Now it is common knowledge that in the summer of 1988, Alex Ferguson came close to signing Paul Gascoigne for Manchester United, having gained a personal committment to sign from the Newcastle player, only for Tottenham to swoop in for the player instead.
What I want to know is, what do you think life would have been like for United, England and most pertinently, Gazza himself had he honoured his promise?
Personally, I think being under Fergie's iron leadership would help Gazza find the much needed discipline off the pitch to help him acheive even more on it, meaning we would not see his playing career as a sad waste.
After Italia '90, Gazza becomes the hub around which the 'Class of 92' come through, and he is there for the successes of the early-mid 1990's, with him and Eric Cantona being two of the leading lights.
Perhaps Gazza does end up falling out with Ferguson in around 1996, by which case he becomes surplus to requirements and spends his last successful years in Italy before returning to back a mid-table Premier League club (Newcastle again?) and retiring happy.
How does that sound?
What I want to know is, what do you think life would have been like for United, England and most pertinently, Gazza himself had he honoured his promise?
Personally, I think being under Fergie's iron leadership would help Gazza find the much needed discipline off the pitch to help him acheive even more on it, meaning we would not see his playing career as a sad waste.
After Italia '90, Gazza becomes the hub around which the 'Class of 92' come through, and he is there for the successes of the early-mid 1990's, with him and Eric Cantona being two of the leading lights.
Perhaps Gazza does end up falling out with Ferguson in around 1996, by which case he becomes surplus to requirements and spends his last successful years in Italy before returning to back a mid-table Premier League club (Newcastle again?) and retiring happy.
How does that sound?