And that is a pretty BIG 'thing,' is it not?
40 million for a simple counter-attacking only player is well out of line.
Plus with a little more muscle Tello can make those exact runs and Bale isn't exactly too much better at defending.
Players having to learn a new trade is one thing but the players you mentioned come from a lifetime of training in some of the best football infrastructures we know of.
Paying 40 million for a limited player that will take a very long time to learn how to play is kinda silly, no?
Edit: Also, keep in mind Barca is coming off a season where they seemingly forgot how to defend in big games.. The team doesn't descend like it needs to. Adding a player that will do exactly that is not the best idea.. Give me Thiago Silva or Javi for 40 if we're gonna spend that much, thanks.
As a madrista, you'd love for us to sign a player for 40 million that will give the ball up in the middle and not get back, wouldn't you? ;-)
You had to add that list smart bit in the end, didn't you? Deary me...
Your claim that he is a limited player is inaccurate and the players I mention were not the only ones, not to mention, I am sure 2 years in La Masia, the supposedly best training academy would make him a better player no? What you see of Bale is not necessarly all he has to offer, and when I said he is more of a Maicon, I meant he quite a good full back. Abidal was pretty much shit but he came good, the same hero you praise at a much later stage. There aren't many players who adjusted quickly you know? Villa, Alves and Pique are pretty much it. Henry, Ibra, Alexis, Cesc, Mascherano, Abidal, Chyg, Caceres, Adriano, Hleb, all struggled. I mean, the three names I mentioned are all pretty much La Liga trained so Jordi Alba is the best option but what does he offer you that Bale cannot besides a discounted fee? His Catalonia birthplace? Or his midget height?
I may be wrong, but I have a feeling this has a lot to do with him coming from the EPL, everyone is so defensive towards it. When it is one of the top leagues in the world whether you like it or not, and Bale's performances in big matches weren't too shabby.
Also, who the hell said you will pay 40 million? Where did you draw this number from? Rossel can work out a deal for you, you paid a ton for Alves too so I do not see why you wouldn't fork out 30 million for another full back. What is your transfer kitty anyway? 60-70-100? Bale, a defender and who else do you need? That will surely be enough for next season.
What does Tello have to do with Bale?
We don't need more playmakers in our team..what we need is a defender and Bale it's not that person. Just because he started as a LB long time ago it doesn't mean that he will be one ever again..and if we are to compare him with a player that we bought from England, that player would be Cesc, not Mascherano..
They both started in different positions, being moved higher on the pitch, had free roles at Arsenal and Spurs and are tactically poor. But while buying Cesc made sense because we still have Xavi and Iniesta, Abi won't play ever again so it's not reasonable to make a 40 million euros experimental buy.
@Meta
If we were able to cope so well without Puyol in 2010/2011 it was thanks to Abidal, not Pique. Since the WC 2010 Pique only got worse and a few good games here and there won't change that..though I would still have preffered him or Abi instead of Puyol/Masche, but that's because these 2 have little understanding.
Who is not an experimental buy? A traditional left back who is defensively so sound? a lot of your purchases have a ridiculously hard time to adjust. What will you do when Alves leaves? Next year or the year after that? Buy another Brasilian right back? Your defensive woes came from lack in motivation to finish games off which led to individual errors. Plus your bench was piss poor so buying Bale does not mean you do not buy a center back, it means you replace a vacant position. Pique and Mascherano will be your starters, Puyi, another defender and La Masia graduate will be rotating. That is 5 defenders for three positions in a part time formation. Bale/Adriano for that left back position, Alves and Montoya for that right position.
As for Cesc, he played some face palming matches, but your entire team was poor in general and Cesc had no position to learn. He will have enough time to adjust in the preseason.
Now that I have objectively approached the Bale purchase, I do hope you sink to the lower half of the table next season and sell half of your assets.
