Pundit slams Gareth Bale as 'worst player on pitch'

Pundit slams Gareth Bale as 'worst player on pitch'


Gabby Agbonlahor says Gareth Bale was Wales' worst player in their 1-1 draw with the United States of America.

Bale and his team-mates were alarmingly poor in the opening half against the Americans, although he, and others, made more of an impact after the restart following a collective improvement.

The 33-year-old's most telling moment came late on as he was fouled by Walker Zimmerman in the penalty area. The Los Angeles man stepped up himself to rifle home his 41st international goal from the spot to earn Wales a share of the spoils.


He was subsequently handed the Player of the Match award, although former Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor believes several others in red were far more deserving of the prize.


“I thought he was the worst player on the pitch for Wales – 100 per cent,” he told the Weekend Sports Breakfast.

“People will back me, he couldn’t do anything right all game and he popped up, like he does, in big moments, with big goals, with the penalty.

“But every time he got the ball he was giving it away and was having to chase back. To be fair to him, he was chasing back to win it back but nothing was going right for him.

“I don’t know how he got Man of the Match because there were so many better players. Kieffer Moore, I would have given it to for his second-half performance, [Ethan] Ampadu was very good. [Neco] Williams. There were so many better performances for Wales than Gareth Bale.

“I think because he scored it’s like, ‘alright, Man of the Match’. No way should he have been Man of the Match. He’s got to up his game for the next two games of the tournament in the group because I thought he was poor.”

It comes after Agbonlahor stated that not a single Welshman would make it into England's strongest 30-man squad. And following the opening round of Group B fixtures, the former forward admitted he stands by those comments.

“I stand by my comment at the moment. I don’t think any of the Wales squad of players get into England’s best 30 players," he concluded.

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Ramsey was worse.

Ramsey was worse.

Agreed , but Bale went missing

Ramsey was worse.

Agreed , but Bale went missing

He certainly did.

The sun is setting on the careers of both Bale and Ramsey, neither impressed v the Yanks but Bale stepped up and rifled a blinding penalty in, to secure a well deserved draw. This World Cup really should be the end of their internationals.

He may be right but it's looking as if he wants to be recognized and make a name as a pundit.... ramsey improved after page moved team further up the pitch... bales problem is hes not played footbal regularly for over a year? Modric is 37 and yet hes playing at top level & WC ..... that's what bale should be doing instead of fannying around past 2 yrs at real and now usa...

He may be right but it's looking as if he wants to be recognized and make a name as a pundit.... ramsey improved after page moved team further up the pitch... bales problem is hes not played footbal regularly for over a year? Modric is 37 and yet hes playing at top level & WC ..... that's what bale should be doing instead of fannying around past 2 yrs at real and now usa...

Hate to criticise our players but Ramseys improvement wasn’t that much tbf. Certainly not worthy of a starting place imo.

He may be right but it's looking as if he wants to be recognized and make a name as a pundit.... ramsey improved after page moved team further up the pitch... bales problem is hes not played footbal regularly for over a year? Modric is 37 and yet hes playing at top level & WC ..... that's what bale should be doing instead of fannying around past 2 yrs at real and now usa...

Hate to criticise our players but Ramseys improvement wasn’t that much tbf. Certainly not worthy of a starting place imo.

Probably not but like bale hes been restricted in game time for couple of seasons... sounds daft but both could do with being at city so can have consistent training and proper game time if they ar to play on for Wales... bale in particular needs to get out of usa if not personally I feel that's it being a starting player as he simply wont be match fit enough been like it for longtime now and it shows more and more.

I agree Bale and Ramsey went missing, however without their goals and positive leadership we wouldn't be in the World Cup. They can be the difference between winning or losing as show on multiple occasions. I hope they both step up for the next game.

He may be right but it's looking as if he wants to be recognized and make a name as a pundit.... ramsey improved after page moved team further up the pitch... bales problem is hes not played footbal regularly for over a year? Modric is 37 and yet hes playing at top level & WC ..... that's what bale should be doing instead of fannying around past 2 yrs at real and now usa...

Hate to criticise our players but Ramseys improvement wasn’t that much tbf. Certainly not worthy of a starting place imo.

Probably not but like bale hes been restricted in game time for couple of seasons... sounds daft but both could do with being at city so can have consistent training and proper game time if they ar to play on for Wales... bale in particular needs to get out of usa if not personally I feel that's it being a starting player as he simply wont be match fit enough been like it for longtime now and it shows more and more.

Agree. Unfortunately both ships have already sailed I reckon.

I must admit that I never liked Gabby Agbonlahor as a player as he always seemed areogant. That said m, I tend to agree with his comments about Bale. He and Ramsey were poor although Ramsey improved a bit 2nd half. BUT I was glad that Bale took that pressure penalty. Wow great pen in the circumstances.
I said in various Whats Apps just before the game that Moore and Johnson ahould have started. You need match fit / hardened players. I did not like the midfield that Page sent out.Ramsey is getting older and needs legs around him. You tjerefore can’t play Harry Wilson with him, as Wilson doesnt work hard enough and cant/ wont tackle. Fair play to Amoidou as he qorked his socks off.
Page has come into thd job with little experience and manages a team with 2 legends in it.
I dont undersstimate how difficult that is.But he must be his own man Eg if he thinks it necessary then he must be able to ‘rest’ Bale (or Ramsey) against Iran, bearing in mind the England game shortly after).
I would include James, but only have Wilson as an option off the bech. For me Wilson is skillful but not a 90 minutes player. We need fit players against Iran - they will be no pushover.

The trouble is with resting Bale or Ramsey, they are still capable of winning us games out of nothing. We have to beat Iran, otherwise we may as well get straight on the plane after the game.

The trouble is with resting Bale or Ramsey, they are still capable of winning us games out of nothing. We have to beat Iran, otherwise we may as well get straight on the plane after the game.

I get your point but Moore must start in plane of who?

We simply do not have the strength in depth to pick and choose. We have to pick our best 11 to win the next game.

Bale and Ramsey are in that best 11, so just pick another 9 players to attack a very poor overrated team. It's that simple.

Got to be best 11 because iran are not as bad as they appeared against England.... the more goals we score the better it is for us we need an 8 goal difference after Friday's
games presuming usa lose to England ... no confidence that we will be that far away from usa after Friday though..

We simply do not have the strength in depth to pick and choose. We have to pick our best 11 to win the next game.

Bale and Ramsey are in that best 11, so just pick another 9 players to attack a very poor overrated team. It's that simple.

Never doubted that when fully fit, both should start. Neither are fit but I’d play Bsle v Iran as we’re not blessed with goal scorers.

Not just about your best XI,you've got to pick them in the right positions. Sadly the managers selection process in the first game could still be responsible for us getting the plane home after the England game. People seem to be accepting this but I think this could be a tournament defining fuckup on his part.

Well they ain't lying. But the thing is he steps up. He only needs half a chance. That's why he world class.

I believe he is the player-manager though, so he was never coming off.

Bales' best position for Wales is an attacking midfield, he has always needed to face goal. He doesn't look like he is a runner anymore but still possesses superior technical ability, so as a passer he is our best.

Ramsey has never been a sitter, however many times we try, even in a double pivot, he is an attacking central midfielder.

For me it needs to be a 4231 with Morrel and Ampadu as the sitters, Keiffer up top with Bale, Rambo and BJ as the attacling midfielders. I'd drop Roden as he was poor and I doubt Allen is anywhere where fit enough.

Ramsey was shattered after 20 minutes. at one point around 60th minute, we went on the attack, and by the time Ramsey was in a forward position, the USA were already hitting us on a counter, he looked exhausted.

my big issue is pages game management, the usa made all their subs towards the end of the game, and Page didn't look interested in doing so, Ampadu went down injured, no sub, it was only when Amapadu couldn't carry on, did he make the sub, i just felt if he brought on one or two fresher legs, earlier we could of gone onto win it.

hopefully though we go and overload the midfield against IRAN as goal difference will be key

We have' nt scored from open play just a penalty harry wilson was also non existant james was also absent along with bale ramsey so page has sime head scratching to do as to where our goal tally is goung to come from for me its simple wimgers in james johnson crossing in for moores head if james is sh.t after 30 mins against iran i would drop him
and either thomas or colwill on we need young fresh legs

Blind loyalty cost us there I’m afraid.

Blind loyalty cost us there I’m afraid.

Yes most definitely and page said he'd be loyal? Sorry loyalty is sign of poor management because bale or Ramsey contributed nothing to both games... except the penalty to much work for other players to make up the passengers.

Blind loyalty cost us there I’m afraid.

Yes most definitely and page said he'd be loyal? Sorry loyalty is sign of poor management because bale or Ramsey contributed nothing to both games... except the penalty to much work for other players to make up the passengers.

Summed up perfectly

Blind loyalty cost us there I’m afraid.

Yes most definitely and page said he'd be loyal? Sorry loyalty is sign of poor management because bale or Ramsey contributed nothing to both games... except the penalty to much work for other players to make up the passengers.

Summed up perfectly

I think undoubtedly the problem with both of them is they've not played or trained enough to be match fit..... bales 33 modric is 37 difference is modric plays at top level and trains same way......bale hasn't played football or really trained regularly in 2yrs .... so in reality both got future with Wales but only if both sign for a decent league which means regular football along with training? But cannot see that in any team in premier league last thing want is in out of team... seriously think only option is ccfc because they are both far to good for championship both would get the training and football they require to play on for Wales... any other scenario and be like it is now... as cannot see it happening they're time is up with Wales along with Allen.

There were nine other players on the pitch.
No heat preparation at all.Straight from league matches on the weekend to World cup.
Bale and Ramsey have carried us for a long time.
Look what was on the bench today.Without Bale and Ramsey we are in for a dark period.
I'd be shocked if we qualify for the Euros without those two.
Bale is 33 ,Ramsey 31,compare that with Ronaldo aged 37.
The ball is in there court.If they can get match fit we could get a few more years out of them.

Blind loyalty cost us there I’m afraid.

Yes most definitely and page said he'd be loyal? Sorry loyalty is sign of poor management because bale or Ramsey contributed nothing to both games... except the penalty to much work for other players to make up the passengers.

Who would you have replaced them with.Harris and Colwill ?

There were nine other players on the pitch.
No heat preparation at all.Straight from league matches on the weekend to World cup.
Bale and Ramsey have carried us for a long time.
Look what was on the bench today.Without Bale and Ramsey we are in for a dark period.
I'd be shocked if we qualify for the Euros without those two.
Bale is 33 ,Ramsey 31,compare that with Ronaldo aged 37.
The ball is in there court.If they can get match fit we could get a few more years out of them.

Not only Ronaldo modric is 37 and couple other players of that age playing in competition.... it's about fitness and neither anywhere near match fit? Only answer I can see is return to uk but are either of them going to get game time in premier league even lower end team? Without regular games and training may as well retire from international football going on last 4 or 5 games.... big decisions for both coming up.

Bale and Ramsey went totally missing yesterday, time to retire.