A'Villan

I'd be very happy if Gaitan came on a free, as in my opinion he'd provide more than any of our current wingers, by some distance. Has won the Europa league, made the Europa League team of the season, been top assist provider in the Champions League over a season. I haven't seen him play in some time so I checked, in hist last 30 odd MLS games he's either scored or assisted in over half those fixtures. If we can get a player of his quality on a free, and reasonable wages, we're laughing. He went for 30million pounds just three years ago. I really like the look of Benrahma, and I think he has a bright future ahead of him, but considering what we spent over the break, I'd go with Gaitan for sure.

Gaitan would be most welcome. Would probably end up being our most influential wide-man by season's end.

In terms of trophy success he's probably top 5, if not top 3 in the last 30 years.

Yeah I know what you are saying, and I think Bale's position is fairly clear in regards to wage demands. Still, if Mourinho is to do better than Pochettino and take Spurs higher then they will need to either recruit or produce talent. They won't close the gap and then go one further and beyond the levels of Liverpool and City without investing and implementing a system that can produce. Levy might be stingy but he would know this. Imagine Spurs had Bale, Modric, Kane and Eriksen in their starting line-up? Levy won't want to lose Kane and/or Eriksen at a time where they want to push on and win silverware.

And it's been 15 years of Mourinho winning silverware since that victory with Porto. Three years ago he won the FA cup and Europa League for United, continuing the trophy haul at every club since Porto. Something that I find interesting is that Mourinho was considered for the Barcelona job before Pep was appointed. Pep ticked 8 boxes, Mourinho ticked 6. The two missing for Jose were development of youth and public image that Barca wanted. I think the latter is what Mourinho gets caught up in. I think that 5-0 loss to Barcelona had consequences that have shaped Mourinho's attitude and approach since. I think you're right in saying that his relationship to his players will be telling, and also that he has lost his knack or mojo for inspiring confidence in his teams. He had very sound training and preparation methodology as well as a good understanding for tactics and analysing opposition approaches. That's what made him special. If the CL final and finishing in the top 4 every year, as well as a title race that they could've won in 2017, isn't enough, then surely Levy has a plan to make that extra step up. I think there will certainly be conversations with Bale. Unfortunately it wouldn't surprise me at all if Grealish remains on their radar. Mostly because I think Mourinho will need players who have the talent but also love the game more than the hype and the self interest and promotion. Players like Milner. Players who will put in a shift and commit to what Mourinho asks of them, rather than prima donna's who are bigger than the team. If Mourinho is to make a world class team of Tottenham that will be vital.

Our spine will solidify the more experienced we become at playing to our strengths, limiting exploitation of our weaknesses and nullifying the threat posed by any given opponent. We've come close to taking points of both finalists from last year's Champions League. Aside from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, we've only lost to teams in European placing. There's going to be growing pains, without a doubt. We've replaced 40% of our squad from last season, as opposed to the average 5-10% among other PL sides. Not to mention sides whose personnel have been together longer and are further developed as a team, are also more experienced and familiar with the division and those in it. In my opinion we're doing okay considering how fresh and new the standards and competition is for us.

Could be. Mourinho at Porto revamped the careers of players who you might've thought had reached their ceiling. Winning the CL with a team from outside the top five European leagues is a great accomplishment, it might never happen again. It's not like he was poor at Chelsea, Inter or Real. He is a notable and memorable achiever with each. United is the only place he was unable to emulate his ability to compete at the very top, even then he won two trophies in his first season there.

I'd like to see him back at Tottenham with a point to prove. Thought Bale and Neymar were going to surpass Ronaldo and Messi in the world rankings, but it seems they both cared more for their pay package profiles.

@KentVillan He who answers a matter before he hears it? An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, I get the impression that your dating life holds some potential. So you had some talent in you earlier years? Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard. Put in some work. You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Ultimately, what do you want for yourself? Okay, going after it can be scary. "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate" (Coach Carter quote) sort of thing. 'Framing' is very important. Consider this deeply. How you see and hold yourself, before worrying about others. I think women like a man who can own his past. But I understand you perhaps wanting to focus on your own affairs before exploring the next chapter. That may be wise. I'll leave that to the man who knows best. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have adopted a phrase I often heard and adapted it to my liking, I hope life is treating you well, and you are treating life the same. I mention this because you are life and so it applies to you too. Lying in bed, from the little I have to interpret, for you, is probably healthy, the body needs to recover. Sure, you may have exhausted your feel good levels on a binge, I hear cocaine come-downs can be quite intolerable, but don't get down on yourself because you lie in bed. As for you mania, I can't and won't offer anything other than this. I hear cocaine can make you charged up and even erratic, I'm assuming it's also quite pleasant in some form. That's a recipe for manic behaviour. It's not necessarily a bad thing or you per se. What I consider to be a bad thing is if you were to feel shame as a consequence. Shame goes further than guilt. Guilt acknowledges that there is something undesirable about behaviour and can be healthy and positive. A catalyst for change. Shame will eat at the very core and essence of who you identify as, and what you're capable of.

I think you might enjoy some of the lunacy and anti-social takes on life that you encounter at NA meetings. I certainly have. I don't know you, can't speak for your taste or what will resonate with you. But to answer your question, it does sound about right to me. My first sponsor at NA told me to read the 'Big Book' which is the original AA version. One of my first encounters at NA was in The Pines in Frankston, where I lived for some years, as notorious as any ghetto here. Only no jazz culture like there is in Harlem, NY. One of the speakers asked to share his story took about 2-3 minutes to say more than 5 words which were coherent. Upon opening up he divulged (smacked off his face) that he had just taken a party holiday to Bali with a friend. I'll cut to the chase, long share short, that friend committed suicide in the hotel room, he was first to the scene and found his friend's hotel room covered in blood. Distraught, he informed the hotel, who informed the police, who decided they were going to ping this innocent man for murder. I forget the ins and outs but basically, he got talking to someone who he was very, very fortunate to meet, who informed him how to pay his way out of the country before his conviction. Sorry if you feel that an unnecessary story for me to pass on, but I just wanted to give you one of the stories that I don't think you'd get at AA meets, but obviously might at NA.

*Another off-topic post* Sorry for delay in reply. I was going to just reply by saying I practise basketball everyday. But that would've been a fairly useless answer. As for stoicism, I had to read the wikipedia page first if I'm honest, but to give a direct answer to your question, I suppose I do, in a way, yes. I love philosophy, it was about the only subject I was any use for before dropping out of high school, my teacher's report had the word 'profound' in it. As opposed to 'F, for failure'. I have practised martial arts and have always enjoyed reading material by those who do so more proficiently than myself. I have read Miyomoto Musashi's (said to be the greatest samurai of all time) Book of Five Rings, and the part that most resonated with me was the Dokkodo, here it is: 1. Accept everything just the way it is. 2. Do not seek pleasure for its own sake. 3. Do not, under any circumstances, depend on a partial feeling. 4. Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world. 5. Be detached from desire your whole life long. 6. Do not regret what you have done. 7. Never be jealous. 8. Never let yourself be saddened by a separation. 9. Resentment and complaint are appropriate neither for oneself or others. 10. Do not let yourself be guided by the feeling of lust or love. 11. In all things have no preferences. 12. Be indifferent to where you live. 13. Do not pursue the taste of good food. 14. Do not hold on to possessions you no longer need. 15. Do not act following customary beliefs. 16. Do not collect weapons or practice with weapons beyond what is useful. 17. Do not fear death. 18. Do not seek to possess either goods or fiefs for your old age. 19. Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help. 20. You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour. 21. Never stray from the Way. While I don't practise them all, some are quite foreign to me, but some of those are very much in line with stoicism, and yes I believe that they serve a purpose in life.

Somebody's getting a slap across the back of the head from me.. You weren't lying about Caruso! Coby White is setting franchise records of 7 3pt makes in a quarter and another 20+pt game, and you are posting bloody Caruso material. The youngest in NBA HISTORY to hit 7 3's in a single game.

I've just messed up my beard and will have to trim it right back or even shave it. Such a rookie.

That's the spirit! Ever heard the expression, "The truth will set you free"? Unfortunately all this (what you've described) is terribly plausible, simply because it's what we're used to. When you really start questioning this though.. Say: 'Is that the way I have to assume life is? I know everybody does, but does that make it true?' It doesn't, necessarily; it ain't necessarily so. And, so then, as you question this basic assumption that underlies our culture, you find that you get a new understanding. It becomes completely obvious to you. "In the hold of the paper that fold At one time was related to gold Made many men lose their soul To the price of the dice that roll How can a light so bright make a man so cold? So another man's plans unfold Can you really see the truth til it happens to you Its so severe what the hopeless will do" I know my post is totally off-topic, but have faith and hope @Ingram85 even if it's only in yourself, for now. Ive said it before and I'll say it again, you are the universe experiencing itself. If you are rotten to the core, that will be the experience of the universe. If you are apathetic, that will be the experience of the universe. If you decide the masses are feeble and meek opposed to a few 'elite'.. Then we are not living in a democracy, which means 'power of the people'. Not, 'power over the people'.

Can't hurt. It's definitely considered professional attire. I doubt anyone would deem it inappropriate, perhaps unnecessary, but I doubt you'll be marked down for it. I have come across a recruitment consultant who I heard was a word removed and would throw anything and everything at you to make you sweat and not put you forward for the job. She lived up to her reputation, surprisingly, as I thought I could handle difficult people, but she had a knack for telling you every reason why you couldn't do the most basic work. Entry level stuff, and she would just openly tell you why she thought you wouldn't cut it, without knowing you or having met you previously. Spiel was that she needs to filter those who are up to it from those who aren't, so that as a recruitment consultant she maintains positive relations with employers. Understandable, but it was beyond a joke how pathetic and negative this woman was, something seriously wrong with her. I'd tell her an answer, and she'd reflex rebut it. It should be about if the candidate can do the work, not how much bullying they can tolerate whilst convincing someone who opposes everything with unfounded put downs. Even she wouldn't be able to knock you for being presentable and dressing with the intent to impress. Regardless of how ridiculous and unnecessary I think suits are for everyday attire. It's still universally considered professional.

Where the GIFted @VILLAMARV is?

It's inappropriate to make a 'dad joke' if you're not a dad. It's a faux pa.

^

Bloke 1: What's up that cows ass? The filth that comes out her mouth! Bloke 2: Sh*t moo'd mate.

What a brave **** post man. This deserves a like from everyone at VT, if a like were to represent a big hug. I've got some insight which I hope is useful. I've got some good news. And I've got some pretty bad news (don't you dare think for a minute this has anything to do with you, because it's actually the system that's bad news). Please read the whole post before you come to any conclusions, because conclusions are often based on what we're feeling, when we lack evidence or proof. Read the good, read the bad, have some balance by weighing up the pros and cons of any course of action and decision you go with, you'll thank yourself for that later. We'll start with the bad. Through my work at the clinic, I know that in Australia over 80% of people relapse within (from memory) 3 months of getting out of rehab. That's not to say it isn't working. It's only an indicator that highlights addiction's power and grip. When you think of how rife drug abuse is, 20% clean for over that period is great. My advice, research what the rehab offers while you're there, what plans they have for you once you're back on the street, it's all good to be somewhere you can't score. What happens when you return home to your family, who have been dealing drugs and using them for generations? From my understanding rehab won't prepare you for that. Question, is there not free rehabs in your location? We have them here, just the wait time is between three months to a year. Often those on the list don't go, shortening the wait. Now we'll get to the good, goddamn I love the good news. Through my work at the clinic and with addiction medicine department at one of the biggest and best hospitals down under, I know that 14 months clean and your brain recovers. To be a bit more specific, we know now, from research (no sh*t sherlock!) that cocaine and meth users dopamine levels will return to what they were before using drugs. One year baby (or thereabouts)!! And they told you there will be a point of no return. You'll f*ck up your life for good. Only shows where negativity and prejudice leads. Nowhere. You've got this man, you really do. I don't really want to admit how much of my life I was a daily user for, but I will, on account of your brave honesty. Just under a decade, I'm 29. Start with the four L's. Legal, Lover, Liver, Livelihood/Lifestyle. A very basic template, I know. But just write down a few notes on each. Where you're at, where you want to be. You're meant to write the problems associated with each of the four, but I'm all about the strength based approach, so acknowledge where you're at and where you want to be. Lover - Relationships bro, that's what life is all about, whether it's how you move against your opponent in martial arts to how you treat your mother. Liver - This is your health, by all means. Psychological, spiritual, physical or emotional. Don't underestimate the spiritual and emotional is my advice. Legal - What have you done now? The actual consequences of your actions to date from a legal perspective, and the potential consequences should you get caught. Livelihood -Accommodation, finance, work, education, recreation and leisure. How's it all going, could it be better? My advice is to join NA. Read the steps. Suck it up and go to a few meetings. Don't go to meetings in your neighbourhood unless comfortable with people you know, knowing. You will meet some dickheads, but I'll tell you this, there's not only a meeting in every major city, but one in every suburb, that attracts 10-100 people at each, every day. That's a lot of people working together, that's a lot of support, that's a lot of ideas, some might resonate and work for you. That's a lot of people getting clean. Chin up. Hit me up if ever you need anything.

Thanks, I was hell bent on watching this but never got around to it. So I'll do that today I think. The GOAT imo.

You're quite intuitive. Psychic even!