Harrys Full English O/T ?

[Exiletyke]

Tha barkin.

Norrup't wrong tree tho eh?

[Romared]

Agree totally Dooali
Portrays himself as a humble wouldn't harm a fly type & has managed to fool a lot of people , including the taxman
Ask Birmingham fans how good he is .
No, on second thoughts, don't

Who installed Rednap ? The Brum board , dint here fans complaining when he saved them from relegation ?, they seemed quite happy to let Harry and Zola spend the cash , even though it was against FFP rules ( i know other clubs have done the same ) it's cost clubs who were relegated , who may have stuck to the rules , no time for them /Bolton and a few more , they need relegation to the lowest league possible , Enjoyed the Programme though , always nice to beat the Germans !!

[pass_and_move]

What gets me with high profile sportsmen like Merson and Gascoigne for example is that, although its commendable that they speak freely about their issues and addictions they always get the sympathy vote. What you've got to remember is that the average everyday person faces exactly the same battles with addiction but do they have the funds to go to special recovery clinics in Arizona? Do they ballax.

No, sorry guys but it seems to me there's always a hand out just around the corner for these high profile sports people. Whatever they gamble or booze away tha can guarantee some TV company will do a documentary on them or they release a book yielding them hundreds of thousands of pounds that help either fund their recovery or fuel the fire for their addiction yet further.

Folk who actually work for a living are the ones in the most danger in my opinion. Loads of people have stressful lives or hidden problems that can lead to allsorts such as gambling addiction which is a silent killer. Loads of people have alcohol and drug addiction too. Why are sportsmen in for the public sympathy vote?


It'd be interesting to see them fekkers on the breadline pulling a shyte wage for 40 hrs graft on top of their problems. Some how I don't think they're in a position the average everyday person finds themselves in.

You could say that their public displays in 'coming out' with their issues if you like can be inspiring to some but it's flawed In my opinion. It's not comparable to everyday life and challenges that me or you face.

[Romared]

A dunt think thu lookin fo sympathy Pass , a see what tha seyin and mainly agree , burrits money and more money thrown attam at very young age , far too much , arr menny tattoos or different haircuts can tha ev ? The Sport ez been ruined by money , I admire Merson , wears his heart onniz sleeve ,
It's happened to a few players at all our local clubs , MONEY TO BURN, MONEY TO WASTE , ittul get worse anorl

[SBRed48]

Correct Pass.

[pass_and_move]

A dunt think thu lookin fo sympathy Pass , a see what tha seyin and mainly agree , burrits money and more money thrown attam at very young age , far too much , arr menny tattoos or different haircuts can tha ev ? The Sport ez been ruined by money , I admire Merson , wears his heart onniz sleeve ,
It's happened to a few players at all our local clubs , MONEY TO BURN, MONEY TO WASTE , ittul get worse anorl

No I weren't saying that they were looking for sympathy Roma, I was saying that sympathy comes from the public when these confessions are made, purely because these sportsmen are in the spotlight.

For the record I like Merson too. However, looking at the situation from a psychological aspect I believe his 'personality and charisma' is a front. Many people who have alter egos put on a front and never really show their true selves.

Maybe im speaking out of turn here because I don't know the guy but for me Merson has more underlying issues than the problems he's gone public about. The gambling takes the emphasis off his problems temporarily but then in itself becomes a problem and is part of his front, so does the coke and booze. He uses these addictions as an escapism would be my bet. It's a vicious circle and one he is never likely to come out of unless he faces his true demons which I would say come from his childhood. Just guesswork but that's the vibe I'm getting from seeing him speak.

[SBRed48]

Tharra top bloke Pass. Tha wud be a good mate.

[animallittle3]

What gets me with high profile sportsmen like Merson and Gascoigne for example is that, although its commendable that they speak freely about their issues and addictions they always get the sympathy vote. What you've got to remember is that the average everyday person faces exactly the same battles with addiction but do they have the funds to go to special recovery clinics in Arizona? Do they ballax.

No, sorry guys but it seems to me there's always a hand out just around the corner for these high profile sports people. Whatever they gamble or booze away tha can guarantee some TV company will do a documentary on them or they release a book yielding them hundreds of thousands of pounds that help either fund their recovery or fuel the fire for their addiction yet further.

Folk who actually work for a living are the ones in the most danger in my opinion. Loads of people have stressful lives or hidden problems that can lead to allsorts such as gambling addiction which is a silent killer. Loads of people have alcohol and drug addiction too. Why are sportsmen in for the public sympathy vote?


It'd be interesting to see them fekkers on the breadline pulling a shyte wage for 40 hrs graft on top of their problems. Some how I don't think they're in a position the average everyday person finds themselves in.

You could say that their public displays in 'coming out' with their issues if you like can be inspiring to some but it's flawed In my opinion. It's not comparable to everyday life and challenges that me or you face.

Even though wealthy people have access to the top rehab facilities and specialists it's still ultimately about them ridding themselves of their addictions .

Their rooms may contain top notch furnishings , the food cooked by a top chef and a specialist qualified from a Oxbridge but all will fail unless the patient helps himself at least 90% of the way .

In that respect Merson faces the same issues as everyone else , rich or poor .

I have a mate who has a huge gambling problem , has done for the best part of 20 years , he can blow £800 in on a sunday afternoon quite easily .

He doesn't have a bet everyday which is another thing about his addiction , there are different types of addiction but when he does it's brutal .

One thing I've learned about his problems is that he has something in his head that I gladly don't have .

If I win I can walk away and take my money , he can't , I've seen him up a couple of grand and still ended up out of pocket hours later .

Oh I've lost it with him on many occasions , told him some home truths , it works for a few weeks and then he relapses and repeat .

Following this he then goes in to a deep depression that can last anything up to a week .

To be fair he's never asked me for anything which is just as well because I wouldn't lend him it .

None the less it's terrible to see him at his lowest but ultimately it's down to him to rid himself of this addiction / illness .

[Exiletyke]

Tend to agree with most of that
Stopping smoking as an addiction as an example will only succeed when a decision to quit is genuinely made by the individual
Not easy I know but in the end it's down to personal resolve

[pass_and_move]

Even though wealthy people have access to the top rehab facilities and specialists it's still ultimately about them ridding themselves of their addictions .

Their rooms may contain top notch furnishings , the food cooked by a top chef and a specialist qualified from a Oxbridge but all will fail unless the patient helps himself at least 90% of the way .

In that respect Merson faces the same issues as everyone else , rich or poor .

I have a mate who has a huge gambling problem , has done for the best part of 20 years , he can blow £800 in on a sunday afternoon quite easily .

He doesn't have a bet everyday which is another thing about his addiction , there are different types of addiction but when he does it's brutal .

One thing I've learned about his problems is that he has something in his head that I gladly don't have .

If I win I can walk away and take my money , he can't , I've seen him up a couple of grand and still ended up out of pocket hours later .

Oh I've lost it with him on many occasions , told him some home truths , it works for a few weeks and then he relapses and repeat .

Following this he then goes in to a deep depression that can last anything up to a week .

To be fair he's never asked me for anything which is just as well because I wouldn't lend him it .

None the less it's terrible to see him at his lowest but ultimately it's down to him to rid himself of this addiction / illness .

It's not always about money being a gambling addict. Gambling takes you away from the norm, it's the thrill of playing, oh yes, at first it's the thrill of winning but in time the feeling suppresses and all winnings are relative. That might seem very hard to understand to anybody who's not been there. They might think "isn't he content with 200quid, 2 grand or 20 grand or 200 grand ". It doesn't work like that. Wins mean less and the losses harder.

In most cases gambling is just a side show, summat that first is appealing but in time it consumes you and taxes you both mentally and physically. It is an illness but gambling I believe is cultivated to draw people in and keep them in. It's a clever and complexed way of dictating vulnerable peoples lives to make millions of pounds, well, not clever in my opinion but all the same legal and socially acceptable. The gambling companies know exactly how addicted gamblers minds work and devise strategic patterns in gaming machines to draw you back constantly. The government has it's pound of flesh out of it too. It's disgusting really but its true.

I've gambled all my life. From being a kid in the amusement arcade to now. I don't bet everyday but sometimes my mood can sway the sensibility I've taken years to try and get under control into utter chaos. It's the unpredictability of it all, it's really difficult to explain without being too personal so I'll leave it at that.

I knew a gambler that topped himsen, had 2 young daughters barely art o nappies and a lovely wife. Sometimes i wonder if he'd been afforded professional help to the tune of Gascoigne and Merson or Tony Adams whether he'd still be here today and a dad to his daughters whether he gave gambling up or not. That's the bottom line for me.