Gary Speed

[Heart-Shaped Fox]

Be disappointed if there wasnt applause/silence for him tomorrow.

[Babylon]

It takes a bigger man to admit his problems and put his hand up and say 'I need help' than a man who hangs himself in his own garage.

With two young kids and a misses this for him may have been the easy way out, but they must live with his actions for the rest of their lives.

I feel so very sorry for the kids, but time and distance from the shock makes me feel angry that he could not find the courage to admit his demons and get help for his kids sake.

Jesus Christ, you have absolutely no idea about his situation, and clearly no understanding of depression and mental illnesses. It's got sod all to do with courage or not being man enough.

[cc_star]

It's called respect for a great player of the game.

He doesn't have to play for your own club to show respect for him .

I concur

One of the great players of our era.

[Mack]

And what the fuck do you know about his situation?

I'm diagnosed with depression myself, and have been through the stages of admission to problems and facing my faults and fears, so a bit I suppose.

[Simmo86]

I'm diagnosed with depression myself, and have been through the stages of admission to problems and facing my faults and fears, so a bit I suppose.

You don't even know that he had depression, think people are jumping the gun on that!

[Libertine]

I'm diagnosed with depression myself, and have been through the stages of admission to problems and facing my faults and fears, so a bit I suppose.

So you should know not to tar everyone with the same brush.

[Karljohn]

I think its piss poor if we cant stand together and be silent or applaud a human being for 1 minute, I do recall LCFC having a minutes silence for Matthew Harding who died days after Jock Wallace who was not given the same treatment, thought that was a disgraceful act by LCFC at the time.

[Mack]

You don't even know that he had depression, think people are jumping the gun on that!

And you are all jumping the gun for thinking he was some kind of saint.

For all anyone knows he might have been a nonce.

However given the character references from friends / colleagues etc this seems unlikely. Whether it was depression by definition or some other problem I think we can all agree you dont hang yourself because everything is just fine.

So my point remains that is takes a bigger man to face your problems than run away from them and kill yourself.

The people left behind suffer much much more that the dead person ever will, and when you have young kids that is so unfair.

What would my kids have done had I decided I could'nt cope with my health problems and my wife had found me hanging in our garage and then had to explain to my two kids why they will never see their dad again?

In my opinion.

[RonnieTodger]

People saying there shouldn't be a minute silence/applause for him is ridiculous, just because he didn't play for Leicester. He's a Premier League legend and has the 3rd most appearances in the Premier League to date (2nd for outfield players). Bobby Robson had no connections with Leicester either but we managed to for another legend like him. Fine, Speed didn't manage England but he's contributed to entertain us in the Premier League and we should respect that.

[Babylon]

And you are all jumping the gun for thinking he was some kind of saint.

For all anyone knows he might have been a nonce.

So you have a problem with gay people then?

So my point remains that is takes a bigger man to face your problems than run away from them and kill yourself.

It's nothing to do with being a bigger man for goodness sake. Just because you were once diagnosed with a mental illness (presuming you actually were), doesn't mean your case is exactly the same as everyone else in the whole world, ever diagnosed with any kind of mental illness.

For someone claiming to have been diagnosed with a mental illness you don't seem to have a clue about it.

[Simmo86]

Just had a big reply for Mack by my boss walked in!

As regard to the minutes silence, I don't no why we shouldn't. Its a pretty shocking incident and IMO I think its only right that the footballing world pays its respect to a great player.

[Babylon]

People saying there shouldn't be a minute silence/applause for him is ridiculous, just because he didn't play for Leicester. He's a Premier League legend and has the 3rd most appearances in the Premier League to date (2nd for outfield players). Bobby Robson had no connections with Leicester either but we managed to for another legend like him. Fine, Speed didn't manage England but he's contributed to entertain us in the Premier League and we should respect that.

So if you were good we'll show you respect, if you were some average premier league player or championship player we'll all probably ignore your death because you weren't very famous?

If you are going to show one player respect then you should show them all the same respect, whether they are 42 or 82, whether you kill yourself or die of old age. It's unfeasible to do that, so there has to be a line drawn otherwise we'll be doing minutes silences every week.

Bobby Robson managed England, we're an English club and English fans. So he managed our team, we're connected to that man. Speed has nothing to do with us.

It's not about people not wanting to show their respects, nobody has a problem with observing it should the club wish to have one. If they do, then I will pay mine.

[MikeyT]

I don't think 60 seconds from people's lives to just show a little respect for him is a big deal, sorry.

[Mack]

So you have a problem with gay people then?

It's nothing to do with being a bigger man for goodness sake. Just because you were once diagnosed with a mental illness (presuming you actually were), doesn't mean your case is exactly the same as everyone else in the whole world, ever diagnosed with any kind of mental illness.

For someone claiming to have been diagnosed with a mental illness you don't seem to have a clue about it.

A nonce is a kiddy fiddler, not a homosexual.

And before you start saying i am accusing him of being one I am not, I was just pointing out no one knows why he killed himself yet.

I find your patronising attitude towards my problems and illness offensive. I am on medication for my depression and very strong medication for my illness, not that it's any of your business. I'm proud I faced up to the challenges in my life and did the right things both for myself and my wife and children. Whatever your problems are the point I making is that to face them is much harder than to run away from them.

That is a fact, and when you have a family you cant only think for yourself, others are relying on you, trust you, love you, respect you, need you.

I respected you for what you wrote on these forums and agreed with your sensible approach often. However given the abusive way you have just spoken to me about my experiences and opinions I now see you in a very different light.

The high ground in any topic is a dangerous place to be unless you have some humility towards people even if you dont agree with them.

Taking the moral high ground in an abusive manner and based on someone lying about their own life threatening problems in rerality is bang out of order.

[Simmo86]

He must of thought of his wife and kids though and how his actions were going to affect them, but does this just not highlight what a dark place he must of been in still to go through with it.

Without trying to sound nasty, this wasn't taking an overdose and crying for help. He wanted to end it, no ****ing about.

[StanSP]

A nonce is a kiddy fiddler, not a homosexual.

And before you start saying i am accusing him of being one I am not, I was just pointing out no one knows why he killed himself yet.

I find your patronising attitude towards my problems and illness offensive. I am on medication for my depression and very strong medication for my illness, not that it's any of your business. I'm proud I faced up to the challenges in my life and did the right things both for myself and my wife and children. Whatever your problems are the point I making is that to face them is much harder than to run away from them.

That is a fact, and when you have a family you cant only think for yourself, others are relying on you, trust you, love you, respect you, need you.

I respected you for what you wrote on these forums and agreed with your sensible approach often. However given the abusive way you have just spoken to me about my experiences and opinions I now see you in a very different light.

The high ground in any topic is a dangerous place to be unless you have some humility towards people even if you dont agree with them.

Taking the moral high ground in an abusive manner and based on someone lying about their own life threatening problems in rerality is bang out of order.

What if he felt he was being a burden on his family, and in his own mind, he was thinking it's easier if he's not there?

You're saying that facing up to them is harder, but I can't help but think that making a decision about suicide is a harder decision. I'm sure he knew he had a duty as a father and husband to be relied on, but at the end of the day, Speed's thinking was that suicide is the best (not necessarily the easiest) option for all concerned. That was his thinking.

[Houdini Logic]

And before you start saying i am accusing him of being one I am not, I was just pointing out no one knows why he killed himself yet.

Which is why the rest of us keep our mouths shut.

It's a skill you may want to acquire in life

[Simmo86]

What if he felt he was being a burden on his family, and in his own mind, he was thinking it's easier if he's not there?

You're saying that facing up to them is harder, but I can't help but think that making a decision about suicide is a harder decision. I'm sure he knew he had a duty as a father and husband to be relied on, but at the end of the day, Speed's thinking was that suicide is the best (not necessarily the easiest) option for all concerned. That was his thinking.

Exactly my point Stan.

Your grasp of the English language explains it far better than I could.

[Fox92]

If you are going to show one player respect then you should show them all the same respect, whether they are 42 or 82, whether you kill yourself or die of old age. It's unfeasible to do that, so there has to be a line drawn otherwise we'll be doing minutes silences every week.

Although I think we should probably have a minute silence before the game tomorow, I also agree with this part of your post as well. Where is the line drawn? Keith Alexander died the other year, but we didn't have a minute silence. Or is that because he isn't a bigger name?

Gary Speed was a fantastic footballer though, and regardless of if he had Leicester connections, I think we should participate in a silence. George Best had nothing to do with most clubs, but the Country still gave a minute silence for him before every fixture, because he was a fantastic football and is a legend.

[Mack]

Which is why the rest of us keep our mouths shut.

It's a skill you may want to acquire in life

Thank you for that.

So you think that people hang themselves because they are in a good place?

And you think ending your life has no effect on your close family?

And you think that is good for your kids? Whatever your problems?

And you think your wife is off out celebrating with friends after finding you swinging dead in the garage?

WHATEVER his problems, and this is for the last time, you only kill yourself because you have problems.

Suicide in that situation is the easy option.

Do you think his family and kids would rather he faced up to those problems for their sake as well as his or do you think they would prefer he was dead?

Suicide in my opinion is a selfish act.

Sometimes people who have been to those dark places know those feelings, and sometimes those people feel compelled to speak out even if it is in the face of the general media and public flow of opinion.

I'm done on this subject and on this forum for now.

[MPH]

Sorry but i don't get this minutes silence bit . Yes it is always sad when someone takes their own life but what the fvck has it got to do with us ? He never played for us or had anything to do with us as a club. It feels like we are having minutes silence for just about anything and everything these days.

What has happened to our society where we feel we need to be involved with people we have never met or cared about until they are dead , then we hang our heads in mock shock and pretend it is a personal hurt.

It is not that I don't care it is just that I don't care to share it in communal plastic grief , next thing you know people will be throwing flowers on to the pitch , it's only a matter of time. :dunno: :dunno: :dunno: :dunno:

Judging by your posts, you have to be one of the most insensitive and uncaring posters i have come accross. Not just based on this post either... I hope to God you dont get married or are not already married because i can only imagine what your attitude would be to your spouse and kids...

[Captain...]

It takes a bigger man to admit his problems and put his hand up and say 'I need help' than a man who hangs himself in his own garage.

With two young kids and a misses this for him may have been the easy way out, but they must live with his actions for the rest of their lives.

I feel so very sorry for the kids, but time and distance from the shock makes me feel angry that he could not find the courage to admit his demons and get help for his kids sake.

In essence you are right, suicide is essentially a coward's way out, and it is very selfish in that it puts the victim's own suffering ahead of that which they will cause on their family and friends and loved ones.

I don't know the guy, I don't know what he was going through, I haven't even read that it was suicide, just that he was found hanged and police are not treating it as suspicious. There are ways in which this could happen by accident, I don't want to speculate, because I don't know, there is also no indication that he was depressed nor a history of depression. None of this proves anything for all we know he could have done it to protect his family, maybe he had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and couldn't bear to put them through the suffering of watching him slowly deteriorate. Maybe he was mixed up in some dodgy dealings with Welsh Mafia who were threatening his family the only way to get them off his back was kill himself and in his will the money is to be donated to a mysterious Welsh charity...

I know I said I wouldn't speculate but I am just trying to prove a point that we don't know anything other than the fact that he is dead. those that want to mourn and grieve and pay respects to Speed wil have the opportunity to do so if they wish, and if Leicester City want to give them that opportuniy then so be it, if not then they will find another way.

[ajthefox]

We should hold a silence for Speed, but I don't think clubs should be obliged to.

I have to say I agree with Mack, suicide is indeed a selfish act.

[MikeyT]

http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~2530863,00.html

City's Welsh international Andy King has paid tribute to the late Wales manager Gary Speed, describing him as a player and a man he would one day hope to emulate.

The Foxes midfielder, a regular fixture in Speed's Wales squads during his year in charge of the national setup, was stunned by the news of the 42-year-old's death on Sunday.

And he said the waves of tributes that have flooded in for the former Leeds, Everton and Newcastle player reflected the popularity of a man truly loved throughout football and beyond.

King said: "It's shocking news, when everyone found out yesterday we were all devastated. You can tell by the reaction, not only of footballers, but of people around the country - it goes to show how he was held as a person, forgetting about football, just as a guy.

"The way he carried himself around people, the stuff he achieved in his career, to still be the nice guy he was - it's probably the biggest tribute anyone can pay to him.

Andy King

"There are only fond memories you can have of him because he never had a bad word to say about anyone, even in the heat of the moment, where sometimes tempers spill over.

"He's the sort of player I will look to try to play like but, in the bigger picture, he is the sort of man I will try to emulate. He had time for everyone, whether they were a child, an older person, a footballer or a non-footballer - he gave everyone the credit they deserved.

"What has happened is just such a shock to everyone."

King, 23, credits Speed with some of the most important lessons he has learned in the game so far, both during his time as a player and during his spell in charge of the national team.

And as he prepares to take to the pitch in City's home fixture against Blackpool on Tuesday, the Foxes star hopes to produce a performance Speed would be proud of.

Andy King and Gary Speed.

He said: "I played against him when I was 18 or 19, he was playing for Sheffield United and what a lesson that was! He bossed me off the pitch in that game.

"He played me in his first game in charge of Wales, which is something I will always remember him for, and he played me in two games against England, which were perhaps the biggest games of my career. Those are things nobody can take away from me now and I'm so grateful for that.

"Tomorrow night, I'll be hoping to produce a performance to show him how thankful I am for what he's done for my career."

[davieG]

Perhaps a bit of silence over the whys and wherefores of this wouldn't go amiss.

Speculating over the cause of someone's death seems in itself disrespectful.

Just a thought.