Is Sir Alex Ferguson right - would Gazza be fine if he'd have snubbed Spurs for Manchester United?
Sir Alex Ferguson, a man I have huge respect for, seems to think Paul Gascoigne's problems could have been avoided if he'd have signed for Man United back in 1988 instead of moving to Tottenham.
In an interview screened on Sky Sports last night, the tough Scot said London is a hard place for a young player to come to and admitted moving to N17 as a 19-year-old from
Newcastle might not have been the best thing.
He said: "Could I have helped him? Well I think about what we would have taken away - we'd have taken London out of the road for him. We had Bobby Charlton, a Geordie, Bryan Robson, a Geordie, Steve Bruce, a Geordie.
"We had a structure of players who could have helped him and I think it would have given him some discipline. Maybe it would have helped him, too."
It's so depressing to see the state Gazza is in right now. A prolific footballer and Hotspur Hero, he has sunk to an all-time low and it's unclear exactly what could turn his life around right now.
His battle with alcohol is well documented but it seems his troubles now stem deeper than just drink after he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.
Another former White Hart Lane legend Gary Mabbutt gets it right when he says Paul must get some professional help to avert a "a serious tragedy".
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Paul is not a celebrity drunk. The fact of the matter is he's suffering from very serious illnesses. These illnesses mean that he honestly believes that his condition is nowhere near as grave as it really is."
He added: "Paul does have these self-destructive urges, which do put him in a life-threatening situation, and if we're not careful this could lead to a serious tragedy.
"All that we're asking is to try and find a way to be able to contain Paul so that he can undergo this treatment and rehabilitation to give him the best chance to overcome his very serious problems."
Whatever the answer to Gazza's problems, I pray it is found soon. He is one of my all-time favourite players to have graced the pitch at White Hart Lane and I am sure that view will be echoed by many readers.
Whether Sir Alex is right, I don't know, perhaps a tougher line might have ironed out some of the kinks in his personality but there's no point reflecting on the past. Gazza's future has to be the priority and I really hope he can find the inner strength he used to show on our turf to get his life back on an even keel.
All of us associated with Spurs Pies wish him well - Gazza, you are and always will be a Tottenham legend!
What do you think? Did coming to London so young set Paul Gascoigne on a rocky road? How can he now get back on his feet? Post a comment below...
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