The Fish

They're a teacher's shoe. Not PE or ICT, maybe History? definitely one of the humanities subjects. Wears a tank top

Don't you have a pair of winkle pickers that could get into your brogue's treads?

Partly, and yes other people's opinions of me do colour my own self-image, as is true with all but the most self-confident/psychopathic of people. Putting myself out there isn't an issue, I share more on here than most(with people who outstrip me intellectually) and take part in discussions where my own limitations are laid bare. When starting in a new environment I don't hold off with my contribution. Nor do I avoid new experiences where my inexperience could be significant in comparison to others. I wouldn't have joined the pod, or tried stand-up, or whatever. It's where additional effort or commitment could lead to people thinking I've overreached, I think. I probably write a thousand or so words about football every week, but I wouldn't commit to a blog because I don't think it would be a "success". I've started and given up a couple of stories, because it's more comfortable to give up than it is to actually see it through (and it not be a success). Wolfy is just upset that I think he's an idiot, who's transgressed the intellectual exercise of discussing alternatives to the consensus, into areas that are genuinely offensive and does so with an arrogance that he uses to try and mask his own limitations. when his limitations are challenged, laid bare, he lashes out and discards the very thing he claimed to be looking for; an exchange of ideas.

Well, re-read what you typed and you'll see that it's a criticism, rather than an evaluation. That stems from your own ego and not me. You haven't hurt or upset me, you're an irrelevance on the internet. You have taken umbrage with my prior interactions with you and chose to have a dig, rather than a discussion. That's your choice, but don't be surprised if someone calls you out for it.

See, this was a nice conversation, then you acted the cunt.

No it isn't.

Pretty sure it will be the fear of getting found out. The curse of parents and teachers convincing you that you're the cleverest little boy in the room. Better to be thought clever and lazy, than stupid. University was a big wake up call, met people there whose intellect (and their application of it) blew me away.

Reminds me of old Iron Mike Williamson.

Are you angry because it's going to be a pain to clean your hoverboard?

Experiences at college, Uni, employment. Where there was an opportunity to flex my mind a bit, or catch the eye with a piece of work, an essay, or a project, I’d procrastinate until there was only sufficient time to put in the bare minimum and thus go under the RADAR. Had opportunities to start/join start up businesses and I’d err on the side of comfortable mediocrity, rather than put myself out there, even when the risk isn’t that great. Even in the Podcast, I’ve been invited onto talkSport a couple of times (to fill in for another no-mark guest) and I’ve shied away from it. Despite being pretty comfortable talking to large groups of people at social functions or in an office environment. So it’s not a fear of attention. So here’s an opportunity to do what I love doing (talking about football) with little or no risk, and I’ve bolted for the door instead.

ENFP-T fwiw.

Dunno to be honest. There isn't a specific event that leaps out where I've tried and failed with calamitous results. I think expectations from my parents/teachers were quite high for me from an early age, certainly seeing my 5yr old nephew getting the same kind of praise I got and with the benefit of hindsight and objectivity thinking it a little OTT. Everything academic came easily to me, didn't really need to try hard until A-levels. That may have impacted it too, I dunno.

You get that from the Departed?

Puts pay to the nonsense about the top 4/5 being a closed shop as well. Good manager, good players, that are well drilled and committed. They've gone from a middling Premier League team to genuine contenders in the past, what, 6 or so years? Sure it helps that they're financially sound, but they don't have an oil state bankrolling them.

I've a pretty unhealthy fear of failure, which leads me to not trying very hard at things, or giving up if I don't receive an almost impossible amount of praise/encouragement. Being aware of it doesn't seem to help, and ways to manage it better escape me, despite my having coping strategies for my depression. I have a need for attention which means I often put myself out there, needing to have an opinion on pretty much everything, over sharing, or telling anecdotes where I'm the butt of the joke or I become it. Not particularly healthy given the other two things above. Wolfy's sister really owes it to the rest of us to work through Wolfy's obvious issues, by the way.

Strong and Stable.

Big lump of a centre half that is tailor made for a career outside the top flight.

Big lump of a centre half that is tailor made for a career outside the top flight.

Aye, I'm mainly joking about them being cunts, they're not interesting enough to actually get wound up about them. That said, a sub-Derby season would be lovely, just because it'd be funny for any club to suffer that kind of season.

Part of the reason I was mentioning inexperience in the other thread. Kevin Nolan would focus the lads to put the muggy little cunts from Croydon away, will Lascelles get the same focus from Atsu, Murphy, Hayden, Shelvey, Yedlin et al? Not saying he won't but complacency might be an issue for less experienced players.

Aye, Shaqiri spent most his time over that side as well.

I'm probably just overly cautious, but I can't help think we'd benefit from a Daryl Murphy/Kevin Nolan/Old Head type.

I'm torn between hoping they get mullered every game before ours, and hoping they get a plucky point against a Manchester club. Even better have an unlikely victory snatched from their hands in the 95th minute when they entertain Chelsea. Whatever happens, we'll be the side they 'expect' to get something from, but the way we're set up should make that more difficult than they'd like. Think they'd have a better chance of points from Brighton or Huddersfield, than us. After us and West Ham, they've got Spurs, Everton and Stoke.

Absolutely. One swallow and all that. I'm not criticising the team at all, just mentioning the fact we've one of the youngest squads in the league and the youngest captain, and wondering if that youthfulness will struggle when the pressure piles on.