Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle " UPDATED "
Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:01 pm
Wales manager Chris Coleman upbeat on Gareth Bale's fitness
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident Gareth Bale will recover sufficiently from a virus to play in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Scotland.
The Tottenham Hotspur star was due to have a light training session in Glasgow on Thursday night.
Coleman said Bale had recovered from an ankle injury but the virus had stopped him training this week.
"He has got a very very good chance to play tomorrow night," said Coleman.
"He had a bit of a virus Tuesday [and] Wednesday. So we couldn't do any sessions with him. He just needed rest really.
Wales' reliance on Bale
In Chris Coleman's seven games in charge of Wales, Gareth Bale has scored all but one of their goals
Sam Vokes is only other man to find the net, scoring from a Bale cross
"He took a later flight [to Scotland] because we wanted to separate him from the lads for obvious reasons.
"Good night's sleep tonight and hopefully he will be ready tomorrow."
But Coleman insisted that he would not play Bale unless he was completely fit on Friday.
"If there is any doubts about him physically and he's not ready then he won't play," the manager said.
"Because we can't take the risk with Gareth or any of the players because they don't belong to us. They belong to the clubs.
"Unless they are absolutely 100% right we won't take the risk and we won't.
"But at the minute we are optimistic everything is going to be fine.
"Speaking with the doctors and the medical team they are happy with his response. He is in good spirits and he is better today [Thursday] than yesterday [Wednesday]. There is a [training] session planned for him but it will be modified."
Coleman also denied playing mind games over Bale.
"I am not the type of manager to play mind games. I would rather get on with it," said Coleman.
"It is what it is. I don't have an elaborate plan up my sleeve; he is not going to play tomorrow or he definitely is.
"It is pointless bringing him up if I didn't think he had a very good chance."
Though Wales remain confident the 23-year-old Bale will be fit to play at Hampden Park, Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan (groin) has been ruled out.
Updated.
Gareth Bale tonight trained with the Welsh Squad
Wales star Gareth Bale winning battle against illness ahead of Scotland clash
Mar 21 2013
" Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle "
GARETH BALE is winning a battle against illness to face Scotland on Friday after travelling to Glasgow separately to his teammates.
Mystery surrounded the fitness of Bale after it was noticed he didn't arrive with the team when they landed in Scotland on Thursday afternoon.
But Wales captain Ashley Williams set the record straight at a press conference at Hampden, revealing: "He's had a virus so we haven't seen him for the last few days but he's travelled, will train tonight and all being well he should be playing.
"I haven't spoken to him myself but the medical staff think he'll be alright."
Spurs ace Bale is central to Wales hopes of a second win of this World Cup campaign but his preparation has also been hampered by an ankle injury picked up playing for Tottenham last weekend.
"He had an ankle knock as well, which didn't help, and then came the virus so we haven't seen too much of him," said Swansea City star Williams.
"But he's a massive player want him to play. I've not known a player travelling on his own to a game before but we wanted to take a precaution so no-one else caught it and he's said to the staff he felt alright when he woke up.
"If he plays it's a massive boost because he's everything to us. He's a world class player in great form."
Wales manager Chris Coleman said: "He's had a bit of a virus from Wednesday, he just needed rest. He took a later flight but he's in the hotel and hopefully he can have a good night.
"But at the minute we're optimistic and he has a very, very good chance of playing at the moment.
"He has bruising on his ankle but that wasn't a concern. But he didn't sleep on Tuesday and was ill on Wednesday."
Coleman added he would have a light session at Hampden Park but would train, continuing: "It would have been pointless him coming if I didn't think he would play. He's here which says everything about him wanting to play. He wants to be here."
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident Gareth Bale will recover sufficiently from a virus to play in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Scotland.
The Tottenham Hotspur star was due to have a light training session in Glasgow on Thursday night.
Coleman said Bale had recovered from an ankle injury but the virus had stopped him training this week.
"He has got a very very good chance to play tomorrow night," said Coleman.
"He had a bit of a virus Tuesday [and] Wednesday. So we couldn't do any sessions with him. He just needed rest really.
Wales' reliance on Bale
In Chris Coleman's seven games in charge of Wales, Gareth Bale has scored all but one of their goals
Sam Vokes is only other man to find the net, scoring from a Bale cross
"He took a later flight [to Scotland] because we wanted to separate him from the lads for obvious reasons.
"Good night's sleep tonight and hopefully he will be ready tomorrow."
But Coleman insisted that he would not play Bale unless he was completely fit on Friday.
"If there is any doubts about him physically and he's not ready then he won't play," the manager said.
"Because we can't take the risk with Gareth or any of the players because they don't belong to us. They belong to the clubs.
"Unless they are absolutely 100% right we won't take the risk and we won't.
"But at the minute we are optimistic everything is going to be fine.
"Speaking with the doctors and the medical team they are happy with his response. He is in good spirits and he is better today [Thursday] than yesterday [Wednesday]. There is a [training] session planned for him but it will be modified."
Coleman also denied playing mind games over Bale.
"I am not the type of manager to play mind games. I would rather get on with it," said Coleman.
"It is what it is. I don't have an elaborate plan up my sleeve; he is not going to play tomorrow or he definitely is.
"It is pointless bringing him up if I didn't think he had a very good chance."
Though Wales remain confident the 23-year-old Bale will be fit to play at Hampden Park, Sunderland midfielder David Vaughan (groin) has been ruled out.
Updated.
Gareth Bale tonight trained with the Welsh Squad
Wales star Gareth Bale winning battle against illness ahead of Scotland clash
Mar 21 2013
" Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle "
GARETH BALE is winning a battle against illness to face Scotland on Friday after travelling to Glasgow separately to his teammates.
Mystery surrounded the fitness of Bale after it was noticed he didn't arrive with the team when they landed in Scotland on Thursday afternoon.
But Wales captain Ashley Williams set the record straight at a press conference at Hampden, revealing: "He's had a virus so we haven't seen him for the last few days but he's travelled, will train tonight and all being well he should be playing.
"I haven't spoken to him myself but the medical staff think he'll be alright."
Spurs ace Bale is central to Wales hopes of a second win of this World Cup campaign but his preparation has also been hampered by an ankle injury picked up playing for Tottenham last weekend.
"He had an ankle knock as well, which didn't help, and then came the virus so we haven't seen too much of him," said Swansea City star Williams.
"But he's a massive player want him to play. I've not known a player travelling on his own to a game before but we wanted to take a precaution so no-one else caught it and he's said to the staff he felt alright when he woke up.
"If he plays it's a massive boost because he's everything to us. He's a world class player in great form."
Wales manager Chris Coleman said: "He's had a bit of a virus from Wednesday, he just needed rest. He took a later flight but he's in the hotel and hopefully he can have a good night.
"But at the minute we're optimistic and he has a very, very good chance of playing at the moment.
"He has bruising on his ankle but that wasn't a concern. But he didn't sleep on Tuesday and was ill on Wednesday."
Coleman added he would have a light session at Hampden Park but would train, continuing: "It would have been pointless him coming if I didn't think he would play. He's here which says everything about him wanting to play. He wants to be here."
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle
Thu Mar 21, 2013 6:57 pm
Good news. Without him Wales are pretty much doomed as much as I hate to say it!
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle
Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:10 pm
Wales manager Chris Coleman upbeat on Gareth Bale's fitness
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident Gareth Bale will recover sufficiently from a virus to play in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21850170
Wales manager Chris Coleman is confident Gareth Bale will recover sufficiently from a virus to play in Friday's World Cup qualifier in Scotland.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21850170
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle
Thu Mar 21, 2013 8:16 pm
He trained with the team this evening at Hampden, pictures on the FAW Facebook
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle " UPDATED "
Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:07 pm
Scotland v Wales: only a Neanderthal would advocate chopping down Gareth Bale, says Chris Coleman
Wales manager Chris Coleman has dismissively described John Brown as a “Neanderthal” in a reference to the Dundee caretaker’s comments that the best way to eliminate the effectiveness of Gareth Bale was to chop him down (“He can’t run without legs”).
oto: PA
By Ewing Grahame
8:19PM GMT 21 Mar 2013
CommentsComment
Insisting that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, who trained independently of the rest of the squad at Hampden, had an excellent chance of recovering from the ankle and viral problems which have laid him low this week, Coleman even claimed he would welcome a hammer-throwing approach from the Scots if it meant a few of Gordon Strachan’s men being shown red cards.
Brown’s ill-chosen words, like those of Mickey Thomas (who described the current Scotland team as the worst there has been) have added an edge to the contest between the two bottom teams in Group A. Coleman responded in kind.
“I’m happy if they want to do that and we’re playing against eight or nine because there are only so many times you can do that these days before you’re off the pitch,” said Coleman.
“Twenty five years ago in my day, fair enough. But the game has evolved since and it’s Neanderthal to think like that.
“That’s not football any more. Football is a contact sport and don’t take that out if it. I see simulation and players rolling around, I can’t stand that
Wales manager Chris Coleman has dismissively described John Brown as a “Neanderthal” in a reference to the Dundee caretaker’s comments that the best way to eliminate the effectiveness of Gareth Bale was to chop him down (“He can’t run without legs”).
oto: PA
By Ewing Grahame
8:19PM GMT 21 Mar 2013
CommentsComment
Insisting that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, who trained independently of the rest of the squad at Hampden, had an excellent chance of recovering from the ankle and viral problems which have laid him low this week, Coleman even claimed he would welcome a hammer-throwing approach from the Scots if it meant a few of Gordon Strachan’s men being shown red cards.
Brown’s ill-chosen words, like those of Mickey Thomas (who described the current Scotland team as the worst there has been) have added an edge to the contest between the two bottom teams in Group A. Coleman responded in kind.
“I’m happy if they want to do that and we’re playing against eight or nine because there are only so many times you can do that these days before you’re off the pitch,” said Coleman.
“Twenty five years ago in my day, fair enough. But the game has evolved since and it’s Neanderthal to think like that.
“That’s not football any more. Football is a contact sport and don’t take that out if it. I see simulation and players rolling around, I can’t stand that
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle " UPDATED "
Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:49 pm
To be fair to John Brown, he says it as it is!
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle " UPDATED "
Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:56 pm
Gareth Bale has ‘very good chance’ to face Scotland -
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/ ... -1-2849415
http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/ ... -1-2849415
Re: Gareth Bale is winning his fitness battle " UPDATED "
Sat Mar 23, 2013 12:32 am
Wales winger Gareth Bale has played down fears about his fitness after he was forced off at half-time during the 2-1 win over Scotland.
The Tottenham star, who had been suffering from a virus prior to the match, failed to emerge for the second half at Hampden Park with Jonathan Williams replacing him as Wales shrugged off his absence to fight back from 1-0 down in the World Cup qualifying Group A clash.
There were initially fears that Bale had injured his ankle and would miss Tuesday's visit of Croatia.
However, the 23-year-old took to Twitter after the game to allay those fears.
He posted: "Just clearing the air... nothing wrong with my ankle. I came off at HT due to the stomach virus I've had all week. Should be ok for Tuesday.
"Great win by the lads tonight, hopefully we can take this on to the next game."
The Tottenham star, who had been suffering from a virus prior to the match, failed to emerge for the second half at Hampden Park with Jonathan Williams replacing him as Wales shrugged off his absence to fight back from 1-0 down in the World Cup qualifying Group A clash.
There were initially fears that Bale had injured his ankle and would miss Tuesday's visit of Croatia.
However, the 23-year-old took to Twitter after the game to allay those fears.
He posted: "Just clearing the air... nothing wrong with my ankle. I came off at HT due to the stomach virus I've had all week. Should be ok for Tuesday.
"Great win by the lads tonight, hopefully we can take this on to the next game."