Gary Speed

[obrienobrien]

Originally Posted by abbs

prob is mate!
im the same, i take things for granted and when im away for a few days i miss everyone and want to come home! no shame in that fella!

definitely not ( same boat..work away thru the week)

[SuperKev]

Originally Posted by Leonard osbourne

I've been exactly the same today mate.
I think the way people who knew him have reacted has made it harder to understand, such emotion and genuine grief from everyone from pro footballers to managers to tv personalities.
I also think the way this message board has reacted over an ex Newcastle player has been fantastic, I don't go on any other boards so I can't comment on them, but most on here are a credit to your club and football in general.
Every time I think about it I get a sickly feeling in my stomach, I didn't know him but I had met him a few times during his NUFC days and he always came across as a top bloke
RIP Speedo

For me it highlights how Speed was regarded as a person and a player - i've been trying to think of other players who have played for both Newcastle and Leeds and I'm not sure I can come with anyone other Bridges (and even then I'm not sure) who would get such universal positive comments.

I'd also echo the shocked and stunned feeling.

[not spavin]

Originally Posted by Weasel501

Been as shocked as anyone by this once met the guy when out shopping genuinely nice bloke RIP mate - I find what Joey Barton said on twitter about his death (whether he thinks it or not) just a total disgrace.

What Barton said was a bit clumsy, but the fact that he still won't say "Sorry for any misunderstanding" and instead in intent on playing the victim tells you all you need to know about him.

[SuperKev]

Originally Posted by Jake51

Massive, massive loss to the world of football. Not only a top bloke, but a top, top player who was vastly underrated by many; one of the best box-to-box centre mids the Premiership has seen. He was absolutely pivotal to our successful period under Sir Bobby, it's well known that Bobby absolutely adored him. He was also an outstanding leader, many of the younger players who played with him have commented how they always knew they could talk to him about anything and that they looked up to him and the example he set, as well as a model pro, very rarely missed a game and you always expected to see number 11 on the team sheet. It speaks volumes that tributes are pouring in from all over and that fans of every club he graced class him as one of their own. A true great, RIP Gary.

I don't think he was to be honest. I think most new what a good player he was and just wished he played for 'their' team.

[AB22 Easy Tiger]

Originally Posted by Jake51

Massive, massive loss to the world of football. Not only a top bloke, but a top, top player who was vastly underrated by many; one of the best box-to-box centre mids the Premiership has seen. He was absolutely pivotal to our successful period under Sir Bobby, it's well known that Bobby absolutely adored him. He was also an outstanding leader, many of the younger players who played with him have commented how they always knew they could talk to him about anything and that they looked up to him and the example he set, as well as a model pro, very rarely missed a game and you always expected to see number 11 on the team sheet. It speaks volumes that tributes are pouring in from all over and that fans of every club he graced class him as one of their own. A true great, RIP Gary.



.

I'm not sure he was to be honest. I think it was just that he wasn't ever a super high profile player. I think any of us, whoever we support, would have been delighted if he'd signed for us. You lot got lucky that he felt he had to leave Everton, but even when he played for you I couldn't dislike the fella.

I don't normally chip in on these "tribute" threads, but his suicide has really got to me. Even last night I was talking with the Mrs about it and kept on coming back to the same question: why?

I guess we'll never know, but I feel so sad that a nice guy with so much going for him is gone, and his family has been ripped apart.

While I'm on, I need to say that I admire the people on this thread who have posted about their own experience of trying to commit suicide, and showing an example of getting through that experience and going on to lead a happy and fulfilled life.

I'll never understand suicide, but I suppose that's the point, nobody ever will really, unless they're in that place.

What a shame.

[Junior Birdman]

Well, I've been reading more about him today in the papers etc, and, if anything, I'm even more perplexed as to why this happened. Two days on and I'm still thinking about it constantly. I never thought I'd see the day the death of a footballer (particularly a former Newcastle player) with absolutely no connection to me or SAFC would have such an impact on me. There seems to be so much genuine affection for him from literally ever player, former player, fans, reporters, anyone who ever met him etc. Such an awful shame.

What an absolute waste

[errant]

Originally Posted by not spavin

What Barton said was a bit clumsy, but the fact that he still won't say "Sorry for any misunderstanding" and instead in intent on playing the victim tells you all you need to know about him.

did i miss the twitter-storm in a teacup? was it barton's comment re: suicide being the ultimate selfish act that upset people?

[jake the Snake]

A lot of good people have died in Afganistan and they don't get this sort of attention, he was not killed he hung himself. Lets not go overboard he was a footballer at the end of the day not mother Theresa...professional mourners...

[Life's A Pitch]

For me, one of the greatest paradoxes of Gary Speed's sad death is how totally inconsequential and yet vitally important football is. RIP

[errant]

Originally Posted by Junior Birdman

I never thought I'd see the day the death of a footballer (particularly a former Newcastle player) with absolutely no connection to me or SAFC would have such an impact on me.

same here... i'm still pondering it, wondering why? and also, like yourself i don't understand why ive reacted the way i have and find myself still mulling it over when... i agree 100% with your statement above...