Steven Caulker

[johnlattimerssponge]

Just read the following which is an extremely interesting insight into mental issues and addictions of a top flight player.

https://www.theguardian.com/footbal...ntal-illness-addictions-gambling-drinking-qpr


An Ex SUFC interest with a mention of Drew Broughton towards the end of the article.

 

[RobM]

I'm not condemning the fellow but I really don't understand the gambling addiction that affects so many people.
It can't be lack of money in, say, Paul Merson's case (just as an example), so why gamble to that extent? (In his autobiography he says he lost £500,000 in 6 months!)
We all have our obsessions to a degree, but when it costs that much, don't these people just ask themselves "Why am I doing this?". I bet my £2 on Southend games and allow myself £20 for the World Cup and Euro'. What's lost is lost, I don't chase my losses, I bet because it's a bit of fun, adds something to watching a game. When I win I do feel a bit smug so it's not the amount I win, just that I have.

 

[MK Shrimper]

I'm not condemning the fellow but I really don't understand the gambling addiction that affects so many people.
It can't be lack of money in, say, Paul Merson's case (just as an example), so why gamble to that extent? (In his autobiography he says he lost £500,000 in 6 months!)
We all have our obsessions to a degree, but when it costs that much, don't these people just ask themselves "Why am I doing this?". I bet my £2 on Southend games and allow myself £20 for the World Cup and Euro'. What's lost is lost, I don't chase my losses, I bet because it's a bit of fun, adds something to watching a game. When I win I do feel a bit smug so it's not the amount I win, just that I have.

It's an addiction and reason doesn't come into it. It's a form of mental illness where you want that high as much as possible, regardless if it comes from sex, drugs, alcohol, gambling....

 

[Ricky Otto]

I'm not condemning the fellow but I really don't understand the gambling addiction that affects so many people.
It can't be lack of money in, say, Paul Merson's case (just as an example), so why gamble to that extent? (In his autobiography he says he lost £500,000 in 6 months!)
We all have our obsessions to a degree, but when it costs that much, don't these people just ask themselves "Why am I doing this?". I bet my £2 on Southend games and allow myself £20 for the World Cup and Euro'. What's lost is lost, I don't chase my losses, I bet because it's a bit of fun, adds something to watching a game. When I win I do feel a bit smug so it's not the amount I win, just that I have.

The way you do things is certainly the way it should be done, unfortunately some people have addictive personalities. It is a buzz and it is exciting to be in a position where you could win a lot of money and there is the added jeopardy of losing your stake money (which in these cases are considerable!). It's not a lot different from a drug, people know there is a down side after the initial buzz but they love the buzz so much they do it regardless. I think in Merson's case it was replacing one addiction with another.