Bale to Wrexham

festa5 said:
I'd be very surprised if he could be arsed. It's not exactly just turning up on a match day for a kick about is it? He'd have to train, keep himself fit, eat correctly etc. As well as give up a lot of time off/golfing time.

All for what, because Wrexham are a bit Hollywood right now? Think he's been there and got the t-shirt for media exposure. Can't see it myself.
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Is he that empty a vessel that the age of 33 ( that isn't old relatively) all he cares for now is the good lazy golfing life? Well if he is then he wont go but personally I can see him being persuaded to give it a go training and being involved in "the project". I am also sure they wont, indeed not allowed, to pay him £50k a week but they can make up for it in other ways I am sure. But, like Saracens who got themselves into trouble with the rugby authorities, they have to be careful not to try and "create" a way to beat FFP.
 
There's a wage cap in league 2 which Wrexham will be struggling to reach already. If they do sign him it would be for literally next to nothing, though he is a localish boy so never know..
 
free_pint said:
There's a wage cap in league 2 which Wrexham will be struggling to reach already. If they do sign him it would be for literally next to nothing, though he is a Welsh boy so never know..
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He turned down Cardiff last summer when he was still a player, I don't think a city 140 miles away from his hometown, in an even lower division, is going to be more tempting.

It's not like he needs the publicity, or is desperate to be managed by Phil Parkinson.
 
Gunslinger said:
Never though he was that good a player technically, his athleticism was 75% of his game
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If you think that you need to watch his overhead kick in the Champions League Final V Liverpool again. On his day he was technically world class. Bale's issue was more that he didn't have the hunger for the game. If he'd looked after himself more like a Ronaldo for example he'd still be playing at the highest level now. He was just more interested in golf.
 
Cardiffdaffs said:
Is he that empty a vessel that the age of 33 ( that isn't old relatively) all he cares for now is the good lazy golfing life? Well if he is then he wont go but personally I can see him being persuaded to give it a go training and being involved in "the project". I am also sure they wont, indeed not allowed, to pay him £50k a week but they can make up for it in other ways I am sure. But, like Saracens who got themselves into trouble with the rugby authorities, they have to be careful not to try and "create" a way to beat FFP.
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If he still cared about footy he'd get a better club than Wrexham, even in his diminished state.

He can't care about the money, anything they'd offer would be a drop in the ocean to him surely. And he'd be able to get better elsewhere anyway.

I'm just not sure the Wrexham project is going to be that exciting to a multi millionaire who has multiple champions league titles. I wouldn't necessarily say that made him an empty vessel.

It's not like it's his hometown club or anything.
 
I think the "Wrexham project" will hit a bit of a wall soon. They'll probably get promoted again next season but the reality of FFP will hit at some point. Reynolds and McElhenney are rich but they are nothing special when you compare it to some of the owners in the championship. The owners having money and being able to spend it are very different things. Look at the wealth of the owners of teams like QPR and Stoke. You can't just plow money in anymore. It has to be sustainable. I think that the rights to documentary are the owner's, not the club's so they can't use that. They obviously have a lot more exposure than other teams so will do well with sponsors and they'll be picked for TV games more often but that will only get them so far. Eventually they will be limited like the rest of us are. I'm not sure they know enough about football and the way the league and finances are structured for it to be a long term success. They will start to get people trying to exploit them, if that hasn't already. Dodgy advisers, greedy agents, players wanting to be on the documentary and become famous rather than play football etc. Plus, all the new fans from abroad will lose interest once they realise they aren't going to the PL anytime soon.

They aren't the first club that thinks spending big in the National League to fly up the leagues will keep rolling only to level out in League 1.
 
That’s it when does it stop being fun and a game and instead becomes a grind.

I think they’ll walk league 2 btw ( well be in the promotion mix) but they then will hit the reality.
 
1finny said:
Your point is a good one in theory.
Remember Ronaldo, Bekcham et al tho....... money talks

And this is the crux of the problem for me.
The other thread on the legitimacy of Man City and other big spenders rubs right up against this one.

The owners will, if Bale wants it, find a way to make it work financially. Much like we did in our hay day. It's all within the rules and its all for the good of the community but....... just stinks to me, regardless of who is in charge.
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Money absolutely talks, but I don’t think the Cristiano Ronaldo or Beckham situation compares. Both had plenty left to give and were motivated for football.

Ronaldo might be playing in a minor league but is doing so for ridiculous money. Much more than Bale could earn at Wrexham.

Beckham again was given a huge deal but also the added incentive of ownership of an extension club for a much less price than would ordinarily cost.

Playing League Two for Wrexham for money he doesn’t need and won’t make a big difference to his wealth is hardly the same.
 
Redwurzel said:
£50k a week?

Hollywood owners paying his salary?
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Strict salary caps at that level, related to income, maybe they’ll pay him 1mill for doing a ‘to camera’ segment in the tv show every episode, then top up with wages for playing?
 
Nero said:
It’ll never happen. Bale is a 4 times Champions League winner who played for the biggest club in football. There is no way he’d play in League Two.
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Nick Barmby signed for Hull City aged 30 and still very much in his prime so why not?
 
Nano said:
I think the "Wrexham project" will hit a bit of a wall soon. They'll probably get promoted again next season but the reality of FFP will hit at some point. Reynolds and McElhenney are rich but they are nothing special when you compare it to some of the owners in the championship. The owners having money and being able to spend it are very different things. Look at the wealth of the owners of teams like QPR and Stoke. You can't just plow money in anymore. It has to be sustainable. I think that the rights to documentary are the owner's, not the club's so they can't use that. They obviously have a lot more exposure than other teams so will do well with sponsors and they'll be picked for TV games more often but that will only get them so far. Eventually they will be limited like the rest of us are. I'm not sure they know enough about football and the way the league and finances are structured for it to be a long term success. They will start to get people trying to exploit them, if that hasn't already. Dodgy advisers, greedy agents, players wanting to be on the documentary and become famous rather than play football etc. Plus, all the new fans from abroad will lose interest once they realise they aren't going to the PL anytime soon.

They aren't the first club that thinks spending big in the National League to fly up the leagues will keep rolling only to level out in League 1.
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League 1 is a pretty good level for Wrexham. How much of their history has been spent in the top two divisions.
 
I thought the salary caps were withdrawn ?

https://www.skysports.com/football/...withdrawn-following-arbitration-panel-verdict

Of course FFP is a thing ... but, they could be looking at some pretty large turnover with a growing global appeal for merch and larger and more lucrative sponsorship deals bringing in a lot more money than the rest of the league ? kinds of deals and income that, say, having a global dinsey/hulu series and A list names behind it brings - deals and income not usually available to league 2 clubs ?
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
League 1 is a pretty good level for Wrexham. How much of their history has been spent in the top two divisions.
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It is and the real Wrexham fans will think that. The new wave Wrexham fans from across the pond will not consider the 3rd tier a success because they don't understand.

m3t4tr0n said:
I thought the salary caps were withdrawn ?

https://www.skysports.com/football/...withdrawn-following-arbitration-panel-verdict

Of course FFP is a thing ... but, they could be looking at some pretty large turnover with a growing global appeal for merch and larger and more lucrative sponsorship deals bringing in a lot more money than the rest of the league ? kinds of deals and income that, say, having a global dinsey/hulu series and A list names behind it brings - deals and income not usually available to league 2 clubs ?
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It can only grow so much. League 2 show be easy for them. It's once they get beyond that where the bigger challenges will be. They have a small stadium and a small fanbase that will actually put money into the club. The merchandise will be one-offs. They won't be selling new Wrexham kits every year once the long distance fans already have one. The problem they will have is they will come up against teams in the championship or even League 1 that have much bigger incomes already and a few million from a TV deal won't be enough. You can be successful the usual way or you can outspend everyone else but you can only be the big fish in a small pond. Move up and the pond becomes bigger and the other fish do too. Will they be so keen to put their own money in when it means losing £1m per month like Gibson does.

My guess would be part of the long term strategy will be to sell the club back to the fans in a good position. They aren't there to make money. They are having fun and making content and that has a shelf life even if it isn't costing you a large chunk of your wealth each season..
 
m3t4tr0n said:
I thought the salary caps were withdrawn ?

https://www.skysports.com/football/...withdrawn-following-arbitration-panel-verdict

Of course FFP is a thing ... but, they could be looking at some pretty large turnover with a growing global appeal for merch and larger and more lucrative sponsorship deals bringing in a lot more money than the rest of the league ? kinds of deals and income that, say, having a global dinsey/hulu series and A list names behind it brings - deals and income not usually available to league 2 clubs ?
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Yes I thought this also. Any attempt to make football sustainable is usually jumped upon by lawyers and strangled at birth.
 
festa5 said:
If he still cared about footy he'd get a better club than Wrexham, even in his diminished state.

He can't care about the money, anything they'd offer would be a drop in the ocean to him surely. And he'd be able to get better elsewhere anyway.

I'm just not sure the Wrexham project is going to be that exciting to a multi millionaire who has multiple champions league titles. I wouldn't necessarily say that made him an empty vessel.

It's not like it's his hometown club or anything.
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No I appreciate that but if, as you suggest, all he wants to do in life at a relatively young age of 33 is play golf and nothing much else seems to me to be a bit shallow. And certainly not “exciting “. What are his ambitions now in life? I would love to know. Maybe we will find out in Series 3 of Welcome to Wrexham. Maybe not. Who knows?
 
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