The trouble with Gareth Bale is he is just too good. In the 9 goal to one drubbing of Granada on Sunday the former Tottenham Hotspur left fullback come winger displayed everything that is traditionally good about British footballers. An engine, the ability to give and go ad-infinitum; the seeking of space out wide and the endless running on either flank. With a technical ability now well beyond what was seen some years ago - when John Toshack first pointed him - as a future star when managing the Wales international squad.
The skills Bale displayed on Sunday morning in a sunny Santiago Bernabeu stadium were just stunning.
To the point he rivals Cristiano Ronaldo but with the added advantage he rarely gives the ball away; there are no histrionics and his ego is lost in his work ethic. With the added physicality since moving to Madrid and his natural height when first spotted at White Hart in a friendly against Brazil some years back. The Wales international now a physical powerhouse with speed and touch to boot. The question is now whether he can deliver more for a Premier League team than with Real Madrid, where his alleged distancing from Ronaldo has been over reported. Even perhaps exaggerated and with a team that could easily end this season with no silverware.
Curiously in the win against Granada there was as much to be admired in the teams play as there was to be critical about. Such was the paucity of the opposition after the first couple of goals that it was nothing more than a training game for the European Champions. That type of game where speed, intensity and sharpness vaporised as the match progressed and saw Granada grab a clever goal as a result. And also miss two other easy chances. The type of game that allows bad habits creep back and that would prove easy prey to their next opponents in the Champions League quarter finals, Atletico Madrid.
Indeed one thing Madrid do not thrive under is pressing, reacting with in haste and struggling against teams that push high up the pitch. Something Granada managed to do very successfully for short spells. More so at the back where Varanne has the speed at least to recover from the odd silly error. Something Sergio Ramos is less able to do.
Diego Simeone’s team play a physical and fast brand of football. A stile which was so narrowly defeated in Lisbon last May and that will weigh heavily on Atletico when they start their two legged encounter in the next fortnight. Although the red and white stripes have seen many of their original cast leave for Chelsea and elsewhere, the new group will want to right the wrong of Ramos 94th minute equaliser in last year's final. If Sunday’s game is anything to go by Real Madrid still having more than a few weaknesses. Many of which remains the same as those were nearly exploited very successfully by Schalke 04 in the round of last sixteen. A game that Real - even by their own admission - were lucky to escape with a win.
Against Derby rivals Atletico that luck will not run so liberally.
In terms of Bale he remains a match winner and scored the opening goal against Granada which then opened the floodgates. He also came close with a dead ball strike in the second and with two other half chances. Despite the misses there were few histrionics. In contrast Ronaldo labours more over his body language with each miss, offside call or indeed goal. In his world it is all about Cristiano albeit in his post-match tweet he acknowledged the work rate of his team mates in his five goals. A rare record only matching the feats of seven other Madrid players. Ferenc Puskas and Fernando Morientes being the most recent. Notwithstanding, there are time one wonders about the substance. Often supported by his inability to meet the weight of expectations in those big games for either club or country. Apart from that play off for a place in Brazil 2014 in Stockholm when he raged single-handedly against Zlatan and Company. .
More often than not games see him drop the head after the very firsts tackle from an over eager defender and he starts to apparently lose interest. None more so than in the Champions League final, where bar the penalty and the “under” celebration topless he showed little grit. No wonder at the Bernabeu he received sarcastic boos after his goals or grumbles from fans when he gave the ball away cheaply. In real terms Bale is a better purchase for an Old Trafford at this time as he is a more complete player before he arrived in La Liga. An ideal replacement for the Bryan Robson, Roy Keane, Pauls Scholes lineage that bore so much fruit for United over the past few decades. More valuable than bringing Ronaldo back that’s for sure. Or indeed Paul Pogba.
Although Gareth Bale won’t come cheap he is now probably more a Mourinho type player. Talented yet able to counter attack with speed. More importantly, he is capable of covering those defensive yards and chase back to regain the ball. A prerequisite for any player to feature in the Special One's team. With Chelsea's financial muscle not an issue for the former White Hart Lane winger he could prove a good purchase. Even if it clutters the current midfield given the presence of Hazard, Matic, Fabregas and Ramires. It is more than likely the departure of Oscar will open up gaps for Bale.
Few other clubs would have the means or vision. Other than Manchester City perhaps.Which might not be bad move for Bale either. Especially at the end of this season where there might a huge clear out now the Premier League title is out of sight and the Champions League dream is long since over. At the moment though there are bigger headaches ahead for Bale with the chase for La Liga now dependent on an unlikely slip up by Barcelona. The Champions League requiring a defeat of local rivals Atletico Madrid – who are returning to some better form.
Real Madrid will be hoping that talent is permanent and the ten goal spectacle on Sunday proved any form Atletico may have will prove transient over two legs.
In fact man for man Madrid have the better squad starting with Arbeloa. A player looking more and more like a major loss to Liverpool - even so many years later. His endless scampering up and down the right flank proving too dizzy for the Granada players. The understanding also with Luka Modric and Bale down the right side proving dazzling with the three former Premier League players clearly on the same wavelength. Ably supported by the ever industrious and understated world champion, Tony Kroos. Who moves left and right effortlessly in the centre circle keeping his team on the front foot with deft touches and pinpoint passes. Very reminiscent of a bygone era when Guenter Netzer roamed the same space in the mid-seventies. Or another German UIi Stielike in the mid-eighties.
On Ronaldo’s favoured left side the support team consists of James Rodriguez and Brazilian Marcello, with both feeding the Portuguese international constantly with balls long and short. Rarely switching the direction of play unless possession makes its way back to Kroos. Something that contrasts with Bale who on several occasions - from deep in his own half - swung cross field to release Ronaldo with exquisite accuracy. A tactic that delivered two of the five Ronaldo goal strikes.
The power of Benzema then completes the Madrid attack and his two goals proof of a striker on form and an integral part of the so called B-B-C – Benzema, Bale and Cristiano.
With all three playing so comfortably of the shoulder of the last defenders danger lurks everywhere for any opponent. The best example being the first Madrid goal on Sunday when Bale was released from midfield and ran the distance to round the keeper and tap in. If Ancelotti sticks with the B-B-C for the Champions League then it could be another nine gun salute. But only if Simeone fails to get his tactics right.
Ancelotti knows the stakes are high in April both for him, the squad and the club. The result on Sunday being talked up by the Italian boss after his players returned refreshed from the international break. The restless Real Madrid fans are right to be worried with one area still remaining a concern. That is with the man under the posts Iker Casillas. Who for all his titles and ability to make point-blank saves, can still offer the odd howler. Most coming when he throws out long passes out to get the counterattack started and they are intercepted. Or in dead ball situations where his hands tend to parry rather than catch. It may be here where Ancelotti faces his toughest decision and might have to give Keylor Navas a chance.
As was seen in Lisbon last May, Casillas is now having an increasing share of wobbly moments. Made all the more evident in the World Cup in Brazil playing for Spain in their 5-1 drubbing by Holland. Yet no player can divide the Real Madrid fans more than Casillas. So his selection or otherwise will prove polemic.
Whatever the team Carlo Ancelotti selects, the City of Madrid will be divided on the nights of April 14th and 22nd as the two rivals face each other in the supposed home and away legs. Real Madrid President Florentino Perez will hope his new breed of Galacticos will still be in the mix when Atletico visit the Bernabeu for the return leg.
No doubt it will be a night when they can count on Bale giving his all. Win or lose it will be a night that a raft of top managers will be loitering with intent.
The trouble with Gareth Bale being he is now just too good not to attract new offers.
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