Special Feature: Collins Reflects
Neill Collins has already been described by Wolves boss Mick McCarthy this season as one of those players who are the "fabric" of his team.
Characters who will always put their heads above the parapet, play out of position if necessary even to their own personal detriment, and continue to give their all whatever the circumstances.
It's probably a label that would embarrass the straight-forward Scot who - like the Wolves team - has undergone plenty of ups-and-downs over the last couple of seasons.
There have been times when Neill has borne the brunt of fans' criticism.
There have also been others - as during an impressive start to the season that has mirrored that of the team - when he has surely won many over with his no-nonsense and courageous defending.
From his own point of view, the key to maintaining an equilibrium is not to get too carried away whatever the circumstances.
"I've always thought that football is a fine line," says Neill.
"I know it's easily said but I think there were certain things that went against us last season both as a team and as individuals including myself.
"That just changed people's perceptions and if a couple of games had gone a different way it would have been different.
"That's football - that's the way it is and we can never change it nor would we expect to.
"Look at
"They won it on penalties and no one really thinks about that too much and yet if John Terry scores from the spot we're all talking about
"That's just the way it is and we all have to live with it but you learn from it as well.
"That's why you don't get too high and carried away with how things are going like they are at the moment and last year I didn't get too down and was just trying to keep a steady head.
"That's how I've learned in football because at a younger age when things aren't going well you maybe take it to heart a little too much and when things are you maybe get a wee bit too excited!
"I've learned to keep my feet on the ground when I'm doing well and by the same token not getting worried about what's being said.
"One minute you can be thinking 'oh I'm brilliant' and the next it would be 'what am I doing here at Wolves, I shouldn't even be playing football'?
"People would have you believe that.
"I've always said that the best judge of people first of all are their team-mates - because players know if someone not's doing it or pulling their weight - and also the manager.
"When you think of a manager their jobs are on the line - they're not in it for friendships and Mick McCarthy doesn't pick someone because he thinks they're a nice guy.
"Mick McCarthy wants to be successful and he's going to pick the team he thinks will make him successful.
"I just try and keep a level head and just get on with it."
Neill has always been a character able to handle both the brickbats and the praise with the same level of dispassion.
And that's not to say he doesn't understand when supporters want to vent their fury - as a fan himself, he admits he's been there!
"I'm a big football fan and a fan of
"That's the way it goes in football.
"I know what it's like to be a player but I know what it's like to be a fan and fans want success.
"And at some stages of last season I think it was quite right that people were unhappy.
"There's not a fan of any team in the Championship who doesn't want success but I think you can be forgiven a lot if you play hard and play for the jersey and I think that's one thing the fans will never have a go at us for.
"But the fact that last season we didn't repeat some of the performances we produced the previous year was disappointing for everyone.
"At the end of the day we all know that it's always better to have people behind you and so far this season at Molineux it's been different class.
"There aren't many stadiums like Molineux that I've played at that are as awesome as it is when the fans are behind you.
"I remember playing
"If we can do that regularly by good performances then it will help everyone.
"I have to say that every Wolves fan I've ever met has always been complimentary.
"They have certainly all been passionate for the club and have said that's what they want from the players.
"I think it's all about finding a balance when it comes to players giving their all.
"You pick anyone out of the North Bank to run about for 90 minutes and they'd try really hard but probably wouldn't be any good!
"It's about playing hard and giving 110 per cent as they say but also with a bit of quality as well, a mixture of both."
Having been able to play at centre back for much of this season, forging a good partnership with Richard Stearman, Neill's displays are backing up his suggestion that as still a fairly young player he is improving every year.
But he also believes any improvement also stems from coming through the tough times and learning, always learning, to overcome that adversity.
"I think I have proved I'm quite mentally strong," he adds.
"There were games when I maybe made a mistake in the first half and still came on to a strong game and scored the winner on occasions.
"I think that shows good character.
"Where does that come from? I think you pick up little things here and there about certain players whether it's someone's autobiography or on the television.
"It's something you just develop and of course it comes from playing as well.
"People talk about experience of playing improving your performance but mentally you improve as well.
"You look at the Swansea game - we've all learned mentally from that.
"Physically I haven't changed but mentally I've thought 'could I have done this, could I have done that'?
"You develop without even thinking about it.
"It's all about going away after a game and learning - that's where mental strength comes from.
"It's like thinking about if I'm going to play away at Crystal Palace what do I need to do slightly different to playing someone at Molineux.
"That's where you learn and the mental strength comes from that."
Obviously the good start to Wolves season has without doubt raised the optimism levels amid hopes the team can keep their good form going over the rest of the campaign.
It goes without saying those ambitions are shared by the players, and Neill has previously admitted that while not taking anything for granted the squad would prefer to be on top of the league as opposed to anywhere else.
But he also believes there wasn't a great deal wrong with last season, when a seventh placed finish saw Wolves miss out on the play-offs by virtue of goals scored.
"I think we have to remember last year which some people thought was a nightmare we missed out on the play-offs by one goal because we didn't score enough throughout the season," he confirms.
"It wasn't good by Wolves standards by any means and a poor season in that respect.
"But by the same token if we improve on that by five per cent we'll be in the play-offs.
"I'm not saying that's going to be easy but if we improve on that we'll be ok.
"I don't think it was as bad as some people suggested but just think we were maybe brought down to earth a wee bit because we were more of a scalp after the previous year.
"Teams were looking at us and thinking this Wolves team of young boys think they're something and we learned from that ourselves.
"We had to go through a slightly harder time but I think we did have some good results along the way when we were slightly up against it and people were ready to pounce.
"We went to Scunthorpe and won were people were ready to get on at us, went to Crystal Palace and won, Colchester and won.
"There were times when the season could have gone either way and we pulled something out.
"At the same time there were some poor results as well but we learned a lot from that.
"The Championship is such a funny league though and I remember Reading finishing seventh or eighth the one season and then winning it the following year.
"There are never any guarantees from one year to the next of how you can do.
"But so far this season it's been a very enjoyable team to play in because we've been doing very well."
