IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

That is a great idea - initial smiley response

Well done CaleyD - that is the way to post a Summer related response in the Autumn.

The clever use of emotion clarifying smileys is sadly considerably under utilised

Considerably more since1994

His football career.

The subject of mental health in association football has been described as a "stigma" in the sport, although other professional sports are also affected. Professional footballers suffer more from symptoms of depression and anxiety than the general public. Of the 826 who completed players' union Fifpro's questionnaire, 38% of current players and 35% of ex-professionals said they suffered with problems. Half of those questioned played or play at the highest level in their country. The data shows that the rates of depression and/or anxiety in both current and former professional footballers appear to be much higher than those of groups controlled to represent the general populous, and even other elite athletes Ex-professional players Robert Enke and Gary Speed have committed suicide; both suffered from depression. Enke threw himself in front of a train. Speed hanged himself. Clarke Carlisle stated that he contemplated suicide after becoming injured early in his career, and in December 2014 attempted suicide due to the severe depression he was suffering from. Sebastian Deisler was hospitalized after being unable to cope with the pressures of professional football, eventually retiring from the sport at the age of 27. Ex-player Mickey Bennett set up an organization called Unique Sports Counselling to help footballers deal with mental health issues.In February 2016 Steve Harper spoke out about his mental health problems while in between clubs. By some estimates as many as three in five former players will be declared bankrupt, often blighted by bad financial advice. At least 150 ex-professionals are currently in prison. More than 700 a year end up being pitched out of the sport in their 20s after failing to win a new contract.

At least they are emulating the first team ?!

The only red dots that I want to see this weekend is a pointless Aberdire walking off the pitch.

What has that got to do with the Summer Transfer Window ?

There are some posts where I expect red dots . Personally I have never red dotted anyone. I have responded in a post. If you do not like something that you read then it is fair enuff to red dot but you also have to give a rationale. Is there a red dot league table ? or better still an erseholes who red dot league table ?

Fraid for many the bright lights, the spondoolachs and the constant positive attention can quickly depreciate into dark holes, bankruptcy and constant negative attention.

Tattoos - My erse

And then there is the major precipitating and perpetuating stress factor - the agent !!

As it is now the Autumn may I suggest closing this thread down ?

I suggest that reasons are required for allocating red dots or abolish them altogether and let the anonymous cowards post their derision.

The sad point about your post CB is that it is you that brings up the merger and not in a wholly sarcastic manner. I would put the figure at 750-1000 but their children have also been influenced.

For a first post that is commendable - and that is coming from me. I really thought that Tansey may have gone. I think that the seagulls were eyeing up the prey and perhaps his performances have suffered because of this. Suspect that is more down to available spondoolachs than anything else. And perhaps Foran. He now has a squad that he can do something with. We are talking about a lot of promising, albeit naieve and inexperienced youngsters being signed but that is our budget and we have proved that we can improve players, even if it puts them in the shop window. McNaughton was a risk but his injury was a new one - talk about bad feckin luck. A win at Aberdeen would be SO, SO sweet !! Anyway Fraser I hope the 54 is not your date of birth. We have enuff smarterse bestards in their sixties on here.

But he is a merry old soul

That is so feckin reassuring - NOT

Sportsmen are basically just human beings and as susceptible as the next person. I have always found that it is the sense of failure / non achievement and the post career scenarios that are the most common, irrespective of the sport. Footballers of course with their outlandish salaries also fall foul of the drink, drug and gambling addictions. Many footballers still get away with those behaviours whereas many other sports people dedicate themselves to fitness and commitment.