Paul McGrath - Legend

[LoneRanger]

folks, just after watching gerry ryan interview paul, great interview.

wonder does he ever regret becoming a professional footballer? the drink culture that was part of ithe game while he was playing obviousily had a very bad affect on him.

shame that the fai don't offer him a job and help him back on his feet again. after all he was in my opionin one of the top 2 best players every to play for us. is he going to turn into the next george best. hope not

[Donal81]

I didn't get to see it, unfortunately. He's a giant of a man. Certainly one of the most talented players to ever pull on the jersey. What topics did they cover?

[the 12 th man]

in a word....pityful,
they covered his career highs and lows with i feel,more emphasis on his lows.
he has'nt seen his two younger kids in a couple of years :(

he seemed incredibly naive in his business dealings with the clubs he was with,no agent etc.

[drummerboy]

Paul admitted he was on the verge of a mental breakedown, due mainly to the absence of his two younger kids from his life. I thought Ryan over emphasised Pauls drink problem, he actually asked him would he like a drink. This is after the man admitted to be a chronic Alcoholic. Paul said he has many friends trying to help him but what the programme showed is that Paul is in a fairly fragile state of mind. While it was compulsive viewing, it was also very, very sad to see such a big man, who has achieved so much in sport, struggling to keep his dignity.

[barglee]

folks, just after watching gerry ryan interview paul, great interview.

wonder does he ever regret becoming a professional footballer? the drink culture that was part of ithe game while he was playing obviousily had a very bad affect on him.

shame that the fai don't offer him a job and help him back on his feet again. after all he was in my opionin one of the top 2 best players every to play for us. is he going to turn into the next george best. hope not

Didn't he get a job with waterford utd a while back ?
anyone know how that went for him

[Ozymandias]

spent alot of time ther ****ed..not good at all

[fosterdollar]

think it was mentioned that he had moved to cavan as well so his involvement at waterford is probably limited

[the 12 th man]

think it was mentioned that he had moved to cavan as well so his involvement at waterford is probably limited

last night he was living in kippure in the wicklow mountains

[fosterdollar]

i stand corrected - the involvement with waterford would probably still stand, no? Any Waterford lads out there to confirm?

[drummerboy]

He was at the Cup Final

[the 12 th man]

i felt ryan kept dragging out the bad stuff.
paul looked and sounded a lonely soul.
thought it was a bit nasty ,the last question:"would you like a drink right now ?"

[Dricky]

i felt ryan kept dragging out the bad stuff.
paul looked and sounded a lonely soul.
thought it was a bit nasty ,the last question:"would you like a drink right now ?"

Gerry Ryan showed why he is know as one of the worst TV personalities EVER. The man wanted Paul to go "oh Gerry, thats what wrong with me, your so wise you know me better than me" I cringed when I heard some of Ryan statements.

[Seamuslawless]

..as far as I'm aware (and you know how accurate word of mouth can be at times!) he's still living in Wicklow and is seeing a girl from Bray. I've seen him about Bray a few times including, unfortunately, a couple of nights in a nightclub down the beach when he was worse for wear....

Its such a pity to see him struggle so much, he was a real giant for Ireland. Its such a common problem though isn't it, just magnified cause he's in the public eye.

[Seamuslawless]

...plus have to agree on Gerry Ryan. He is probably the worst TV interviewer there is. He must try to sound wise and all-knowing cause you really couldn't pull off what he does by accident !!!

I think McGraths contract with Waterford was terminated a couple of months back

[Donal81]

What can you do? The Pearl is in his forties at this stage and still isn't tackling the problem. I think anyone who has ever followed football in this country would love to see him doing well for himself.

[Dotsy]

Didn't see it but Gerry Ryan's a tosser in my opinion. The last thing Paul needs is to be grillied on TV about his drink problem when he obviously still struggling through the worst of it. Ryan is trying to further his career on the back of someone else's suffering. As for asking him if "he wanted a drink now", that's just sick :mad:

[TerryPhelan]

McGrath is a gentle giant of a man. Met him in Doyle's off Westmoreland Street one very boozy night last October, was a bit surprised at seeing him out there, but he (in stark contrast to myself) didn't seem to have a drink taken at all. Very good humoured, very gracious. Didn't seem to mind having his photo taken with a couple of blotto students, nor having a small chat about the goal he scored against Bulgaria in '87 (don't think even he remembered that one). A legend, by all accounts. Good luck to him...

[carrickharp]

Ryan was brutal asking Paul did he want a drink? Who the hell dose this guy get off? We pay his feckin wages. Never liked Ryan and never will he is just more of what RTE are all about arrogant presenters who think they are better that the rest of us I only watched it cause Paul was being interviewed.

I wish Paul all the best and hope things work out for him he looked so distant at the end of the show, it's a wonder Ryan didn’t push him over the edge.

[Bald Student]

have to agree on Gerry Ryan. He is probably the worst TV interviewer there is.

Remember when he asked Paul the same question about ten times about his father? When Paul didn't give the answer Gerry wanted, Gerry rephrased the question and asked it again.

[Bondvillain]

Someone of McGrath's stature shouldnt have to suffer the indignity of having a self satisfied pseudo-intellectual practice his therapy skills on him. Ryan is a dinosaur and it's absolutely outrageous that this muck is foisted upon us in the name of information & entertainment.
I would like to have seen Paul McGrath's story handled by someone with a little more weight & ability in the field.
Parkinson & Paxman can rest easy. Gerry Ryan isn't shifting them to the dole queue any time soon. The mans either a buffoon who doesnt realise he's out of his depth, or he's weak for not standing up to the advisors who told him to take this venture.

I know this isn't the "Gerry f*cking Ryan" forum, but what if, spurred on by the 'success' of his 'in-depth' Paul pogramme, he decided that this was the way to go? Is the future "Ryan confidential, with George Best? John Giles? Pat Jennings? Mick McCarthy? RMK?"

It has to stop now. Paul squirmed under questioning, but for all the wrong journalistic reasons. Ryan cant do football or Footballers..

[JoeSemi]

Everything was done in what seemed like a condescending tone from Ryan in a manner befitting of a principle querying a misbehaving student. A man of Paul McGrath's stature and character doesn't deserve to be undermined by a "pseudo-intellectual" with manners of a pig. Its not right, and RTE must open their eyes to Ryan and his incompetence in dealing with some of the vulnerable issues that were raised about McGrath's past and present.

Let's hope he does settle down again and enjoy life as much as all Irish fans enjoyed watching him play in the green shirt. Best of luck Paul...

[Ozymandias]

The way it ended wass very sad seeing McGrath sheepishily saying no I don't want a drink and then turning back to say I do ..the way he looked into the camera at that moment was terrible he lookedthe loneliest guy in the planet...wrecked my head to see him reduced to that after all the times I idolised him from the terraces..such a pity cause he is so unassuming and gentle for a hero..hope he beats it...really do

[petef]

McGrath really was his own worst enemy, you cant blame the ex wife for not letting him see the kids after walking out on her.

[wes4pres]

a legend indeed. 9 day bender with the newspaper adverts. he tried to get served in superquinn at the end of the bender, had to turn him away. was trying to buy 12 smirnoff ice at 10:15am on a sunday morning. it was a sad sight to see him like that.

[tricky_colour]

McGrath really was his own worst enemy, you cant blame the ex wife for not letting him see the kids after walking out on her.

Well surely he is entitled to see his own children?

He should get in touch with one of the fathers rights groups
(like in the UK where they dressed up as Batman and climbed onto
a balconey at Buckingham palace).

Not being allowed to see your own children is an appauling situation
to be in and it can't help with his drink problem.

[onceahoop]

Well surely he is entitled to see his own children?

He should get in touch with one of the fathers rights groups
(like in the UK where they dressed up as Batman and climbed onto
a balconey at Buckingham palace).

Not being allowed to see your own children is an appauling situation
to be in and it can't help with his drink problem.

Maybe she's practicing a bit of tough love and he's just not able to respond and is using it as an excuse. Desperately sad situation. Unfortunately while there are lots of people out there trying to help, ultimately he's the only one who can help himself.

As for Gerry Ryan. The less said about him the better.

[tricky_colour]

Maybe she's practicing a bit of tough love and he's just not able to respond and is using it as an excuse. Desperately sad situation. Unfortunately while there are lots of people out there trying to help, ultimately he's the only one who can help himself.

As for Gerry Ryan. The less said about him the better.

Well I am not to sure about that, I don't know the laws in Ireland, or
England for that matter, but I would not have thought it was up to her
whether he could see his own kids or not. I would imagine that is a matter
for the divorce courts or whatever.

I don't see how it is helping him by being denied access to his own children,
that just seems stupid, unless he is some kind of danger to them, which
sounds even more laughable.

I didn't see the interview BTW but I have seen him on TV a few times
and he seems a really nice harmless guy (albeit he was sober).

They guy interviewing him sounds like a swine, I hope he gets sacked.

And why is it always the best players who have problems, Best, Marradona
etc....(and a few I won't mention), or is it we just don't get to hear
about the problems of the 'also rans'?

[higgins]

I dont think Ryan is a fool

I think Paul McGrath is a fool and all your pity and 'he should not ask the man that' type remarks wont change a thing...

Gerry Ryan was there to get answers out of the man and by the looks of it he did..

Paul doesnt deserve to see his kids if he still continues to drink. It may break his heart not to see them but when daddy goes off for 9 day benders it has an immense effect on kids. If he has let the kids down over and over again then fair play to the wife. Ok the man has a problem and should get help or be offered help but your just looking at this from one viewpoint and whilst his life seems F**ked his kids have a chance to turn out ok...

And if Gerry Ryan didnt ask one drink related question and turned a blind eye where would Paul be tonight???
Its half the problem in this country is that people are not interested really in others drink problems and your attitude of turning a blind eye stinks..
Gerry wasnt there to solve the mans problems he was there to do an honest interview. Brushing things under the carpet might make all you feel better when you go to bed but it doesnt help people like Paul McGrath...

[DolansWaistcoat]

I watched it and couldn't help but feel sorry for the man who brought so much joy to millions of irish people sunk to this level,very sad. :(

[skbio_toronto]

Call me old fashioned and square. But I don't consider the debate of an ex professional sportsman's (and living legend) personal life as being right and proper on a football messageboard.

For f*^k sake, its none of our business to be discussing the personal turmoil, which evidently Paul McGrath is going through, only to wish him the very best in getting well soon.

I grew up in an Ireland where people generally respected each other's privacy. Now the nations media are circulating us the British gutter style of building up an icon and knocking him / her down (with glee) at the earliest opportunity. And do you know what, the majority of the country (it seems to me) are lapping this garbage up.

Leave the man be. Anyone with the remotest idea of the human psyche knows that dredging the personal details into the public domain can only add to the mental trauma of the individual concened.

Thats one man's view.

SKBIO-TOR

[skbio_toronto]

I watched it and couldn't help but feel sorry for the man who brought so much joy to millions of irish people sunk to this level,very sad. :(

Amen to that.

SKBIO-TOR

[tricky_colour]

Call me old fashioned and square.Thats one man's view.
<snipped for brevity>
SKBIO-TOR

I agree, who gives a toss happens off the pitch, it is what happens on
the pitch that matters.

Save your pity for yourselves, and pity the fact that you never had the
ability or character to become one of the worlds best defenders.

He made more of his life than any of us ever will so, it is praise not
pity he deserves.

What a pity we never won 83 Irish caps.

He has a great deal to be proud of, so he likes a drink? Who doesn't?

Certaintly not your average journalist!

Paul McGrath - Top Man.