Gary Speed Appreciation thread

[evertony]

On the eve of the 5h anniversary of his death I hope tomorrow we offer up a performance worthy of his memory. Gary was an excellent player for Everton, and sadly maligned for the nature of his departure from Everton. Too much misinformation surrounds that episode with Howard and we never really heard the real truth from either of them as far as I'm aware. I do know from a very good friend of his that he was absolutely devastated at leaving our Club and that he vowed never to cause any further damage by giving his view of things.
Always thought he was a thoroughbred midfielder with a fantastic attitude and fully expected him to take up the managers job at Everton.
Share your memories of Gary...I'm sure there were many .

Rest in Peace.

 

[evertony]

Managed to duplicate that....Mods, can you delete one please

 

[Eggs]

...this is more than footy, I just feel very sad about whatever happened. From an appreciation perspective, very good and classy footballer and undoubtedly a very special man.

 

[nsno-chris]

Cracking footballer, absolutely cracking. Such an elegant footballer with a wonderful left foot and the ability to find space in the box.

Wore that danka kit like a boss, long slerves and all

 

[maccavennie]

That Southampton game at home where he bagged a hat-trick was just a boss day to be a Blue. Loved Speed, absolutely gutted when he left.

Watch how much the equaliser against the RS meant to him at Anfield. Top player and should have been with us for another 4-5 seasons.

 

[bretts angell]

Remember speed at Leeds when he burst on the scene...was one of the brightest young talents at the time.

Few years later was totally surprised to be linked with him, ecstatic to have got him and subsequently in awe when I found out he was a blue.

Totally shocked when he left, felt gutted and betrayed.like many we were probably misinformed about the reason behind his departure. He got a lot of stick from goodison but I'm sure this is because we thought so much of him. We tend to reserve the most abuse for those born evertonions and move elsewhere.

I don't think I loved many players but I did love speedo. He just had an aura.

His home debut against Newcastle is one of my all time favourite opening games of the season too.

 

[Eggs]

That Southampton game at home where he bagged a hat-trick was just a boss day to be a Blue. Loved Speed, absolutely gutted when he left.

Watch how much the equaliser against the RS meant to him at Anfield. Top player and should have been with us for another 4-5 seasons.

....probably best not analysing why he wasn't but worth noting that he kept his counsel despite abuse from a large section of our fans.

 

[allezlesbleus]

Saw him on Goodison road a few years after he had left us after a game he had come to watch, I think, not play. He had his daughter with him aged about 6 wearing Everton shirt with radzinski on it. I knew (sorry to be more accurate I was told, I am not ITK) at that time that his leaving was not all down to him and that the "@&@£&&@£" calls were definitely misplaced. Was gutted to think his daughter might on other occasions have heard the chants. Would probably have gone over her head or not even heard if in box but he just looked like a Blue fan bringing his daughter up to be one too.
Such a sad story. Will never understand seeing him as normal as can be on football focus at lunchtime and that same evening he checks out. Gutted for him and his family.

 

[roydo]

He left a mark at every club he played for. Leeds and Newcastle fans had a joint tribute the other night when they played each other.

Not many do that. Special man, tragic loss. RIP

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Always remember his last minute penalty during a time when we hadn't won an away game for over twelve months I think,me and the other 2999 blues were either facing the back of the stand or looking through fingers,it was only later on MOTD I realised how close to missing it he was!!,RIP Speedo.

 

[ianefc]

Always remember his last minute penalty during a time when we hadn't won an away game for over twelve months I think,me and the other 2999 blues were either facing the back of the stand or looking through fingers,it was only later on MOTD I realised how close to missing it he was!!,RIP Speedo.

Leicester

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Leicester

Apols,my old memory

 

[Jreverton1]

On the eve of the 5h anniversary of his death I hope tomorrow we offer up a performance worthy of his memory. Gary was an excellent player for Everton, and sadly maligned for the nature of his departure from Everton. Too much misinformation surrounds that episode with Howard and we never really heard the real truth from either of them as far as I'm aware. I do know from a very good friend of his that he was absolutely devastated at leaving our Club and that he vowed never to cause any further damage by giving his view of things.
Always thought he was a thoroughbred midfielder with a fantastic attitude and fully expected him to take up the managers job at Everton.
Share your memories of Gary...I'm sure there were many .

Rest in Peace.

Can't believe thats been five years. Only thing I can say is Quality.

 

[allezlesbleus]

Always remember his last minute penalty during a time when we hadn't won an away game for over twelve months I think,me and the other 2999 blues were either facing the back of the stand or looking through fingers,it was only later on MOTD I realised how close to missing it he was!!,RIP Speedo.

I think it was his last goal for us, Decemebr 1997. Just a couple more games then transferred inJanuary. Not 100% though.

 

[dave abrahams]

Gary Speed was a great Evertonian, a great player but more important he was a good, genuine Gentleman. Very badly
mistreated by Everton, a club he loved. He took the training many mornings when the manager wasn't available, to put it mildly, Evertonians, instead of booing Gary, should have asked themselves, why he had to sign a confidentially form in order to get his transfer away from Everton when in fact he was the injured party. Yes there was a phoney involved when
Gary left, it was most certainly NOT Gary Speed. To his credit Gary never uttered a word about the affair once he left
Everton.I think Gary will always be remembered with much affection by the majority of genuine Blues fans.