Gareth Bale has retired

[phil old leake]

I suppose that puts a stop on him coming to donny

[NigelJ]

The way he played, I thought he retired after about 5 minutes into the World Cup.

[roversdude]

Can join Tomlin on the golf course

[Reg of the Rovers]

Please can they persuade Jon Taylor to go with them and free up some wages from that waste of money.

[arkseyrover]

..........GOOD

[MachoMadness]

Some people will scoff at this because of the way his career fizzled out but there's an argument that he's the greatest British footballer of all time. Coppinger excluded of course.

5 CL medals, including 3 in a row, as part of one of the great Real Madrid sides. Scored worldies in big matches. Dragged Wales to their best showing in a major tournament. Before injuries and a general lack of being arsed took hold, it would've been an easier argument to make.

[Colin C No.3]

People will scoff at this because of the way his career fizzled out but there's an argument that he's the greatest British footballer of all time. Coppinger excluded of course.

5 CL medals, including 3 in a row, as part of one of the great Real Madrid sides. Scored worldies in big matches. Dragged Wales to their best showing in a major tournament. Before injuries and a general lack of being arsed took hold, it would've been an easier argument to make.

I wouldn’t argue with any of that.

He scored some amazing goals for Spurs, Real Madrid & Wales. The goal against Barcelona when he ran the other side of the tactical areas & still beat the Barcelona defender to the ball before lifting it over the keeper was described as ‘A British Goal’ meaning anyother ‘Johnny Foreigner’ would have gone down for a foul when shoulder barged off of the pitch. I don’t have the link but it’s well worth looking up.

[The Beast]

People will scoff at this because of the way his career fizzled out but there's an argument that he's the greatest British footballer of all time. Coppinger excluded of course.

5 CL medals, including 3 in a row, as part of one of the great Real Madrid sides. Scored worldies in big matches. Dragged Wales to their best showing in a major tournament. Before injuries and a general lack of being arsed took hold, it would've been an easier argument to make.

Definitely an argument, if he was English he'd have been front and back page of every tabloid every day for the last decade, Beckham couldn't lace his boots.

[NickDRFC]

Some people will scoff at this because of the way his career fizzled out but there's an argument that he's the greatest British footballer of all time. Coppinger excluded of course.

5 CL medals, including 3 in a row, as part of one of the great Real Madrid sides. Scored worldies in big matches. Dragged Wales to their best showing in a major tournament. Before injuries and a general lack of being arsed took hold, it would've been an easier argument to make.

Certainly the most decorated although I’d qualify how much he really contributed (overall) to those CL wins beyond the first one, after which his playing time reduced markedly year on year. For the 2016 win he played 644 out of a possible 1,170 in 2016, in 2017 it was 509 and only 297 (including an extremely important 29 minutes) in 2018. Just the 7 minutes played in last season’s competition.

Personally I think Bale was a really good player who at times was great, but for me a real great has consistent contribution and longevity. For one reason or another we’ve not had that with Bale.

[ravenrover]

You discounting his 2 goals against Liverpool after coming on as sub and still winning MoM?

[scawsby steve]

All about opinions. Bale was a great player, but wasn't for me the greatest British player ever.

That accolade IMO goes to World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton.

[NickDRFC]

You discounting his 2 goals against Liverpool after coming on as sub and still winning MoM?

“Including an extremely important 29 minutes” - that’s hardly discounting it, is it? The point is that although he is extremely decorated after his time at Madrid it would be overstating it to say that he has made a consistent contribution to many of their successes in the same way that Ronaldo, Benzema, Casillas, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric etc have.

[ravenrover]

You discounting his 2 goals against Liverpool after coming on as sub and still winning MoM?

“Including an extremely important 29 minutes” - that’s hardly discounting it, is it? The point is that although he is extremely decorated after his time at Madrid it would be overstating it to say that he has made a consistent contribution to many of their successes in the same way that Ronaldo, Benzema, Casillas, Ramos, Marcelo, Kroos, Modric etc have.

I’d qualify how much he really contributed (overall) to those CL wins beyond the first one,
???