Yep seriously. Bet you do it too don’t you?
Becks,Wiggo and Gazza (and Cav too) are derivatives of their surnames – the names most “fans” know them by. It’s not the name theirs wives would know them by. Would you refer to the above as David, Bradley, Paul or Mark in conversations about them down the pub? It’s just too matey and try hard for someone you have never met and will never be your friend. Shortening it down to D, B, P, M or indeed G is worse.
The reason it has started amongst (some) fans is he was referred to a “G” by a teammate in an interview. A teammate, a friend- someone who he does go down the pub with. Not a fan. To me (but clearly not you) it’s cringeworthy coming from the mouth of a fan – like someone who wants to sound like a bosom buddy when they clearly are not.