Good thing they have a transfer ban :lol:

-PB

The number of times they've had to play Pinto might have something to do with it. Also Martino isn't a very good coach.

Thought Di Maria was the best out there but so glad for Bale this season, I think he has done very well with the pressure placed in him. His pace and power is scary.

His form prior to Christmas was woeful.

I think a season should be judged over the season, not before Christmas, especially a player moving to a foreign country. On top of the pressure that came with his fee.

He hasn't been the best player in the world but he wasn't even that before the transfer. So I think he has done better than expected. The Madrid fans love him and he could very well have been a scapegoat for them but his performances have won them over.

Well if you're judging him 'over the season' then his form before Christmas should be accounted for. He's had a good 3-4 months, not a good season.

:lol:

He has had a good season, there is no way you can say he hasn't.

There sure is.

This. A season is August - May, not the 3 or 4 months after Christmas. You can't disregard his pre-christmas form because his post christmas form has been amazing.

Woeful though? Being outdone by world class players doesn't mean he was woeful?

Meeting expectations, yes you can argue that but to say he was woeful is just wrong. You can throw that at Fellaini but not Bale.

He didn't have a pre-season, he was injured for a good chunk of the first part of the season too. For his first season in Spain, he has done well.

Edited by busbybabe: 17/4/2014 11:59:28 AM

You might have a point if he struggled in August-September but that doesn't explain October-December.

Why don't we just agree he has recovered well after an average start having to settle in and all, I can't remember many poms going offshore kicking off their 1st seasons from the get go abroad.
I'm sure someone will post the exception :lol: but there won't be many thats for sure.

I wouldn't count Bale's season as woeful. I wouldn't even say it was disappointing. Now that he's settled in he should do a lot better next season.

John Aldridge scored 40 goals in 75 games for Real Sociedad.
Paul Ince started slow but tore it up as the season wore on for Inter.
David Platt scored 11 times in 29 games for a relegated Bari side.
Liam Brady won two titles with Juventus but the arrival of Platini meant he was moved on.
Graeme Souness carried Sampdoria to the Copa Italia and was integral in their midfield.
David Beckham had a stellar first season for Real Madrid.
Gary Lineker scored 21 goals in his first season for Barcelona.
Steve McManaman was brilliant for Real Madrid until Florentino Perez came along.

TIL: Bale is a Pom.

Well he hasn't lived in Wales for a decade :lol:

yer yer but don't the poms call them their own once abroad doing well ;)

Trust you afro :lol: - again though only a couple lit it up first season, sure more may have settled in quicker but he hasn't - better late than never :d

Those were just a few I could think of. But there hasn't been an awful lot of English League players who have moved overseas anyway. Not compared to say Germany or Spain.

add in Italians as well, portugese starting to pick up nowadays.

Diego Costa played the full 90 against Elche. Good news that he's fit...bad news that he played the full 90 so we'll be rolling the dice on how he pulls up for the Chelsea game.

Early kick off <3

Spurs go ahead only to concede about 40 seconds later. Lovely finish from Steve Sidwell but atrocious defending.

About bloody time Sidwell scored me a goal in fantasy :lol:

My dog could score against our defence.

The same could be said of Fulham's defence.

Yeah but Fulham aren't meant to be challenging for the CL are they? :lol:

Defence shaky as always and don't rate the flat 4-4-2 with strikers coming deep, but we were still deserved the victory and dominated them. Give Eriksen the Young player of the year, Player of the year, Balon D'or and a Nobel Prize. The man is God.

Balo scores off the first shot on target, would be even better if it wasn't in the 43rd minute.

Great penalty from Jedinak there. Puts Palace up 0-1.

Crystal Palace make it five wins in a row with Jedinak scoring the only goal today.

Pity West Ham couldn't conjure up a win for Tombides, but what can you do.

Great end to the season for Palace. Deserved win.

Edited by Draupnir: 20/4/2014 01:52:34 AM