My Sporting Life - David Ginola

[Flashspur]

Been watching Spurs since '61. Ginola is one of the great players we've had and that was during what was a pretty shite time for us. He was not only an entertainer - he also worked his nuts off and was frequently targeted by the opposition, so he often played with two players on him.

Revisionism is the re-examining of long-established practices, views, or beliefs, especially when such re-examination is regarded as unnecessary or misguided. Basically its BS because the critic reflecting on the past is looking back from a different era and in a different context. This is just a pathetic attempt at revisionism.

I like a lot of your stuff BC but you are wrong here. Dont try to rewrite history. I know what I saw and you arent going to change my opinion.

 

[nasescoba1985]

David Ginola was a stunning footballer and remains a spurs legend so I really don't get how anyone can say otherwise. I'm 28 so bought up with Spurs during the 90s prem era when we were absolutely shocking season after season but David Ginola along with the likes of Klinsmann were shining lights in what were fucking awful spurs sides. Who can forget that fantastic FA cup goal v Barnsley

 

[The Apprentice]

Ginola was a great player, he was, and is, the most talented and gifted player Spurs have had since Gazza (including Modric, Berbatov, VDV and Bale), he produced constantly despite being in the most shocking Spurs side of all time and he aimed to please the fans. Writing him off as a show pony is not just incorrect, it's ridiculous to the utmost extreme. His one drawback, if you consider it a drawback (I don't, his role wasn't to defend, his role was to create and entertain) is that he did little defensively (I even find that arguable seeing as, without him as an outlet we'd have just constantly been under pressure). He was a great player, he performed in hard conditions against battling sides home and away, and he also performed against the top sides who tended to control games against us. He single handedly made White Hart Lane bearable and with the exception of maybe Ledley King he is the player with whom the supporters have had the most affinity with over the past two decades, even compared against longer servants like Keane and Defoe, or players who did produce more ultimately like Bale. There's a reason for that, and it's certainly not that tens of thousands of football supporters were blinded by, and seduced by, the cheap tricks of a show pony.

An admirable defence BBLG but the bold is simply incorrect.

For what it's worth, I rated Ginola. He was one of the few things keeping me watching Spurs back then.

 

[tttcowan]

An admirable defence BBLG but the bold is simply incorrect.

For what it's worth, I rated Ginola. He was one of the few things keeping me watching Spurs back then.

Only one better in there is Bale... IMO anyway.

 

[Tott66]

Likeable guy remember when he murdered Neville who got sent off to inspire a comeback v man utd but was a shining light in a sea of shit.
We were mid table good days and defeats every year at sheff we'd and derby etc.
Would not call him selfish though,laid back and not fitting Graham's team ethic definitely.
A player we were lucky to have when for me the season before 96-97 was truly depressing.ginola was a great entertainer.

 

[Metalhead]

Ginola was a wonderfully entertaining footballer, but he was fundamentally a show pony who played for himself. Why else do you think he ended up playing for mid table clubs like us and Villa ?

We had precious little else to cheer about at the time and he can take a great deal of credit for helping us to the one trophy we won under Sugar's reign.

 

[$herringham]

Agree with you, always said it. He was a genius, but also one of the most selfish footballer's around. The game for him was about personal glory.

So?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

An admirable defence BBLG but the bold is simply incorrect.

For what it's worth, I rated Ginola. He was one of the few things keeping me watching Spurs back then.

Only one better in there is Bale... IMO anyway.

I'd agree that Bale is better (though I'd have loved to see Ginola in our 11/12 side), but more talented? I'd say no. The only one on that list who might have been as able on the ball as Ginola is Berbatov. Modric and VDV had sublime control and ability, but in terms of being able to do things with the ball Ginola was supreme.

 

[Gassin's finest]

This discussion has been had elsewhere, and not for here, but Bale's strengths were his physical prowess, determination and graft. He was like watching a guided missile. He's worked his balls off his entire career to learn and improve, and for that he is an outstanding player.

Ginola however was pure, natural, undiluted talent. Like watching poetry.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

This discussion has been had elsewhere, and not for here, but Bale's strengths were his physical prowess, determination and graft. He was like watching a guided missile. He's worked his balls off his entire career to learn and improve, and for that he is an outstanding player.

Ginola however was pure, natural, undiluted talent. Like watching poetry.

Don't get me wrong, Bale had wonderful close control and technique, and the imagination to do exactly what he needed to do to beat his man, even in tight situations, but like you said, Ginola was poetry. Only Berbatov might match him (from the players I've seen at Spurs) for sheer unadulterated guile, style and skill on the ball from the players I've seen at Spurs (too young for Gazza, Waddle and Hoddle I'm afraid). And for all our whinging about Bale being harshly treated by refs, Ginola didn't get half the protection from refs that Bale got. The kicks this guy used to take game in game out were unbelievable, I'm truly amazed (given that he's a big guy) that he never lost his temper and flattened someone. Too much of a gent I guess.

 

[$hoguN]

Don't get me wrong, Bale had wonderful close control and technique, and the imagination to do exactly what he needed to do to beat his man, even in tight situations, but like you said, Ginola was poetry. Only Berbatov might match him (from the players I've seen at Spurs) for sheer unadulterated guile, style and skill on the ball from the players I've seen at Spurs (too young for Gazza, Waddle and Hoddle I'm afraid). And for all our whinging about Bale being harshly treated by refs, Ginola didn't get half the protection from refs that Bale got. The kicks this guy used to take game in game out were unbelievable, I'm truly amazed (given that he's a big guy) that he never lost his temper and flattened someone. Too much of a gent I guess.

I love Ginola, he was a light in a very dark time. His technical ability and talent were on a level that very few could hope to match. However, I think VDV was/is every bit of as talented as Ginola. When you watch him his control, vision and execution was unbelievable.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I love Ginola, he was a light in a very dark time. His technical ability and talent were on a level that very few could hope to match. However, I think VDV was/is every bit of as talented as Ginola. When you watch him his control, vision and execution was unbelievable.

Probably very fine lines, and VDV is a wonderful player who I adored, and I'd probably say is a better player than Ginola was given the consistently brilliant career he's had, but I think on sheer ability he's just a notch off. I might be being harsh though, as it might just be that Ginola's superior pace and strength merely allowed him to show off his sublime a little bit more than VDV. I guess I shouldn't really be trying to choose, it's like deciding which girlfriend you were more attracted to, the sultry, exotic, elegent and refined mediterranean or the bouncy, doe eyed, girl next door does eyed blondie. Both beautiful, just in different ways.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Ginola and the like are exactly what we're missing. Someone who gets you off your seat when he gets the ball, someone who creates a stir of anticipation.

And then makes you slump back into your seat with a sigh Nah, i'm kidding. Seriously, it's the above.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

Ginola and the like are exactly what we're missing. Someone who gets you off your seat when he gets the ball, someone who creates a stir of anticipation.

And then makes you slump back into your seat with a sigh Nah, i'm kidding. Seriously, it's the above.

Well said that man. Don't have much to say that hasn't already been said about Ginola. But he was definitely worth it. In fact, in those times he was the only one worth it. Classy player and a classy bloke.

I remember seeing him at the Castle pub in Woodford Green before it was a carvery. Back then it was a poncy wine bar. I said hello and he had time to chat to a young, idolising man. Teddy Sheringham was always like that. I have a lot of respect for Ginola as a bloke as well as a very talented player. Wish Spurs had someone of his talent today.

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Jesus, what an image to have to necro...

Aaanyways, no idea if it's a replay of this or a new one, but tomorrow night (Sunday the 21st February 2016, the year of our lord, amen, etc) is our beloved Daveed once more

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Fantastic player who was a joy to watch at WHL. I wish we had a player like him now. That crazy talent who could unlock defences and cross a ball that would have Kane creaming himself. Yeah his defensive work wasn't great but I'd bet with a manager like Poch he'd have changed that. Although it would have to be a younger Ginola than we had at Spurs.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

Fantastic player who was a joy to watch at WHL. I wish we had a player like him now. That crazy talent who could unlock defences and cross a ball that would have Kane creaming himself. Yeah his defensive work wasn't great but I'd bet with a manager like Poch he'd have changed that. Although it would have to be a younger Ginola than we had at Spurs.

Did you get along to King Ledley's testimonial? He was having a great time, his grin when he took the field was ear to ear and his banter with the fans and ref were superb. I was as excited to see him in our colours again as i was to see the King get the send off from the fans he deserved.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Ginola was a wonderfully entertaining footballer, but he was fundamentally a show pony who played for himself. Why else do you think he ended up playing for mid table clubs like us and Villa ?

 

[Colonel_Klinck]

Did you get along to King Ledley's testimonial? He was having a great time, his grin when he took the field was ear to ear and his banter with the fans and ref were superb. I was as excited to see him in our colours again as i was to see the King get the send off from the fans he deserved.

Funnily enough I did. Fantastic night and great to see so many WHL favourites including Ginola out on the field again and for such a great cause.