[Locke]

Yeah, Nate is great. I really like Nate and I liked his story-line because as a former coach I can empathize with it.

The pressure to win and winning becomes everything? It takes a lot of mental fortitude to break that mentality. I fell into that trap once myself and it took a lot of effort to step back and...'winning isn't everything. Stop thinking that it is.'

Ted exemplifies that, but for a guy like Nate? From Kit Boy to Assistant Coach to Manager of a big club and to willfully choose to go back to Kit Boy? That takes a lot of courage.

I also really liked Ted having anxiety issues and panic attacks and they didn't glorify or vilify them, its just part of the gig. When you're under that much pressure all the time? Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt.

Beard is the best and Roy Kent is a great foil. With knowledge and experience but he's 'Old School' and that doesnt work all that well anymore whereas Beard was always willing to learn and adapt and support Ted.

I lived that, albeit at a much lower level, but it makes a lot of sense to me because Ted and I have a similar ethos. Its not 'all about winning.' You want to win, but its not the be-all-end-all, you care about the people you coach and want to make them better.

In my case it was kids, in his case its Pros. The show just resonates with me.