Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson believes that Tottenham winger Gareth Bale is close to being as good as La Liga duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
In his column for The Mirror today, Lawro hailed £35m-rated Bale as 'brilliant' and praised the Welsh international for 'winning games on his own' and 'inspiring players around him to raise their game'. He enthused:
"He [Bale] is to Tottenham what Messi and Ronaldo are to Real Madrid and Barcelona. People scoff at the comparison but Bale is on an upward curve towards that kind of greatness. He is not quite at their level - yet - but he is just as important to Spurs as they are to their clubs.
"At the moment he is an absolute match for any team. The calibre of the opposition doesn't matter to him. You just can't argue with that adjective 'brilliant' to describe him"
This season, Bale has 15 goals and 6 assists in 36 starts for Spurs, which is a creditable return, but it's nowhere the prolific return achieved by Messi and Ronaldo, whose figures this year are already formidable:
* Ronaldo: 38 goals/5 assists in 39 appearances.
* Messi: 46 goals/11 assists in 47 appearances.
Ridiculously prolific. Will Bale ever be capable of this kind of creative return? Highly Doubtful.
Lawro's comparison applies more to Liverpool's Luis Suarez, who has 22 goals and 3 assists in 32 games this season, and is arguably far more capable than Bale of emulating the creative feats of Messi and Ronaldo.
Suarez's goal rate this season is one every 1.4 games, and if he continues that for the next four months, he'll end the season with close to 40 goals.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
In his column for The Mirror today, Lawro hailed £35m-rated Bale as 'brilliant' and praised the Welsh international for 'winning games on his own' and 'inspiring players around him to raise their game'. He enthused:
"He [Bale] is to Tottenham what Messi and Ronaldo are to Real Madrid and Barcelona. People scoff at the comparison but Bale is on an upward curve towards that kind of greatness. He is not quite at their level - yet - but he is just as important to Spurs as they are to their clubs.
"At the moment he is an absolute match for any team. The calibre of the opposition doesn't matter to him. You just can't argue with that adjective 'brilliant' to describe him"
This season, Bale has 15 goals and 6 assists in 36 starts for Spurs, which is a creditable return, but it's nowhere the prolific return achieved by Messi and Ronaldo, whose figures this year are already formidable:
* Ronaldo: 38 goals/5 assists in 39 appearances.
* Messi: 46 goals/11 assists in 47 appearances.
Ridiculously prolific. Will Bale ever be capable of this kind of creative return? Highly Doubtful.
Lawro's comparison applies more to Liverpool's Luis Suarez, who has 22 goals and 3 assists in 32 games this season, and is arguably far more capable than Bale of emulating the creative feats of Messi and Ronaldo.
Suarez's goal rate this season is one every 1.4 games, and if he continues that for the next four months, he'll end the season with close to 40 goals.
Jaimie Kanwar
NOTE: Please stick to the Comment Policy (Click to read)
|
SITE UPDATE: 19 May 2013 *IMPORTANT* Due to the huge number of idiots and snipers who constantly attack others and/or try to derail comment threads, guest-commenting is no longer available. If you want to be part of the site's thriving discussion community, then please create a Disqus account, or sign in via FB, Twitter or Google. I apologise if this affects any regular posters, but there are benefits to using Disqus, such as email notifications, and retaining your comment history. |
45 Comments :
If Bale went to Spain then maybe, but not in the EPL. It seems easier to score in Spain.
If i had to liken them, Bale would be Ronaldo, and Suarez would be Messi, in terms of their play style. i.e. Bale and Ronaldo are quick and pretty direct and powerful, whereas Messi and Suarez are tricky and probably create more out of nothing.
Suarez getting 40 goals..hahahahahah
15 goals in the premier league is as good as double in other league.
Mate, the clue is in the title of your own piece. Lawrenson is saying Bale is as important to Spurs as Ronaldo and Messi are to Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively. You seem to be trying to make this into a 'who's the better player and has the better scoring record' debate.
Suarez has been fantastic and is as important to Pool as Bale is to Spurs
Bale beat West Brom on his own (and then Newcastle), Suarez couldn't even threaten last night. Bale and RVP are a cut above Suarez to be honest, you guys shouldn't pin all your hopes on him.
As for Bale being worth £35M! I think you may of got the 5 and 3 the wrong way around. If Carroll cost £35M, how much would Bale realistically be worth?
if you are comparing some one to Messi and Ronaldo then you must give a view of consistency part,this two are doing great things in last five to six years..now think abou Bale and his consistency and you will came to know that how fool you are..
Jaimie praised Suarez!!! Woo hoo!!
Now if I can just find it in my soul to get over last nights crushing defeat at the hands of the Baggies!
You know... it's so frustrating when teams only create a handful of opportunities in a game and score... every freaking time!!! Bladdy hell!
Anyway, back to the topic, I think Lawro is right though, I think Bale is the best winger in the league, God knows he's earned alot of points for me in fantasy league...Yes, he's not AS prolific as CR7 and the Mes, buut he is definitely formidable. If he played for madrid I think he'd be up there. He's got so much pace, trickery and a golden boot (What I mean by this is *accurate*). He's big and physical as well and never seems to stop running... ok he dives a bit, but he has a great attitude. I for one am a GREAT fan of Bale, and wish he could be a Liverpool player, but at the rate we're going, perhaps nobody will want to play for us ;(
Yet Suarez has contributed more goals than Bale has this season?
am i bothered about what lawro thinks of bale after last nights performance,no i do not give a dam,now if lawro or another ex player had come out and said what the f"cks wrong at anfield then it would be interesting,ps bales class but imo i would rather have suarez
He's talking in respective terms. Bale is not as good as Ronaldo and Messi. He is however just as important to Tottenham Hotspur as they are to Madrid and Barca.
IMO Bale is in line with Saurez. Two players who make and score their own goals.
Bale is just 23 and I think potentially he can be world class but he needs to get more aggressive. Prior to the last 3 games, he's hardly ever taken a game by the scruff of the neck. I am sure some will point the odd game but consistency is what separates Ronaldo and Messi from the rest.
For once the man actually speaks some sense.
Of course JK praised Suarez! If Suarez scores 40 goals then surely Barca/Madrid will be interested and take him away from LFC. JK's master plan ;-)
err but suarez is or at least plays as a striker Bale has spent most of the season on the wing, so not a valid comparison. A better comparison would be where liverpool are in the league compared to Spurs, surely!
Rumbled.
because suarez is a striker and bale is a midfielder numbnuts
hahah well spotted mate!
it burns master!!!
He is hardly a typical midfielder.
Pretty much everything goes through Bale.
Thats like saying Ronaldo is a midfielder.
Question, and answer honestly. If Suarez was not playing for Liverpool, would he be getting as many plaudits from the media (especially the BBC)? I personally think not, he had a good start to the season, but has gone a little off the boil recently.
I think you should look at Suarez if you are talking about diving. Three times last night on my count, good player but could be so much better if he cut the diving and concentrated more on the game.
I'm not sure you can put bale in the same 35m league as Carrol?
You shouldn`t feel too bad about last night. After all LFC are the most consistent team in the PL..........they`ve consistently failed to beat a team in the top half all season!
He is huge to Spurs as without Defoe, their goal threat is him but close to Messi & Ronaldo? Hell, no. But that is the British media for you. I think he is one of the best on the counter attack but would like to see a lot more from him in normal passages of games, beyond long shots.
Bale is more like a wing forward and wing forwards can score plenty, especially when the team places big importance on him, as seen with Ronaldo in PL. Bale doesn't play like some orthodox winger this season, he is allowed to roam heavily. Like Will implies, Suarez roams and goes out wide too.
So Suarez is what, a forward wing? Let`s make up more names for positions shall we? Or how about compare Bale with Downing and put an end to this pointless discussion.
An important statistic you've missed is that Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 appearances for Man U. against premier league clubs.
Comments about Bale as a rising star are based more on recent form - 4 from 3 + 2 for Wales. It's not only the fact he's scoring, but it's a lot about the quality of his goals.
No wonder British football has been in the mess it has been on the international level for years, when there is such archaic thinking such as yours.
Bale is no doubt a good player, and I think the statement that to spurs he is there Messi is true, just like every team has there own. We used to have Gerrard, Utd have RVP etc. I don`t think the statement means he is as good as messi/cr7. Bale isn`t as good as them imo, he is a very good player, but not on there level yet.
Anything to back up this claim?
And to think with 35 million we could have gotten a player like Bale....but we end up with 'Big Andy'...what a shame,I like Carrol but perhaps take away 25-30 million off the price and he'd be a good price
A recent stats comparrison out today showing Bale and Ronaldo showed when Ronaldo was the same age as Bale. Bale came out highest on most measures. As for Messi I am not sure, but then he is 26 isn't he and 4 years older than Bale. Where will Bale be then? Plus you can't underestimate how weak the Spanish League is compared to the Premier Leagues, with 90% of the TV cash - in other words the primary income, going tho Madrid and Barca most of the league is cannon fodder. Bale would score hatfulls of Goals in the Spanish League.
Don't be soft. Bale wouldn't come to anfield for 35.
To be sure Niall
Well thats his price,with 35 million we could have gotten a player of that caliber which is what I meant to say
What do you mean?
to be sure
That's some serious consistency mate...
eeeeeeeerrrrrmmmm my opinion has no bearing or influence on international football - which incidentally I don`t give a toss about. This Bale - Suarez discussion is a matter of taste. They do not play in the same position therefore cannot be compared like for like and therefore your point is moot. The only question here is which would you prefer in your team? I`ll go first - Bale for me, I don`t like Suarez`s character, could never warm to him and think that he would get on perfectly in the Chelsea dressing room. Now, that`s my opinion, you`re not going to change it and I`m not even going to try and change yours.
Where's the proof that his price is £35 million. That's paper talk for a starting bid from Real Madrid. If anybody thinks that Levy will sell for anywhere near that price they should seek professional help.
rather simplistic way to look at statistics as they can be easily manipulated to suit a point of view. By the way Bale started as a full back and he's only part way through his third season since then and,in fact, has only played upfront in an out and out position for a handful of games.
None at all but as I said we could have got a player of his quality for that much
Bale is nowhere near those two. No-one is.
Bale isn't even in the next best category, with Iniesta, Xavi, Ibra, Falcao and Alonso. He's not even in the category below that, with RVP and Pirlo.
I can't see him ever getting to their level, but if he does, I'll be glad to admit I'm wrong. I'm certainly not wrong in saying he isn't comparable right now.
Both players are brilliant but Bale is still improving and will become world class. I like watching Saurez play but I LOVE watching Bale play as any real football fan would have to admit. Unfortunately it is more than likely he will be off to Spain in the summer and the PL will sorely miss him.
For God's sake you lot. Why are you even wasting your time comparing Messi / Ronanldo / Bale / Suarez??
The point (in my humble opinion) that Lawro was making is that these players are invaluable to their clubs, a talisman for the team, in the same way Le Tiss was for Soton or Stevie Bull for Wolves. It doesn't have to be a direct comparison on their respective talents, just how important they are to their teams.For what it's worth, Messi is THE best player in the world. Before him was Maradona. Pele was good, but can't get a stiffy........
All I know is that Benitez tried to sign Bale when he was at So'ton and Moores and later G&H blocked it.
Post a Comment