Pirate Galaxy » both going to get plenty of reps

LONDON - Just four years ago Gareth Bale was considered a jinx and a flop, and faced being offloaded on the cheap by Tottenham. Failing to live up to expectations, the disillusioned gangly teenager endured more than 1,500 minutes on the pitch across 28 months before finally featuring on a winning side in the Premier League for Tottenham. Fast forward to 2013 and the now-muscular, speedy 24-year-old Bale is one of European footballs most potent attacking forces and the most sought-after asset in the summer transfer window. He could also be on the verge of becoming the worlds most expensive footballer. Real Madrid appears to be leading the chase for Bale, who would be emulating Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham in leaving the Premier League to become the Spanish clubs latest Galactico. "Real Madrids fans will be purring at the thought of having possibly him and Ronaldo in the same team," said former Tottenham player and manager Glenn Hoddle. "They can go back and challenge the world again." To prize Bale away from north London, however, Madrid is likely to have to improve on the world-record fee of 93.9 million euros (then $131 million) it paid Manchester United for Ronaldo in 2009. British and Spanish media have reported that Madrid has offered 100 million euros for Bale, although neither Tottenham nor Madrid has publicly commented on the bid. Although Tottenhams public posturing has seen a "not for sale" sign officially left dangling over Bale during the summer, it would be hard for the north London club to reject such a hefty wad of cash and retain a player agitating to join a team challenging for top titles. Because, for all the mesmerizing footwork on the ball, eye-catching goals from free kicks and defence-splitting surges, Bale doesnt have a single winners medal for show for his six years at Tottenham. Bale, who has not commented on the speculation, reported to training as usual at Tottenham on Wednesday, and Hoddle is among the many current and former players hoping he will be staying with Spurs for one more season. "I just sense that maybe he might go for the wrong reasons," said former Tottenham player and manager Glenn Hoddle. "If he wants to go just for football reasons I think it might be better in a years time or maybe two years time." It was in May 2007 that Tottenham paid just 5 million pounds (then $8 million) to bring the 17-year-old Bale from Southampton, the south-coast club then playing in the second tier. Although he scored three times in his first four starts, a series of injuries stymied his progress and he went on that frustrating run, becoming a symbol of poor results until emerging as a substitute 84 minutes into his 25th Premier League game — a 5-0 rout of Burnley. Since then, Bale has never looked back. Neither has Tottenham, which at one point was reported to have tried to use Bale as a make-weight in deals to bring in new players. After shaking off his substitutes role in January 2010, Bale began to consistently show the flair and pace that displaced left back Benoit Assou-Ekotto from the starting line-up. And, as the attacking side of Bales game began to flourish, then-manager Harry Reddknapp pushed Bale onto the left wing. Having helped to steer Tottenham into the Champions League for the first time in May 2010, Bale was rewarded with a lucrative new deal — the first of three successive annual contract upgrades. Bale announced himself to the world with two dazzling displays against Champions League holder Inter Milan in the group stage in the 2010-11 season, including a hat trick at the San Siro. As Tottenham fought off interest from rival teams, Bale was named the 2011 player of the year in England by his footballing peers. But Bale has begun to outgrow Tottenham, with the team failing to return to the Champions League despite his goal-scoring prowess and searing pace. His importance to the team was underscored last season by the fact his 21 leagues goals, many from being deployed in a more central position, helped win 22 points for Spurs, although they still finished a place outside of the top four. With his national team Wales unlikely to qualify for a major tournament, it is at club level where Bale will have to make his mark like compatriot Ryan Giggs. "He is such an exciting player, but more than that, he has a good attitude as well," Giggs said recently. "He can go far in the game." Named English footballs player of the year by his fellow professionals and journalists last season, Bale appears to be preparing the groundwork for the enhanced fame that a move to Madrid would bring. Earlier this year, he filed an application to trademark his goal celebration, a heart-shaped hand gesture he dedicates to his long-time girlfriend, to use on merchandise. But while Bale is the superstar at Tottenham, he could find himself in the shadow of Ronaldo in the Spanish capital if he didnt make an immediate impact. "When you go abroad the first four, five, six months could be difficult for him to regain that form," Hoddle said.Adidas Originals Nmd_c2 Schuhe . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Adidas Eqt Schuhe Günstig . From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding. http://www.nmdschuhesale.de/ . JOHNS, N. Ultra Boost Damen Outlet . JOHNS, N. Adidas Nmd Damen Deutschland . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Leaving no opening for the possibility of a quarterback controversy, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick commented publicly for the first time on Tom Brady serving a four-game suspension to open the season.We had, finally, some definition with Toms situation, so our priority now is to get?Jimmy [Garoppolo]?ready for the start of the season, for the Arizona game [Sept. 11]. That will be, obviously, a comprehensive process, Belichick said?Wednesday in opening remarks of a news conference to kick off training camp. Tom will return as the starting quarterback when he comes back, but in the meantime, we have to prioritize the first part of our schedule, and that will be to get Jimmy ready to go.Belichick declined to go into detail on how the team planned to proceed, saying simply, Its day-to-day. Well do what we think is best, thats the priority.Earlier in the day, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels fielded several questions on how the quarterback repetitions will be divided in practice.This is really the time of the year where we really try to provide everyone with their foundation for the whole year, so our philosophy really is going to remain unchanged for a while here, in terms of repettitions.dddddddddddd We usually split them up pretty evenly. We dont really put anybody in first and second groups, or third groups, at this point, he said.What we really try to focus on is getting everybody opportunities to work on their fundamentals and techniques, and to work with the different players on our team because we dont know right now whos going to be doing what six, seven weeks from now.Theyre both going to get plenty of reps, and so is?Jacoby [Brissett]. Were going to do what weve normally done in the past ... all those guys have things we can get better at, and were excited to coach them all and to work with?every one of them.When asked if the Patriots might consider adding a fourth quarterback, McDaniels deferred to Belichick, who hinted that that wasnt likely to happen at this time.I think we have a good situation. We have three players we want to work with, Belichick said. Around the league, look at some other years, Ive seen teams that probably dont feel like they have anybody, or maybe they have one. I think were in a good situation. Well just see how it plays out. ' ' '