Gazza

[Guest alex]

Fantastic in particular at Italia 90. Genuinely world class at his peak.

His pace, engine and stamina were all vastly underrated as well.

Aye, spot on there. He wasn't lightning fast but he had a turn of pace that took him past players. His ability to get up and down the pitch was pretty phenomenal too, as you allude to. He had the lot basically - engine, ability to beat players, a burst of pace, a fantastic range of passing, he could put his foot in (even if he was rash at times). He rose to the big occasion too. Possibly that last point being the most significant of the lot.

Edited February 21, 2008 by alex

[Craig 6682]

I still rate his final season with us (1987/88) as him at his peak.... That was before he let things run away from him.

 

Everyone raves about Italia '90 but to me, that's when he made his entrance on the world stage. Even at that stage I think he was being badly advised. Some of the performances he put in that last season with us were the most magical I've ever seen.

 

Just wonder what would have become of him had he not turned Manchester United down.

[Guest alex]

I still rate his final season with us (1987/88) as him at his peak.... That was before he let things run away from him.

 

Everyone raves about Italia '90 but to me, that's when he made his entrance on the world stage. Even at that stage I think he was being badly advised. Some of the performances he put in that last season with us were the most magical I've ever seen.

 

Just wonder what would have become of him had he not turned Manchester United down.

Aye, Ferguson was probably just what he needed. You got the feeling that although Venables was good with him, he didn't exactly keep him on a short leash.

[Craig 6682]

Going back to his turn of pace and ability to run past players, one of the best goals I saw him score was against Southampton at SJP in 1986/87. He'd been out injured for months IIRC and it was his first game back - took the ball on the edge of our penalty area at the leazes end, took it all the way down the left flank before cutting inside and smashing it past Shilton at the gallowgate end. Brilliant goal and on a par with Ryan Giggs' one against Arsenal in the '99 cup semi-final.

[Guest Stevie]

I still rate his final season with us (1987/88) as him at his peak.... That was before he let things run away from him.

 

Everyone raves about Italia '90 but to me, that's when he made his entrance on the world stage. Even at that stage I think he was being badly advised. Some of the performances he put in that last season with us were the most magical I've ever seen.

 

Just wonder what would have become of him had he not turned Manchester United down.

He was quality in 1987/88 but I think those last 12 games he came back of the previous season, he was unreal, Jackie Milburn reckons he kept us up, and I was at all the home games as a bairn, and he was amazing, he utterly raped Man Utd, taking the piss out of Paul McGrath which nobody did. We were going down till he came back, and even when Peter got injured he was the flagbarer.

[Guest Stevie]

Going back to his turn of pace and ability to run past players, one of the best goals I saw him score was against Southampton at SJP in 1986/87. He'd been out injured for months IIRC and it was his first game back - took the ball on the edge of our penalty area at the leazes end, took it all the way down the left flank before cutting inside and smashing it past Shilton at the gallowgate end. Brilliant goal and on a par with Ryan Giggs' one against Arsenal in the '99 cup semi-final.

Aye left foot. He always had this thing for putting the ball through the stanchion, was unbelievable the amount of times he used to do it, his goal against Crystal Palace was my fav Gazza goal ever though, 40 yards oot and aye you've guessed it, straight through the stanchion.

[Guest alex]

Going back to his turn of pace and ability to run past players, one of the best goals I saw him score was against Southampton at SJP in 1986/87. He'd been out injured for months IIRC and it was his first game back - took the ball on the edge of our penalty area at the leazes end, took it all the way down the left flank before cutting inside and smashing it past Shilton at the gallowgate end. Brilliant goal and on a par with Ryan Giggs' one against Arsenal in the '99 cup semi-final.

Aye left foot. He always had this thing for putting the ball through the stanchion, was unbelievable the amount of times he used to do it, his goal against Crystal Palace was my fav Gazza goal ever though, 40 yards oot and aye you've guessed it, straight through the stanchion.

Class goal that like.

[trophyshy 7083]

“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”

[Tooj 17]

“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”

What a film.

[trophyshy 7083]

“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”

What a film.

 

Decent book too

[Tooj 17]

“There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die.”

What a film.

 

Decent book too

Aye.

 

Think me mate's still got mine the cunt.

[Guest alex]

'Fear and Loathing...'? It's a good un.

[FCUM 1]

Very sad. One of the greatest players of his generation and I hope he somehow comes through it all.

 

I agree with Craig, it would have loved to have seen him join Man Utd instead of Spuds. There's no doubt Fergie would have been a calming influence but I'm not sure even that would have helped Gazza & his demons. Don't forget that was in the days of Robbo's infamous drinking school which Fergie eventually broke up. I'd like to think Fergie would have singled him out for special treatment because of his amazing talent but it could well have gone the other way with him being shown the door very quickly. Sadly, we'll never know the answer to that one.

 

Sadly he lived for his football and when that finished it all went tits up fairly quickly. Great shame he never settled into another role after his playing days were over. I have a mate well connected at Everton who reckons he was brilliant coaching the kids there, if he could have settled to a role like that, it might all have been very different.

[LeazesMag 0]

Very sad. One of the greatest players of his generation and I hope he somehow comes through it all.

 

I agree with Craig, it would have loved to have seen him join Man Utd instead of Spuds. There's no doubt Fergie would have been a calming influence but I'm not sure even that would have helped Gazza & his demons. Don't forget that was in the days of Robbo's infamous drinking school which Fergie eventually broke up. I'd like to think Fergie would have singled him out for special treatment because of his amazing talent but it could well have gone the other way with him being shown the door very quickly. Sadly, we'll never know the answer to that one.

 

Sadly he lived for his football and when that finished it all went tits up fairly quickly. Great shame he never settled into another role after his playing days were over. I have a mate well connected at Everton who reckons he was brilliant coaching the kids there, if he could have settled to a role like that, it might all have been very different.

 

 

he should have gone to Manu or Liverpool, at the time, but also - if Newcastle had had the club we had 6 years later then he would not have left.

 

Losing Gazza, Beardsley and Waddle probably proved the final straw for people like me. In fact, it did. If not for losing those players we might not have made the changes that were made.

 

Such is life.

 

Gazza was a fantastic player, with him Beardsley and Waddle and a proper club we could have won trophies. He's easily the most talented player we brought through in my time.

[Craig 6682]

Going back to his turn of pace and ability to run past players, one of the best goals I saw him score was against Southampton at SJP in 1986/87. He'd been out injured for months IIRC and it was his first game back - took the ball on the edge of our penalty area at the leazes end, took it all the way down the left flank before cutting inside and smashing it past Shilton at the gallowgate end. Brilliant goal and on a par with Ryan Giggs' one against Arsenal in the '99 cup semi-final.

Aye left foot. He always had this thing for putting the ball through the stanchion, was unbelievable the amount of times he used to do it, his goal against Crystal Palace was my fav Gazza goal ever though, 40 yards oot and aye you've guessed it, straight through the stanchion.

Class goal that like.

 

Oh aye, in full agreement. I was in the Milburn paddocks that day and saw the goal right from whereabouts the TV cameras were (Milburn stand was still being built). You could tell where it was heading as soon as it left his foot.

 

Also scored a couple of crackers against Spurs that season too - effectively sealed his transfer to WHL as after that, Venables had a tongue like a roll of lino whenever Gazza was mentioned.

[Jusoda Kid 1]

Just been on the news he's been sectioned and sent off to the nut house with the rest of the lunatics.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keegan says he's over the moon to have him back.

[grasshopper 0]

for fucks sake the blokes not dead

[sweetleftpeg 0]

Possibly one of the last great entertainers, not afraid of the ball, had immense belief in his own ability without being a show poney. Loved his goal in the last minute of the Rome derby when he came back from that shocking injury, it wasn't the greatest goal in the world, but look how much he fucking enjoyed it. Could and should have been the greatest player in the world.

[grasshopper 0]

he's just havin a bit of a senior moment

[sweetleftpeg 0]

[Matty 0]

I hate it how people laugh at him because he has a mental illness.... but I'm sure if it was a physical illness that no one would dare amuse themselves with it.

 

Whether this is a problem in society as a whole is questionable, but I do feel that people with a genuine mental illness get far less sympathy than those with a physical impairment.

[Geordie Boyo 24]

That's one referral I hope I don't get....!

[ohhh_yeah 2966]

I present to you...Gazza

 

1) One hour after playing for England, met 'showbiz pals' Danny Baker and Chris Evans in a Hampstead pub while still wearing his full kit... boots included.

 

2) When asked for his nationality before an operation, told the nurse: "Church Of England."

 

3) On a trip to London, jumped out of his car to demand "a go" on a workman's pneumatic drill. After getting the go-ahead, happily pounded the pavement to the amusement of shoppers.

 

4) On first meeting with Lazio's president to discuss his big-money move to the Italian club, was quick to tell the esteemed gentleman that he reminded him of Bud Abbot.

 

5) Organisers of Italia 90 TV coverage had the splendid idea of augmenting team line-ups with film of each player mouthing his own name. Gascoigne's genius led him to subvert the process by, instead, mouthing 'F***ing W***ker'. The BBC had to use it all the way through the tournament.

 

6) Booked a series of sun-bed sessions for then-Newcastle team-mate Tony Cunningham. Who, of course, is black.

 

7) Asked by a Norwegian camera crew if he had a message for England's upcoming opponents, immediately responded with, "Yes. F**k off Norway." Then ran off laughing.

 

8) Turned up for England training the morning after then-manager Bobby Robson had called him "daft as a brush" with a floor brush sticking out of his sock.

 

9) When asked for a footballing comment while at Lazio, burped enthusiastically into a TV microphone. He was fined £39,000.

 

10) Decided it would be a great idea to have massive hair extensions. Looked a fool and had them taken out a day later.

 

11) After paying for ex-wife Sheryl's breasts implants, sent flowers to the hospital after the operation addressed to 'Dolly Parton'.

 

12) Astounded commuters in London by jumping on a double-decker in London's Piccadilly Circus and asking if he could have a drive. The bus driver said yes, and the passengers thoroughly enjoyed Gazza's impromptu performance.

 

13) Sent a rose to the Wimbledon dressing room for Vinnie Jones after the infamous ball-squeezing incident. Got a toilet brush in return.

 

14) Set up best mate Jimmy 'Five Bellies' Gardner with a 'girl' he knew to be a transvestite.

 

15) Has taken the p*** out of refs constantly during his career. On one occasion he sniffed a hapless ref's armpit while he was holding his hand high to signal a free kick.

 

16) Undeterred by their frosty reactions, Gazza again tried to prove that refs have a sense of humour by yellow-carding the referee after the official had dropped his card during a Rangers v Hibs game. He was booked for his troubles.

 

17) While attempting to deflect the 'kebab controversy' which spelled the beginning of the end of his England career, assured reporters that his doner-munching antics following Middlesbrough's promotion to the Premiership would in no way affect his fitness before France 98. One reporter asked: "What do you feel like now?" Back came the inevitable response: "I feel like a kebab with onions."

 

18) Cool As an apprentice desperate to impress then-Newcastle boss Jack Charlton, spent a week's money on fishing gear and begged the famous angler to give him a lesson. On arrival at the riverbank, Charlton promptly threw all but the rod out into the briny, then poured a bottle of Newcastle Brown into the water, dipped in the rod and within seconds was pulling out a whopper. Lesson over.

 

19) As 'perk' of boot-cleaning duties during his apprenticeship, took Kevin Keegan's Golas home to show his mates. But left them on the Newcastle Underground.

 

20) When playing for England against Belgium in Italia 90, ridiculed Enzo Scifo as he lay on the ground clutching his leg. Gazza thought he was play-acting, so did a mime of his own which involved hopping on one leg with his tongue lolling out.

 

21) His attempt to jet off to Libya with Middlesbrough for a post-season tour was hampered by the fact he'd left his passport at home. An emotional Gazza wept at the check-in desk until a minion was despatched to bring it to the airport.

 

22) Celebrated his new-found hero status after flying home from Italia 90 by wearing a huge pair of fake plastic boobs and stomach bearing the legend 'Gazza'.

 

23) On meeting the president of Denmark's FA, pretended he could speak Danish. When invited to demonstrate, imitated The Muppet Show's Swedish Chef.

 

24) Conned Five Bellies into eating a mince pie after he'd scraped out the filling and replaced it with cat excrement.

 

25) Walked into the Middlesbrough canteen wearing nothing but his training socks and ordered lunch.

 

26) Paid £320 for a Mars Bar in a newsagents in his home town of Dunston, then told the shop owner to spend the change on sweets for local kids.

 

27) Whilst dining in the prestigious Bedford Arms Hotel in Woburn with a few of his Geordie mates, decided to place his erect member on the shoulder of a diner at the next table. Thinking someone had tapped him on the shoulder the gentleman turned his head only to have Gazza's helmet prod him in the cheek.

 

29) Took a documentary team to a beautiful Scottish cottage which he informed them was his new place, pretended he'd forgotten his key and knocked instead. When the door opened, told the befuddled housewife inside that he was doing a telly advert and wanted to know if she preferred Daz or Omo.

 

29) Crashed Middlesbrough's team bus at the club's training ground and caused £310,000 worth of damage.

 

30) While at Rangers, urinated over sleeping team-mate Richard Gough.

 

31) Handed £1000 over to Jimmy Five Bellies after betting that the burly boozer couldn't withstand a cigarette lighter's heat on the bridge of his nose for five seconds. Jimmy could. Twice.

 

32) After briefly giving up drinking, was advised to find a new interest. Picked bingo.

 

33) Bought a £1000 robot and programmed it to travel into Jimmy Five Bellies' room at Gazza Towers and announce: "Make a cup of tea, fat man."

 

34) Stuck his tongue out when the TV cameras panned past him during the national anthem at Italia 90.

 

35) Prepared for England matches during that hugely important tournament by playing marathon games of tennis in the scorching midday sun.

 

36) Thought it would be appropriate to wear a blue fright wig before the 1991 FA Cup Final.

 

37) In his time, has agreed to dress as a Roman centurion, a clown, Oliver Hardy and Braveheart for 'photo opportunities'.

 

38) While his Italia 90 team-mate was the hero of Hillsborough, marched into a Sheffield barbers and demanded "a Waddle cut".

 

39) When Gazza signed for Spurs in 1988, he came down to finalise the deal with a bunch of his Geordie mates. They took over the posh hotel in Hadley Wood where Spurs were footing the bill and wreaked havoc. Gazza met then-chairman Irving Scholar and began talks by saying, "We'd like to thank you for the best three days of our lives."

 

40) Asked to leave West Lodge Park Hotel in London after guests were treated to the sight of a naked Five Bellies swimming across the duck pond.

 

41) On his first night in Rome after signing for Lazio, gave his minder the slip, put his shoes by an open window and hid in a cupboard. The minder thought he'd committed suicide.

 

42) Recorded a video message for a corporate party and signed off with a cheery "Happy Christmas, you f***ing w***ers".

 

43) Greeted reporters in Rome by standing up, asking for silence, then farting at ear-splitting volume.

 

44) Told an interviewer that he was so superstitious about the number 13 that he couldn't ever bear to see the numbers 4 and 9 together. Oddly, the combination of 5 and 8 was deemed OK.

 

45) Shredded England team-mate Dennis Wise's Armani suit "for a laugh".

 

46) While staying at a Scottish hotel, drove across its golf course in his four-wheel drive Jeep.

 

47) While reputation preceded him in Italy, the English language did not. Hence, his Lazio debut was marked by a banner which read: 'Gazza's Boys, We Are Here. Shake Your Women And Drink Your Beer'.

 

49)Conversely, rival Italian supporters once hailed him with a banner which stated bluntly: 'Paul Gazza, You Are Fat Poofta'.

 

49) After being sent off while playing for Lazio, shook hands with virtually every member of the Genoa side.

 

50) While staying in a New Zealand hotel, was told there was no bacon for breakfast. Replied, "What, all the sheep in this country and there's no bloody bacon!"

[Tooj 17]

Gutted I was too young to see Gazza playing for us like.

[Guest Stevie]

I was talking to a lad at work today, Chelsea fan, proper though, he went when they had Kerry Dixon and Gordon Durie upfront, and it's not just the north of the country who have a big place in their heart for Gazza. The thing is he wasn't just a brilliant footballer, he was an absolute character too, and where are the characters today? They're all boring cunts, when do Steven Gerrard or John Terry do or say anything funny?