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Gareth Bale is incredible, says Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments322

Gareth Bale

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas says he has been stunned by Gareth Bale's "incredible" free-kick technique after the winger's double against Lyon.

Bale, 23, followed up his goal in Saturday's win against Newcastle with two more set-piece strikes in the 2-1 Europa League home-leg victory.

"Incredible," Villas-Boas said. "Not only his all-round game but the ability he has to strike these free-kicks.

"The ball gains power when he strikes it and it changes direction easily."

Bale excelled in the Europa League round of 32 first-leg meeting with Lyon as he first found the back of the net with a swerving 35-yard effort before powering home the winner from a dead ball deep into injury-time.

He has now scored his club's last six goals in all competitions, with four of them coming from distance. The Welsh winger attributes this run of form to the hours spent on the training pitch honing his technique.

"I've been practising free-kicks on the training ground and I scored one like that last week," the Welsh winger said.

Spurs travel to France for the return match on Thursday and Bale hopes his brace will prove crucial.

"Lyon are a good team and we weren't 100% to be honest - we looked a bit tired," he said.

"But the most important thing is we got the win, it's going to be hard going over there, but we're taking this competition seriously."

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322 comments

  • Comment posted by Rhino20-ten, at 09:02 15 Feb 2013

    To the impartial observer, of which there are few here, Bale has all the qualities required to be a world class player. He can pay left back,left wing, centre mid, centre forward, right wing. He has great dribbling skills, amazing rat running with the ball at pace, a very powerful shot, and most importantly intelligence and imagination that form a very good football brain. Also he's a grounded guy

  • Comment posted by glenn-quagmire, at 09:27 15 Feb 2013

    I think Bale could stay at Spurs. He seems too homely to go abroad that's for certain. Some players don't look like they'll travel well. Imagine Terry learning Spanish or Rooney learning cockney. Although Barton's picked up French?

  • Comment posted by Football_Lover, at 09:24 15 Feb 2013

    In my opinion what signifies a Top Class player is when that player keeps fighting until the very end to do what he needs to do. Even before the last minute free kick that won them the game Gareth Bale was giving everything he had and creating magic all over to try and win them the game. If you watch players like Messi and Ronaldo you'll see they have the exact same quality ;)

  • Comment posted by rothers100, at 08:50 15 Feb 2013

    Bend it like Bale !!

  • Comment posted by Chivered, at 12:20 15 Feb 2013

    @118

    Liverpool spent £35m on Carroll. THAT"S probably why you haven't won a league title for over 20 years. Foolhardy and reckless spending on total donkeys.

  • Comment posted by User0992518767, at 11:08 15 Feb 2013

    Bale is sheer class and it speak volumes when opposing teams will double up on him. A great player is when they deliver when it matters and Bale is certainly starting to do that.

    Want to also say that acquiring Lewis Holtby has been a revelation, loads of energy, a workhorse grinder of a player, passes great and loves to attack. I think he will be a better player than Modric.

  • Comment posted by Pafc, at 12:22 15 Feb 2013

    Why is this turning into a Spurs vs Lfc debate?
    besides.. theres no comparison, one is a top four team.. the other is a mid table tema with a incompetant manager and their fans just bang on about the clubs 'history'.. well you know what.. its all in the past and yout team is rubbish now. rubbish.

  • Comment posted by bigsimon7280, at 10:58 15 Feb 2013

    @68 Captain Lort, i have never heard such rubbish in my life, Joe Allen is one of the most over-rated players in the league. Next you will be telling me that Shelvey is England standard. I would go so far as to say Aaron Ramsey is better than Joe Allen and he is complete pants. Pull your head out and wake up

  • Comment posted by User0824900757, at 13:26 15 Feb 2013

    If Tottenham ever signed Nani I would start supporting Dagenham and Redbridge.
    Awful player.

  • Comment posted by King Red, at 12:21 15 Feb 2013

    Why have the LFC fans got stuck into the Spurs fans today?? Im sorry but Bale is better than every player at Liverpool excluding Suarez, but would i want Suarez in my squad.... nope, his antics put me off his ability. Yes Bale has dived before i get tortured, but compared to Suarez the guys an angel.

    I'd love to see him at United..... may not ever happen, but its either us or Real i think.

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 14:18 15 Feb 2013

    From this thread and previous threads it seems to me that the term 'one man team' actually just means who is the best player in that team at the moment.

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 10:18 15 Feb 2013

    I thought Bale wanted to stay in the country? Because of his family etc... I.e ruling out Barcelona or Madrid?

    Do everything you can to keep him, Double his wages if necessary, he is that good and having him in the team will help you attract other players.

    If you do sell him; Man Utd please - you can have Nani ;-)

  • Comment posted by bored23, at 15:10 15 Feb 2013

    252.Raquille

    In fairness what has 'being broke' got to do with it?

    In terms of ability I dont think he is far wrong, Inter were woeful under Rafa.

    As i said in my other post some are pretty tight, but i dont think u can categorically say spurs are better than any of the names mentioned...

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 12:37 15 Feb 2013

    @147 - Fine by me - just don't sell to City.

  • Comment posted by lillywhite, at 15:59 15 Feb 2013

    Do get a grip and stop branding all Spurs fans as idiots for rating Bale so highly if you took the time to read the the comments and didnt just give your two pence worth you wouldnt look half as stupid as them.

    Yes a few Spurs fan can get a little carryed away with Bale at times but when u say he is not as good as Messi and CR7 again if u read the comments not one Spurs fan has wrote that......

  • Comment posted by Dave_B, at 09:56 15 Feb 2013

    If he did go to the likes of Real or Barca do you think he'll still be on Free Kick duty???
    Options are - stay where he is, Big fish where he gets all the plaudits or moves abroad and becomes just another decent player in a great team.

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 15:14 15 Feb 2013

    260. Raquille

    Jesus, Mandela, Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King and now Bale.

    HAHA

    Reminds me of only fools and horses

    New York-Paris-Peckham

  • Comment posted by Welling 4 Promotion, at 12:49 15 Feb 2013

    @155 - Loads of debate on that over the years but when a player has become available the cash has always been there, so because of that I will have to trust when the club say 'there is cash available should the right player be'. And boy is Bale the right player! no one answered this before - would you like Nani as part of the deal?

  • Comment posted by Jez Hillam, at 12:45 15 Feb 2013

    I love having a debate with people who make footballing arguments about their opinions and wish that once team loyalties could be put aside to do it sensibly. Bale is a great player, might not have been his best last night, but he still won the game.
    Also, it is not possible to have a one man team (he isn't wearing gloves and making saves). Even RVP last year needed someone to pass him the ball.

  • Comment posted by Oprah , at 15:00 15 Feb 2013

    hope messi stays on top of his game for good 5 more years, for the worlds best player to be welsh would be grim

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