Mendieta14
Well-known member
Holding a grudge after 20 years?Does he apologise to Middlesbrough Football Club and its fans for his lies and deceit when seeking a transfer?
Holding a grudge after 20 years?Does he apologise to Middlesbrough Football Club and its fans for his lies and deceit when seeking a transfer?
It is because he played for Boro and was so loved by the fans, not despite it.I can’t understand anyone posting hatred towards a footballer.
Especially one who used to play for Middlesbrough.
I guess things were different in 1998 when Merson was up here
Might well have been ravs. Last night was the first time I had seen it though.Is it my aging and perhaps faulty memory but wasn’t this Paul Merson - Walk Of Life discussed extensively on a previous thread on here a few months back?
There was another documentary that he did on BBC1 back in 2021 called Football, Gambling and Me. Maybe that was the thread you could recall.Is it my aging and perhaps faulty memory but wasn’t this Paul Merson - Walk Of Life discussed extensively on a previous thread on here a few months back?
Here's the link to the iPlayer page for it.
BBC Two - Paul Merson: A Walk Through My Life
Paul Merson walks through North Yorkshire, reflecting on life, career and faith.www.bbc.co.uk
I watched his new documentary last night. Quite moving at times and well worth a watch. You could understand why he left Boro. It can't of been easy living with Gazza with his demons!There was another documentary that he did on BBC1 back in 2021 called Football, Gambling and Me. Maybe that was the thread you could recall.
So he left Middlesbrough, went to Aston Villa, and carried on drinking and gambling.There was one moment where he came across a Father and Son and the lad was wearing a Boro top. He shouted "Up the Boro" and had a chat with them.
Can't remember exactly what he said after that but it was something along the lines of "I had no choice at the time I had to leave cos of my addictions and I hope Boro fans understand that now"
He was an addict, you can't expect his reasoning to be that logical, but i do believe he probably felt like he needed to get out, especially with Gazza around.So he left Middlesbrough, went to Aston Villa, and carried on drinking and gambling.
I think I'd have more respect for him if he said "Villa offered me more money, and it's a bigger club, so I went there".
I don't think there's any reasoning there at all. He was offered more money by Villa, and he took it. He didn't change his behaviour at all. He didn't need to live with Gazza, he just used that as an excuse to leave Boro. It doesn't make any difference now, it just would be better for his reputation if he told the truth. Even if he'd said he was going to try to beat his addictions at Villa, but failed. All that happened was that he was paid more money to carry on like he had been for years, and presumably he could drink more and gamble more.He was an addict, you can't expect his reasoning to be that logical, but i do believe he probably felt like he needed to get out, especially with Gazza around.
He seems like a nice enough bloke, shame he's lost so much time to addiction.I’ve just watched this. I enjoyed it. I was reminded of how much pleasure his football gave me as a 14, 15 year-old. He was pure class for us. When it comes to his demons and illnesses, life is too short to hold grudges. He must’ve been an absolute mess for years.
Fair play to him for putting himself out there and opening up about what he’s experienced and what he’s done to himself and those around him. I’m sure it’ll have helped a lot of people who needed it.
For me, from now on, I’ll just remember him for the football he played for us. He was magnificent the season we went up. Good luck to him and I hope he keeps well.