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Selling Gareth Bale would be a disaster - Andre Villas-Boas

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments192

Villas-Boas grateful for Bale 'brilliance'

Losing Gareth Bale would be akin to Barcelona letting go of Lionel Messi and Real Madrid selling Cristiano Ronaldo, according to his Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas.

Bale scored twice to help Spurs defeat Newcastle 2-1, taking his goals tally to 13 in the league this season, with nine in the last 12 games.

"Barcelona losing Messi would be a disaster," he said.

"Real Madrid losing Ronaldo would be a disaster, so this is exactly the same."

He added: "There isn't a release clause in English football, it's very difficult to negotiate with Tottenham and we are not willing to let our best assets go.

Tottenham can finish season well - Bale

"We can't turn this into a debate every time a player does well."

Bale, 23, who also scored for Wales in midweek, gave the home side the lead from a free-kick after five minutes, before grabbing what proved to be the winner with a typical surge down the left followed by a low angled drive.

"It was a great individual performance and it was outstanding to see a player enjoying his football. Gareth is, whatever position he plays," continued Villas-Boas.

"Great teams are made of great individuals too and Gareth is decisive."

Villas-Boas dedicated the win to goalkeeping coach Tony Parks and his son Joe, who was involved in a car crash this week.

Meanwhile, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said Bale made the difference at White Hart Lane.

"I thought we contained him quite well. We didn't want to open up the goal to his left foot," he admitted.

Newcastle 'character' impresses Pardew

"It's difficult, he's so quick and agile and works it on to his left side and you know you'll get a fantastic hit.

"That's the consistency he has. He has a really fine technique and showed how dangerous he is."

Newcastle's equaliser midway through the first-half was scored by Yoan Gouffran, who later had to be carried off after he was involved in a challenge with Kyle Walker.

Newcastle later confirmed that the striker had not broken his leg.

A statement said: external-link"Newcastle United are pleased to report that a precautionary X-ray has shown that Yoan Gouffran has not broken his right leg.

"Gouffran will be further assessed on Sunday by the club's medical staff."

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192 comments

  • Comment posted by Paddy2012, at 20:35 9 Feb 2013

    Do you remember in 2009 when Bale couldn't get in the team and Mourinho tried to sign him for Inter? What an amazing bit of business that would've been.

  • Comment posted by Jay, at 11:18 10 Feb 2013

    Wow... a lot of strange bitter comments towards Bale.

    Not sure why. Simply put, he's a talented young footballer, currently experiencing a great run of performances.

    I'm not really sure why this is even debatable. Or why it upsets people so much.

    He's good. And he's getting better. Get over it.

  • Comment posted by User0081234196, at 21:19 9 Feb 2013

    @16 - If you explain Bales outstanding performaces as being due to bad defending, why has no other player been as good? 12/13 goals as a winger and he influences games as well. Come on?!

  • Comment posted by whatyousay, at 19:56 9 Feb 2013

    Spurs would need to qualify for the CL at least to try and keep of Bale, if they manage to do that and bring few more quality players in to build a team around him and next season along with targeting a top 4, if they win the FA cup that will keep hold of him. I can see spurs finishing in the top 4 this season but not sure about them winning trophies. I reckon he will go Madrid, suits his play

  • Comment posted by Gloomy, at 13:31 10 Feb 2013

    Bale was outstanding yesterday and he is consistently outstanding. His pace and skill on the ball made the difference between Newcastle and Spurs. As for not defending well he cleared more crosses and corners than anyone else for spurs so poor defending is just not true. The lad is a machine. I can't think of a team in the league who wouldn't have him in their starting eleven. - toon fan

  • Comment posted by Jay, at 11:31 10 Feb 2013

    Also, I'd say it's a shame when this Spurs V Arsenal rivalry starts getting in the way of objectivity and mutual respect.

    It's pretty sad that people treat football - a sport - like some sort of religion. As a Spurs fan, I have no problem is saying Walcott is a good player. I refuse to let my opinion of a player be influenced by some strange sense of rivalry between teams. It's pretty sad.

  • Comment posted by Dynamic3D, at 20:01 9 Feb 2013

    Its stupid saying he is not at ronaldo or messi level, both those players have a much better squad around them than bale does.

    No one compares to messi, Bale is more thancomparable to Ronaldo.
    If Ronaldo goes to United, I am sure they will want to replace him with Bale.

  • Comment posted by Samual5200, at 11:54 10 Feb 2013

    Bale has great talent, is good to watch and can certainly make some magic. However I'm not a fan of his diving and everything else to his game. It's all well and good saying "Look how fast he's running" and so on, but he's a full grown man, he doesn't have to go down as frequently as he does. Of course, lots of people will disagree, but I'm just throwing in my two pence. Make of it what you will.

  • Comment posted by zomgbat, at 13:11 10 Feb 2013

    Too much emphasize on Silverware. If you are happy, stay happy. Family, friends, language, loyalty are more important than $'s and silver.

  • Comment posted by User0504992469, at 12:48 10 Feb 2013

    @100 They're both world class players but to say Wilshere's is overrated, that really tells me u know s**t about football. Bale's speed and power when on the ball sets him apart but Wilshere's ability to glide past players and his technical prowess make him a more valuable player, imho.

    I think Wilshere makes a team tick, just in the same way Xavi and Iniesta do for Barca.

  • Comment posted by User0117480521, at 13:12 10 Feb 2013

    78,80,89,91: James. We are still waiting for you to name 3 wingers in the PL who will score more goals and assists than Bale.You specifically stated "many" wingers would score more than him, and this is now the 4th time im asking you to name just 3. Please substantiate your (hysterical, deluded, factually incorrect at all times) claims: 3 Wingers in the PL who will score more than Bale this season

  • Comment posted by Eat_The_Rich, at 01:03 10 Feb 2013

    Bale has, on his own, been the difference between Spurs taking 1 point and Spurs taking 7 points in the last 3 matches. He is a phenomenon and would get in any team in the world right now.

  • Comment posted by spurschuggger, at 11:44 10 Feb 2013

    @ James. You are convincing no-one with your ridiculous posts. You have already conviced yourself so...............you are wasting everyones time, including yours, please stop

  • Comment posted by James_AFC, at 00:08 11 Feb 2013

    180 - Walcott score 11 from 50 shots, Bale 11 from 92. Bale is also more wasteful as he tries to be a hero, which is not team play. Anyway, our game is not that far away and we will see who the big boys really are and who the big star is too. I'm guessing MOM will be between Wilshere and Cazorla. Don't waste your money on Bale, 3rd Match you will see him kept in Sagna's pocket :-)

  • Comment posted by User0498041443, at 20:28 9 Feb 2013

    I got onfused with Sky.. Talking about how Bale could play outside spurs .
    Apparently headliners on the continent would not be happy. They wouldnt want a player making space for them and crossing, knocking the ball back for them to score... Does that mean nani would be perfect.

  • Comment posted by SpursCol, at 18:32 10 Feb 2013

    You seem to be learning James.

    "Bale valued 60m, consistently scores against top teams, doesn't dive, regularly gets MOM, snapped up by Madrid"

    Thats the most facts I've seen you put on this board.

  • Comment posted by User0117480521, at 14:00 10 Feb 2013

    113: James. Asking for the 5th time: Please name 3 wingers who will get more goals and assists than Bale this season. Why are you now saying cos he takes free kicks you cant compare him to other wingers? Your specific assertion was "many players in his position will score more goals and assist than him by the end of the season". Ive asked you 5 times to name 3. Why cant you answer the question?

  • Comment posted by User0042051572, at 16:56 10 Feb 2013

    James - If you list these posts in order of lowest rated you will see that your comments dominate. In simple terms, the vast majority of people disagree with your dim-witted opinion. We all get that you have a man crush on Wilshere. So please go back to playing Championship manager. Next time you think of posting a comment, ask yourself a question 'Do people really want to hear my opinion'?

  • Comment posted by User0883685114, at 23:31 9 Feb 2013

    Bale will be at Spurs next season if we qualify for the Champions League, he could certainly be persuaded to stay by AVB & Levy in that scenario. But we would have to shun overtures from the likes of PSG, Barcelona & Real Madrid. If Bale's form continues until the end of the season expect offers in the £50-60 million bracket in the summer, Levy can reject them and I believe he will.

  • Comment posted by trevord, at 22:08 9 Feb 2013

    Lionel Messi. Cristiano Ronaldo. Gareth Bale. Best three players on the planet. That is all.

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