Bale is a good player, but he's the kind of player that is more appreciated in England than he is or would be in Spain or Italy. Technically in terms of his close ball control, passing, and general technique he's lacking. But he's an effective player despite that, he's a very good finisher, he's extremely fast obviously, he plays on the shoulder of the last defender very well, his off the ball movement is quite good. In Italy and Spain where players are expected to be able to operate well in tight spaces, the kind of player that Bale is, he's not very appreciated IMO. There is no doubt at all that he's a very effective player though, even for Real, he scored quite a few goals last season, many of them important ones.