Fosse93

Thanks Peaky, much appreciated. I think it's defintiely an addiction, and I've knew that for a while but never wanted to admit it I guess. One of the biggest signs, which I now realise, is having to try to normalise the situation in my head, when drinking when I perhaps shouldn't be. For instance, a few occasions I've started drinking at 10am on a Sunday 'because that's what I'd do if I was going to an early kick off' - it's so warped but I think you're right, and that's maybe how an addicts brain works? I don't know.

Thanks Izzy. Four and a half years sober is an amazing achievement, I hope I get to that stage one day. Was there ever a certain eureka moment for you where you knew you had to pack it in? Or was it more a gradual build up of things that made you stop? Last Saturday, I got through 5 or 6 pints at the pub, and then another 6/7 cans at home that night. Before I cracked open my last can, I told myself that would be the last drop of alcohol I'd ever touch. Whether that's true or not I can't say, but I really want it to be. I feel like I've lost the person who I once was due to alcohol, which is pretty depressing in itself.

I'm really wanting to give up alcohol as I know that's one of the main reasons I feel so low, I don't drink in the week mostly but hit it hard at the weekend. You know something isn't right when all you do when drunk, is read online about how to stay sober. I want to live a sober life, which sounds ridiculous as anyone who knows me, knows I'm the first person to a party and the last to leave, I'd drink most people under the table. It just seems like booze is the answer to everything, when I know it's not. Shit day/week at work? Hit the bottle. Bored? Hit the bottle. Celebrating something? Yep, you guessed it. I've always had anxiety and depression related to work, in every job I've had. I'm now starting to think maybe, just maybe it's the drink that is actually the problem. Or at least a hugely contributing factor to my state of mind. Every plan I make revolves around alcohol, and its exhausting. I didn't want to be like this.

Nah, not doing this again.

Blimey, that post made me really emotional. Let's hope we win it, mate. And some say 'it's just a game'.

Never a red for me, won the ball. Follow through makes it a yellow.

Our best player today IMO.

Whoa where have you heard this about the ivanhoe line?! Absolute game changer if true?

I mean, it wouldn't surprise me if that was the case but equally wouldn't surprise me if a genuinely innocent question has been taken out of context, knowing full well that doing so would create a shit storm.

I was thinking about this today, if it was a genuine question out of curiosity then I don't see an issue? Apologies if that comes across as ignorant to anyone. If it was said with a degrading tone then obviously it's a different matter entirely. Could be an extreme case of taking words out of context, we'll never know I guess.

This resonates with me so much. I don't mean to pry but I believe you've recently become a father? I might be way off the mark but for me personally, becoming a dad was way, way harder than I expected, coupled with a stressful job... I found it hard to juggle everything. Truth be told I posted on this thread a couple of months back and I'm still struggling, but just because I'm struggling doesn't mean I'm failing. Keep your head up.

Stern John.

He played a full season there for Nice I believe under Puel, and was very good by all accounts.

Fofana could 'do a job' at right back if needed I reckon.

I think his contract runs out next Summer so could potentially get him at a cut price. Just read that Newcastle have a 30% sell on clause though so they'd probably be asking for more if that's the case. Either way I'd try and get it done if possible!

I'd be tempted to bring in Adam Armstrong this month, would cost circa £15m I'd say. I remember watching him a few years back play for Coventry and thinking his style was very similar to JV. Seems to have come on quiet a bit since then, reckon he'd take to the prem really well, similar to how Watkins has done for Villa. We all love a foreign name from a fancy league don't we? Myself included, but I think there's a lot to be said for buying lower league players and developing them further, similar to James Justin.

Can't see Southampton letting him go. Would love it if this happened though.

@Crinklyfox @That_Dude @Strokes - Thanks all, your words are all very much appreciated. This place is amazing.

Really struggling at the minute... Apologies in advance for the long post. I was made redundant in April last year due to COVID, before I could start worrying about finding another job, my Uncle, who is a transport manager for a big company, managed to get me a job working for him, with a decent salary increase thrown in as well. Everything looked rosy. Not long after starting this job I quickly realised the culture at this place was very much 'live to work' with long hours, no breaks, stress levels through the roof etc. Thing is I could do the job pretty well, in fact I was told I'd been the quickest at picking the job up in over 20 years! Which was nice to hear. Fast forward to July last year and I'm sitting at home before logging on, and I'm crying, which isn't normal right? Straight after finishing that day I applied for 2 jobs, and managed to get both of them after interviewing. I finally managed to pluck up the courage to tell my Uncle (who I feel has done me a huge favour in getting me the job) that I wasn't enjoying the role and I'd been offered a couple of positions at other places. I think he took it as a bit of a kick in the teeth after all he'd done for me tbh. Anyway, a couple of days later he calls to say he's found a temporary job at the same place of work which will be more suited to my skills, and then once the temp job is done there will be a new job open up within the business that he had already earmarked me for anyway, which again was more suited to my skills. A couple of months pass and I've finished this temporary role, I was really grateful of that time and it was nice to be able to work damn hard, but by the time 5pm came I could 'switch off', which is a big thing for me. Turned out this new role I was promised had been put back indefinitely and I had to go back to the old role, which I hated. So I've been back in that role since the end of October, again all feedback I'm getting is great and I feel I'm good at the job... But my anxiety is spiralling out of control. I didn't feel like I saw my young daughter half as much as I should have done over Christmas due to the long hours I was working, and when I did see her I wasn't in the best of moods, which as much as I wanted to snap out of, I just couldn't. So here I am, majorly depressed and anxious, both things I've had before (I went to my GP a couple of years ago who said I was severely depressed) but I've always just got on with it in hope better days are on their way. Trouble is, this time I can't see a way out, I just feel trapped in this job as I don't want to let my Uncle, or my colleagues down and obviously I'm trapped indoors due to the lockdown. I've took a weeks holiday this week, but all I've been doing is constantly dreading going back next Monday. I want to go see my GP and get signed off, but I've never done this and I'm scared of how my work are going to react, and also my Uncle who has done SO much for me. My partner tries to understand but everytime I try and talk about quitting, or leaving my job she worries about money, which I understand completely... I'm just stuck in a shit situation it seems.

YES. Lad will be unreal.

Valid concern however I think we have enough 'technicians' in the squad, more pace in the forward areas is defintiely needed IMO. Let's not forget Vardy was technically not the best when we first signed him, his first touch was atrocious! Plus, Sarr is only 22 so plenty of time to improve. One of his finishes against Liverpool last year was sublime, I can't dig it out as on my phone at work but there's a potentially world class player there I reckon.

Sarr from Watford, pay what it takes. His potential is scary. I'm not sure we need a direct replacement for Vardy, not yet anyway. An interchanging front three of Barnes - Sarr - Under would score goals IMO. Plus that way we'd have a player on the bench we could utilise in any of the attacking three positions, rather than having someone sitting around waiting for JV to retire.

Iheanacho clearly isn't a striker, he's best as a number 10. It was similar to when we started with Maddison upfront vs Arsenal, we had zero attacking threat until Vardy come on and played there.

Wouldn't be against us going 4-4-2 for Sheff Utd. GK. Kasper RB. Castagne CB. Fofana CB. Evans LB. Justin RM. Under CM. Tielemans CM. Mendy LM. Barnes ST. Iheanacho ST. Vardy The starting 11 last night desperately lacked goals, it was far too reliant on Vardy to make the difference. We clearly need more bodies in and around him. Always thought Iheanacho and Vardy had much better link up than Maddison / Vardy, and he gives us more of a goal threat.

I'd imagine the plan is for Maddison and Praet to pick up the space between their 2 CMs and back 3. Then hopefully one of their back 3 pushes up and leaves a gap for Vardy.