Martin Gould Not playing as much?

His explanation for why he doesn't enter many tournaments in recent years was something along the lines of "my body can't cope with all the travelling" doesn't really make sense as he isn't that old, hardly looks in terrible health or shape (I mean look at bingham, sharav etc, they are in horrible condition but still seem to be able to make it onto the planes each week) and surely hasn't made enough money to be cutting back, my theory is he got involved with a bit of stuff and she is behind the recent cutting back of playing. Any other theory's?

shanew48 wrote:His explanation for why he doesn't enter many tournaments in recent years was something along the lines of "my body can't cope with all the travelling" doesn't really make sense as he isn't that old, hardly looks in terrible health or shape (I mean look at bingham, sharav etc, they are in horrible condition but still seem to be able to make it onto the planes each week) and surely hasn't made enough money to be cutting back, my theory is he got involved with a bit of stuff and she is behind the recent cutting back of playing. Any other theory's?

He mentioned in his post match interview that he had been in an extremely dark place before lockdown.

Either he had been working in a mushroom farm, or suffering some form of depression would be my guess.

Badsnookerplayer wrote:

shanew48 wrote:His explanation for why he doesn't enter many tournaments in recent years was something along the lines of "my body can't cope with all the travelling" doesn't really make sense as he isn't that old, hardly looks in terrible health or shape (I mean look at bingham, sharav etc, they are in horrible condition but still seem to be able to make it onto the planes each week) and surely hasn't made enough money to be cutting back, my theory is he got involved with a bit of stuff and she is behind the recent cutting back of playing. Any other theory's?

He mentioned in his post match interview that he had been in an extremely dark place before lockdown.

Either he had been working in a mushroom farm, or suffering some form of depression would be my guess.

Yeah he said he had some personal demons and that the lockdown came at a good time for him.

Glad to hear that he’s on the mend, whatever his problems have been.

I think he worked as a casino croupier in the past. Maybe he spend too much of time at pubs and stuff like that even though not so much in recent time obviously. But he looks in good shape as you say. So it was still surprising when he talked about getting healthy and fit again.

“A bit of stuff”?

He may have a physical or mental health condition that he hasn't made public. Let him get on with it, rather than speculating.

TheRocket wrote:I think he worked as a casino croupier in the past. Maybe he spend too much of time at pubs and stuff like that even though not so much in recent time obviously. But he looks in good shape as you say. So it was still surprising when he talked about getting healthy and fit again.

Something doesn't add up though does it? I mean if he had just kept turning up to each tournament without even doing that much he could have earnt a very good living over the last 2-3 years (think Barry Hawkins) and would have kept himself inside the top 32 so he would have kept getting kind 1st round draws, you could understand it if he was going to events and getting knocked out 1st round on a regular basis but he is actually a decent player.

Anyway it is all a bit perplexing, from the interview I just saw he said that if he hadn't qualified this week he would have retired and then played on the seniors tour next September when he turns 40, even that doesn't really add up as unfit players are still managing to keep up with the rigours (it's hardly digging ditches is it) of the tour, yet he isn't even 40, can still clearly play to a decent standard yet just doesn't seem to fancy the £50,000 + per season that he would get even if he rarely made it past the 2nd round.

Everyone is different. Personally I would hate all the travelling but if I could still make 40 grand a year from entering most UK based events then that is what I would do. Even if I was hovering around the ranking of 50-60.

Perhaps he has health issues we don’t know about, because he keeps them to himself as he is entitled to. Just because its the 21st century it doesn’t all have to be out there on Facebook/Instagram/Twatter etc. You can opt out.

Bit of a hot take but I think he's a great single ball potter.

Holden Chinaski wrote:Bit of a hot take but I think he's a great single ball potter.

Interesting suggestion; is there a thread where we can discuss such things?

Iranu wrote:

Holden Chinaski wrote:Bit of a hot take but I think he's a great single ball potter.

Interesting suggestion; is there a thread where we can discuss such things?

There should be!

donthittheblue wrote:He may have a physical or mental health condition that he hasn't made public. Let him get on with it, rather than speculating.

Good point. Having an earing at any age, let alone 38 years of age does suggest some sort of cognitive issue. Probably best we let him be I think.

shanew48 wrote:

donthittheblue wrote:He may have a physical or mental health condition that he hasn't made public. Let him get on with it, rather than speculating.

Good point. Having an earing at any age, let alone 38 years of age does suggest some sort of cognitive issue. Probably best we let him be I think.

Agreed.

Iranu wrote:

Holden Chinaski wrote:Bit of a hot take but I think he's a great single ball potter.

Interesting suggestion; is there a thread where we can discuss such things?

There is one. Please use it.

i heard he had back problems.

TheRocket wrote:https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/world-championship/2019-2020/martin-gould-on-his-battle-against-depression-i-felt-ashamed-pathetic-and-my-body-ached_sto7829425/story.shtml

Good article that - cheers Rocket

TheRocket wrote:https://www.eurosport.co.uk/snooker/world-championship/2019-2020/martin-gould-on-his-battle-against-depression-i-felt-ashamed-pathetic-and-my-body-ached_sto7829425/story.shtml

So I was right in a roundabout way, women packing him in was the catalyst, i knew something didn't add up, now it makes more sense

No he won't be now he's out

Gould goes into more detail on his issues in an hour long interview with Dave Hendon on the Snooker Scene podcast. Fascinating listen.

Going to listen to it, the interview fascinated me.

Always liked Gould. Class player on his day as well. Snooker would have lost a bit of spark had he fallen off the tour.

If he could play maguire every round he’d be flying

Pink Ball wrote:Always liked Gould. Class player on his day as well. Snooker would have lost a bit of spark had he fallen off the tour.

Yeah - if Gould had fallen off the tour it probably would have affected audiences in the Far East.

You mean Essex? That is his territory, right?