Paul Merson

[Henry Norris 1913]

I've been reading his autobiography (how not to be a professional footballer) recently and some of the stuff in there is absolutely mind boggling. The things he got away with (up to a point) are unbelievable. Despite the limited language and repetitive use of slang used in his book I actually found it very difficult to put down. How he got away with hard drug use and alcoholism and yet cleaned himself up and actually had such a long career is quite staggering. Although I do find the guy to be a bit of a laddish moron he was an Arsenal legend, some of the things he could do with the ball were phenomenal. Yet he was such a flawed person,I was just wondering about anyone else's thoughts on him as a player and person and how your opinion of him stands nowadays.

[clockender1]

Arsenal lad through and through, got caught up in the money and attention - a 1980's/ 1990's Stanley Bowles/Rodney Marsh - i.e. some talent but not a Superstar.

Part of a culture of playing hard, drinking hard, though Merse was on the edge of the club explosion and drug scene - its well documented how lads segued from booze and birds, to clubs and c**t, in that time ( me too )

Adams was a bit older and a hardcore boozer - East End to Merses' West End... Parlour likewise.

They all got away with tons of stuff under George as he turned a blind eye as long as they performed on the pitch.

At that time recreational drugs were rife at London Clubs - i know for a fact certain young players at Arsenal and West Ham & Charlton were dealing drugs to the trainees at other clubs at the college where all the young kids go for their schooling (do they still even bother now ?), though Merse wasn't involved in that (too old) i'm sure.

i would guess that Best, Moore, Greaves, Venables, Marsh, Bowles, Osgood etc all did tons of drugs in the 1970's and lost a shitload on the ponies too, but it was seen as glamorous in thosedays and they pretty much all kept it together for the dolly birds, whereas Merse was married with young kids - same as Adams.

I'm very fond of all three, but all typical footballers - more money than brains, all got caught in different ways.

[QuartzGooner]

Have heard he was a Chelsea fan as a boy, does he mention this in the book?

[augie]

I remember ath Madrid trying to buy him as a 16 year old - 250k was the bid I think

[markyp]

Merson is one of my favourite all time players,i loved him back then and love him now.he still loves Arsenal and never wanted to leave.flawed yes,great player yes,i used to love the little chip over the keeper that he perfected,he could execute it from 30 yards.im really pleased that hes full time with sky these days,without that you know hed end up being another Kenny Sansom or worse a Paul Vaessan.Magic Man you are still Magic

[bergkamp10]

I've been reading his autobiography (how not to be a professional footballer) recently and some of the stuff in there is absolutely mind boggling. The things he got away with (up to a point) are unbelievable. Despite the limited language and repetitive use of slang used in his book I actually found it very difficult to put down. How he got away with hard drug use and alcoholism and yet cleaned himself up and actually had such a long career is quite staggering. Although I do find the guy to be a bit of a laddish moron he was an Arsenal legend, some of the things he could do with the ball were phenomenal. Yet he was such a flawed person,I was just wondering about anyone else's thoughts on him as a player and person and how your opinion of him stands nowadays.

I found it a extremely good read. My father many many years ago was lucky(!!) in some degree to bump in to Ray Parlour, Tony Adams, Steve Morrow and Merson in Hornchurch Golf Club. They were certainly the worse for

He did manage to have a chat with them, of sorts. He did actually say for weeks afterwards how the hell do those guys manage to play week in and week out....Different times..

[donaldo]

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/paul-merson-one-one

[GranadaJoe]

I saw a lot of Merse and I never loved him in the same way as a lot of Gooners did. I don't think anyone would disagree that he had talent, but for me he was too inconsistent. I watched plenty of games where he wandered around looking hung over, which I now know he probably was. He could've achieved so much more (for the club that paid him and the fans that adored him) if he wasn't such a drunken, drugged up tossed.

[StuartL]

I saw a lot of Merse and I never loved him in the same way as a lot of Gooners did. I don't think anyone would disagree that he had talent, but for me he was too inconsistent. I watched plenty of games where he wandered around looking hung over, which I now know he probably was. He could've achieved so much more (for the club that paid him and the fans that adored him) if he wasn't such a drunken, drugged up tossed.

Looking back that could be labelled at a lot of the team at that time, not just Merse - Adams, Bould, Parlour, Groves and others were all part of the "Tuesday club" and when you consider what we won during that time it is fair to say we may well have won a lot more if the whole team had been more professional.

Merse was a great player for us but was surpassed by the likes of Pires / Overmars but during his time with us was an integral part of trophy winning sides. (and for that I forgive him shitting on David Seaman's balcony)

[SteveO 35]

As a player I loved him. As a pundit I think the bloke is a pea brained cretin.....and a bit of a turncoat which will see his stock rising in certain quarters

[northbank123]

His real autobiography (Rock Bottom) was a good read. How Not to be a Professional Footballer is full of humorous anecdotes but lacking in depth a bit.

Agree with SteveO about him as a pundit though. Occasionally does come up with a valid point that has been overlooked by other pundits but just can't articulate it. Can't really take him seriously as a pundit when he doesn't take himself seriously.

[Herd]

Have heard he was a Chelsea fan as a boy, does he mention this in the book?

He was as a kid and so are his family who are to a man/woman wrong uns .He did alright by us and was a forward talent in a very mediocre attack .
He ,loves the Arsenal but as all media slags have to, they bite the hand that once fed them .

Drink and drugs ripped through Arsenal like you would not believe and affected a lot of the team ,far more than u might imagine especially the English !
Notable exceptions were Seaman,Winterburn,Wright,K.Cambell,Dixon,Smith from the early days of Graham !

Cocaine ,blighted the the career of many at Arsenal ,some before they even got properly started, and although some who left under a cloud went on to great things ,others including the person that was credited if u can use such a word for introducing it to Highbury went down hill so fast they ended up playing in the lower divisions despite being internationals !

[SteveO 35]

Have heard he was a Chelsea fan as a boy, does he mention this in the book?

He was as a kid and so are his family who are to a man/woman wrong uns .He did alright by us and was a forward talent in a very mediocre attack .
He ,loves the Arsenal but as all media slags have to, they bite the hand that once fed them .

Drink and drugs ripped through Arsenal like you would not believe and affected a lot of the team ,far more than u might imagine especially the English !
Notable exceptions were Seaman,Winterburn,Wright,K.Cambell,Dixon,Smith from the early days of Graham !

Cocaine ,blighted the the career of many at Arsenal ,some before they even got properly started, and although some who left under a cloud went on to great things ,others including the person that was credited if u can use such a word for introducing it to Highbury went down hill so fast they ended up playing in the lower divisions despite being internationals !

I think what pisses me off more about Merson is that the club went out of its way to stand by him. Whilst I don't dispute for one second what you're saying about other potential cokeheads, he was to my mind the first high profile exposed so called "shamed star" on this front? The club rallied round him and Graham who had a a reputation for being a real disciplinarian also stood by his players even when they'd done wrong.

The way he talks about us now on Sky is probably one step down from how Keane talks about Ferguson. You'd think we'd have cancelled his contract or something.

He does love a flip-flop though.....

[father_ted]

Not as good as Paul Merton.

[Leedsgooner1]

I have read many Arsenal related books & this one was the absolute best....How the frig did he get away with that sort of stuff

Great read & would recommend to anyone