It's a long read so i won't copy the article.... But have a read of the last paragraph, were any off you there. Surely we must have been awfull if he got man of the match... http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/07/paul-gascoigne-alive-kicking What a waste of a talent.
When talk turns to world class footballers, some names that get mentioned often make me laugh out loud and shake my head. However, imo, Gazza was a true world-class player. Not always off the pitch but certainly on it. I was at the game at Roker that night and the banter if had with the crowd was first-class. A better naturally gifted English player I have yet to see and alongside Bryan Robson, Gary Lineker and David Beckham, he is one only a handful of world-class players in my lifetime. Hope he makes it. I have my doubts.
"On the evening of the day we meet, £250,000-a-week Carlos Tevez apparently refused to get off the bench to play as a substitute for Manchester City. You sense Gazza would have paid to play." Awesome And: "We were due to play Sunderland on 12 January 2002. That night I drank three and a half bottles of wine, took 11 sleeping tablets, woke up at 6am with the shakes, took a couple more tablets, finished off the wine, fell back asleep, woke up again at 9am, had a treble brandy, another sleeping tablet, a smoke and went to the game. I was in a terrible state, so I had another treble brandy, took another tablet and went out and played a blinder. Afterwards, I went home and fell asleep. Next morning I asked Jimmy ["Five Bellies", pictured below] how I had done. "Look at the table," he said, pointing to a bottle of champagne. "You won man of the match." Jesus christ, how ****e were you like
I agree with Cest on everything he said about Gazza. There was a period when I thought he was the best all-round player in the world after Maradona retired. In fact, when he was leaving Napoli, Maradona himself told their President "There's only one man can replace me here - the Englishman, Gazza". Hughie Gallagher was the same - they say he'd have a couple of drams in the Scottish dressing room at half-time! But what could anyone say? - I believe Hughie scored something like 1.5 goals per game for Scotland! I fear the Gazza story will end up like Hughie's. One night he went to a pub (in Gateshead I think) had a quiet drink alone, left before closing time, sat on a railway embankment and had a quiet ***, and waited for the Edinburgh to London express. Then he ran down the embankment in front of it. Don't do this Paul, please don't do this - you're worth so much more.
Cutey - I have always argued that had he chosen Man Utd and not Spurs, he would have replaced George Best as the most gifted player to have worn the red shirt. He would have also had the influence of SAF to help him cope with life. Unfortunately for Gazza for many who never saw him play, unlike Georgie Boy, he will share all the drinking problem memories but have none of the medals or accolades in the English game. A few meaningless tin badges from the SPL won't mask in later life, the fact that he wasted his talents imo, instead of amassing a few top medals and trophies at Old Trafford. Could have been the greatest ever English footballer of all time imo and challenged Maradona and Pele as the English maestro but ultimately, he never got anywhere near them in the end. A sorry story but one that isn't without some fun, some glamour and an incredible amount of individual skill and flair. Stay fit and well Gazza.
Well, the greatest ever English player is impossible to know - there are so many none of us ever saw. But he's one of two in my lifetime that I would put in the top ten I've seen with e.g. Maradona, Pele, Best, Puskas, Zidane. Gazza and Tom Finney were certainly up there. Gazza was the star performer in the 1990 World Cup series, and was voted Player of the Year in every country he played in - England, Italy and Scotland. And of course, he received the ultimate accolade - he was punched and told off by a nun for equalizing against her beloved Roma! Not every player gets to be punched by a nun. So it hasn't all been bad. The problem is he's got nowhere to go after football. He hovers between the Tommy Lawtons and the Hughie Gallaghers. Tommy was given a job as a football pundit with a newspaper (somebody ghosted it for him) and he did o.k. But Gazza's had that chance - and appeared on t.v. pissed as a rat. It looks to me as though he's going the Gallagher route. And that really would be a tragedy.
People with illnesses, here's another one.. Former Manchester United and Scotland defender Gordon McQueen is to undergo treatment for cancer of the larynx. The 59-year-old, who more recently worked as a coach and scout for Middlesbrough, will be treated at a hospital in the town. He currently works as a television pundit with Sky Sports, for whom his daughter Hayley works as a presenter. McQueen will receive treatment at the James Cook University Hospital, close to his North Yorkshire home. Ayrshire-born McQueen made his name as a player with Leeds after signing for Don Revie's team from St Mirren as a teenager in 1972. He was part of the famous Elland Road side of the 1970s which won the league title and reached the final of the European Cup. He then travelled to Old Trafford, where he became friends with Bryan Robson, who later recruited him to the coaching staff during his spell as Middlesbrough boss.
Something I've always said too. Ferguson would've made him twice the player he already was. We would be talking about him now as one of the greatest players in the world. Scores of blokes the world over would give a bollock to be able to play football like him, but he chose to piss it all up the wall.
You'd hope that in 2011 there are better mechanisms in place to help him cope. I always rated McQueen for Leeds, Man Utd and Scotland. Seems like a canny bloke as well to be fair whenever I've seen him on the TV. Like anyone with this illness, I wish him well. Its going to be a hard battle but he has a lot of support. On a similar note, has anyone heard about Bryan Robson lately? As a fellow cestrian I have heard nowt on the local grapevine, where one of his brothers still lives of course and wondered if anyone had caught any news?
Bryan Robson has revealed he has beaten throat cancer. The United and England legend told the M.E.N. he was given the good news in a letter from the specialist who treated him. Robson, still a terrace hero at Old Trafford, will now have another check-up to make sure the rest of his body is clear but says medics are confident that will be the case. We revealed the inspirational 54-year-old midfielder, nicknamed 'Captain Marvel', was battling the disease in March. Since then goodwill messages have flooded in from across the globe. Robson, who was the Thailand national coach at the time, went to doctors after having difficulty swallowing and feeling a lump on his throat. They spotted a tumour and an operation and course of radiotherapy followed. Then, earlier this month, news that his throat was clear of the disease landed on his door mat. Robson said: "It was great news that I had in the letter. "Things seem to be going well for me." He thanked M.E.N. readers for their thoughts and said he was overwhelmed by the level of support. "I've been getting messages all the time and I have had great support from fans throughout the world and at West Brom, Middlesborough, Thailand and obviously United. "I'd like to thank everyone for that." Robson, who managed Middlesborough, Bradford City, West Bromwich and Sheffield United, says he has no plans to return to the hot seat. He is an ambassador at United, where he made 470 appearances and scored 103 goals, and expects to be spending more time at Old Trafford. "I want to concentrate on my role with United," Robson said. "I have enjoyed my two years in Thailand and unless something really special comes up I'll stay doing what I am doing." Robson joined the Reds in 1981 for a then British record of £1.8m. In what was a barren decade by their standards his all-action performances helped them lift the FA Cup in 1983. Robson also lifted the Cup Winners Cup in 1991, the Premier League in 1993 and 1994 – the same year the Reds also won the FA Cup
Not sure whether it was his choice to piss it up the wall mate as with any addictions, none of us know until we have tried it just how alcohol is going to get hold of you. I have always been a canny drinker in my time (less nowadays mind Lol) but could easily turn off after weekends. For alcoholics, its not a choice its a disease, one that rarely gathers any sympathy from the outside but one which can devastate the individual and those around them, as much as any terminal illness can. I hope Gazza makes it as he is a lad I feel I have, although having never met him, grown up alongside throughout my life. I was there with him in 1990 and in 1996, when his light shone brighter than any other footballer at those tournaments and I would like to see him grow old with me and have some peace in his life too. Poor bugger, it seems from this interview that even his son uses him to get money and sells stories about him to the press. Take care Gazza for all the good time you brought me as an England fan.
There are plenty of mechanisms, Cest, and shedloads of people who would love to help him. But no one can do anything for Gazza if he won't help himself. As I said, he's been found a nice little job with the press, but whereas Lawton took the chance, Gazza can't even leave the drink alone for two hours till he's done his stint. He's been offered jobs as manager, as coach, and he's been given the chance of a lucrative pay off in the U.S. Every single time someone tries to help him, drink has the last word. Paul has to make some decisions, and no one can do it for him - much as thousands would like to. There's him and a bottle in the ring - and the winner is ... ? It really is up to him.
gazza's probably the best player the region has produced, absolutely world class, i remember him miming into a microphone and pretending it was broke when he was playing for lazio, very very amusing. What a shame he's become a shambles through the drink
