I don't think his talent can be called into the question but there is no denying that his behaviour has many a time been that of an utter *** of a human being.
Gazza
- Thread starter NWJocko
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chris661
Money List Winner
I have read this a few times and still dont get it.
I think you could say the same about the majority of the UK population. We've all done really stupid things (I know I have - probably more than once) but the difference was we don't have tabloids digging in minscule detail and paying the other party for a glorified version of events. Yes he let himself and his family down, has probably down untold damage in later years to his body and will live with the demon of mental illness for the rest of his life but in truth is he really that much different to many others
Golfmmad
Tour Winner
I nearly spat my coffee out when I read this!
Aside from Eusebio, Pele, George Best, Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs, the rest were good premiership players compared to Paul Gascoine.
If only you didn't focus on his life failings, and there were many, and remembered what a truly great footballer he really was, you maybe wouldn't need those rose tinted glasses you talk about.
And getting back to that interview, I applaud him for staying off the booze for 11 months. I wonder how many of his doubters have ever had to fight an addiction. I have, giving up smoking, and boy that was hard!
For him to come back from the depths he was obviously in is remarkable. To be able to overcome all of that, to me, he deserves another chance.
He has only himself to blame for his wasted talent, but I thank him for all the hours of entertainment he gave me.
Good luck Paul, I hope you make it.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
100 % Dodge ... must admit i was a BIG BIG fan of Gazza the player, had his Lazio jerseys.. if only he knew how good he could have been , could have been a genius , sometimes i think genius is often flawed with a tinge of mentality.. maradonna , best , roy keane even , all gifted but a tad looney .. been mad doesnt excuse some of gazzas antics later tho , no excuses there , ***? nay mate , scumbag is the level that some of that was at...
Speak for yourself Homer but I really can't defend particularly the wife beating bit of him.
We will have to agree to disagree on this Homer.
I think the man is a ***.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
stupid is forgivable Homer mate .. assaulting women ?? nay man never will be ,, we have all done stupid , spent a year & a bit fairly heavy on the sauce myself mate never lowered myself to that tho,
Mattyboy
Tour Rookie
Hes as daft as brush. Hes a recovering alcoholic. Hes been on the peruvian marching powder. He was also ultra talented.
And thats why the majoirity love him. They can relate to him as he has something in common with the averae jo (probably the daft bit).
Give me another footballer as popular that hasnt had these controverseys in their life? I cant think of one.
And thats why the majoirity love him. They can relate to him as he has something in common with the averae jo (probably the daft bit).
Give me another footballer as popular that hasnt had these controverseys in their life? I cant think of one.
SteveF
Medal Winner
Gary Lineker, Paul Scholes, Alan Shearer, Pele, all of the England World Cup winning team, Messi, every Norwegian who ever pulled a shirt on; it's a long list.
I've nothing against the guy personally but you reap what you sow and I won't listen to someone who has known such privilege and fortune whinge. He had the world in his hands and he spunked it.
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Not for one second condoning the wife beating stuff although his missus then went on to virtually make a celebrity career as the beaten woman. Be that as it may you simply cannot raise your hand to a woman. End of. However I do think he was poorly advised, suffered hugely from hangers on and got caught in the headlights of celebrity and spat out the other end. Sadly his mental illness, drugs and alcoholism have left a legacy and he is a shell of the man he was. I hope he can find a way to find something worthwhile to occupy him.
The wife saga aside, I think everyone deserves a shot of redemption and hope he's getting to a point where he can turn things around. Decent footballer in his time too although he wouldn't make my top 10
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
I have been a fan of gazza although being fairly young my first memory of him is the goal against scotland in 96. Watching that interview last night you cant help but think he was a very lost man. He started something and couldnt stop as he couldnt get the buzz back that he got from football. When he spoke about the raoul moat episode you can tell he just wanted to help another lost individual but got it completely wrong. He admitted he had been an idiot but it took him this long to get the right help but finally it looks like its working for him. Most of the world class footballers have had something against them maradonna drugs, best drink to name a couple. I think if he has turned his life round then we should admire that and give him the chance. No one will forgive him for the wife beating and that includes himself who said he was ashamed of it. We all make mistakes some more than others but at least hes finally realised.
chrisd
Major Champion
As usual we all get into the personality bit. Great footballer he was for sure - not in the George Best, Pele etc league, in fact nowhere near but I always enjoyed watching him, but no more that Stan Bowles, Tony Currie, Hoddle, Greavsie, Rodney Marsh and many other showmen of their time (I am old arn't I).
Players come and go and I don't care much for the personality bit - I can still admire a Van Goch painting but I don't much care if he cut off parts of his body! Gazza proves what we all know - you dont have to have a brain to be a brilliant footballer!
Chris
Players come and go and I don't care much for the personality bit - I can still admire a Van Goch painting but I don't much care if he cut off parts of his body! Gazza proves what we all know - you dont have to have a brain to be a brilliant footballer!
Chris
Crawfy
Tour Rookie
How are you measuring popularity Matty ?
Henrik Larsson. Probably not born with god given talent as per Gasgoine, but professionalism, work ethic and dedication to improve himself ensured that he far outshone in terms of footballing acheivement.
Even Rangers supporters will acknowledge him as the greatest import to Scottish football.
Walked into Man Utd and Barcelona teams....and his greatest controversy = he cut his dreads off.
chris661
Money List Winner
What can the average punter relate to with Gasgoine? Being a drunk wife beater that earned more money than has had the sense for? Hardly average.
T
thecraw
Guest
Not a fan of any of the old farm but that is nonsense what you spout. Larsson was a wonderful professional, a great player but not in the same league when it came down to natural talent and putting bums on seats. Di Canio, Laudrop, and Gazza all had more talent than King Henrik. As you say though Larsson was like big ears himself a magnificent professional and role model.
Crawfy
Tour Rookie
Craw - I aknowledge on my first line the difference in God-given talent between the two players. And probably that is one of my issues with Gasgoine...is that he had it, but then chose not to work at it to preserve it...
To others on the thread - if Gasgoine was so talented, why did he not play for the top teams in England who succeeded on a European level. Six goals for Lazio does not scream out world class to me. Granted he had four or so good years at Ibrox - but that was (outwith Italia 90) probably his footballing height.
Brian Laudrup - again a great talent, but then again what did he acheive away from Ibrox ?
De Canio - one of my all-time faves at Celtic. He at least deliverd in Serie A, but did he step up after leaving Scotland ?
Yes Gasgoine was talented, Yes he has issues. But he is not a football great...no matter what the tabloids say.
Show me your medals !
richart
Major Champion
Just finished reading Stan Bowles autobiography. Great character and a left foot to die for. Shame he gambled all his money away.
Saw him play for Carlisle against Spurs in the early 70's and was by far the best player on the pitch. Scored a stunner, and shortly afterwards went to QPR.
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All those guys shone because they were playing amongst the pish that is Scottish Fitbaw.
Hell,Brian wasn't even the best Laudrup to play football never mind the best in Scotland.
Di Canio and Larrson were 2 players that I would happily pay cash to watch,1 was a loose cannon and the other was a fantastic role model professional but both had sublime talent for the game........King Henrik got a wee bit more out of that talent.
Gazza??.....Sublime talent that because of the way he lived his life never ever reached the potential he had.
Did I also mention the fact he is a *** of a human being?
S
Snelly
Guest
Gazza was a good player.
Not in the superstar class though - Pele, Maradonna, Cryuff, Van Basten, Messi etc.
But I would think he would be in a England all time first 11. Admittedly, I can only go on what I remember so have excluded past greats.
My team would be:
1. Shilton
2. Pearce
3. Neal
4. Butcher
5. Adams
6. Scholes
7. Waddle
8. Gazza
9. Shearer
10. Hoddle
11. Coppell
I don't know enough about Moore, Matthews, Finney, Wright, Dean, Greaves etc to be able to pick a team with any certainty.. Of the era I have known well though, Gazza is up there with the best English midfielders.... Others that might have made the team above include Robson, Beardsley, Barnes, Rooney, Lineker, Anderson, Sansom etc.
Slight hijacking of this thread so sorry about that.
Not in the superstar class though - Pele, Maradonna, Cryuff, Van Basten, Messi etc.
But I would think he would be in a England all time first 11. Admittedly, I can only go on what I remember so have excluded past greats.
My team would be:
1. Shilton
2. Pearce
3. Neal
4. Butcher
5. Adams
6. Scholes
7. Waddle
8. Gazza
9. Shearer
10. Hoddle
11. Coppell
I don't know enough about Moore, Matthews, Finney, Wright, Dean, Greaves etc to be able to pick a team with any certainty.. Of the era I have known well though, Gazza is up there with the best English midfielders.... Others that might have made the team above include Robson, Beardsley, Barnes, Rooney, Lineker, Anderson, Sansom etc.
Slight hijacking of this thread so sorry about that.
DaveM
Tour Winner
He was not fit the tie Eric Cantana's boots. Other than that goal against Scotland What has he done.
