.......Paul Gascoigne, 49 today.

 

After Zola, the most talented player I  ever saw play football, born to entertain.

 

Recently saw the Wogan interview with him, sadly prophetic. He's been through it and hopefully is out the other side, hope he's having a great time surrounded by great people.

Probably the most naturally gifted English player of all time.

 

Happy Birthday Gazza

Andy: Gifted yes no doubt.

But not that gifted.

Gave me a skip hat back in 95, seeing him in the flesh was a privalage.

Legend

Andy: Gifted yes no doubt.

But not that gifted.

 

Well come on then, you with the superior football knowledge, if you say he's 'not that gifted' to be considered probably the most talented English player, you must have at least a dozen names for us ?

 

I'll start you off with Stanley Matthews.......

If he was playing in this day and age with all all of the training facilities available and looked after himself, he would be at the level of the top players in the game.

 

I never understood how people compared Rooney to him, they are totally different players. Rooney could never dribble the ball that well.

Wasn't trying to say he wasn't very naturally gifted or talented. I saw him enough times play for Rangers to know that.

 

The Rangers v Aberdeen at Ibrox in spring 1996, when he scored a hat-trick to clinch the title. The great goal in Euro 1996 v Scotland

 

But all time ?

 

Before my time watching football about 1974/75.

 

I've been told Jimmy Greaves, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews (as mentioned), Tom Finney.

 

In my time I reckon both Glenn Hoddle and Matt Le Tissier were both as gifted as Gazza.

 

I'll also throw in Ray Kennedy, who was a fantastic player for Liverpool in the mid -late 1970s and early 80s.

 

Like I've said, I wasn't trying 'to be a know it all'.

 

I argue with my younger son that Platini was a better French player than Zidane !  Suppose it's all about opinions.

Edited June 1, 201610 yr by erskblue

I would agree on Platini being better than Zidane. Bit hard to compare Gazza with the likes of Finney and Matthews etc as the game has changed so much. However I'd put him slightly ahead of Hoddle and comfortably ahead of Le Tissier.

Agreed that it is hard to compare different players from different generations.

Players such as Alan Hudson, Tony Currie and Frank Worthington my sons say " Who are they?"

Edited June 1, 201610 yr by erskblue

Same in other sports. I know Mo Farah has run a faster 1500m time that our very own Seb Coe.

However I wouldn't back him to beat Seb in a race when both were at their respective peaks.

English and gifted list (natural talent) post 1960's so I would have had a chance to see them.

 

Gazza

Ossie

Rooney 

Beckham (though I am not sure many would agree)

Le Tissier

Hoddle 

Hudson

Worthington

Barnes 

Cole (Joe) 

 

Of those Gazza stands out for me.... and Ossie second.

 

But you are right it is all about opinions and I am sure I have left out some good players from that list. 

Okay I will throw in Paul Scholes.

Not really sure how highly others rate him.

Don't believe that I missed out Ossie ! Doh !!

Okay I will throw in Paul Scholes.

Not really sure how highly others rate him.

Don't believe that I missed out Ossie ! Doh !!

 

Imo Lampard had more talent than Scholes.

Imo Lampard had more talent than Scholes.

 

I am biased too .... however I wouldn't have either of them in the list. I think they hard workers not natural. 

Imo Lampard had more talent than Scholes.

not for me. scholes was immaculate technically. lampard was 'merely' good. if you throw in gerrard then lamps is still third in terms of natural talent, but certainly in the top two when it comes to how good they were overall. 

Scholes had more natural talent I think but Lampard was a far more effective footballer.

At an early age you would never have thought Frank would have gone on to the top the way he did while Scholes always looked special IMO.

Watching Alan Shearer's documentary on Euro 96 last night.

 

John Motson stated that Gazza was the most talented English player he'd ever seen play.

I was lucky enough to see Gazza live on a few occasions, probably the best I've ever seen, especially at his peak, no one could touch him.

I was lucky enough to see Gazza live on a few occasions, probably the best I've ever seen, especially at his peak, no one could touch him.

 

I was lucky also to see him a few times and very fortunate to be just a few rows back on the right side of the pitch for that goal vs Scotland. It looks brilliant everytime I watch it back but what got me, that I dont think a lot of people who I discussed with since appreciated was the ground he covered to score it, when the move started he was in his own half, when he recieved the pass he was 40 yards out. - One of the great goals of all time.  

I was lucky also to see him a few times and very fortunate to be just a few rows back on the right side of the pitch for that goal vs Scotland. It looks brilliant everytime I watch it back but what got me, that I dont think a lot of people who I discussed with since appreciated was the ground he covered to score it, when the move started he was in his own half, when he recieved the pass he was 40 yards out. - One of the great goals of all time.

He scored a wonderful goal with Rangers against Aberdeen where he had the ball in his own half and dribbled past about 6/7 players before expertly tucking it away.

Never seen such a natural talent like that since.

What an amazing video - Gazza was brilliant. That nutmeg of Hendry is my favourite as he was no slouch. The FA cup semi final screamer against the Gooners is up there too. It broke Seaman's confidence for about a season.

spud: Thought you might have remembered that free kick goal by Gazza v Arsenal at Wembley

The latest pictures of Gazza are shocking and heartbreaking.... 

 

It pains me to say it but he must be beyond help some day soon.