Harry Redknapp is clearly feeling a bit lonely at the moment. Nobody, as yet, is waving a big bag at him with loads of money to come and ruin their club, so he decided to come out with a few ludicrous statements to replenish his attention-deficit.
Even the BBC picked up on it with the headline: “Gareth Bale is in Ronaldo and Messi’s class, says Redknapp”. To be fair on Redknapp he did not actually say that Bale is in the same class as Ronaldo and Messi already, but that he is getting there quickly: “He’s an amazing talent and he’s after the Ronaldos and Messis of this world and he’s getting better and better”.
Where he does make a real fool of himself is in subsequent statements: “He’s almost unplayable when he’s on his game. He is a genuine world-class player.”
And:“There’s nobody he couldn’t play for. He’d improve any team.”
And finally, and this beats it all: “He is already at the top but any team in the world would love to have Gareth Bale playing for them.”
What a silly sausage!
In all honesty, I think Gareth Bale is a decent footballer and has potential to become a very good footballer; maybe even a great one. But that’s it: it’s just potential – nothing more and nothing less. Bale has to do an awful lot in order to become the best winger in the PL, let alone in Europe or the world, and to mention him in the same breath as Messi and Ronaldo is plain stupid.
Just a quick look at the key statistics (from wiki) and you’ll see how silly it was of Redknapp to compare Bale with Messi and Ronaldo (if you did not know this already):
Bale: Age 23, games 214, goals 36, goals per game 0.17.
Messi: Age 25, games 340, goals 265, goals per game 0.78.
Ronaldo: Age 27, games 478, goals 283, goals per game 0.59.
It is a typical British thing to overhype somebody or a team early in their development, and usually nobody is served by it. Unless, of course, Redknapp supports the motto that bad attention/publicity is better than no attention, even if it means he makes a fool of himself.
Rather than compare Bale with the current football giants who operate from the wing – although not in the traditional sort of way – he should have had a closer look at home. There are a number of wingers in the PL who are simply outperforming Bale at the moment, and two of them are Gunners. Here are some examples:
Gervinho: Age 25, games 265, goals 73, goals per game 0.28.
Walcott: Age 23, games 252, goals 51, goals per game 0.2.
Nani (MU): Age 25, games 277, goals 49, goals per game 0.18.
Valencia (MU): Age 27, games 301, goals 34, goals per game 0.11.
Victor Moses: Age 21, games 152, goals 21, goals per game 0.14.
Bale’s stats again: Age 23, games 214, goals 36, goals per game 0.17. He is just an average PL winger with potential to improve.
I did not gather details on assists, but I am pretty sure it would not alter the picture dramatically.
Gareth Bale is an overhyped player, who has a hell of a lot to do to eventually live up to the outside world’s expectations. Redknapp should be ashamed to put such unnecessary pressure on the Welshman’s shoulders, and for using him to get back in the limelight.
And for what it is worth, I predict that Theo will outperform Bale throughout their football careers.
Total Arsenal.
Bergkampesque 
3x P said (in previous post):
“Its a fantastic site Total, as is AA, and the community on both..When it comes to writing and view points, your on the top shelf mate
I also see that you have recruited well, i see that GLIC wants the role of video king..
Is Bergkampesque on ‘news now’ ?”
Thanks a lot mate! I would welcome a post by anybody, 3xP, but I like to write posts so there is no need to ask for contributions. Over time I hope to ‘recruit’ a few regular writers but for now I am trying out various things to see what works best. I was lucky that Redders wrote one for BK recently, and GLiC has found his mission in life: and long may it continue hahahaha! 😆
Unfortunately, Bergkampesque will not be on NewsNow for probably at least another five months. They have strict rules, apparently, and one of them is that a site needs to be functional for at least 6 months. It’s a shame, but it will have to do for now.
Good to see you back on BK and AA and please keep posting! 🙂
TA, very insightful look at the nonsense ‘Arry can come up with.
In fairness, I suspect he is being loyal to Bale as his ex-manager, but it came on the back of Bale digging Wales out the other night and scoring 2 goals.
Harry craves attention and he wanted the footballing world to know, by association, that “I brung Bale through, without me he would not be the world class player he is. I made him!’.
Now that has Redknapp written all over it.
Isn’t it just Redders?! 🙂
Good to see you Princely!! 🙂
How big an area does your new job cover?
The first time I flew from Singapore to Sydney, via Brisbane, I thought to myself “I know Aus is a continent, but it’s an Effing gi-normous continent!”
Even after we reached the Ozzie coastline the flight went on for ever. (well it seemed like it at the time) 🙂
The Arsenal GK problems have become worse, it seems.
There are reports that Szczesney will not be back now for at least another 3 weeks, while Fabianski has suffered another training ground injury and could be out for at least 3 months.
Not good!
Fear not Redders…Don Vito is doing fine.
But if he so much as breaks a finger nail then I’ll start to worry !!
What do you expect from a wheeler dealer ! hahaha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=U5xFqFv54Gw
Redders …that’ll be the same Harry that had Bale lined up to sell to Forest (I think). Then some mishap kyboshedt hat deal and therest is history.
I remember when the Toots had Bale down as a jinx*. He wasn’t on the winning side in a Toot shirt for some ridiculous amount of games.
* Monkey on their back was just too easy….so I avoided it…til now !! 😉
I’m really glad you have pointed out the EPL stats for Bale, Walcott etc TA.
Bale just seems good because he is performing at a reasonable level at a club that is so steeped in failure it has wet rot from the stuff.
If Bale was playing for us, City, Utd or the Chavs he would be deemed a good squad winger – nothing more.
Likewise, if Walcott was at the Spuds and had had exactly the same amount of goals and assists as he has had for us, certain people would be raving about him.
In simple terms, Bale is good but over rated. Theo is good but under rated.
If Gervinho keeps up this season’s form he will outdo Bale for goals and assists as well.
As for ‘Arry… the only thing I’ll say in his defence is that if a journo asks him a question about Bale, he’s not exactly going to slag him off…
Hi RL 🙂
“If Bale was playing for us, City, Utd or the Chavs he would be deemed a good squad winger – nothing more.”
Could not agree more!
Hi Rocky, Sharkey Sure, 🙂
There is something weird about Harry and others of that ilk.
He (they) don’t accept their good luck in earning millions for doing very little, and having the good manners to sod off into the sunset. He (they) hangs around like bad smell in a lift!
And Sharkey is right, ‘Arry could not wait to get rid of Bale, until fate took a hand.
But then ‘Arry does nor worry too much about the truth, does he?
Oxo is on but I am not too impressed with England on this performance.
Redders
Totals got the site on automated cheers mate for every comment, whilst he does his hoovering ! hahaha
Glic,
Now my question about his bobbing ‘Cheers mate’ is bobbing too!! 🙂
So the penetrating pole of glik scores, it`s what glic`s do best !. hahaha
Is he your Polish nephew: Gooner Lost in Krakow?!
No more bobbing now, Rotes Arsch! 😉
test
You are still bobbing, TA, and you have also captured my question!! 🙂
Hope the bobbing is over now RA! 🙂
That’s fine, TA, but I want a star like you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Unbelievable, Police tasered a blind man in Chorley because they thought his white stick was a samurai sword !.
Stretch, whatever you do, dont venture outside with the telescope !. hahaha
Yes, Terry whatever you do, don’t rotate your telescope mid-air! 🙂
RA: I did not realise you could see that star – thought it was just some sort of admin thing…
Glic,
The Terrymobil has been noticeable by his absence.
Are the rumours about his Mrs tying him up true? Do you think she has forgotten to cut him down? Maybe she is selling his body to her friends?
I am worn out with worry!! 🙂
You are the only one with it TA, so it must be an Administrator icon. 🙂
what a perk! 🙂
Reders
Total gets a star for being teachers pet !.
Dennis knows how many Apple`s he will give himself !.
My treadmill should becoming on Monday. I have already devised a super workout on it. I shall place it in front of the mirror and try and catch myself on it !. hahaha
Reders ! hahaha
GLiC, your mirror has got to put with a lot! 😀
Total
There`s a nice documentary on your ” About Bergkampesque ” page , funny enough it`s about Bergkamp !. 🙂
Hello Totalplops
Bloody Nora, Harry thinks Bales is better than Messis. bloody joke init. If Bales is better than Messis then why is Bales playing for shitty totnumbs? Makes no bloody senses Totalplops. Feel very sorries for Harry, hes a diamond geezer init. Always stoppping his car and speaking to that plonker Geoffs form sky sports, telling him shits about he is going to buy brilliant player like Tim Sherwoods. And he only asks Geoff to pay him £1000 cash for telling him. What a bloody Diamond Geezer.
I have big bones to pick with you Totalplops. Since i have argue with Mrs Terry about Rotaing Arse she has it bloody in it for me init. The other day she says “Oi Terry, i have new games to play in bedroom”, and puts this bloody blinder folds on me. I get very excited Totalplops. I then feel some thing cold down my arse, i say “bloody hell Trouble and strifes, what the bloody hell is goings on you fat moosses” ? She only stcicks me on bloody Doner Kebab Spit. She says to me “you want bloody rotate, now you bloody rotate, you good for nothing”
Still bloody rotate now Totalplops and have big bloody bruise on my Arse.
Terry you are a nutbum! 😛
About time you get your missus some chocolates, a bunch of flowers and a good bottle of ouzo, so you can kiss and make up, innit?! 🙂
good job TA. It’s a shame ‘Arry isn’t still managing the scum because he is always good for a laugh. Whether it’s twitching on the side lines or getting hit in the back of the head at training.
Bale is massively overrated. He torn apart Inter in a couple of games against an ageing Maicon and in an open game. Next thing you know he’s the best winger in the world. I’d still rather Gerv, Pod, and Theo.
In regards to the BD comment yesterday, no doubt Arsene is best, I’m just whinging and envious because Reus looks like a world beater and we don’t have him!
@ PPP
about time you got your act together and got back online! Anyone would think Australians hibernate over the winter with you and Scott disappearing
Morning/Evening, all you BKers, depending on whether you are here or there!! 🙂
The UK wallahs are still in bed I suppose!! 🙂
Morning RA, afternoon OZ! 🙂 🙂
Hope to issue a new post around noon. Not sure yet what to write about but am thinking about something strike-forcy…
Till later! 🙂
TMHT – 🙂 🙂 🙂
New post! 🙂