JT Phones Jon Gaunt...

[WV2 Blue]

I took great pleasure in reading this one earlier today, so much so i thought it deserved a thread on the forum...

In last Fridays Manc fanzine we know as The Sun...Gaunty gobbed off a little about JT... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/...icle1251971.ece

But, today a revelation...Gaunty crawls up his own backside!!! as follows...

Jon Gaunt.

I SLAGGED off John Terry and called him a crybaby last week.

Only problem is, he reads it and phones me!

I’m standing at the bar buying Alan Brazil another beer in the interval at the Rod Stewart concert when the mobile goes off.

"Is that Gaunty?"

"Yeah, who’s that?"

"John Terry, Gaunty."

"Oh yeah?!" (Or words to that effect!)

"It is me, Gaunty."

"Oh. What do you want?"

"I want to talk about your column in The Sun."

"I can’t talk now, I’m in Spain at the Rod Stewart concert with Brazil."

Now I’m expecting a mouthful of expletives and abuse, but instead I get: "Oh right, sorry about that, Gaunty — didn’t mean to disturb you. Can I call you in the morning?"

JT is polite, civil, well-mannered and considerate. In shock, I reply, "Yeah, phone me at 11."

Next morning, bang on 11, JT phones back, asks me how the concert went and how my family are enjoying the break.

Then he goes on to talk about my crybaby article.

First things first, he was again polite and gentlemanly as he tried to explain why he cried when he missed that penalty.

He told me how much the game meant to him, but also just how much Chelsea Football Club and their fans mean to him. I believed him and he nailed the myth that all modern footballers are only interested in the cash.

This was definitely a young man who loves the badge with a passion and he went up massively in my estimation.

Honesty

It takes a big man to pick up the phone and have it out with me without resorting to threats or foul language.

I also loved the way he talked frankly to me, a complete stranger. He said: "I’m not in any way embarrassed at crying."

But, he insisted, he was upset that I had called him a crybaby.

I again made the point that although I understood his passion and commitment to the team, I still felt that, as a leader and a captain, he should have shown more restraint and been consoling his team-mates rather than crying.

He talked movingly about his friendship with Frank Lampard and about the support he has been giving Frank since his mother’s death.

That part of the conversation will remain a secret between him and me, but suffice to say I was extremely moved by his words and although I didn’t blub, I was well on the way.

He told me how much he enjoys both the column and the radio show, and that my comparison of him with Bobby Moore hurt him most.

He actually said: "If I could be half the man Bobby was, I’d be a happy man."

He also admitted his past mistakes, but said: "I’m trying to be a real man, father and husband now, Gaunty."

And you know what? I believed him — and I was honestly moved by his honesty and integrity.

Last week I said John wasn’t fit to walk in Bobby’s shadow or captain England.

However, if he exhibited more of what he showed me on the phone, combined with his obvious talent and passion for his club and country, I now believe he could become a real leader of men.

Nice one JT

source:http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/columnists/john_gaunt/article647926.ece

[Backbiter]

Well done JT!!

Have I said he's a hero of mine?

[Gem]

Well done John, proper legend.

Anyone else remember when Carjacker called up a radio station, calling him out live on air?

Hmm... another tick in the lacks dignity box.

[mad_mac]

Top man JT!!!!!!!!!

I love that he did this, and I really love the manner in which he went about it. Total class, and Terry better retire in a Chelsea shirt! Legend already, and legend in the making!

[blizeH]

Where's a JT smiley when you need it?

I love JT, his passion for the club is amazing, I think he's the only player in the current squad that I'd say I'm almost 100% confident will never, ever leave the club. And from the interviews I've seen him in, and judging from this phone call, he's a top, top bloke now too, and seems to of well and truly put his slightly shady past behind him.

[g3.7]

cringed when I read he phoned him up, but he seems to have conducted / presented himself well.

[JT26CFC]

ha gaunt should feel like sh*t, he's getting all ready to hear JT mouth off at him and report it instead he gets nice conversation. Once again JT shows why he's a legend and one a man of true honesty and commitment

[TheWestwayWonder]

JT TALKED ABOUT POSITIVELY????

DECK THE BLOODY HALLS!?!?!?!

im sure this story will get buried, as all positive stories about JT do, but if its all true, maybe its a sign that he is really starting to correct his past mistakes and act like a professional.

He is head and shoulders a better leader than that runt Rio. Feeble attempts to knock him down like this original article are pathetic

And props to Gaunt (theres a bit of irony in a name ) for manning up and taking his licks

[Alan]

Read this in work.

JT = Legend.

[Maksimov]

It seems like a positive article on the surface, but I think it just serves as another attempt to further promote their "Anyone-But-Terry-For-England's-Captain" -campaign. People who had not read his previous article are quite probably going to read it now, just so that they know what this new article is a reaction to and people who already had read the piece, are reminded again that "Terry is no leader of men". Sure he says some nice things about Terry, but he also made sure he remembered to mention "I again made the point that although I understood his passion and commitment to the team, I still felt that, as a leader and a captain, he should have shown more restraint and been consoling his team-mates rather than crying." Sure he does suggest that Terry might one become a leader of men "if he exhibited more of what he(Terry) showed me(Gaunt) on the phone", but after looking at the readers' comments for that article it's pretty clear to me that non-Chelsea fans are ignoring the positive stuff about Terry and have already made up their mind about him being a cry baby and therefore no worthy to be England's captain. Especially that old Spammer who obviously has felt personally insulted by the fact that Terry and Moore have been mentioned in the same sentence.

Well done JT for behaving maturely, but I think it will do very little to change his image. Chelsea fans already know what a class act he is, but I doubt non-Chelsea fans are going to change their views on him because of this.

[clubhappy]

Think J.T. was a step ahead here , and he knew what he was doing with such a polite manner but im sure undeneath it all, J.T. feels exactly the same way we all feel about Gaunt .

Its only a matter if time before Gaunt gets himself into a dangerous situation and will come out 2nd best , i just hope its sooner rather than later and its a news story i will enjoy reading about.

[sweet waffle]

JT is a legend and he's also running in 4.45 at Epsom today!!

[bjd]

great stuff from JT.

also i guess some credit has to go to Gaunt to making it public admitting how wrong he was too

[Elliott]

Caught this myself.

A refreshing read, and goes to show why it's even more puzzling why other football fans despise him?...

Top football player, and person.

[Gem]

it's even more puzzling why other football fans despise him?...

Top football player, and person.

The Chelsea Factor. Are any of our players liked by the media? Except perhaps Cech and Ballack? Lampard, JT, Drogba, A.Cole... I've read sly digs at Carvalho, Essien, Maka, Mikel, Sheva as well... Maybe I notice it more because it's my team... but I don't read anything nearly as negative about other players than I do our own.

[andy]

To get John Gaunt to admit he was wrong about someone takes some doing .. well done JT

[Maksimov]

To get John Gaunt to admit he was wrong about someone takes some doing .. well done JT

Like I implied earlier, I seriously doubt Gaunt's sincerity.

[ossie13]

JT is a CHELSEA LEGEND!!!

[Lofty]

To get John Gaunt to admit he was wrong about someone takes some doing .. well done JT

Like I implied earlier, I seriously doubt Gaunt's sincerity.

You and me both. In fact, I wouldn't trust a single word that comes out of that fat bar steward's mouth.

[loz]

Personally I would rather JT hadn't bothered - by ringing him directly it just inflates the ego of a man who has little justification for having one. He will be bragging to people for years that JT called him personally.

[chelzdude]

John Terry is firstly, no cry baby. and he's always our H-E-R-O! Someone we look up upon!

[TheWestwayWonder]

Personally I would rather JT hadn't bothered - by ringing him directly it just inflates the ego of a man who has little justification for having one. He will be bragging to people for years that JT called him personally.

Yes, but at the same time, it shows JT makes time for the little people who have all the importance and significance to the journalistic world of an ass pimple