He isn't Bobby Moore by any stretch of the imagination, but Collins has a lot of the Alvin Martin about him. He was a giant at the back against Hull. Every cross into the box seemed to find Ginge's head and his tackling, closing and blocking were all impeccable tonight. Remember that victory at Sunderland last season when cross after cross into our box thudded against Collins' head? Remember those full blooded blocks as players lined up a shot on the edge of our box? That was Collins again tonight.
What he gives is 100% commitment, and there's a heck of a lot of defensive nounce in him too. The block he made in the first half, on the goal line, with an unmarked Kilbane shooting from the edge of the six yard box, was truly awesome - one of the best goal line clearances I have ever seen. How Zola stood by and allowed Duxbury to sell Collins has always been beyond me. After our showing at Liverpool and Ginge's performance tonight, I am convinced that our perilous position is as much down to that decision to part with Collins as to any of the other dreadful mistakes we have made since the dismissal of Pardew. Collins was a defensive general tonight, a real leader at the back, and that is exactly what we have been missing all season. He was a key figure in the Great Escape and was at the heart of our defence in all our epic defensive performances since; but the clowns running our club decided to sell him. Madness!
Hull fought well tonight, far better than we did against Liverpool, but were undone by Villa's superior skill and a disciplined showing from the boys in Claret and Blue. If only we had shown the same level of commitment against Liverpool! Hull fans will go home disappointed at losing but can have no complaints about the team's spirit and desire to win. Could we say the same after the Anfield debacle? Dowie isn't going to be called Jose anytime soon, but he motivated and organised Hull better than Zola managed two nights ago!
So, we stay afloat! If Hull contrive to lose against Sunderland and we avoid defeat against Wigan, we will be as good as safe. If Hull draw and we draw, we will still be as good as safe. If we draw and Hull win, Hull will still need to beat Wigan to send us down. If, if, if but the ifs are in our favour for now - thanks to James Collins!
9 comments:
come on west ham. lets give everything weve got on saturday. im talking about the players the fans and even the tea lady. lets do it. lets win saturday. i can smell safety.
Trouble is mate, the team in Claret and Blue that edged us towards safety was Villa, not West Ham. Personally, I would take a draw on Saturday after our terrible showing at Liverpool and hope for a point at Fulham. What we MUST NOT DO is repeat the Wolves and Bolton debacles - Hull MAY YET get 4 points!
You never considered the fact that we could lose to WIGAN? Where would they leave us if HULL manage to draw or beat SUNDERLAND?....What are the remaining fixtures?
If we lose to Wigan, we should be relegated even if Burnley and Hull don't overtake us! Hull would still have to bbeat Sunderland and get a draw either away to Wigan or at home to Liverpool. Both possible! We MUST NOT lose to Wigan!
selling ginge was disgrace
Id say letting Lucas Neill go was also a huge mistake.
This shows how much of an imbecile you really are.
Collins has gone, deal with it. It was almost a year ago.
The only thing that mattered last night was Hull not picking up any points, which they didn't. So it was an excellent night for us and puts us in a very good position.
Only a moron like you would moan about the game in your true dickweed fashion.
Also, lose to Wigan and we deserve to get relegated? Since when have teams deserved to get relegated based on a solitary game? IF we lose to Wigan, and go down, it will not be because of that result, it will be because of ALL our defeats.
Jambo.. wat did u eat last nite?
Jambo, quoted from the article you are commenting upon:
Hull fought well tonight, far better than we did against Liverpool, but were undone by Villa's superior skill and a disciplined showing from the boys in Claret and Blue. If only we had shown the same level of commitment against Liverpool! Hull fans will go home disappointed at losing but can have no complaints about the team's spirit and desire to win. Could we say the same after the Anfield debacle? Dowie isn't going to be called Jose anytime soon, but he motivated and organised Hull better than Zola managed two nights ago!
So, we stay afloat! If Hull contrive to lose against Sunderland and we avoid defeat against Wigan, we will be as good as safe. If Hull draw and we draw, we will still be as good as safe. If we draw and Hull win, Hull will still need to beat Wigan to send us down. If, if, if but the ifs are in our favour for now.
I think that deals with the game and the significance of the result to us. Yes I address the issue of the sale of Collins because I think it is very important. At the heart of Villa's defence are Collins and Dunne, who between them cost Villa about what we paid for Upson. Neither are brilliant, but both are solid, experienced, uncompromising, 100% committed players. With Collins and Dunne at the heart of our defence, we would be in mid table. With Collins and Upson in the centre of our defence, we would be in mid table at the moment. I suspect we would be in mid table at the moment with Neill and Upson in the centre of our defence We are not in mid table because we sold Collins and let Neill go. Whose fault was that? Apportion the blame as you choose between Duxbury, Nani and Zola. I am not going to defend Duxbury or Nani, but having resigned from a job on the basis of disagreeing with a decision, I blame Zola most of all. He betrayed his squad and the fans when he stood by and allowed this to happen. Curbishley walked when McCartney was sold; Zola should have threatened to do the same when the sale of Collins was proposed.
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