Paul Gascoigne

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Documentary on bbc I player about his life and career which is a must watch.

Whatever your views on him, this documentary highlights just how tragic his life and career were - especially with the amount of parasites that exploited him. Not to mention the red tops and hangers on. (And it only shows the half of it).

A divisive figure. Even now. But really does show how much pressure he was under and how much he just wanted to be loved and succeed. In this day and age I’d like to think he’d get the help and understanding he needs at a much younger age. But it’s pretty clear that even those who claimed to love him or befriend him only did for their own interests.

Tragic tale. What could have been with him. A generational talent that probably over-performed if anything given the lifestyle, injuries and stresses!

Still can’t believe I saw him in a Burnley shirt. And can believe even less what I saw in those games at bramall lane and Grimsby!

So many wrong decisions made. Spurs was probably the wrong move. The tackle against forest was definitely a horrific decision. The ‘friends’. The girlfriend.

[Row x]

Documentary on bbc I player about his life and career which is a must watch.

Whatever your views on him, this documentary highlights just how tragic his life and career were - especially with the amount of parasites that exploited him. Not to mention the red tops and hangers on. (And it only shows the half of it).

A divisive figure. Even now. But really does show how much pressure he was under and how much he just wanted to be loved and succeed. In this day and age I’d like to think he’d get the help and understanding he needs at a much younger age. But it’s pretty clear that even those who claimed to love him or befriend him only did for their own interests.

Tragic tale. What could have been with him. A generational talent that probably over-performed if anything given the lifestyle, injuries and stresses!

Still can’t believe I saw him in a Burnley shirt. And can believe even less what I saw in those games at bramall lane and Grimsby!

So many wrong decisions made. Spurs was probably the wrong move. The tackle against forest was definitely a horrific decision. The ‘friends’. The girlfriend.

Sir Alex always said he'd have looked after him better had he chosen united instead on the bright lights of london

[Robbie_painter]

Takes the **** out of us at every sportsman dinner he does.Fck him.

[agreenwood]

Is it a new documentary?

Seen a few about Gazza over the years.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Is it a new documentary?

Seen a few about Gazza over the years.

I’ve not seen it before. So guessing so. Came up as a recommendation after watching another excellent on Ronaldo mk1

[Pearcey]

Sir Alex always said he'd have looked after him better had he chosen united instead on the bright lights of london

Gazza said that Fergie wouldn’t have made a difference. It was on the Rest is Football podcast. Was a funny answer when they suggested Fergie.

[Papabendi]

It’s from 2022

[Boss Hogg]

Takes the **** out of us at every sportsman dinner he does.Fck him.

Certainly took the **** when he played for us as he was probably ******. Dreadful signing for us.

[ElectroClaret]

Takes the **** out of us at every sportsman dinner he does.Fck him.

Never been to one of the sportsman's dinners he's been speaking at, but yes, heard
first hand that he's nothing complimentary to say about us whatsoever.

[HahaYeah]

Seem to remember he was bitter about some shirt deal or something.

[Jakubclaret]

I can remember reading 1 of his books & he felt some money was owed to him I can't remember the exact reason. Wasn't a match made in heaven from the outset but anybody looking at kindergarten homework would have reached that conclusion in a pure footballing sense.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Certainly took the **** when he played for us as he was probably ******. Dreadful signing for us.

He was definitely well past it. But can see why we tried it especially after Ian wright in similar circumstances.

But there are plenty of tales from that era that don’t paint Stan in the best of lights either. But again. Football / society was very different then.

The hacking of his phone (at same time as likes of Diana etc) was shocking. And only added to his paranoia and insecurities.

The admissions from the journalists interviewed in the documentary are shocking. (No surprise when they were led by piers Morgan). Absolute parasites.

[beddie]

In his prime he was some player. Unfortunately for us one of Stan’s worst signings.

[pureclaret]

In his prime he was some player. Unfortunately for us one of Stan’s worst signings.

Funny how people see things , I seem to remember him making fantastic passes to space that the team just stood looking at where the ball was and where they should have run into.
His free kick last game was perfect just the keeper mad a perfect save,to quote Gary Lineker if i put a strong effort on target ive done my job if the keeper saves it hes done his job

[willsclarets]

Funny how people see things , I seem to remember him making fantastic passes to space that the team just stood looking at where the ball was and where they should have run into.
His free kick last game was perfect just the keeper mad a perfect save,to quote Gary Lineker if i put a strong effort on target ive done my job if the keeper saves it hes done his job

If you look at the replays of those free kicks, they're really easy saves. If it wasn't Gazza taking them, they'd never be spoken of again. I do remember the odd food touch and pass too, but for me that was far outweighed by the mistakes and inability to keep up with the game.

[ClaretTony]

If you look at the replays of those free kicks, they're really easy saves. If it wasn't Gazza taking them, they'd never be spoken of again. I do remember the odd food touch and pass too, but for me that was far outweighed by the mistakes and inability to keep up with the game.

You are right, they were saves he should make.

I wish he’d never played for us. He was brilliant at his peak but now I remember those embarrassing few weeks at Burnley. Should never have been near the place.

[Clovius Boofus]

He shouldn't have been near our squad.

[BurnleyFC]

Great player in his time.

A complete dick head of a person.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

The documentary shows him in a friendly against Belgium before France 98. And he’s so out of shape and off the pace it’s scary. And he was 31, well before we signed him.

But this documentary highlights how much contributed towards that. The press who are interviewed on the documentary (many of whom were convicted of phone hacking) openly state how little they cared and how callous they were to get a story. Awful.

He was having private conversations with his mother. That went public. So he became paranoid and also thought his mother was leaking stories.

[Clovius Boofus]

His lifestyle drew the press towards him, but there's no excuse for the invasion of privacy, especially the illegal phone hacking. Every victim suspected those closest to them. It would turn the most stable amongst us into a paranoid mess. Too many got away scot-free when they should have been jailed, including those at the top.

[Dark Cloud]

I always feel that the tackle v Forest in the cup semi was his watershed moment. His star suddenly began to wane after that one seminal incident and never recovered. Without that challenge his whole life could have been so different.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

I always feel that the tackle v Forest in the cup semi was his watershed moment. His star suddenly began to wane after that one seminal incident and never recovered. Without that challenge his whole life could have been so different.

Agreed. After the tears of 90. This was his big chance. They won the cup and he was in an ambulance.

[Silkyskills1]

Funny how people see things , I seem to remember him making fantastic passes to space that the team just stood looking at where the ball was and where they should have run into.

My son and I saw his 'passes to space' at Brammal Lane and as you say we obviously saw them differently to you. We were missing Glen Little and Paul Weller that day, both in form but unfortunately not fit to play. Neither was Gascoigne but he somehow got on the pitch. It was a pathetic sight to behold. I think he managed to stay on into the 2nd half to orchestrate our slide away from play-off possibility. Went to Grimsby and another disaster; a team effort this time and not sure if Gascoigne only appeared late on to cement the win for the home team.

[ClaretTony]

My son and I saw his 'passes to space' at Brammal Lane and as you say we obviously saw them differently to you. We were missing Glen Little and Paul Weller that day, both in form but unfortunately not fit to play. Neither was Gascoigne but he somehow got on the pitch. It was a pathetic sight to behold. I think he managed to stay on into the 2nd half to orchestrate our slide away from play-off possibility. Went to Grimsby and another disaster; a team effort this time and not sure if Gascoigne only appeared late on to cement the win for the home team.

His performances at Sheffield United and, as a substitute at Grimsby, were shameful.

[helmclaret]

Makes you wonder why Stan played him, when it was clear for all to see he wasn’t in a good way.

[Woodleyclaret]

Stan didn't make many mistakes with players but Gascoigne was a massive one.

[Anonymous Claret]

Not 1 mention of what Gascoigne went through as a 10 year old child when he was looking after his best friend's brother who died in his arms.

That is why Gazza is how he is and why he became the best English footballerof a generation. I have nothing but empathy for him. For anyone calling him names etc.,please research what he experienced as that 10 year old little boy and see if you still feel the same way.

[Row x]

Gazza said that Fergie wouldn’t have made a difference. It was on the Rest is Football podcast. Was a funny answer when they suggested Fergie.

I'd trust fergie's judgement more than gazza tbh

[Row x]

Stan didn't make many mistakes with players but Gascoigne was a massive one.

It was worth the risk after what Ian wright had done

[ClaretTony]

I'd trust fergie's judgement more than gazza tbh

I’m damn sure I would.

[Jimmymaccer]

Got to say tho, his putting our lovely friend Colin Hendry on his backside was a wonderful moment.

[elwaclaret]

Not 1 mention of what Gascoigne went through as a 10 year old child when he was looking after his best friend's brother who died in his arms.

That is why Gazza is how he is and why he became the best English footballerof a generation. I have nothing but empathy for him. For anyone calling him names etc.,please research what he experienced as that 10 year old little boy and see if you still feel the same way.

Not sure anyone is calling him for anything other than his performances for Burnley, and the complete disrespect he has shown for the club since. I’m not sure having mental issues gives you the right to be disrespectful or disparaging to a club that was the only one willing to gamble on him, and give him the chance to show he was not washed out (as he had been written off as for much of his Everton contract). He simply proved those who wrote him off as more trouble than he was worth to be right.

[Jakubclaret]

Not sure anyone is calling him for anything other than his performances for Burnley, and the complete disrespect he has shown for the club since. I’m not sure having mental issues gives you the right to be disrespectful or disparaging to a club that was the only one willing to gamble on him, and give him the chance to show he was not washed out (as he had been written off as for much of his Everton contract). He simply proved those who wrote him off as more trouble than he was worth to be right.

Every club that had taken a gamble on him during his decline did it for their own reasons & not necessarily looking out for PG own welfare. Which is fine let's not pretend otherwise it's business rather than trying to do somebody a favour without receiving anything back in return. It works both ways commercially it made sense for paul gascoigne to play for burnley.

[dvalley69]

Gazza speaks openly about his panic attacks in the China documentary, which he'd had since being a kid, most probably due to the trauma experienced as a 10 year old. Clearly, that was never sorted and despite being a genius of a player he never could get away from his psychological issues and resorted to the classic ways!!

[Anonymous Claret]

Not sure anyone is calling him for anything other than his performances for Burnley, and the complete disrespect he has shown for the club since. I’m not sure having mental issues gives you the right to be disrespectful or disparaging to a club that was the only one willing to gamble on him, and give him the chance to show he was not washed out (as he had been written off as for much of his Everton contract). He simply proved those who wrote him off as more trouble than he was worth to be right.

Somebody called him 'a complete dickead of a person'.

The trauma he went through as a 10 year old boy is unimaginable.
I believe it was that incident that made him the great player that he is but also explains his addiction and mental health issues.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Not 1 mention of what Gascoigne went through as a 10 year old child when he was looking after his best friend's brother who died in his arms.

That is why Gazza is how he is and why he became the best English footballerof a generation. I have nothing but empathy for him. For anyone calling him names etc.,please research what he experienced as that 10 year old little boy and see if you still feel the same way.

Agreed. Talks a lot about it in episode 1 (of 2). Tragic.

I remember buying his book years ago and reading it on holiday by the pool. I had to put it down and couldnt finish it. It was very heavy!

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Got to say tho, his putting our lovely friend Colin Hendry on his backside was a wonderful moment.

Remember this well. All things being considered, I would have to say that this is the greatest England goal I have ever seen. Probably topping Beckhams Greece Free kick.

The angle from high up behind the goal, in slow mo is insane viewing.

[CyrilEbokiPoh]

Not sure anyone is calling him for anything other than his performances for Burnley, and the complete disrespect he has shown for the club since. I’m not sure having mental issues gives you the right to be disrespectful or disparaging to a club that was the only one willing to gamble on him, and give him the chance to show he was not washed out (as he had been written off as for much of his Everton contract). He simply proved those who wrote him off as more trouble than he was worth to be right.

The problem is we dont know all the facts. The stories I heard were that he wasnt paid (or at least wasnt paid what he was owed). Granted his performances were dreadful, we still entered a contract with him!

[elwaclaret]

The problem is we dont know all the facts. The stories I heard were that he wasnt paid (or at least wasnt paid what he was owed). Granted his performances were dreadful, we still entered a contract with him!

The claim I’ve heard is it was a percentage of the sales of Gazza shirts…tbh I’m sure there must have been some but I don’t remember ever seeing one, either on games or in the club shop