

[Shadydan]

You could argue that. If we look at the options though, Bergwiyn looks just as unfit as Bale, Lamela is possibly better off the bench and Moura is...well Moura. Never know what your going to get with him. Can’t fault his work rate though, so to be fair I can see why he gets picked.

For all Lucas' faults, at least he's going to press and put in a defensive shift, that's about as much as we can ask of our wingers right now.

 

[bigfrooj]

You’ll all have to lump it I’m afraid. He’s at least eight to ten games away from showing any kind of form, he needs loads more minutes before he gets the super-sharpness we all love.

 

[slartibartfast]

Long way from match fit and sharp.
It'll come but gonna be a while yet.
If he's still walking about after Xmas then...

 

[DEFchenkOE]

You could argue that. If we look at the options though, Bergwiyn looks just as unfit as Bale, Lamela is possibly better off the bench and Moura is...well Moura. Never know what your going to get with him. Can’t fault his work rate though, so to be fair I can see why he gets picked.

Yes it's Lucas by default for me, for now anyway. Neither Bergwijn or Lamela are looking up to it at the moment and Bale is looking about 30% fit.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

No way he starts Sunday. That’s just being silly

 

[Japhet]

Long way from match fit and sharp.
It'll come but gonna be a while yet.
If he's still walking about after Xmas then...

If we let him walk about til after Christmas our season is most likely in the bin. He needs to earn his place on the training pitch like evrybody else. Lucas always puts in a shift and sidelining him for Bale right now would be a travesty.

 

[JCRD]

He hasn't really showed anything to deserve to start yet though has he?

I think he needs to play with both Kane and Son - at the moment he is playign in startign 11s that arent our strongest so that has had an impact no doubt. Id start him against Brighton and see how he goes... however I suspect it will be Lucas starting.

 

[The Apprentice]

Let's be frank, he's shown very little so far. Obviously nowhere near fit enough and has been trundling around the park.

It's a waiting game to see if the old magic is still there.

 

[Gareth88]

When I have watched it's clear he is miles off the pace, he looks like he hasn't played in months

 

[BringBack_leGin]

One thing I’ll say is that while he absolutely must do more (and hopefully will when fitness returns), he seemed far more in sync with Doherty than Aurier, both in terms of playing him in but also being played in by him. Aurier seems far better playing with Lamela or slightly less so Lucas, who basically help relieve him of any duties in his own half.