Paul Merson Links His Gambling Addiction To His Football Style | The Russell Howard Hour 

As an Arsenal fan, I loved watching the magic man play. I'm so proud to see him battle his illness so openly in the hope of helping others as well as himself. A legend.

After watching the Harry redknapp show where merse came out and spoke so openly about his troubles, I sought out help myself. I want him to know he has been such an inspiration. I am now on my way to becoming rid of these problems too. Thank you Paul!

I got shown a gambling ad before this, which is pretty messed up.

Great player ,great pundit and one of the bravest footballers on the planet ,to face up to all his problems and get help shows the measure of the man , Well done Paul stay strong

I'm not a football fan and have never heard of Paul Merson but what an interview, as someone struggling with an addiction that spoke to me in a good way, hats off to him.

Love 888 casino adds popping up in an anti gambling interview

Good for him for being so honest

its true, watch a game or soccer saturday on sky sports and every ad break theres at least 1 or 2 gambling type adverts, the sky bet one is on every few minutes or Ray Winstone telling you too bet in play, surly the tv companies are as much to blame for it, let be honest during Russells own show on sky one im sure there where gambling ads during that as well

I don't watch football or find it an interesting game at all but wow that was an amazing interview. Stay well sir.

Please tell RU-vid to stop playing gambling advertisements or at least make it more obvious to users to block adverts like Gambling/Betting.

I'm not kidding, I just got an advert for a betting website.😲

As a Spurs fan; I hate him as a player. However: as a person, I'd say he has to be one of my heroes. Everything he has gone through is something I've been going through for the last 10 years. Yes he has his demons, but don't we all

He comes across really well in this, I didn't know he had such problems, good health to him, hope he keeps it up.

An ad for a gambling website before this video - really!!!?

Brilliant player in his day and top bloke as well

Iam 2 years clean come this Christmas eve and everyday is a struggle. Paul is right please if anyone is going through gambling issues talk and seek help! I always find talking with gamcare helps. Fuck gambling! Stay strong folks!

Takes a big person to admit the stuff he did. To open up in a world where ‘men can’t have mental health issues’ in a world where women can do no wrong and the men are the villains or pigs. People seem to treat us like we don’t have feelings and we’re not allowed to have a vulnerable side. So much respect for this man. So so much.

Always loved Paul Merson

As a so called old school type of guy which I definitely am, to put your self out there like this shows immense character and to also do to help people, well what can I say, fair play top man, thank you paul

Me and a few mates had one of those dinner speech things with Merson a few years back. We went early and it was just us, him and few of the staff there. He was absolutely brilliant. After signing a couple of things and having a picture with us, he spoke openly to us for about half an hour after. Great bloke and wish him all the best.

Respect to Merse for all he’s doing right now . Keep it up magic man 👊

Great courage from merse!

Brilliant but very sadly here in Australia a SportsBet ad came up straight after. Face palm.

The story of the 50s blowing down the touch line. Absolutely brilliant 🤣🤣.

Literally, watching this and middle of it, adverts for a betting company seriously, RU-vid.

The magic man is hands down one of the all time great footballers and he does such an amazing job trying to fight off his additions The documentary was brilliant and I think there needs to be more like that Stay safe Paul

What a guy. Took his own demons and struggle and uses it to spread awareness and help others

It helped me I need something like this right now and just the one day at a time thing aswel.

Hats off to him.. An old family friend's brother lost everything through gambling. His life came crashing down when he left work, bailiffs stopped him as he was leaving his work to take his car keys from him and his laptop. He used to be an avid spot better, mostly cricket. He never put on a bet more than probably £20. He used to bet a quid here and a quid there.. They added up, and he lost his house and everything.

i watched the documentary at my school during tutorial, super interesting. i spend most of my time playing mobile games, that do have gambling elementa in them but i dont put moneg in

The irony of getting a gambling advert on this video. I despise gambling yet I always get spammed with their cretinous adverts, even though I never gamble!

Hope you pull through Merse

Whenever I see a gambling ad on RU-vid or wherever I always let it play through, thinking to myself "take a little bit of money away from the ****ing ****holes and give it to the people whose videos I like.

Not an arsenal fan but a proper footballer. All the best Mers

Unsurprising to see that the advert to kick off this clip was one of Paddy Powers. Need I say more.

I love Merson. I genuinely wish I was his friend.

Unfortunately, I have suffered from drug and alcohol abuse, as well as addictive behaviours like gambling. I was also violent a bit too much. I am actually a nice guy.. but... yeah, I go off the rails a little too often. I totally get what Paul is saying here. One day at a time, and talk to people. Friends (if you can find them / still have them) help. Personally I find replacing the addictive behaviour to work well - computer games, cooking - even cleaning. I'm setting up a little crafts workshop, that should also help. The worst thing you can do is pretend there is nothing wrong... its not just crap for you personally, it also smashes up the lives of those around you. Not just friends - also colleagues just trying to do their job - you screw them over too. I'm not a fan of therapy, but I am a fan of just sitting relaxed and chatting in a relaxed atmosphere. Pets help. And if - like me - you're prone to the odd violent outburst... sign up for some local martial arts / boxing classes. Its better than getting arrested. Obviously the love of a partner will chill all of this out - but we can't all have that. Addictive behaviour is almost impossible to control. You basically have to replace it with something more productive. Volunteer work - thats a good one... Just try to get hooked on something "Better"... Its never easy - switching addictions never is.... but it's worth it.

the advert before this for me was Paddy Power....oh dear....

Unbelievable, halfway through the video an advert cuts in and its bloody sky Vegas and there's the problem

Awesome

Merson going to America to get help got us (Walsall) relegated from what was then Division 1 (The Championship). Was gutting at the time, but good to see he’s almost finally there.

The irony I got a sky bet ad for this video...

Proper player

Ironic advert just came on for bet Fred

Did anyone else get a coral advert watching this?

Every advert on this has been for gambling

Please please please interview Ben Pearson

Never liked Merson the pundit, used the think he was an absolute idiot, but over the last few years I've grown to really admire the man - he's a sensitive soul with a massive heart and, like all of us, he's got demons. Good luck to you, Paul!

Hello world. Men have feelings and can be vulnerable too. Don't tread on us. We're not all the bad things the media constantly tells you we are. Cheers.

What is that he is using to pay 26 a year i need it myself

The algorithm put a gambling advert under this video... ffs

I got an ad for betfair before this - Jesus RU-vid sort it out!

Really disappointed that the adverts in this video are for gambling websites.

I’m not sure you can say gambling addiction is an illness I think the personality type they’re talking would be high extroversion and high openness to experience and a high about of neuroticism. So he’s always gonna be on a high or a low. And I think the goal is for him to level out which is why he takes it a day at a time so there are as little factors that can change his emotions and cause him to be addicted to highs or rock bottom in lows. But the born again Christian way of presenting himself is a bit narcissistic which coincides with his extroversion. Like him having to control himself isn’t an illness I don’t think. And willpower does work again I think it’s a facade because he didn’t have the willpower but he is narcissistic and want to act like it was impossible.

Gambling addiction is related to our Hunter gatherer instincts. It’s all about reward and “bringing home the kill” or cheque in today’s world.

DRINKING DRUGS AND GAMBLING DONT MIX,,,,,DONT PEOPLE LEARN,,,,,,,,,,NEXT

Meeeerse hey he could play a bit

After how he treated Robbie from AFTV....screw him.

Mers has blamed everything and everyone for his gambling addiction but himself. He never takes ownership his own poor decisions and it infuriates me.

Yes, we have choices, you can get off of social media if you WANT too.

I'm sure Mr Merson is a nice human being, but don't forget he's been pimping out sky bet for years

Great player but a bit of a pleb

Here's a guy who was lucky enough to be paid for the game he loves....works for the biggest football punditry team on the planet...and i should feel sorry for him ? Nah im alright lol il deal with the real world not the psuedo celebrity world