Gareth Bale: The Iceman
Real Madrid's flying Welshman may be made of the expensive Lalique crystal, but we must also consider the ice in his veins, his coolness in all situations...
Nothing makes me more angry about those who get on their soapbox about Bale (an elite player who is scoring at a similar rate to Benzema and Cristiano last year) than the perception that he lacks passion for the game that pays him so well and that has made him so famous.
Bale questioned
How can you feel so little towards football when fans make so much effort to see their teams, spend so many hours discussing the minutiae of each game, every lineup, and all the mistakes? How is it possible, with the hours that journalists dedicate to investigate, write, and think about football, that this guy can turn up and be devoid of any fire running through his veins? It's also being said that as well as not understanding the game, he is not interested either. All that he does, being the powerhouse that he is, is score goals, and often when he has to, in important matches. Although that should surely count for something.
The Iceman cometh
Bale is unlikely to change anyone's opinion of him, but I would suggest, for those who are keen, a different narrative. Bale may be made of glass (although most likely Lalique crystal, the most expensive in the world) but he is also made of ice.
The one that never gets perturbed. The one that makes decisions based on what is best because of that lack of internal fire. 'The Iceman', perhaps. What do you think?