[Closed] Paul Gascoigne

Poor fella.

one of the best natural footballing talents of recent times. Such a shame to see the guy like this; he has demons.

Don't do that! Every time someone posts a Gazza thread I think he must have been found dead.

Absolute idol of mine when I was younger, watching him as a teenager at St James park with my grandad in the 80's, Italia 90.... If only he'd gone to man utd when he had the chance, Ferguson would have kept him straight and narrow and he'd be talked about with the reverence we reserve for maradona, zidane, cantona, and the like.

Agree with Jonv. Bled dry by his friends and the press.

needs to top his botox up

That!

are you sure that's him?

I bet Colin Hendry feels sick each time he sees that.

[quote=b r ]are you sure that's him?
It must be. It's got his name on the back of his shirt!

Sadly I can only see it ending one way.

I'm not sure if it's 20-20 hindsight, but he always gave me the impression (before his decline) of needing to be loved, by everyone, all of the time. He was one of those people who was always looking around when he was 'larking about', desperately trying to see if everyone else was laughing along. Well, unfortunately nobody is laughing now.

A genuine character by all accounts and a genuinely flawed one as well. It'd be great if he could make it out of the spiral.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/28876767

Must have been blootered then when he signed up for this.

I just saw that article rene links to. Picture Not him obviously

Thats never the real Gazza in a million years

As much as I wanted him to come to Old Trafford back in the day, I don't believe it - or rather, Fergie - would have shaken all those demons out of him. Too many deep-rooted issues as well as a bunch of ****ers as so-called friends willing to exploit his fame and fortune.

Not long left for the poor fella IMO.

sorry, it is him...

[img] :large[/img]

Sorry it is by the look of it

http://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/paul-gascoigne?service=tablet

I don't think its him. Friend saw him in Bournemouth a few months ago and said he was looking ok...
Bloody sad if it is.

Bloke pushing fifty having a bad day shocker, once your past 45 your fair game for reaper.

I'm more bothered by the numpty in a cycling jersey and 5/10s behind him.

Looks a bit like Ron Atkinson in the second pic.

Space monkey, we'll never know, but he'd have stood a much better chance of getting the support and help he needed there than he did as a daft Geordie cast adrift in the big city with only a bunch of parasitic gobshites to egg him on.

Sad, sad pictures.

I'm more bothered by the numpty in a cycling jersey and 5/10s behind him.

His arm appears to be held on with Gaffer Tape.

wilburt - Member
Bloke pushing fifty having a bad day shocker, once your past 45 your fair game for reaper.

Just great...that's made my day. 🙁

Jesus! That's tragic! 😥

Gazza's was an unbelievable player! I agree that his life would have turned out a lot different if he'd been surrounded by people who had his best interests at heart, rather than parasites and hangers-on who just exploited him

47? really? jeez. I'm 45 and hope I'm doing better than that. I know the guy can play a bit of footie and has even signed up for a sunday league club in bournemouth BUT the fella has clearly got demons, like many great footballers. He has my pity, feel quite sad that anybody gets this way in our society. Such is life. Maybe he'll end up asleep under the arches with a cardboard box and bottle of cider, I hope not but he doesnt look far off.

Bloke pushing fifty having a bad day shocker, once your past 45 your fair game for reaper.

Whippersnappers, got no idea!

(48 year old, still managed to drop his 20 year old fairly-fit son going up Ventoux on Wednesday).

Get well soon Gazza.

As most people of my age will always remember Italia 90 and euro 96. Without doubt the most talented footballer England has had.
What a shame Hoddle didn't pick him for France 98, a midfield of Ince, Gazza and Scholes would have been brilliant to see.

This is a very sad situation. I've seen him a few times at Spurs functions and even there surrounded by those that love him he was a bag of nerves. His son was in the same class as my daughter and when he was at school functions he was extremely polite and well mannered, just another dad watching his kid.

I hope he can recover from his addiction otherwise his future is very bleak.

EDIT: 51 btw

It's a shame as he was such a talented player. As it is though I'd be amazed if he makes it past Christmas.

Grim to see that. But the guy has probably had more help and chances available to him that anyone needs. if someone is bent on self destruction not much you can do.

I don't think he is bent on self destruction. He just has reached a point where he can't help himself.

As it is though I'd be amazed if he makes it past Christmas.

[img] [/img]
(He's 65 but his addictions make Paul Gasgoine look like a saint).

But Ozzy has money (Gazza doing his own shopping at Wilkos suggests he's a bit skint) and you can afford to be a bit off the rails if you have comfort and care to fall back on.

am not a fan of football,but i wish paul (along with anyone else in similar circumstances) my best wishes in overcoming his/their demons.

i feel lucky to have been able to quit the demon drink myself.

Alcoholism is an awful illness that can effect anyone from any background, see daily when I'm at work those who suffer from it.

I really fear for him, I know football has helped him before but a weeks wages of Rooney would put him back in rehab with change to spare.

Poor old Gazza. great footballer who, when I saw in the flesh playing for England, was one of those players who always seemed to make something happen when he got the ball.

BUT, the suggestion/belief by the newcastle faithful and gazza himself that he could have been a maradonna or pele is I think part of what fuelled his problem.

He was good but no way at that level, regardless of what breaks he never had or clubs he didnt join. In my view someone needs to tell him 'mate- let it go'....

Hope he gets through and manages to drop the booze

Absolute idol of mine when I was younger, watching him as a teenager at St James park

me too, always was a joy to watch him play whichever team he went to, had it all.

but a weeks wages of Rooney would put him back in rehab with change to spare.

He's been in rehab at least 5 or 6 times now, sadly I think it's only a matter of time before the inevitable

whats rooneys wages got to do with anything? it doesnt say hes broke

It is claimed he's in process of being evicted from £3million rented home

Just making the tenous link sorry if it is to much for you to grasp.

dirtyrider - Member
whats rooneys wages got to do with anything? it doesnt say hes broke

I know football has helped him before but a weeks wages of Rooney would put him back in rehab with change to spare.

You can pay for him to go into rehab a hundred times and he'll still come out of it an alcoholic unless he genuinely wants to go and is prepared to make the changes that he needs to once he comes out.

Always good to see a bit of compassion. Well done seosamh77.

Whippersnappers, got no idea!

I believe..(someone who cares more could google it) that at some point in your 40's the primary risk of death changes from rta/suicide to the usual "natural" causes of death, heart disease,cancers etc and chance of those increases year on year until your 80 or so.

Anyway moving on from that joyful note, I got a load of pleasure from watching Gazza a real talent, unfortunatly like many exceptional people that talent seems to come a cost.

All the best to him.

So sad. I would think the fact that he has/had access to money is why he is still alive frankly, with that level of drinking problem. People I knew in my youth with those kind of serious issues aren't around any more.

Gazza has mental health issues that were swept under the carpet as long as he kept performing even when at Rangers his behavoir was just dismissed or ignored. He was and still is unable to cope with what his talent put in front of him and the sycophantic parasites that were around him. Seosamh77 - out of order.

He earned a friggin fortune as well. If he's skelped it on coke, booze and his hangers on he deserves the gutter.

I do hope you never suffer a mental illness or alcoholism.

Sad to see, it amazing to see the different path's players take "after football".

Sad to see, it amazing to see the different path's players take "after football".

Yep... Gazza is almost as sad a case as this man...

[img] [/img]

stevenmenmuir - Member
Always good to see a bit of compassion. Well done seosamh77.

Compassion certainly isn't helping him.

maybe getting told sink of swim and take a bit of responsibility for yourself is exactly what he needs

johndoh - Member
maybe getting told sink of swim and take a bit of responsibility for yourself is exactly what he needs

Do you not think someone, somewhere has already tried that method? You aren't trying to help him, you simply don't have the ability to understand what has happened to him.

The guy should get a job or something, that'd help him more than anything..

The guy should get a job or something, that'd help him more than anything..

http://www.podvolunteer.org/

http://www.vso.org.uk/

No access to alcohol and the kids in a lot of these countries love football so he could raise their moral hugely, and they could help him...

Yup a clueless individual.

Come do a weekend at work with me or a few days at work with my CPN brother. See how difficult it is for these people. Sadly the normal way out for them is when they die a slow and painful death alone.

it really doesnt help that he's always been a big kid trapped in an adult's body.....

check out the comedy bit from about 30 second in this vid- here's him in better times, I think its genius!

Drac - Moderator
Yup a clueless individual.

Come do a weekend at work with me or a few days at work with my CPN brother. See how difficult it is for these people. Sadly the normal way out for them is when they die a slow and painful death alone.

I sound harsh, I know, I don't really intend to, but I really don't think compassion will help Gazza in the slightest. My Da does it for my aunt and it really doesn't help her. Just gives him alot of stress in being responsible for her existance.

I know how difficult it is, my aunt is bo-polar and that's her major problem aswell, nothing else in her life bar sitting about letting her imagination and self pity be the over-riding aspect of her life.

Edit: And do you not think that possibly your auntie would be in a worse place if it wasn't for the compassion that some around her are better able to give than you are?

johndoh - Member
I know how difficult it is, my aunt is bo-polar and that's her major problem aswell, nothing else in her life bar sitting about letting her imagination and self pity be the over-riding aspect of her life.

Yet you think that he has issues that 'getting a job' would solve? In that case you are even less able to understand illness than I first thought.
Edit: And do you not think that possibly your auntie would be in a worse place if it wasn't for the compassion that some around her are better able to give than you are?

Get a job, doesn't mean get a job in a factory. It simply means, get something worthwhile in his life whether that's paid or voluntary. He badly needs it, as does my aunt.

It certainly didn't help my auntie who drank herself to death despite working full time until illness put her into hospital.

johndoh - Member
Which is your opinion. Why do you think working will help your auntie or Gasgoine?
It certainly didn't help my auntie who drank herself to death despite working full time until illness put her into hospital.

To break the cycle of self pity, it alone won't be the solution, but it's a start, and in both these instances strikes me as a big gapping hole.

Sorry for your aunt, obviously not everyone is the same.

What's the compassionate solution? 6000 quid a week clinics that have a record of not helping him in the slightest?

I think you are beyond help as much as Gasgoine appears to be. It's very sad really.

johndoh - Member
I think you are beyond help as much as Gasgoine appears to be. It's very sad really.

He does voluntary work

I don't think he's beyond help at all.

Genius.

🙄

Drac - Moderator
He does voluntary work

johndoh - Member
I don't think he's beyond help at all.

Ohh no, of course, he just needs to get a job.
Genius.

what's your solution? beyond stating he's beyond help...

For some people, sadly, there is no solution. Most talented footballer I ever saw, no doubt about it.

what's your solution? beyond stating he's beyond help...

So everybody with mental illness should just mtfu and get a job?

I know how difficult it is, my aunt is bo-polar and that's her major problem aswell, nothing else in her life bar sitting about letting her imagination and self pity be the over-riding aspect of her life.

I sound harsh, I know, I don't really intend to, but I really don't think compassion will help Gazza in the slightest. My Da does it for my aunt and it really doesn't help her. Just gives him alot of stress in being responsible for her existance.

I thought I was pretty cold hearted and cynical, but this is a whole new level entirely. I hope you never encounter any misfortune in life or ever find yourself without an answer for your problems.

cooie - Member
So everybody with mental illness should just mtfu and get a job?

Well done seosamh7 - you have managed to contrive the discussion enough to get 'extrapolate' into the conversation (twice). We're all pretty impressed down here, I can tell you.

Gazza getting a job may well be the solution, but it only part and it will be a long way down a path of care and rehabilitation.

He has an addiction and what are clearly severe mental health issues. They need to be treated, then he might get a job, but as what? He can't exactly work in Tesco because he is Gazza, and he always will be and he will always have to deal with being famous, and he seems ill equipped to do so.

You don't treat someone in this situation with "tough love". You do not treat bi-polar with the same. Severe mental illness is crippling. It is beyond getting a grip and it requires specialist intervention. Part of that, provided by specialist carers might be robust when it needs to be, but it is not a case of being "robust" all the time.

You can no more "pull it together" than you can pick yourself up off ground at the Fort William downhill with two broken legs.

BoardinBob - Member
I know how difficult it is, my aunt is bo-polar and that's her major problem aswell, nothing else in her life bar sitting about letting her imagination and self pity be the over-riding aspect of her life.
I sound harsh, I know, I don't really intend to, but I really don't think compassion will help Gazza in the slightest. My Da does it for my aunt and it really doesn't help her. Just gives him alot of stress in being responsible for her existance.
I thought I was pretty cold hearted and cynical, but this is a whole new level entirely. I hope you never encounter any misfortune in life or ever find yourself without an answer for your problems.

mon to buggery, it's not rocket science.

Case 1: Gazza, football career ends and he goes off the rails. I wonder would could possibly be up there, perhaps the football career left a big gapping hole that needs replacing and not with drink and drugs.

Case 2: My Aunt, lived life too close to my Granny and too reliant on her, my granny died(god rest her) and then she goes further of the rails. I wonder what could possibly be up there, big gapping hole that needs replaced with something else possibly?

I'm not saying these things will solve the medical issues, but something worthwhile would go some way to curtailing self destructive tendencies.

Anyhow, I'll leave that at that. Youse are all obviously too concerned with writing him off as beyond help. 1,2,3 aw poor Gazza, he'll be deid soon...

Excellent trollage. 10/10.

I don't think he is being written off by people on here. I think most if not all excluding you feel it to be a tragic situation and that he needs real help.

I suspect left to you he would be hosed down with cold water and his head shaved for having a weakness of the soul.

and a thought - if your aunt is bi-polar which is with someone for life and is debillitating then that might be why she was so reliant - it's not like fukkin thrush.

Gazza used to drink pretty heavily whilst playing football as did George Best. They continued to do so afterwards and to a greater extent. I don't believe either drank because they were a bit bored. They drank because they were alcoholics. Some manage to beat it others unfortunately don't. I personally think that if gazza gets some help and gets off the booze then a role like the one offered to him by Harry Redknapp may help him stay off it.

Football is not the cause of his problems. In one way it slowed down the inevitable due to having to perform week in week out with others to look out for him. In another way the money he gained sped up the process after the football was gone. He would have had same problems regardless of the football career and I doubt he would have had so many chances of rehabilitation without it.